Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-08
CROP REPORT
FOR SEASON
PESSIMISTIC
MA
Estimates for 1891 Are
Made Public; Pre-
dict Low Prices

ulct Low Prices
"A generally pessimlstic note Is
sounded throughout the 1891 crop
estimate report issued BY the Unit
ed states Department Of Agricul-
turn.
The report. made public late this
week. presents cutIooks on potato.
onlon; cabbage, watermelon, straw
berry. tomato and cantaloupe crops.
considering the strong possible
Ivy of higher yields In the cabbage
acreages," the report said, there Is
little prospect that growers In the
late states viii receive higher prices
IN 1891 unless acreage IS reduced
and there Is an appreciable i'm
progeuent In general business con-
ditions.
~@DDase
The early cabbage acreage this
year IN Texas. California, Florida,
and Louisiana has increased about
one-third. q record planting for this
group. Production Is forecast at
22l. 200 tons, OK more than half
slightly greater than the record
1879 crop for which growers receiv-
ed an average price nearly so per
cent below the 1880 price.
Increased supplies IN potatoes In
prospect In the 1891 crop year will
probably more than offset any inn
prCvemcnt In demand II growers
respond as they usually do to po-
tato prices. or II they plant the in
creased acreage now reported as
intended. IL was said
Potatoes
The 1891 acreage Is likely to be 9
per cent greater than last year, and
such an increase, IL carried out,
would mean q total Of 1888 900 acres
and with normal yields total pro-
duction would be approximately AL
100000 bushels. This would prac-
tically equal the large crop OF 1924,
but would be under the record crop
1928 of 465, 100000 bushels.
Stocks on hand Jan. !, 1880, in
0ALMAE AAAAH L444 AELAA4A2 AALEA JAIL 4
1881 may be about equal 70 those
after Jan. !, 1880. Competing sup
plies from the south are likely 20
be greater than those OF 1890" the
report continued.
During the first three weeks In
January, movements were heavier
than last year at the same time.
In referring TO onions. the report
stated that the 1891 intermediate
season Is quite likely to open at a
lower price level than In 1880. be-
cause Of the previous effect Of heavy
supplies OF storage onions and the
prospective large crop Of early on
ions.
The 1880 season was character
lied by the largest crop Of onions
ever produced and by a record low
price received by growers. IN view
OF the difficulty In marketing a
crop as large as that Of last year,
total acreage In the late crop
states particularly should be- re-
duced." the department Of agricul-
kure advised.
with large storage holdings at
high levels, the profitable market
ing OF q large crop of Bermuda and
Creole onions will be difficult, the
thinks.
Tomatoes
Regarding the tomato crou. a re-
ductiOn tn total acreage was thought
advisable.
Total carlot shipments OF fresh
tomatoes during 1880 broke all rec
OrdS. The Sharpest increases over
the 1929 record we're made in Texas,
New Jersey, Indiana and northern
and central California. Texas alone
forwarded $500 cars, or which 1000
moved during June, demoralizlng
the market at that time. Prices were
Influenced by both heavy produc-
ton and business depression which
lowered the price level OF farm pro-
ducts generally
The fall-cr0p acreage Of tomatoes
in Florida and southern Texas last
year was n per cent greater than
the harvested acreage IN the fall OF
1929 and production was increased
81 per cent.
The tomato estimated terminated
with the following warning: ION
the assumption Of average Yields In
1891, the paintings In second early.
intermediate and late states could
well be reduced. except in localities
where growers enjoy a favorable ST.
tuation with respect to their mar
kets."
Other Crops
Cantaloupe prices will probably
be lower than last year in the early
sections, and slightly less serious in
the intermediate states. Prices will
not be materially depressed in the
late states.
Unless 1881 watermelon acreage
reduced from the record plant
OK 1880, the returns may be as
unsatisfactory as last year. the re-
port warns. It added that the money
returns from the watermelon crop
& largely dependent upon the wea-
Their conditions In the consuming
markets. and upon the quality OF
the melons. Barring the uncertain
effect OF these factors upon prices,
The demand for watermelons. the
eason win probably be de-
pressed somewhat by the general
business situation.
The only bright spot In the re-
1crt was the strawberry estimate.
pointed out that due TO de-
smaller acreage the market
not be swamped and early
would profit by conditions
Urban buying capacity is expected
absorb early supply Of berries at
relatively coed prices, II was pre-
The report was made by q. 10.
Clark, truck crop estimator. Austin.