Milford chronicle., 1930-07-11
GROWING CROPS
BENEFITED THE
WAR M WEATHER
Plenty Of CantalOupes
Are On The Market
Lettuce Shipments Are
Heavy.

Growing crops of fruits and Vege-
tables were helped considerably by
the warm shoWery weather OF late
June and early July Improvement
seems to have been quite general in
the section from Virginia north
ward to New York and New Jersey.
Plenty of cantaloupes are on the
market, possibly too many OF them
from the growers point of view dur
ing July and August. Producers in
the far western states have planted
more than ever before. Liberal acre
age was the rule throughout the
country although one of the surpris-
ing features was the 5 per cent
lighter planting in the region from
New Jersey west to Colorado. But
New Jersey planted the same area
to cantaloupes as last year. Mary
land and Delaware increased by a
few hundred acres each. These three
states are the main sources of fresh
eastern cantaloupes for the large
markets of this region during July
and August. The crop is reported
doing we'll in all three states and
the output should exceed that of last
ear because growers appear to
have met less trouble this season
from drought and diseases. Prevail
ence of blight has been a serious
weakness in the eastern market reg
ion, affecting quantity and market
quality of the crop. Growers who
spray thoroughly and often were
able to produce good cantaloupes in
quantity last season and the prac-
tice of careful spraying seems to be
on the increase.
There is also some agitation for
more grading and use of crates of
uniform size. The present supplies
of cantaloupes are mainly from the
Southwest, also a dozen or more car
lots daily from Georgia and South
Carolina. Carolina fruit is selling at
1925 to $2.75 per standard crate in
large eastern markets. Supplies are
light to moderate in consuming CEN
ters and demand in nearly every
market is fairly good because OF the
limited supply of many other fruits;
Supplies of potatoes are expected
to continue rather liberal TINS
month because of more or less in
crease in production in leading cas-
tern and midwestern early shipping
sections. Some far western shipping
districts also will begin before the
end of the month. Recent rains may
increase production in some eastern
areas above original estimates, buJ
at present the outlook is for only
moderate supplies compared with
average seasons eve nthOugh there
is an increase over the light pro
duction of 1929. The present ship
ments are usually at the rate OF 7OU
to 1000 carlots daily. Often more
than half the daily carlot movement
is from eastern Virginia and nearly
all eastern markets report moderate
sunnlies. Demand is slow IN most
eastern cities but rather active IN
Roston. There are still some old po-
tatoes offered in half dozen OF the
large markets at a price around 81
ner 100 pounds. The price of Virgin
ia notatoes ranges $500 to $500 IN
the large consuming centers OF the
East. Price has eased off about Zoc
a barrel this week owing to large
shinments arriving or on the way.
The neach markets have shown
slowly declining tendency for late
lime and early July and the aver
age price in northern markets Is
about 75c a bushel under the level
of early July, 1929. The principal
eastern cities report supplies mod
crate and demand fair to good. De-
clines on Georgia varieties amount
to about 25c average the first week
of July and the range on prices Is
$3.50 to 1925 per 6-basket carrier
Much of the stock at the lower
nrice includes some fruit of poor TO
ordinary quality. Prices in Georgia
producing sections have held ABOUT
the same as in late June at SLID 10
5000 per carrier but demand IS
slow this week at shipping points
and the market dull. Some Georgia
Bells sold at So or more in northern
cities. Later varieties are expected
to be in the market soon.
A few apples from Delaware
Maryland and Virginia and eastern
New York appeared in the large
markets early in July. They sold
mostly at $500 to $3.50 a bushel.
Daily shipments at present amount
to only 25 to so carloads.
Watermelons are in liberal sup
ply and some markets report heavy
receipts in early July with demand
limited. Prices show the usual
slightly downward tendency with
the progress of the season. Georgia
is now the leading source of supply,
as it usually in this month. Georgia
melons wholesale at 25 to 75c for
medium to large sizes in principal
eastern markets. Shippers in south
ern Georgia are receiving only $50
to SIS for a carload for large part
of the output. Many holders were
dissatisfied and shipped their melons
to markets to be sold on arrival.
Demand was improving a little
lust before the holidays.
Lettuce shipments from New York
are coming forward at the rate OF
25 to 80 cars per day, which is
about one-fourth of the total lettuce
movement at present. Moderate sup
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