Smyrna times., 1928-05-30
DELAWARE CROPS PROMISING;
HIGHWAY ASKED TO GIVE DATA
STRAWBERRIES FROM DOWN
STATE COMING IN MARKET
Asparagus Crop Reaches Peak With
Good Yields and Prices Holding Up
Truck as Well as r. Z. Statistics

as w ell dS H. H. sCldlASlANS
Delaware strawberries started for
market last week. But all movements
were in small lots and shipments by
the car load will not start until this
week. Hundreds of berry pickers are
quartered in Sussex county and ready
for hard three weeks. Indications
are that the crop will be bit heav-
ier this year and the berries look
good. The warm, damp weather has
been god for them and except where
the patches are in low ground the
fruit ought to stand up well. Accord
ing to w. I. Derickson, there is con
siderable anxiety, however, as to how
the market will hold out Virginia
berries are at their peak and as a
result prices are not encouraging. 1t
is stated that in many sections of Vir-
ginia where Strawberries are a major
lrop, that the wet weather has af-
fected the berries to such an extent
that every grower is rushing his fruit
To market as quickly as possible. This
may affect the price the Delaware
growers will get at the start Of the
berry season. Experimental inspection
Of Strawberries will be carried on at
Millsboro, Selbyville and Bridgeville.
But it will be at the car and not along
the road. If it requires too much
time then the experiment will be stop
ped, because the time required to load
Strawberries which is one of the most
perishable crops there is, is Of vital
importance.
Asparagus Crop Results in Good Price
The Asparagus crop is in its prime
and prices are holding up good. At
the 100 acre tract at Middletown,
thousands of punches are being cut
and forwarded to New York and Phil
adelphia each day. The asparagus
cutters start at dawn and the finished
product reaches the market late that
night or early the next morning. Early
peas are coming along nicely. They
are in the blossoming stage now and
in about two weeks ought to be ready
for consumption. The wet weather
has been the best thing for peas. They
thrive in warm, damp weather and the
rains wash the vines free Of the
dreaded yermin. Mr.. Derickson is ar
ranging to conduct experimental in
spection at three canning plants thru
out the state As with the strawber
ry inspection, the inspectors will work
at the cannery and not along the
street.
Highway Department to Aid Check-up
D. C. Boree, marketing specialist Of
the Bureau of Agricultural Econom-
les of the Department Of Agriculture
of the United States, conferred with
Q. ID. Buck, chief engineer of the high
way department and Mr.. Derickson,
last week, relative to the obtaining
of accurate statistics covering truck
load shipment through the state. Del
aware, it is stated, is the only state
in the union that has ever attempted to
compile data concerning truck load
shipments. Whenever it has been
possible, the state highway policeman
| in charge at a station has recorded
the truckloads passing by. But these
| figures have not been accurate because
the policeman's first duty was on the
highway and oftentimes has been call
ed out and leaving the station locked
up. In these instances the trucks
have passed by without any record.
1t was Mr.. Boree's hope that some ar
rangement might be made whereby
the record Of truckload shipments
could be accurately kept