Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-05-31

Following is the report made by the
weather Office at Seattle fer the week
ending May 9th:
The fears that were entertained by
some last week, especially by farmers
in Eastern Washington, that the crops
would be ruined by drought, have been
entirely dispelled by the abundant
rainfall that has since occurred.
Farmers who were respondent are now
jubilant. Some in the western section
are even beginning to fear too much
rain" too much Of good thing
but those in the eastern section are
never troubled by such fear. Grain
and grass have been especially bene-
fitted; SO also have potatoes. The
growth of clover and timothy has be-
come very heavy. The rain in the
western section began on the 23d and
in the eastern section it begun on
the Goth, and continued off and on all
the week. Never before was it 80
heavy at this season. With the ex-
ception OF the two or three days at the |
beginning, the week has been too cool,
and light frost occurred in many
places on the 23d, which however did |
little damage except trifling one to |
potato vines. Warm and sunny days |
from now on will cause all crops to
grow luxuriantly.
WESTERN SECTION.
The universal verdict is that the
rains of the past week will do much
good if they do not continue too long.
There is little danger of this on the
high lands, but the bottom lands are !
becoming too wet to work, and there
is danger OF overflow. At the time OF
writing the indications are that the
stormy conditions are passing away,
and that sunny weather will ensue.
The latter is needed, the week past
having been too cloudy and COOL
During the wet spell, weeds have got
quite start, and when the ground |
gets dry enough, the farmers will need |
to rush their cultivators and merrily |
ply their hoes. In whatcom county |
grass aad clover are immense, grain is |
irst-class, and hops are growing rapid
ly, with no lice. In San Juan and Is |
land the much-needed rains have re-
freshed everything, and all crops are
in favorable condition. In Skagit |
there has been little too much rain
it has been good for late oats and
wheat. In Clallam and Jefferson it
has rained since the 23d, and all the |
week has been favorable. Potatoes
are growing nicely; crops of all kinds
look we'll; strawberries are ripening, |
and the yield will be very large. In
Snohomish it was one OF the heaviest |
and most protrscted rainfslls known
to old settlers. Low bottoms flooded. |
Meadows in fine condition. In King
and Pierce crops of all kinds are in |
splendid condition; frosts in the latter
county slightly injured tender vege.
tables. Strawberries are ripening.
The fruit crop will be large. In the
Chehalis valley, orchards, grass, grain
and all other crops are looking we'll. |
Too wet for the cold swamp lands
only. The river is rising, and may
overflow along the low bottoms. In
the southern counties everything is
promising and nothing but sunshine
needed.
EASTERN WASHINGTON.
The much-needed and long-desired
rain came at last, and not in stinted
measure, but so copiously as has
rarely been known in East Wash
ington. The late.sown grain will
now surely terminate, and all crops
have been quickened wonderfully. The
showers have been warm, and the
week has therefore been the most ia.
vorable one this season. In Stevens,
Lincoln and Douglas counties, the
rains came just in time. The pros
poets are good, and if nothing unfore'
seen occurs, the crops will be splendid.
In Spokane and Adams the farmers
are much encouraged, believing that
the copious showers have ensured the
growth of grain and that large crop
will result. In Whitman, Garfield
and Columbia, the situation has
changed completely since last week
the warm rains having done wonders
for the crops, and farmers are hopeful.
In Yakima everything is all right,
though frost on the 23d cut tender
vines. In the Snake River valley, as
shown by reports from Asotin, the
prospects for fine fruits is excellent.