The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-02
THE CROPS IN APRIL,
THE xOy7n Mas vERY UNFAvORA-
BE 10 AGRfcULTURB.
The Ffmit Has Been Almost Wiped 0at In
Hauy Piaces-W heat and osts are
Much Damaged.

gives fatner ol2atdftenhs Vie" va tHN
fruit prospect. and shows that much
harm has been done the field crops by
the cold weather. The report, compiled
according TO the grand natural divisions
OF the State. is as follows:
qIDEN4TeE.
During the past month the weather
throughout this section has been very
unfavora5e The frosts OF the latter
part OF March and the cold weather FOL
lowing has been very destructive to the
fruit and truck crops.
IL is reported that the fruit crop was
almost totally destroyed with the eA-
ception Of a few late apples good oeal
Of garden truck was destroyed which
rendered replanting necessary. 1hose
trucks not killed were retarded cohsld-
erabiy. Wheat and oats and the grasses
sowed with them. especially clover sur
fered from the frosts and cold weather
but have come out considerably III inc
last two weeks. Some Of the clover was
Killed. The timothy is looking better
The farmers are generally well up ID
their work. Some have finished planting
corn IN this section, and large majority
are nov engaged In getting that crop H.
Warwick county reports that the acre
age OF crops this year will not be as
large as that Of the preceding year
The correspondent ia Caroline county
reports that his onion crop is suffering
considerably from the depredauons el d
small white worm.
Stock are reported i'm excellent CoHu'-
ton No diseases reported.
MIDDLE.
The first part Of ATrii was not favora-
bic 10 the crops OF TINS section' lno
growing crops have been retarded, Du1
not damaged, TO any large extent WIN
the exception Of young clover. whlch -
said TO be killed In = good many places
I,urlng the last week or so the "ealhel
has been more favorable and crops nave
improved
The fruit crop is reported to be almost
totally destroyed Some counties fepVI
that they look for small yield OF Iruil.
There IS more hope OF the id'S "PP'~
crop than any other. 1900.
The condition Of stock Is genel ally most
excellent. Many counties report theF
stock In better condition than they
have been for years No diseases reported
except some few cases Of hog cholera III
charlotte and n mild form Of distemper
I'm the county OF GoochIand.
The tobacco plant-beds are said TO have
been damaged by the cold, and that plants
will be scarce, hence the area planted
this wear will be less, II is reported, than
last. ,,. .ot-
The farmers are well up with their
work. Corn planting has commehceu'
nn1 some are reported to have gotten
tholr cron In. Fairfax county reports
that the area Of corn planted this year
will be larger than than In 1875.
PIEDMONT.
The weather since the colo speli IN
March has not been very pTopitlous iof
growing crows. The weather cohuluo',S
Of the last Vt = or 50 are much Improved.
The cold weather has damaged wheat,
oats and grass to some extent. but II
IS believed that the injury will be small
and not what was feared. The crops
have. improved great deal during the
last ten days Of this month
The fruit crop is generally reported KILL
Cd throughout this section; there IS nope.
though, that there viii be some late
apl,Ies The tobacco plants are fepor'e"
to be suffering damage from the hea-
bug or fly.
stock are in fairly good condition. There
e a good deal Of complaint in this sec
ton of the scarcity Of forage. No DIS
eases reported. Farmers are well up to
date with their work. A large number
are through planting. and most are well
advanced with their work in this line
THE GREAT VALLEY.
The weather in this section Is also re-
norted 20 Rave been unfaVorable ms
month for crops. Since the 18th of March
the weather has been too cold ana dry'
The wheat and oat crops were badly
damaged in some counties, but are now
recovering.
A great deal OF young clover Is reported
killed.
The fruit Greg, as in other sections OF
The State, was generally killed by the
March frost and the cold weather sue
ceeding. Stock generally reported healthy.
No diseases reported, except in Wythe
county. where the farmers are troubled
10 some extent by distemper among horses
and blackIeg in young cattle, but no
serious results are reported.
The farmers are now engaged In corn
planting; they are well up with thelr
work. and some have completed their
planting.
APPALACHIA.
The crops in this section have suffered
during the past month from unfavoFaoe
weather. The cold weather and frosts
of the latter part OF March ana the
first of this month damaged greatly the
wheat and oat crop and the grass seedeu
with them.
several of my reports say the oats ana
Young grass were killed in some places
while wheat was generally retarded. the
weather being more propitious during the
last week, these crops are looking bet
ter. -
The fruit crop Is conceded to nave been
about all killed. There may be rev
oroles but that is all that Is expected
stock are I'm fine condition. All are re-
norted TO have wintered well, and now
present a fine condition. No losses from
disease reported.
The farmers are well up with their
work. Some have planted corn and others
are prosecuting the work rapidly. A good
deal Of cats ave been re-sown.