Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-06
Unusual MeteOrOlOgy.

FALLS CHURCH, VA, December 9Th, 1879.
Efitor Sar:-The growing season just closing
has been so very remarkable as to challenge
retrospeetion and some reflection. Early In the
same, say April, 1t was cool and dry, and seemed
to indicate a dry season. weather so cool as to
delay later than usual the transplantfng of to-
matoes. TranSplanted some April 2Sth. These
were killed May 3d. when In frosty localities
peach blossoms were killed. Peach trees bios
Somed one month later than the year before
Had rather hard frost May 9TH and some slight
ones for two or three days Ground had become
very dry when 1t began to rain, the 10th OF May,
18th, 10Th, 25th and Both days Of May, and again
June 2d, 9Th, 18th and 18th, but during this
period not as much nor nothing approaching
what usually falls about that portion OF the year
Drought following, we had mere sprnkling show
ers June 10Th. 22d 25th July 4th 18th 9th 10th 11th
a3d, 4th 25th, but these little drilling showers
were rather injurious than otherwise. On the
26th the rain began to fall in earnest. Down to
this time all crops had suffered extremely, and
especially corn. There were many fields con-
region that were thought to be injured beyond
help, or even partial restoration. l had late
planted corn that rotted every day for weeks,
foot high. with stalks not larger than pipe
stem. did not deem 1t worth anything, but
when the rains came they were so frequent,
plentiful and genial that my spindling corn
made good partial crop, and the country has
fair yield many farmers having a rather extra
crop. Here are facts worth remembering. This
NdIul- 1dlnN ItllCu CUUlluutu uuIll ABOUT ISL OF
September, during which corn grew as fast as
ever saw 1t. September Sd had a drilling rain.
and from then weather began to grow dryer and
dryer, affording an occasional slight shower
soaking and end the drought. Cut-worms
put in an appearance about the 10th of
nips. do not remember to have seen
them In the autumn before. September 26th
there was slight frost and another on the
morning OF 9th, vegetation not injured
pycpDt in the western and lower
fax county. A day or two after these frosts the
weather became mild, and there was summer
another slight frost. 1t was asserted that frost
was perceptible on the 21St; also rained on the
22d, which was followed by an extreme change
OF temperature, a very heavy frost being the
winds blew thereafter daily until the 4th of
Nov when ice made. Temperature in MORN
Of Nov. 4th, but very slight fall. From the 9Th
to the 10th weather delightful. The 22d temper
AZURE as low as 16o. | have been thus partlcu-
lar in giving the weather conditions OF the
three seasons because they have been remarka-
bly, unusual The growing season OF 1879 has
been one, meteOrologically considered, OF the
most marked extremes. We have had two dis
tinct droughts OF great length and great sever
fty, and the last one still aff1lctS the earth NJ
merOuS wells which have been deemed never
falling now afford no water supply, and their
owners are subjected TO great Inconvenience
thereat.
The fall has been the poorest for seeding 1
nave knoWn Nneat came up very unevenly,
and 1t now appears the poorest that have
known in this region. 1t gives poor promise for
crop.
Mr. Isaac CrOSSmun, one OF our best farmers,
harvested from five acres of ground forty BUSH
els OF wheat TO the acre. This Is a very remark
able yield for this region.
The season has been a very bad one for roots
With considerably more ground Sowed to long
red and yellow, yellow globe, Lanes imperial
Sugar. and Ktnner beetS, have less number
OF bushels than last year. And so OF turnipS.
The latter comprising the Russia, ruta bagas,
white Norfolk and yellow Aberdeens, are ali
failures.
The old Baptist church which some three
years ago was repaired and painted, and used
by the jefferson Institute, has been repainted
this fall, new seated the Baptist society revived
and the church rC- iedi :ated T. SA