Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-08
CROP REPORT
FOR SEASON
PESSIMISTIC
Estimates for 1881 Are
Made Public; Pre-
dict Low Prices

A generally pessimistic note is
sounded throughout the 1881 crop
estimate report issued by the Unit
ed States Department Of Agricul-
ture.
The report. made public late this
week, presents outlooks on potato
onion, cabbage. watermelon. straw
berry, tomato and cantaEoupe crops.
considering the strong POSSIBLE
ity Of higher yields in the cabbage
acreages." the report said, there Is
little prospect that growers IN the
late states will receive higher prices
in 1881 unless acreage Is reduced
and there is an appreciabie i'm
provement In general business con-
ditions.
Cabbage
The early cabbage acreage this
year in Texas, California, Florida,
and Louisiana has increased about
one-third. a record planting for this
group. Production Is forecast at
81, 700 tons, or more than hall
again as large as IN 1880, and
slightly greater than the record
1929 crop for which growers receiv-
ed an average price nearly 90 per
cent below the 1880 price.
Increased supplies N potatoes IN
prospect In the 1881 crop year will
probably more than offset any m
provement in demand II growers
respond as they usually do TO POI
tato prices. or If they plant the in
creased acreage now reported as
intended. 1t was said.
Potatoes
The 1881 acreage is likely 10 be 6
per cent greater than last year, and
such an increase, II carried out,
would mean q total 81 1888 900 acres
and with normal yields total pro-
duction would be approximately al
0O0,0 900 bushels. This would prac-
tically equal the large crop Of 1924,
but would be under the record crop
1923 Of ass. 000. 600 bushels.
Stocks on hand Jan. /. 1880, in
dictate that marketingS after Jan. j
1881 may be about equal 70 those
after Jan. !, 1880. Competing sup
plies from the south are likely TO
be greater than those OF 1885, the
report continued.
During the first three weeks in
January, movements were heavier
than last year at the same time.
Onions
In referring to onions. the report
stated that the 1881 intermediate
season Is quite likely 10 open at q
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 ?
ions.
The 1880 season was character
tied 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-
ture advised.
With large storage holdings at
high levels. the profitable market
ing Of a large crop Of Bermuda and
Creole onions will be difficult, the
department thinks.
Tomatoes
Regarding the tomato crop, a re-
duetion in total acreage was thought
advisable.
Total carlot shipments or fresh
tomatoes during 1890 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, d~emoralizing
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-crop acreage or tomatoes
in Florida and southern Texas last
year was III per cent greater than
the harvested acreage in the fall OF
1929 and production was increased
g. per cent.
The tomato estimated terminated
with the following warning: ION
the assumption Of average yields IN
1881, the paintings IN second early.
intermediate and late states could
well be reduced. except in localities
where growers enjoy a favorable sir
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
Is reduced from the record plant
ings OF 1880. the returns may be as
unsatisfactory as last year. the re-
port warns. II added that the money
returns from the watermelon crop
is 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
coming season viii probably be de-
pressed somewhat by the general
business situation.
The only bright spot in the re-
port was the strawberry estimate,
which pointed out that due to de-
cidedly smaller acreage the market
would not be sWamped and early
would profit bv conditions.
Urban buying capacity is expected
to absorb early supply Of berries at
relatively good prices. It was pre-
The report was made By q. ID. ,
truck crop estimator, Austin.