Evening star., 1930-05-23
POTATO CROP AIDED
BY RECENT RAINS
Reports From Eastern Shore
of Virginia and Maryland
Show Gains.

The potato crop on the Eastern
Shore Of Virginia and Maryland was
reported looking good after the rains
the middle Of May, says the United
States Department Of Agriculture, Bu-
reau Of Agricultural Economies, Mar
ket News Service. Although dry weather
was responsible for the light set of the
early crop in that section, the potatoes
are expected to be Of good quality now.
Very little strength was shown in the
potato markets near the end of the
month, any flrmness displayed at all
was In some Southern shipping sections.
Prices In most producing regions drop
ped back again after the squirt the mid
die Of the month. Very little trading
was reported in the Rochester district of
New York, with dealers unwilling to pay
over $1.25 q bushel to growers. The
situation was dull In Northern Maine,
with only moderate trading even at the
lower price level. Very few sales were
reported above 50 per 100 pounds in
Aroostock County, but most trading was
below that figure.
Potato Prices.
There was only limited consumptive
demand for old potatoes, and inquiry
for new stock continued moderate.
Green Mountains from Main brought
$3.50 to $2.95 in Eastern consuming
centers, q range lower than that for
North Central potatoes In carlots in Chi
cago. Alabama Bliss Triumphs ranged
$3.50 to 81 per 100 pounds in Northern
plentiful at $3.50 to 81 q barrel.
The midmonth rains, while possibly
too late to greatly improve the situation
at the southern end OF the Eastern Shore
Peninsula, were =. timely aid to the crop
north of Onley, Va. Local estimates
are that there was about one-half q
normal crop on the Virginia Eastern
Shore region, but that IS to rs per cent
of normal crop will be realized In the
section around Marion, Md. Peak move
ment from Maryland's Eastern Shore
week Of May. Returns to growers In
the peninsula were ranging So to So
crate around the goth of May, according
to variety and quality of the berries.
Virginia and Maryland strawberries
were selling at 10 to % cents quart
in Eastern city markets, or at $3.50 to
$3.50 per crate of 80 quarts. Missouri
berries were affording some small COM
petition with Eastern stock, Aromas
from that State ranging from Is to 80
cents quart In the East. Car lot
SnlpmSuS Oh tIllS 1Eulb uoVcIc0 nlouAo
$50 cars q day toward the close OF
May. Growers on the Eastern Shore OF
Virginia estimated that about 70 per
cent of their crop was moving out by
truck.
The late crop Of cucumbers, largely
grown IN New York, may be increased
one fourth, according to growers inten-
tions around the middle Of May. The
total commercial acreage for the United
States this year Is estimated 23 per
cent larger than in 1929 and about 80
per cent larger than the five-year aver
age.
Plans for the watermelon acreage in
New Jersey. Delaware. Maryland and
Virginia include only slight increase
over last year, as reported around the
middle Of the month. For the whole
group of States shipping the late melon
crop the increase over last year may
reach more than one-fourth.
Reports Of paintings and intentions
to plant indicate that the total acreage
Of market tomatoes grown in the United
States this year may be 10 per cent
greater than in 1929 and 20 per cent
larger than the flvesyear average. In