Smyrna times., 1930-07-23
CROP CONDITIONS IN STATE
LITTLE AFFECTED BY DROUGHT

IuHLE AFFECTED BY DROUGHT
WHILE IN OTHER PARTS OF
COUNTRY CROPS ARE RUINED
Lawns and Fields of Grass Show
Need of Rain MOstly-Fruit and
Produce Still Looks Promising
Delaware agriculturists have not
been affected to such a serious ex-
tent as farmers in other parts of
the country by the drought that is
bothering produce growing. In
other parts of the country, crops
have been ruined, causing heavy
loss to the growers. In this State,
growing crops have been affected
to some extent but fruit and pro-
duce growers will still profit, ac-
cording to reports. Lawns are suf-
fering severely here from the want
of rain. Grass is turning brown
and gives burned-up appearance,
and golf courses are among the
sufferers. This condition exists
throughout the State. Thought
the continued dry weather which
prevailed in most sections of the
State until two weeks ago, did con-
siderable damage, the loss to Del
aware growers is not so great as
expected. In the past two weeks
there has been enough rain in most
portions of the State to keep the
crops growing. Tomatoes were
considerably affected and in some
| places it was necessary for the
/ growers to replant but tomatoes
are coming along well at this time
Apple Crop is Being Harvested
| What Delaware is now most in
terested in is the apple crop, a
crop in which Delaware excels.
/ Growers are doing well on the ap-
pie crop for the simple reason that
they are using scientific methods
of handling. At present apple
shipments are running from 35 to
So carloads a day. The fruit which
/ is shipped is high class fruit, none
less than two inches in diameter
and all inspected and certified as
\ to size, quality and condition. At
present sixteen inspectors under
/ the direction of w. t. Derlckson,
director of markets for the State
Board Of Agriculture, are making
inspections at the shipping points.
| Apple in large quantities are being
shipped from Wyoming, Bridge
vile, Dover. Woodside, Nassau, and
Millsboro. The apples which are
\ less than two inches in diameter
are not being picked but are al
lowed to remain upon the trees.
There are great numbers of them
because the dry weather had the
effect of stunting the growth Of a
considerable portion of the fruit.
Growers have found that it does
not pay to pick these apples and
\ they are therefore being allowed
Y to remain on the trees until they
Y fall off 1t is pointed out that it
costs just. as much to pick, haul
and pack the small apples as it
I does the larger ones and the prices
obtained in the markets for this
quality of fruit does not warrant
\ the expense. In addition it is
pointed out that if these small ap-
pies were marketed the price
would be so low that the grower
would lose money and the price of
the good apples would also be af-
/ fected
I Wheat is Fair But Price is Low
The dry weather did not mater
tally affect the wheat crop except
to cause the wheat to ripen earlier
than usual. The yield is fair and
the wheat is good quality but the
price is the lowest in many years
and farmers are only being offered
from rs to so cents per busfel for
their crop. There are comparative
/ ly few white potatoes raised in
Delaware for market so that the
/ State is not materially affected by
the potato crop. The sweet potato
crop is heavy and is practically as
large as last year. The price is
not as good as last year but the
yield will be profitable. The
blackberry crop and the buckle
berry crops are not expected to
net much to the farmer who raises
them. The huckleberry crop is
over and in some places the black
berry crop is over. The yield was
small but those who had berries
got good prices. Truck crops have
suffered from the drought but not
to the extent that had been ex-
pected.