The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-30
A REMARKABLE SEASON.

The drought has been SO disastrous to
the fruit and vegetable farms of New Jer-
sew and throughout the neighborhood OF
New York that it's effects are shown In the
CITY markets. Prices are considerably
higher than last year at this time, and
| it is by no means so easy to get good
articles.
| The peach crop Of Delaware and Mary
| land has been poor one comparatively
thouge it was injured by the severe weather
| of winter rather than by the drought OF
summer, The dry weather has, however
greatly damaged the peaches OF this state,
which are about due at the present time.
Early in the season the prospects of full
crop were encouraging, but the contlnu-
ance of the drought far into September will
much lessen the expected yield. The out
look for pears was also everywhere except
| tionally good two months ago. The trees
were loaded with fine fruit, and were Ill all
respects remarkably healthy. But the dry
weather has checked growth and much III
| iured the crop, which will not be more
| than half as large as that which was so CON
| fdenlly awaited. Moreover, the flavor or
the fruit has been impaired.
1t is the same with all sorts of vegetables,
| though perhaps they have suffered even
more from the drought. Some Of the new
Jersey truck farms, indeed, are now yield
| ing almost nothing, and on Long Island the
| injury done by the dry weather has been
| Iamentable. The vegetables raised are not
so rich in flavor as usual, and IN some places
they are too dry and poor to eat In many
| parts of New Jersey, especially the farms
cannot be watered by artificial means, for
no water is running in the streams, and the
wells are almost invariably dry. Water is
sold by the barrel and bucketful in some
places in the vicinity of this city, and else
where in the State the same thing is done
| for the first time in the experience OF the
| inhabitants On Long Island, where the
supply is more ample, water Is stun carteo
through the villages to satisfy the demand
for domestic purposes
/ All this means grievous loss to the Iar1l
ers, who viii long remember the terflbl'
drought of 1891 year otherwise memofahli
for its calanities Though rain has faileI
within the last few weeks, it has only beer
enough in many places to wet the surface O.
the ground, while the earth Is dry ane
parched to an exceptionally great depth
Potatoes have consequently suffered sadly
and in some regions the crop IS ruined. Ii
the western portion Of Pennsylvania the1
are so scare that they are now sent tner
from the vicinity OF Freehold, IN eeV
JERSEY, ana sou Ut fCl AASA P-t0~@
from dollar and half to two dollars
bushei.
Though it is an off year for apples, ther
promised to be q very fair crop OF tina
fruit, and it will yet be large il some re
pions if abundance of rain comes soou
But prices are likely to be high. owing [
the enormous demand from abroad for on
apples which has sprung up OF late years
During the last year Boston alone has sen
4 to Europe and elsewhere nlors than 6oo
4; 900 barrels.
The mill streams are so dry in man.
parts of the country that manufacture su
7 fers greatly. Straw paper and other mil
: have been shut down for weeks. The or
D ness of the pasturage during the who.
summer has been so great that butter WI
: be held at stiff prices. The hay crol
i too. has been likewise affected and ii
v prices win be higher than was expeclt
= in July.
\ It has indeed been a remarkable seaso
and one extraordinarily disastroua
e farmers in this State and in many other
l. The sun has burnt the earth, and Ii
O has DESTROYED the timber to an exception
"a extent N. 7. Sun