Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-24
WEATHER AND CROPS.
Hay and Grain arc Doing Better Than was
Generally Expected.

| board of agriculture, issues the following
bulletin for tho week ending July y.
Better veneer FOR making hay has pre-.
vailed in most sections of New England
during the last r. of the week, espe'
cially. and it has D n improved to its
fullest extent. On lowlands and rich
meadows the crop is Of good. quality, and
heavier than was expected. Much grain
has been cut and is of good quality. Field
and garden crops are all pushing ahead
fast with fine prospect The rainy,
cloudy weather has blighted potatoes 10
some extent in Rhode Island, while in
Vermont the ground is getting very dry
and more rain is needed for all crops.
Tobacco is making splendid growth.
Rain Needed.
The weather for the first part OF the
week in Maine was cloudy ana threat
enin0 but the last half has been more
favorable. and a good deal of hay has been
mt in first-class condition; the uplands
arc mostly cut, and work is in progress on
lowlands. Correspondents vary as to the
amount that will be gathered, but very
few expect an average yield. Corn is
pushing forward rapidly, and potatoes
look well generally, but in many sections
more rain is needed for the best growth of
all hood crops. Pastures and cut fields
are turning brown in places. The new
potatoes that have come into the markets
are very good Correspondents report
that the horn fly is putting in its appear
ance in considerable numbers.
Horn Fly Appears.
Much partly dried hay has been badly in
I hi rn nd
the work of securing the crop is progress
ing slowly. The showers of the morning
of the 22ndin southern sections have done .
good deal of good to crops, but in sections
where they did not reach, rain is needed.
Feed is short in southwest sections, while
correspondents in Grafton, Cheshire and
Belknap counties report that wells and
springs are very low and drying up fast.
Grain is filling we'll, but has been lodged
badly. Corn was somewhat at a stand
still the first of the week, but is growing
fast now. Potatoes need more sun and
more rain Peas and peaches are failure
in parts Of Merrimack county. Blueber-
ries are scarce IN most places, but black
berries promise good crop with favorable
weather.
Good Haying Weather.
Better hay weather has prevailed in
Vermont again the past week than in the
other northern states, and it has been i'm
proved to its fullest extent. Some farm
ers are through haying and report a light
crop; but others state that grass is still
growing, and that meadows are very
heavy and of unusually good quali.y. i
number report that the hay crop is much
better than was expected earlier in the
season. There has been a general lack Of
rainfall here, and the ground is getting
very dry, affecting crops ON light soil.
Most crops look well and are growing
fast. Oats bid fair to be heavier than
usual. A correspondent in Washington
county reports grasshOppers thicker than
he ever before saw them at this time of
year; they are working on grain some.
Generally Favorable.
There has been more sunshine in west
ern Massachusetts this week than in east
ern, and the weather has been improved
in getting in the hay crop. In Hampden
county grass is growing fast and ripening
slowly, but generally uplands are over
ripe, and every hour of sunshine is util-
lied A fear is expressed that in their
anxiety to get the hay under cover with
out damage from rain much is not cured
properly In most sections of this state
there has been plenty of rain for present
needs, and the temperature and soil con
ditions have been very favorable for all
vegetable growth. Tobacco has been
pushed ahead unusually fast by the sun
shine and moist weather. Corn continues
its heavy growth, and is setting ears we'll.
Grain is heavy and has filled well. In
eastern counties apples are dropping badly,
but in western they are hanging on the
trees we'll. A larger crop is indicated in
the latter district than in the cast. Most
orchards have made IA heavy growth Of
wood so far this season. The drought
seemed to affect the early berries of all
kinds, but later ones are showing we'll
Peaches and grapes generally look promis-
ing.
Potatoes Not Thriving.
Potatoes are being badly affected in
Rhode Island by the moist weather and
lack of sunshine In Washington county
they have blightcd good deal, and in
Providence county some localities show
the disease. Considerable hay has been
secured in good condition, but much re-
mains to be cut. Pasturagc is good
Most field crops are growing fast though
more sunshine is itceded. The berry crop
is reported poor and scarce.
Water Is Low.
The favorable weather of the last part |
Of the week has been improved in Con-
necticut in securing hay and early grain
in good condition There has been little |
damage from rains this week. Lowlands |
and rich meadows are turning out a good |
crop, but uplands, ms has been reported
number of times, are light everywhere |
Oats are turning with apparently we'll |
filled heads and of heavy straw. The rye |
is mostly cut with very good crop. Po-
tatocs are reported rs never looking better, |
though they would be improved in places |
IN Iitchficld county with more rain |
Pears are looking well, with the early |
varieties nearly ready for market. Early |
apples are ripcnfng, with good yield in |
some orchards, while in others there will |
be Il light crop of the early and late |
varieties. Reports on the condition of the |
apple crop throughout New England are |
very favorable. Backberrics are ripening |
and arc generally plenty and good. Other
small fruits are about the average Onions |