Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-29
HOT WEATHER AND DROUGHT.

THE DROUGHT CONFINED TO THIS sFcrros-ruE
STORMS PASS NORTH OF Us-No INDICATIONS OF AN
HOT WEATHER
"Yes, We have Just missed rain every tine said
an o0ictal ut the signal Office this morning "Fcr
the past two weeks storms have been originating
out in the northwest but In their passage eastward
they have Invariably gone too far north TO benent
US any. The drought is not very extensive. being
confined to this region. All through the lake re-
gions and the southwest there have been scme very
heavy rainfalls OF late"
"What has become OF the eQuinoctial Storm
asked TBB STAR reporter.
Nothing has been seen OF II so far. Generally
in september there is very heavy storm in the
gull which produces heavy northeast winds In this
locality. and then comes the equinoctial Storm but
mat gulf storm has given no signs yet although
there has been rain In that vicinity
wen, what are the chances for our getting some
wet weather. asked the reporter
"Iou see by the map here that there is a low
barometer in Colorado which will bring rain as ft
passes eastward, but IL may also go too far north
Aren't We having unusually warm weather for
this time OF the year,"
.oh, yes; the temperature is above normal for
IBIS month all through the middle Atlantic states
This is caused by condition OF affairs very similar
to That which caused such excessively hot weather
in Colorado, with a high In North Carolina,
causing the hot southerly winds"
"You can't give The STAR any encouragement
ABOUT break in the weather then?-
NO; there is nothing now TO base a prediction
upon, although there is chance we VIII get a
wetting, and hope It Will be soon.n
THE EFFECT ON PRODUCE.
Farmers living within a radius of 25 or so miles
| OF this city and who come to the Washington
markets, report most discouraging condition OF
ana1rs. The crop OF late vegetables is threatened
with entire destruction. In case OF rains coming
cpeer, .here may be prospect OF re
center market stated to a STAR reporter that he
was already getting his potatoes from the east.
no.
He thought the chances were that consumers
would nave TO pay $3.50 10 s. bushel for potatoes
that" continued the dealer picking up an ear out
or pile on the floor beside him. THAT ear ought
10 oe Filled out TO the end, but you SEE 1t is
not more than two-thirds full" AS he spoke he
crushed the husk with his hand and showed that
part OF IL was empty. Pears about here are all
gone. and apples have not their usual size. There
are watermelons, the best that are brought here
and they are not half their usual size great many
were pulled green, on account OF the drought.
These melons are ripe, but they have not the deli
cious flavor that melons have in better seasons
NOW look at those cabbageS," continued the
dealer, turning over several small withered speci-
mems. NIheSe are fine samples OF the crop. Not
only is the produce poor, but IL is scanty There
Is not half the amount OF truck being brought to
the market that there should be- a. this season.
Dealers Will have to get large portion OF their
supplies elsewhere, and, OF course the extra cost
for freight viii make prices high"
wholesale dealers with whom a STAR reporter
talked, said that the drought had not yet had
much effect on prices. When there was a good
crop ol potatoes In lnlS vicinity. one dealer said,
IL made difference OF about five or ten cents
on bushel. The country was so large though
that there was always surplus somewhere, so
That the farmer and not the consumer is the one
that VIII suffer Chiefly by the drought One
gentleman at the market who makes frequent
business trips about the country says the fields are
covered With dust, and the late vegetables are. in
many cases burned and withered beyond recovery.
Even the hens, he said, are affected anu Will not
lay, consequently eggs have gone up 10 thirty
cents dozen. The ground In some places seems
10 De burned Into hard crust, which IL is hard TO
open with pick. Vegetables cannot grow where
the SOIL Is In such a condition. IL Is thought 1t
VIII take Long and heavy rain to have much
eject on produce
TIE DROUGHT IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.
The gloomiest accounts are received from all over
the Southside section OF Virginia as to the condition
OF the crops, and the serious damages caused by the
protracted drought. From the peanut counties it
Is learned that The crop this year viii hardly be
0ne-hah the average From the tobacco counties
the reports come or injury that will shorten the
crop fully One-third Much or that which will be
saved will be injured by burning. The late corn
is almost totally ruined. and the fodder OF the
early crop Is one-haf lost. The potato crop is
short and inferior Many OF the small streams
have ceased TO flow, and in the larger ones the
water is almost unprecedentedly low. PRAYERS
were oaered in the churches at Petersburg yester-
day for rain.
The reservoir which supplies Frederick Md. with
water Is beginning to get very low on account OF
the drought, and tires are being reported all over
the county,