The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-02
WEATHER AND CROPS.
Rain Badly Needed in Most of the Corn States
"A Warm and Dry Week.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-The following is
the weather-crop bulletin for the week
ended Saturday, Aug. 81. 1889, issued by the
Signal Office:
The. week ending Aug. 81 has been
slightly cooler than usual in the Southern,
Middle Atlantic and New England States.
The daily temperature in the. South At.
lantic and eastern portion OF the CUR
States ranged from to g degrees below the
average of the week. In the Northwest;
including the States of the Missouri and
lake region. the week was unusually warm.
the daily temperature from Lake Michigan
west to the Missouri valley ranging from
to degrees above the normal. Ihe tenn
perature for the season from Jan. to Aug:
81 has been slightly below the average OF
previous years. from the lake region south
ward to the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts.
within which area the season is
slightly retarded. 1t has been warmer In
New England, New York and Pennsylvania,
and generally throughout the States west
of the Mississippi river. the greatest excess
in temperature occurring in Dakota and
adjoining States, where the daily temper,
ature for the entire period has been from -
to 40 above normal.
There has been much less rain than
usual throughout the country during the
week. an excess of precipitation occurring
only in Rhode Island, southern Virginia
aud portions of North and South Carolina
and western Florida. Well-distributed
showers occurred generally along the At
lantic and east Gulf coasts, and in Georgia
and East Tennessee. Very light local rains
were reported from. the upper lake region
and the Northwest. but no rain occurred IN
ern Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas. West Ten
nessee, northern Alabama and Mis-
sissippi. The seasonal rainfall con-
Times in excess, from New York
souri, valley southwark to Texas. The en-
tire cotton region has received more than
80 per cent. of the usual rainfall. The rain
fall over the principal ,corn,produclng
States has been unevenly distributed, and
while the greater portion of this area has
received about 80 per cent, portions of Illi-
nOis, Kentucky and Ohio have reported
less than 20 per cent. of the average raip-
fall of the season.
The weather during the week was un-
usually warm and dry throughout the corn
belt, and the extreme Northwest. caus-
ing corn to mature rapidly. but the crop
is much in need of rain in some localities.
Hot winds and drought have caused some
damage to crops in Dakota, Illinois and
Missouri. Early corn In central valleys
wasmuch improved by the hot, dry weather.
The absence of rain has affected grass,
fruit and tobacco unfavorably In the OHIO
valley, while showers in Tennessee have
improved the tobacco crop. Reports from
Texas indicate that the weather for the
week was very favorable for cotton, and
the crop is being secured rapidly. In Ar
kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi the cot
ton crop was much improved by. favor
able weather, but more rain
is needed, and especially for
cane in Louisiana. Considerable damage
has been caused by boil worms in Arkansas
and Mississippi, but the injury from this
source is less threatening. In South Caro-
lima and Tennessee the weather was un-
favorable for cotton, while in Alabama the
crop was improved, and is reported in
good condition. In the Middle Atlantic
States, including New Jersey, Delaware,
Pennsylvania aud New York. the weather
was favorable causing corn to mature rap
idly, with prospects of a large crop. Po-
tatoes were improved in New York. but
need more rain, while in Pennsylvania and
New England the potato rot continues,
with prospect of a short crop of inferior
quality. III New England the weather was
cool but an average crop of corn is ripen-
ing rapidly. The fruit crops in this section
are generally in good condition, but the
yield of apples will be light: A tobacco
crop and large second crop Of grass have
been secured. Reports from the Pacific
coast indicate that recent rains have been
beneficial to the root crops in Oregon, and
that forest fires have ceased.