The Omaha morning bee., 1924-11-11
m allest t
Corn Crop
Since 1913
. Merchantable Quality This
7 Year Is Lowest in 30 Years,
With Exception of 1917;
Big Potato Crop.
Apples Above Average

Washington, Nov. 10.-The small
est corn crop since 1918 was the re-
ward OF American farmers this year
who planted the fifth largest acreage
to that crop in the history of farm
ing. Not only was the harvest sub
stantially below those OF the last
four years, but the merchantable
quality of this years crop is tn.
lowest in 80 years, with the exception
OF 1917.
Preliminary estimates of produc-
tion, issued today by the Department
of Agriculture, placed the crop at
2.477. .53S. 900 bushels, the acreage at
than last year, and the merchantable
quality of the crop as 63.2 per cent.
Corn production during the last four
years has averaged more than 3,0Oo,-
000,00 bushels.
The white potato crop. estimated
at 4541f9,0 900 bushels, is slightly
larger than the big crops of 1917
and 1922. WELD in northern states
running far above earlier expecta-
tions because in some regions the
crop escaped frost and continued
growing far into October. Per capita
production this year is 4.0S bushels,
compared with an average of SIG
: bushels per capita during the last
20 years.
Plenty Of Spuds.
There will be an ample supply of
good potatoes at moderate prices,
government officials declare, and be
cause of low prices In some western
states some good potatoes will be
fed to livestock. There are indica
tions that some of the crop may not
be even harvested. The average yield
ran to 121.0 bushels per acre. as
ncompared with 99.1 bushels, the 10
YEAR average.
Drouth in important southern pro
duclng states greatly reduced the
sweet potato crop, which Is estimat-
ed at $500, 900 bushels. or about
- 900. 600 bushels below the average
of TIE last five years and the small
est crop since 1916
Flax seed production returned this
wear to the high level of the period
from 1902 to 19OS. ard q total crop
of 3O.652 900 bushels IS estimated.
passing the record cop of 1902 BY
more than ! 900 .ooa busneis.
Tobacco production is sGl,oOo, 600
pounds less than lat year. with
total crop of 1.21s.975.o0o hounds es-
timated. Bright tobacco shows Il de-
crease of $4,000, 600 pounds, cigar
types $4,000, 900 pounds and Mary
land and eastern Ohio export type
1917 900 pounds. Quality of the crop
varies in New England is good Ia
Pennsylvania, not so good In the
Miami valley of Ohio and poor in
Wisconsin. Quality i'm Kentucky Is
uncertain as yet and will depend upon
rains during the curing season.
Maryland export suffered some frost.
Fright tobacco In the main produc-
ing regions Is slightly better in quail
itv than last year. though still low
Good Corn Weather.
Corn production averaged 23.J
bushels per acre this year as com
pared with 80 bushels last year and
e7.e bushels. the 10year average,
Over most of the corn belt. weather
curing October was very favorable
for maturing and drying crop. Sec
lions that were not frosted made
p,atcrial gains over earlier expecta-
tione end increase of about $4,000 900
bushels In the total crop over last
month resulted. The favorable wealth
er improved the quality of the crop
much more than seemed probable.
Much corn that was frosted in Iowa,
the largest producing state, and 9TH
er states. had dried out with mini
mum of souring' and molding, though
much of the frosted corn is chaffy,
shriveled and loose on the cob.
The apple crop. estimated at 177''
23s. 900 bushels, is slightly above tho
average of the last five years, but
smaller than last year. Prospects
are particularly poor in Washington,
Idaho. Michigan and in commercial
sections of Pennsylvunia and Mary
land The total commercial crop IS
estimated at PISS, 900 barrels.
The harvest of pears this year has
haen exceeded only once. In l92o
Production has about doubled since
1909. California leads this year with
1856 900 bushels.