Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-07
WEATHER AND CROPS.
"0ld Fashioned Winter Proved TO BE
Beneficial TO Farmers.
Spring Work Was Somewhat
Delayed by Cold.
Northern Gras, Lands Seeded Last Year Need
Warm Rains.

The weather In New England for the
past winter was generally favorable for
grass and grain roots and for fruits of all
kinds, although 10 was continued cold with
more snow than usual In southern sec
tions, and was generally called hard,
"old-fashiOned winter" An abundance of
rain fell In October, and there were few
severe frosts until the first week I'm Novcm-
Der. The early snowstorm In November
protected the ground and small fruits from
the extreme cold following and was on
the whole beneficial, although many late
crops were caught ungathcred.
November was dricr than usual over
the greater part Of New England; Dcccm-
ber and January lacked moisture, except
in the south, and February and March
were extremely dry, SO that many wells
and streams We're lowest ever known at the
end of March, especially in the north. But,
with the remarkable equablc temperature,
there were no winter thaws, and, most OF
the precipitation coming I'm the form OF
snow, IL accumulated and kept snow
covering throughout the winter.
The extreme cold spell OF Feb 81 did
some slight damage to fruit trees, and In
places in Massachusetts, considerable in
jury resulted to the berry canes that pro-
and backward and very wet 1t gave not
only an abundance of rain in all districts,
but one Of the worst and most damaging
floods on record in north central districts.
At North Conway, N. H., the rainfall for
the week ending April IA was $50 inches,
while over six inches fell from the morn
ing of the 18th to the morning OF tho 10TH
The floods delayed work on intervales, but
the rain was of great benefit to pastures
and fields, and il started the frost and
snowbanks rapidly in the northern dis
tricts At the end Of April very little
farm work had been done I'm the north,
and 1t was backward i'm tho south, with
some seeding and planting done.
Frosts Hurt Grass Lands.
During the past week the weather has
been generally fair in the northern states,
with warm days, but cold, frosty nights.
In Maine, considerable plowing has been
done, and little seeding and planting,
but this work will not bc general for a
week yet. The frosty nights have injured
grass lands seeded last year. A good,
warm rain Is needed.
A Good Start.
The freeze on May killed many buds in
southeastern New Hampshire, but most
correspondents report little or no damage
from it; most fruit buds were not far
enough advanced to be injured. There Is
still some snow in the woods in the north,
but farm work is progressing and little
planting has been done. In the southern
counties oats and peas are mostly In, and
on dry fields large acreage Of potatoes
has been planted. Trees are leaving out
slowly. Grass Is reported to be starting
finely, and sheep and young stock can get
nearly their living.
Dry Weather.
Tho weather has been extremely favor
able for farm work in Vermont, but most
correspondents report need of warm rain.
The roads are dusty and all grass and win
ter grains need water, although they ara
starting well. Most sowing Of oats, bar
ley and wheat have been done on the ear
lier fields in southern counties, and pota-
toes are being put in. There is fear ex-
pressed that fruit buds are being hurried
along too fast by the warm sunshine, and
that later frosts will injure them. One cor
respondent states that "dry weather scares
people, while wet weather starves them in
Vermont"
Early Crops Above Ground.
The soil is in good shape for work in
Massachusetts, and all farm work has been
rapidly carried on. The ground Is dry in
places and more rain is needed. Grass is
looking unusually we'll, and there are very
few reports Of winter-killed places Apri-
cots are beginning to blossom; cherry and
peach buds are opening and occasionally
a strawberry Is in full bloom. Early peas
and radishes, ETC., are coming above
ground. The only damage reported from
the frost Of the end was to asparagus,
and that has since grown rapidly and cut
ting has begun on early fields. The cram
berry vines were badly winter-killed on
bogs not covered with water. The web
worm is at work
Rapid Changes In Temperature.
No damage Is reported from the frost in
Rhode Island, though tho rapid changes
in temperature are not altogether favor
able. Farm work Is progressing favor
ably, and vegetation Is coming forward
rapidly.
Abundant Fruit Crop Promised.
The spring Is reported rather backward
in Connecticut, but the recent warm days
advanced everything rapidly. Rain is
badly needed, especially in Fairfield
county, where there Is considerable COM
plant of slow growing vegetation, with
grass coming along thin and grains start
ing uncvenly. The weather has been ia
vorable for farm work. and that has been
pushed ahead. Much seeding has been
done, and although potato planting will go
on for some time I'm most sections, yet on
the earlier fields in southern counties
many have been put in; there Is an in
creased acreage indicated I'm this crop. Not
much has been done ON the corn ground,
though planting will begin soon. Tobacco
beds are doing well. Cherry and peach
trees are In bloom or just breaking tho
buds, and an abundant crop of the latter Is
Indicated. Onion seeding Is nearly com
plctcd I'm vicinity of Greenfield Hill, Fair
neld county. No damage has boon TO
ported from the frosts.