Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
NAY CROP REPORT.
coM'R WhUEneAD'S MONTHLY
STATEMENT TO viRc'A FARMERS.
Dat. and Grasses Slightly Hurt by Rains
Not Much of show for Fruit
Other Notes.

Colonel Thomas whitehead. Commits
sloner Of Agriculture. has just issued his
crop report for the month OF May. II
deals with the different sections OF the
state and presents some important facts
as to stock IT s. as follows;
TiDEwATER VIRGINIA..
The month OF May. up 10 the 18th or
10Th, was too cold and dry for crops gen.
orally. The latter part Of the month was
attended by abundant rain. and IN some
counties too much rain has fallen, and
slight damage to the crops has resulted
therefrom.
The cold dry weather has damaged the
crops In this section quite materially
Spring oats have specially suffered, ana
clover is reported 20 have been damaged
quite seriously In some counties.
The hay crop, It IL feared, win be cut
short by the cold.
A great deal Of corn Is up and generally
looking well. The recent rains benefited
the crop very much
Some depredatory insects are reported
20 have made their appearance. Caro-
line county reports the cut-worm 20 be
Al work on corn and causing some dam
age. James City county complains OF
NV that Is attacking the watermelon
yines. King and Queen county fears that
,urlng oats are being attacked by some
osect The potato-bug IS reported trouble
Sme in several counties
Stock are reported In good condition, and
etirely free from diseases. James City
unity notes an improvement since the
April report.
The farmers are said TO be all well
advanced with their work.
The reports this month give no hope for
any kind Of a yield OF fruit.
Henrico county announces that the Sc
venteen-year locust has made It's APP
pearance, and Is mostly 10 be found upon
young oaks
MIDDLE VIRGINIA.
Many counties In this section report
May TO have been too cold and dry for
grass. wheat, and oats. After the 18th
some very violent rains visited this sec
tion, injuring corn and oats, the former
being washed up by the storms Oats
and grasses seem 10 have suffered more
than other crops by the unfavorable
weather.
Fairfax reports wheat and rye promls-
ing; oats. corn and grasses backwards
Fluvanna reports winter oats short;
spring oats fair; corn came UP badly and
is not looking well.
In Charlotte corn is good, but other
crops poor.
DinwiddIe reports crops 10 be In a fair
condition: tobacco plants scarce, and the
acreage Of that crop cuTtailed this year.
Chesterfield reports crops good with
the exception Of spring oats. Other coun-
ties in this section report the general con-
dltion Of crops very favorable Crops
have remained comparatively free from
the attacks of insects and diseases. Din
widdie reports that rust in the wheat Is
prevalent TO a small extent, and Bucklng-
ham reports that the fly has injured to-
bacco plants some.
Stock are reported to be in an I'M
usually fine condition. No diseases are
reported. except "a few cases of hog cbo-
lera In one county.
The farmers are better up with their
work than usual
PIEDMONT VIRGINIA.
As reported for the other sections rain
was needed badly until the middle of
the month Since that time plenty OF
rain has fallen; in some localities too
much
The crops are generally doing very well.
Some farmers are complaining of blasted
wheat heads. Some corn was washed up
by the violent rains
Oats and grass have suffered more I'm
this section than other crops. Crops have
not suffered from any disease or insect
The seventeen-year locust Is reported in
Faupuier county, but is doing no injury TO
crops.
Stock are i'm excellent condition. Eau
outer county reports cattle to be unus-
ually fne--many ready for market
horses sheep. and cows to be i'm fine con-.
dition, lambs 20 have done well, and are
now being marketed No diseases of any
kind reported in this section.
Farmers are generally reported well up
with their work.
THE GREAT VALLEY.
Some counties in this section seem 10
have suffered quite seriously from the
weather during the month; especially have
the severe storms of hail and rain caused
damage.
Clark county reports that the weather
was favorable up 10 the 18th instant,
when most severe hail and rain-storm
visited the southern portion of the county,
laying waste hundreds of acres of wheat,
beating the corn into the ground, and
greatly injuring hay, fruit, and gardens.
The correspondent further states that he
can count farms where the loss In wheat
alone will reach from $1,000 TO $4,000
bushels, cut down as If n mower had
passed over H. Many fields of corn will
have TO be fuIrowed out and replanted.