Milford chronicle., 1924-06-27
The Weather Effect
on Strawberry Crop
The Cool Weather In Early Ripening
Season Saved the Growers Prof
its, While Trucks Helped to
Get Berries in Market in
Fine Condition

Contrary to pessimistic reports
sent out from Georgetown in Sus-
sex county this season so far, has
not been a failure as far as the
strawberry crop goes. On the con-
trary, according to attaches Of the
State Board of Agriculture, taking
all the strawberry raisers into con-
sideratiOn and not a few who may
have not met with fancy prices so
far the season has been an average
one. Last year strawberries were not
as plentiful as they were this sea-
son. Consequently there was to a
certain degree, a scarcity Of the ber-
ries. Consequently, those who had
fancy berries, obtained fancy prices.
This year there are more berries and
because of the high prices obtained
last year by those who had them
more farmers engaged in raising
them. AS a consequence those who
have good berries this year are more
numerous and there are more receiV-
ing returns than last year.
According to w. T. Derickson,
chief of the Bureau of Markets of
Dover, the farmers of the state had
averaged between SO and 81 crate,
taking their output for the past two
weeks as a whole. Some days they
have received nearly S5 a crate.
Other days the price has fallen be-
low SO, but the two weeks average !
ranged closer to $3.50 than it does to
SO, which enables the farmer to net a |
profit, although not as much as those |
did last year when for fancy berries
they obtained between $4 and So
crate An investigation of many of
those who are complaining about a
Door season reveals that their ber
ries are not fancy berries and show
they have not had the care taken
with them that those seeking high
prices within reason have.
The rain which might have COM
pletely ruined the crop did not Go
much damage. AS a matter of fact
the cool weather was the salvation
for the Delaware crop this year,
Chief DericksOn believes.
"If it had come out hot last week."
said Mr.. DericksOn in mid-seasOn,
"the berries would have ripened up
very quickly, and there would have
been a big glut in the market. 1t
now looks as though the season
would be prolonged week longer"
In other words instead of the straw
berry season lasting three weeks
this year, it is likely to last four
weeks and into a fifth week, per-
haps.
From some sections have come
about lack Of pickers, but
N other sections where strawberries
grow in greatest profusion there is
10 shortage.
One of the most interesting details .
If this years crop has been the
struggle between transportation
companies to ship the berries. With
he fine state highways, many motor
transportation concerns have enter
ID into the business of hauling the
,erries short distances to city mar /
.ets. The railroads have not been
sleep by any means. Their agents X
ave been working industriOusly and II
he farmers who shipped by rail this h
ear have gotten, it is stated, the II
est service in their lives from the II
ailroads. It is nothing out Of the Or II
inary to have a northbOund train II
witched over to a southbOund track n
nd travel northward on the south
ound track, so that one or two or
hree. freight trains may have
lear track in rushing the berries to
larket. k
It has been nip and tuck at Sell R
yville between the railroad and n
,ucking concerns about which OBJ
lined the larger shipments. One
ay one would carry the~most her II
les and the next day conditions L
ould be reversed.
The trucks have carried berries as L
IT west in Pennsylvania as Altoona Il
nd to those who study market con- X
Ltions, it is largely the motor truck /
lat has KEEP; up the price Of Der II
es up this year. Strawberries z
rown in old Sussex have been ship ~
ed by motor Trucks TO POttsville.
apcaster and ctLer cities in cas- ll5
IN Pennsylvania this mCnth and
It prices gotten f9r the Je.flcs have
-en better = some instances than
Oee quoted D.. philadelphia. Ills
ci of hlvin. 6ozen PLACES for a
nrket in3-yir Of just oLe-Phila-
lphia-H&s made Tie farmer more
dependent as 20 where he sold.