134 



ANNUAL REPORT OP THE 



Off. Doc. 



REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON 

 THE CONDITION OF CROPS, NOVEMBER 1, 1914 



The following report is compiled from the returns received from 

 the official correspondents of the Department: 



Wheat — Estimated area sown last fall 1,312,000 acres 



Wheat — Sown this fall compared with last 



year, 101 per cent. 



Wheat — Estimated area seeded for harvest 



of 1915, 1,825.120 acres. 



Wlieat — Condition compared with an aver- 

 age, 94 })er cent. 



Wheat — Average date of seeding September 25. 



Rye — ^Estimated area sown last fall, 280,000 acres. 



Rye — Sown this fall compared with last 



3'^ear, 97 per cent. 



R3^e — Estimated area seeded for harvest of 



1915 .' 271,600 acres. 



Rye — ^Condition compared with an average,. 94 per cent. 



Corn — Prospect compared with an average 



yield, 99 per cent. 



Buckwheat — ^Prospect compared with an av- 

 erage yield, 85 per cent. 



Cloverseed — Prospect compared with an 



average yield, 80 per cent. 



Potatoes — Estimated area planted 268,000 acres. 



Potatoes — Average product per acre 106 bushels. 



Potatoes — Total estimated production, .... 28,408.000 bushels. 



Potatoes — Affected by rot, 6 per cent. 



Hogs — Condition comj)ared with an average, 98 per cent. 



Hogs— Number to be fattened compared with 



1913, 96 per cent. 



REVIEW OF CROP CONDITIONS, NOVEMBER. 1. 1914 



The months of August, September and October were unfavorable 

 for crops in Pennsylvania. Our reports show that only one per cent, 

 more wheat was sown this fall than last year. This would only in- 

 crease the acreage about 13,120 acres. Because of the encouraging 

 outlook for advanced prices in wheat, it was the intention and desire 

 of the farmers of this State to sow a much larger area, but the long 

 drought prevented plowing and putting the ground in proper con- 

 dition for seeding. The wheat was sown very late this fall for two 

 reasons, first, the ground could not be gotten in proper condition 

 because of the drought, and, second, to evade the ravages of the Hes 

 sian fly. The average date for sowing wheat in this State was Sep- 

 tember 25. The average date for sowing in the northern tier of coun- 

 ties was September 16 and in the southern tier October 2. 



The estimated acreage of rye sown for the harvest of 1915 is ap- 

 proximately three per cent, less than harvested last year. Two things 

 served to keep the rye area nearly up to last year. One was the 

 ground could not be gotten in order in time to seed to wheat, and 

 rye was soavu instead; and the other was, in sections where the fly 

 was particularly bad last year in wheat, more rye was sown this 

 vear in lieu thereof, 



