(i—r,anrfl«tpr Farming. Saturday. May 18.1968 FARM REPORT Temperatures during the first three weeks of April averaged well above normal, with a rever sal occurring during the final week when temperatures drop ped to below normal levels, ac cording to the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting Service. The only gen eral rainfall of the month oc curred during the final week, with total precipitation being be low normal. Despite the lack of rainfall received during April, moisture supplies are generally adequate. Weather conditions h f .\e been quite good for accom plishing field work, with plowing well along. Grains Winter grains came through the winter in generally good shape but growth has been pro g» easing slowly this spring be cause of dry topsoils early in Apnl then cold temperatures late in the month. The yield of ■winter wheat as of May 1 is ex pected to total 35 bushels per pc te, 1 bushel below the 1967 crop yield If achie\ed this yield v ill tesult in a production of 14,- 260 000 bushels 17 percent less than the 1967 production Plant ing ol oats made rapid progress duung April, with most of the crop planted by the end of the month Much of the oats crop is up and showing good color Growth has been slow, because ol diy topsoil during the early part of the month then the cold tempeiatures during the final v.eek The geneial rain received duung the final week of April was rery valuable in improving geimination of the crop Corn planting had begun in southern aieas of the State on a limited scale by the end of Apnl, al though some farmers were de laying until the soil warmed up Hay and Pasture Growth of hay and pasture piogressed at a fairly slow rate dunng April, being held back by dr> topsoil and cold tempera tuies Although pastures are still short, they are being util ized to a limited extent through out the State Fi ait Pennsylvania fruit ciops have progressed \eiy rapidly, being about two weeks ahead of nor mal Apple pollination during t'ne f.nal week of April was leduced because of cold temperatures, but peaches generally bloomed duting ideal pollinating condi tions Consideiable winter freeze damage to sour cherries became e\ ident as they came into bloom Some bud damage to grapes in Erie County 'S anticipated, as a result of frosts during late April Other Crops Strawbemes suffeied some frost damage during the last week in Apul, with many grow ers utilizing irrigation facilities* rn an attempt to limit the dam age Volume picking ot aspara gus began about mid-month, with the early warm temperatures pushing harvest along rapidly Milk Pioduction Although milk production in the Keystone State is still well below year ago levels, there was some recovery during April Pioduction per cow for April was 35 pounds below the 1967 figure, compared with a 50 pound difference for the previous month The April production per cow, at 790 pounds, was the same as the previous month—an increase in the rate of produc tion since the month was one day shorter The daily output per cow, at 26 33 pounds, was the highest since last June—follow ing the normal seasonal pattern Total milk production was 36 million pounds below a year ago a 6 percent drop This decrease was caused b} a 2 percent de- dine in cow numbers and a 4 percent drop in production. Weather conditions for the month were generally favorable for field work, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the f rst three weeks. These condi tions enabled dairymen to plow, plant oats, haul manure and fix fences.'Some cattle were turned out on pasture, but in general grass was too short for use. The last week was cool and wet, slowing outside work and crop growth, but definitely aiding the dry conditions which had pre vailed in nearly all sections of the State. The daily rate of feeding grain and concentrates was 13 6 lbs. per cow in April, .1 lb. more than March and .4 lb more than April 1967 The amount of gram fed to produce 100 lbs of milk decreas ed 1 3 lbs. from March, but was 3 1 lbs more than a year earlier. Egg Production Egg production totaled 265,- 000,000 in Pennsylvania during April This production on a daily basis was slightly higher than the March 1968 production but 1 percent less than a year earlier. Poultrymen had almost 2 per cent fewer layers on hand dur ing April compared with both a month earlier and a year earli er This decline is the usual sea sonal change from March to ARMOUR VERTAGREEN. FERTILIZERS CONSISim GEE RESUFS! Through the years, more and more experienced farmers have started their crops with Armour’s pro* mium-quality fertilizer... Vertagreen. And for just as many years their yields have been bigger • • • bet* ter... and more profitable. Thafs why Armour Vertagreen is known as the fertilizer that’s "Worth More Because It Does More.’* Eesults prove it! Let us show you how Vertagreen can contribute to your profits. SEE YOUR ARMOUR DEALER AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE GRADES 15-40-5 VERTAGREEN 15-1515 VERTAGREEN 12-24-24 VERTAGREEN 8-32-16 VERTAGREEN TOBACCO GRADES AVAILABLE 4-8-12 VERTAGREEN 7-7-7 VERTAGREEN OTHER GRADES AVAILABLE AT OUR BAG AND BULK WHSES. (SPREADER SERVICE AVAILABLE) ARMOUR BULK WHSE. Enos R. Buckwolter Jr. 2285 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster (At Smoketown on Rte. 340 Vz Mile East of 230 Bypass) Phone 394-1257 Bagged Goods & Pesticides Available at Armour Whse, J U Baker Whse 1133 Manheim Pike, Lancaster, Pa. Phone 393-9949 April. This is the lowest number on hand for April since 1041. The May 1 rate of lay at 63.5 percent was up 3 percent from the April 1 rate and 2 percent more than the May 1, 1967 rate of lay. The average price received by Penna. farmers for all eggs sold during April was 32 cents per doren, 2 cents less than the Mar. 1968 and 1 cent less than the April 1967 price. This price is an average of table eggs sold whole sale and retail, and hatching tggs. Penna. hatcherymen produced 5.9 million egg-type chicks from Jan. through Mar., 21 percent less than the first quarter in 1967. The United States egg-type hatch during the first quarter of 1968 totaled 125.1 million, down 18 percent from the same period in 1957. Eggs in cold storage on Mar. 31. 1968 totaled 2,156,000 cases. This was 3 percent more than the previous month, 88 percent more than a year earlier, and 94 percent more than the Mar.- 31 b-year average. Slaveholdings Slaveholding in the South be fore the Civil War was confined to a very small segment of the population Only 384,000 south erners, out of a population of more than eight million, held 3 fl million Negroes in slavery in 1860 GRANGE NEWS Fulton Grange #66 held their regular meeting May 13 at Oak ryn with Master, Clifford W. Hol loway Jr., conducting the busi ness session. First and Second Degrees were conferred upon six candidates. The Youth Committee will hold another dance for the commun ity young people May 18 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Fulton Grange Hall, “Living End” orchestra furnish ing the music. Six young people fiom Fulton Grange attended the Youth Conference at Fleetwood, Berks County, April 27. The* Grange is purchasing two tables with plastic coated tops and adjustable legs, suitable for use by the 4-H Sewing Club and Tor dining hall use. Nobody ever gets anything Lancaster County Pomona for nothing, but a lot of people Grange chorus will hold rehears- keep trying. High producing cows have high nutritional re quirements. Wayne Test Cow Ration has met the critical feeding tests at all levels of produc tion, with all kinds of roughage. Proved by ex acting Wayne Research Farm tests. Ingredient Quality and Ingredient Balance are combined in West Test Cow Ration to produce more milk, better growth and develop the fetus at the same time. Ask us for details. To Help Your Dairy Herd STAY OUT IM FRONT PARADISE SUPPLY Paradise HEISEY FARM SERVICE Lawn Ph: 653-5718 GRUBB SUPPLY CO. Elizabethtown HERSHEY BROS. Reinholds FOWL’S FEED SERVICE FF^n^RVrrß R D. 1, Quarryville fEEU SEKVIMi R. D. 2, Peach Bottom R- D. 2, Columbia MILLERSVILLE SUPPLY CO. Millersville DUTCHMAN FEED MILLS, INC. R. D. 1, Stevens H. M. STAUFFER & SONS, INC. Witmer al May 19, 8 p.m, at Fulton Grange Hall. May 21, 8 p.m. Fulton officers will fill the chairs at the county visitation meeting at Quarryville Fire Hall when Colerain Grange will be host and Salisbury Grange will present the pro gram. Degree rehearsal was set for May 22, 8 pm. Lancaster County Pomona Grange will be host for the Dis trict Pomona meeting May 25,9 p.m. at the Bart-Colerain Ele mentary School. Montgomery County will pill officers’ chairs and Chester-Delaware and Low er Bucks counties will present the program. The next regular meeting of Fulton Grange will be held May 27 when Third and Fourth De grees will be conferred. H. JACOB HOOBER Intercourse, Pa. WHITE OAK MILL ft. D. 4, Manheita ROHRER’S MILL R. D. 1, Ronks C. E. SAUDER & SONS R D. 1, East Earl