The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1883-06-13
COMMUNICATIONS.
ALAMANcE COUNTY, n. c.
Mr.. Editor:

ALAMANCE COUNTY, n. L.
Mr.. Editor:
The inquiry for your Alamance cor
respondent reminds him of neglec.
ted duty which he now endeavors to
perform. "Did you ever see such
weather at this time of the year," is
the frequent inquiry. We answer
quite often. In the year 1915 there
was no rain in this section of the
State from early in March until after
the mi1dle of July. Large mill
streams ceased to flow, and such was
the difficulty in getting grinding thai
many used furmenty. (often called
fermity). This dish is prepared by
soaking wheat in scalding water until
the bran skins off, and then cooking
like rice.
On the mornings Of the Sth and 9th
Of May, cherries were beginning to
ripen; May wheat (much down at
that time) was in bloom; the winter
wheat was just beginning to head on
good lots ice formed and there were
heavy black frosts, killing everything
but winter wheat. Buzzards flew over
the lots Of May wheat.
On the 9th of June another frost
killed down corn, where there was
moisture enough for a frost, which
wa5 only along the branches and
creeks. 1t was so cold during harvest
that the farmers wore their heavy
wooden clothes in the harvest field
The spring Of 1851 was also cold.
The leaves on the trees were killed
! when half grown.
e In 1876 it was cold and dry in the
: early part Of the spring and summer,
5 and an almost entire failure of tobacco
e plants in this section, and plants far
e scarcer then than now.
In 1sS1-no plants was set In this VI
b cinity until about the 22nd Of May.
= Summer very dry and cool and nearly
}. all the plants frosted.
: As far back as 1s49, very little to
1 bacco was planted in AlamancC
J, county. So, there was little COM
u plant about setting plants, except
l. cabbage and potatoes. Seasons were
% made By wetting the hill, &c.
r Did you have much rain on Thurs
o day last, May 3lst? We answer
'e West Of Haw river, very little; Eastern
b half of Alamance and down Pea
r. Ridge into Person county, about d
8. half season. Farmers, however, sci
y al the plants they could command
'' On Saturday night a good drizzling
u rain set in, which will insure their liz
. ing.
T. The bad winter and spring and then
II the big freshet, put farmers behind
l. with their work. For long periot
the ground was too wet to pillow or hau
u out manure, and then IL was puddled
u by the hard rain and hardened b.,
% drought aud could not be prepared fol
. setting, and now the farmers are coin
q PEELED to attend to their other crops
y We have known good tobacco grow
d that was set rs late as the 9Th ofJuly
but frost did not come that year ill
?. the 18th Of Nov. The season isnov
h too far advanced TO set, grow, mature
u aud cure a large cropOf tobacco be
y fore frost. Altogether the outlook for 4
y good crop Of tobacco isnot good, huI
u rapidly improving. Some farmer'
D, who have failed in plants. planted
v cotton. The weather has been too dry
It for Il TO come up. As q matter Of
l. course the season Is too short now for d
n cotton crop to mature. The numerous
Is cotton factories lave given quite ar
y impetus to the cultivation Of cotton in
- ali Southern Alamance and Orange.
d The walls ofthe Sidney cotton mill.
y IL Graham are completed. A large
T. factory will be put upat Company
T. shops. 1t l. also reported that Col
r Thos. Holt will build large factory