Smyrna times., 1924-05-14
PROMISING SWEET POTATO CROP
OverprOductiOn Forecast; Less Straw
berries Expected in the State

OverprOductiOn Forecast; Less Straw
berries Expected in the State
The division of crop estimates of
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture has recently published some
statistical information regarding the
sweet potatoes and strawberries, both
of which are important Delaware
crops, and are of interest to Delaware
growers.
From the statistics gathered by
them in regard to sweet potatoes, if
the present intentions of the growers
are carried out, the acreage for 1924
for the whole United States will be
16 per cent greater than in 1928, and
about three per cent more than the
high acreage of 1922. From present
indications, the paintings in most
states range from ten to twenty per
cent greater than in 1923. Maryland
Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Illi-
nOis, and Florida are among those
whose intended planting will be twen
ty per cent greater, and if there is
an average yield in 1924 on the acre
age now expected to be planted by the
farmers, the production this year will
be greater than in any previous year;
and, as all growers know, the over
production in 1922 resulted in a seri-
Gus loss to the growers.
In 1921, the acreage planted to
sweet potatoes exceeded a million
acres for the first time. In 1922, it
rose to 1,117,O00 acres, and the grow
ers suffered a severe loss; however,
following the great loss from over
production in 1922, the acreage in
1923 fell to $4,000 acres for the to-
tai United States, and a good demand
with resulting high prices was gen
eral.
From these indications, it is evident
that, of all the farmers who intend
planting sweet potatoes this year do
so, there will be a great over-produc-
tion, and the resulting low prices will
follow.
Strawberries: From the informa-
ton as published by the Division of
Crop Estimates of the United States
Department of Agriculture, the total
acreage of Strawberries in the United
States this year is about 113,250 acres
as compared with 120,710 acres last
season, or a reduction of about six
per cent.
Delaware is estimated as having an
acreage this year of $500 acres
against 6,100 acres last year. Mary
land is estimated as having an acre
age this year of 10000 acres against
10,420 acres last year;while the re-
port for Virginia this year gives them
an acreage of 10,500 acres this year
as against $500 in 1923, or an in
crease of about sixty per cent. Ac-
cording to these reports, Tennessee
has the largest acreage, having 49,,
820 acres in Strawberries. Louisiana
is next with 14,280 acres, Arkansas
third with 1880 acres, and Maryland
fourth with 10000 acres.
Due to the late season, only 1,421
cars have been moved from all pro-
ducing acres as compared with 2,39e
cars up to April 26, a years ago
Louisiana is shipping quite heavily
right at this time, having moved 73C
cars to April 26, against 959 cars fol
the corresponding date a year ago
During the week ending April 26
Louisiana shipped 452 cars compared
with 206 the week before and 43 cars
two weeks before, and apparently due
to this rapid increase in carload move
ment towards the close Of April
wholesale prices have slumped con
siderably.