The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-08
Low Temperatures Retard
Growth And High Winds,
Frost Cause Damage
BY GUY A. CALDWELL
General Agricultural Agent
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad On.


According to the latest available
information, weather conditions
during the first half of March
were unfavorable for truck crops
in the southern states. Low tenn
peratures retarded growth general
[ly while high winds and frost
caused some damage to tender
vegetables in south Florida. Light
frost damage was also reported
in Alabama.
Observation-Disclosures asparagus
is ten days late with cutting be-
ginning this year about March 20.
In South Carolina shipments will
not become general before March
rs nor heavy until about April 1.
However, a normal yield is expect
ed.
SNAP BEANS-High winds on
March 9 with some frost on the
morning Of the 10th severely in
jured the Lake Okeechobee, Fla,
crop and caused some loss in acre
age, total damage amounting to
probably so per cent. In the Pom.
PIANO section there was no frost
damage but loss from wind will
amount to from one.half to one
third. Snap beans in Dade county
and Pompano beans which were
in the ground during the freeze or
planted Immediately after the
freeze will begin picking about
April i. In sections farther north,
Polk and Orange counties will be
shipping beans beginning about
April /, while they are just COM
ing up in Marion and Levy coun.
ties and are being planted in Ala
chua. In Texas most of the spring
crop of snap beans is produced in
the lower valley. Planting Of the
crop was delayed from two to
three weeks and conditions have
not been favorable any time since
planting. Harvesting usually starts
about March Is and earlier condi.
tons indicated some production
around April 1 but this date may
now be a few days later and yields
are expected to be very light. In
South Carolina planting is nearing
completion. March 1S).
CABBAGE Cabbage continues
to move from all sections Of Flor.
ida, but the peak of the movement
is already over (March 18), al.
though it is expected to continue
to April rs or ever later. In Texas
all commercial cabbage areas made
very little progress during the
first half of March. This condition
is definitely unfavorable for the sup.
ply of cabbage for the remainder of
the season since the crop has not been
favored with much rain since the
freeze. The Lower Valley area is
harvesting a large per cent OF
small heads that will materially
reduce tonnage and production in
the Coastal Bend is now expected
to be almost negligible. The mid.
March advance in cabbage prices
will result in a more rapid dis.
appearance and lower tonnage than
had been expected. Supplies dur.
ing April may now be very limited.
Cabbage movement in South Caro-.
lima is expected to begin about
April 1 with heavy shipping from
the 10th to 18th. Severe January
cold and subsequent below average
temperature adversely affected the
crop. Heads are small with some
seeders showing and the yield is
expected to be about rs per cent
less than usual. South Georgia
cabbage Is in poor condition with
low yields expected. Light move.
ment starts in early April.
CUCUMBERs - Cucumbers are
coming up slowly in Hardee coun.
ty, Fla. In Sumter county they
are late, while Orange county had
considerable replanting. A few Gu.
cumers are expected as early as
April / but with movement very
light until the 10th. In Alabama
a few early cucumbers are up,
some Of which are damaged by
frost. The Texas crop is poor due
to lack Of rain and mid-March
wind damage. Paintings are about
completed in south Georgia.
LETTUCE Iceberg lettuce is
being grown in the coastal coun-
ties of Georgia in a%ppreciable
quantities this year. From 300 to
400 acres have been planted at
Ways Station, Darien, Savannah,
and .Woodbine. In South Carolina,