St. Landry democrat., 1890-02-15
Louisiana Weather.

Louisiana Weather.
A RECITAL OF THE CROP CONDITIONS IN
ALL PORTIONS OF THE sTATE-REPoRTs
FROM THE SIGNAL OBSERVERS.
The following weather digest by Cap
tain r. E. Kerkam appeared in the Louis
Jana Heather Journal of Feb. 10, 1890:
Eleven years ago we bad sun-spot
period: that was the winter of 197S-o0.
Ia that winter, as in this, the low area
storms (rain producers) pursued path
through the northern ATTITUDES, giving US
prevailing southerly winds, thereby in
creasing our warmth without augmentiDg
our rainfall, although increasing the
moisture derived from fog and dew.
Anti-cy cloues (cold waves) follow cy-
clones to a certain degrae, and, in the
nature of things, If the great majority OF
cyclones pursue path through the far
North, the anti cyclones, although they
may curve southwark and then northeast
ward, yet the great flow of the cold sur
face winds is toward the direction of the
low area storm and the wave of cold air
forced southwark by the supersbundsnt
pressure is modified to remarkable de-
gree before reaching Louisiana on account
of the warm earth over which it must pass,
In Northwest Louisiana it is reported
that not more than 20 per cent of the usual
amount of rain fell during December and
January. The more tender vegatlon was
not killed by frost until Jan. IL, and at
this date fruit trees, flowers Of all kinds
and some cotton plants are in bloom !; the
grazing for cattle is excellent, and the
weeds and grasses that usually spring up
in March and April are now growing
rapidly.
In northeast Louisiana the Interruptions
of the remarkably warm season have been
few, and not suffi GENTLY marked to checS
in any appreciable degree the growth of
vegetation. Except that deciduous trees
are bare of leaves the whole country pre-
sents the appearance of spring. The grass
is green and growing rapidly; all kinds OF
flowers, sh1ubbery and fruit trees are in
bloom. few weeks ago apples aud
peaches were nearly ripe enough for use,
but the frost of the 10Th of January de-
stroyed them. The tees, however, are
still blooming, and they will soon bear an
other crop. 1t is scarcely possible that
they will escape frost later, and it is gen
orally thought that the fruit crop in that
section will be total failure. Apart
from this fact it is not thought that the
unusually warm weather will have any
injurious effect upon the crops or other
material interests of this section of the
country.
The deficiency of the rainfall is not as
marked in northern Louisiana as in other
portions of the State. The temperature
excess is, however, about the same as in
all sections-about 12' above the normal
for the winter
Central Louisiana stations report an av
erage Of twenty days during Decem Der and
January, when the daily maximum TEN
perature was to above 80. In the northern
portion of the sugar region the excess OF
mean temperature is about 49,. The lack
of moisture has not been SO keenly felt in
this section owing to the heavy dews and
fog deposits Vegetation is considered
July six weeks in advance, and the soil is
reported in excellent condition; canes that
were nipped by the frost of the 18th OF
January are again up, and the corn plant
ing has commenced. A severe Frost later
on would undoubtedly be disastrous to the
fruit crop, AID materially damage the
sugar prospect, which at this date prom
Uses wonders.
In the heart of the sugar region the
phenomenal weather conditions during
December and January seem to have had
no other effect thah rapidly advancing
growth of vegetation of al kinds. and es-
pecially on the cane crop. which, notwi5h-
standing the deficiency in rainfall, has
grown beyond precedent. The early morn
ing humidity has yielded adequate moisture
to the soil The fall plant, spring plant
and stubble cane have responded aa inos
usually do in April, and an early lay by,
and consequent large yield of sugar, is the
confident and universal prediction of the
planters.
1t is remarked by an observer who notes
that although the orange trees bloomed in
December, that fruit trees are in bloom
throughout the entire State and fig trees
are putting out their leaves, yet the pecan
tree shows no signs of budding and that it
is. said that the pecan is never caught by a
late freeze or frost.
The high temperature and the fogs and
dews appear to have been very favorable
in their effects on cane generally, yet q
good soaking rain is needed and would be
highly beneficial in all sections.
Insects, cutworms in particular, are do
ing considerable damage to the garden
crops in some few localities in South Lou
isiana.
In the Florida parishes reports regard
ing the strawberry crop are favorable.
The frost of Jan. II killed the strawberry
blossoms and the potato vines, but did not
injure the maturing strawberries. Since
then the budding and blooming has re-
commenced and the condition of the crops
is reported as being from one TO two
months in advance.
In Southwest Louisiana the fruit trees
are in full bloom; fig trees lea6ng; black
berry blossoms were noticed .eaalS~in jan
uary, and many ,Ese-fsids are green and
there is@sez..5 talk of flooding them. The
fields have all been plowed and farmers
are ready for planting.
The deficiency in the rainfall for South
Louisiana since Oct. is nearly IL inches.
In October. we had but an average of II
of an inch, in November, g. 40 inches; De-
cember, 1.57, and January about 175,
making total of less than 7 inches
against normal for that period of III
inches.
The deficiency in the rainfall since Oct.
/ in North Louisiana is nearly 8 ilches;
October, 1889. had 0 40 of an inch; No.
vember 6.01, December LOS, and January
will average about 90 inches, making q
total for the season of 11.46, against a
normal of over 10 inches, for the season
for that section of the State.
yEyhe% &f,a TT7a~SA,e Eo;s GAnv1d a.