Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-07-24
STATE NEWS.

Supplementary returns received
since the early days in July concern
ing the hay crop in this State are to
the effect that the yield of this staple
product will be from 10 to 20 per cent
greater, according to locality, than
was promised at the time the original
estimate was prepared. Up to July A
but very small percentage of the hay
crop had been secured, and standing
grass in nearly every county was light
compared to the growth at the same
1period in previous years. The actual
product at that time was from 30 to 30
per cent. less than Il full crop. During
the past two weeks there has been q
marked improvement throughout the
State in the condition of meadows and
grass lands. Copious rains have fallen,
and the wet season has been succeeded
by a hot spell. This period has been
a veritable growing" season, and
grass on low lands, river meadows and
newly seeded pieces has thickened up
at the bottom and grown at the top
to an appreciable degree. Standing
grass which had reached maturity and
fields which had been blighted by the
drouth have not been materially i'm
proved by recent rains. The hayinS
season is from ten days to fortnight
later than usual. At this date prob
ably not more than half of the crop
has been secured. The growth of the
grass during the last two weeks has
doubtless added nearly one-fourth to
the total product, and will bring the
yield up to nearly that of the average
crop for the last decade. The growth
of grass SO late in the season is almost
unprecedented, and will bring the
crop of the present season up to
nearly 100000 tons, an increase of
some 100000 tons over the yield prom
ised early in Jnly. There is no doubt
that il the hot dry spell that prevailed
for the last three weeks in June had
continued through July the hay crop
would have been the lightest for years
and the total yield less by 100000 tons
than is now promised. The same
causes that have contributed to i'm
prove the quantity of the hay crop
have also conduced to the growth OF
other crops. Corn, potatoes and grain
have started up finely and promise a
good harvest. Pasture lands have be-
come green again, and the hills and
valleys are verdure clad as in June.
i Mary McDonough of Rutland, 70
years old, fell down stairs last Satur-
day and broke her skull. She died in
a few hours.
Samuel s. Brewer of Mendon, Ga
years old, hanged himself last Satur.
day. No cause known.
Arthur Leonard, IS years old, was
drowned Monday while bathing in
Milestone Brook near Brattleboro.
Two young ladies with their brother
went into the stream and brought out
the body, but too late to resuscltate.
The Orleans association of Congre.
gational ministers met at Newport last
Tuesday.
The Passumpsic savings bank at st.
Johnsbury has declared semi-annual
dividend of IA per cent, amounting
to $2S,266. The deposits amount to
81, 1879 and the depositols number
51SS. The present surplus is $11, 500
and undivided profits after paying
dividend are $16,443.
The committee appointed by the last
Legislature have arranged to build a
monument at Clarendon to Judge Har.
rington, and it will be dedicated in
the fall. Many early anti.slavery rep
resentatives will be invited.