Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-07-26
sEn-MONTHLY CROP NOTES.

The past two weeks nave Dctn
busy season for Virginia farmers Wien
ever the weather permitted field work
as the wheat was ready for harvest,
hay was ripening; and corn, cotton, to
bacco and peanuts needed cultivation.
Frequent rains interrupted and delay
ed the farm work very much.
The wheat harvest which Is usually
completed in June, has been very late
this season and in the northern part OF
the State many farmers have just fin
ished cutting. There is generally
large crop Of straw, but the heads are
not as we'll filled as usual in some Sec
lions, and the rains have caused some
damage to the grain in the shock. The
yield per acre will probably be UP to
the average for the past ten years.
Threshing has commenced in the south
ern part Of the State
The corn crop is very late, so an
early frost will cause considerable loss.
The rains have prevented cultivation
and most fields are grassy and weedy.
Some early crops on well drained
lands are looking well, but the crop on
river and creek bottoms, where planted
is very poor. Conditions are worst in
the eastern part of the State and best
in the Southwest.
There has been too much rain for
the proper development Of tobacco
plants, growth is backward and fields
generally need working. A favorable
season is needed in order to make an
average yield.
The hay crop is generally ready for
harvest, but the wet weather has pre-
vented much progress with this work.
The yield will be unusually good if all
Of the crop can be saved. A large acre
age of cowpeas, soy beans. and millet
has been sown on land that had been
intended for corn, but these crops have
not progressed very well owing to the
wet weather, Pastures have made splen
did growth and are unusually fine in
all parts of the State.
The digging of early potatoes progress
ed rapidly during the past 10 days; the
shipments were unusually heavy.
The total carlot shipment to July II
was 1876 cars compared with 1918
cars to the same date last year. The
yield on the Eastern Shore mas been
better than expected, while in the Nor
folk section the crop turned out poorly
except on we'll drained land.
Peanut growers have had great dita:
Guilty in keeping their fields clear
owing to the frequent rains which pre-
vented cultivation, and which caused
rapid growth of grass. The condition Of
the crop is poor and the outlook is dis
couraging.
Fuit prospects continue to be above
the average in most parts of the State.
Blackberries are now ripening and the
crop is very good. AS a result of the
unusual number of damp and rainy
days the quality of apples is not as
good as usual. There is an excellent
crop of peaches, and early varieties
are ripening in the southern part of
the State.t
The condition OF livestock is general
ly very good. Owing to sappy condition
Of pastures cattle have not fattened as
we'll as expected. Lambs shipments
have been heavy, and prices to the grow
sers are very good.
! There has been little change in the
farm labor situation. In the northern
and central districts labor is very
scarce, but in the southwest the supply
has been more plentiful as the let vi
in mining and other industries has re
leased some labor for the farms.
HENRY M. TAYLOR,
! Agricultural Statistician.