The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-18
CROP OUTLOOK.
Grass Lands Suffering Lack
of Moisture.
Second Growth OF Some Fruits-Mas-
sachusetts Showing Up Fairly.

Boston, June 1s.-The United States
department Of agriculture issues the fol-
lowing weathcr-crop bulletin OF the New
England service, j. Warren Smith, di-
rector
An abundance of rain has fallen in the
extreme northern sections during the
week, but in central and southern coun-
ties only light local showers have come,
and all crops are beginning 10 feel the ef-
fects OF dry weather 10 n slight extent;
grass is suffering and the present outlook
Is for n light hay crop.
Comparatively few Of the correspondents
make any mention of birds, but OF the
number a large majority agree that there
is "A scarcity. One or two, however, say
that birds never were so plenty around
their farm as this year, but they do not
mention the kind of bird. > A. Tenney OF
Newport, y. H., says that of robbins, bob
olinks and sparrows, not more than one
pair in 10 are To be found this year rs COM
pared with other years. Foster IL. Brackett
OF Boston, an eminent ornithologist, says
the birds that winter in our southern
states, like the bluebrd, phebe robin and
thrush are very scarce, probably because
of the extremely cold weather last winter;
Indies and farther sputh are rs plenty as
usual. These last Sbmprise the warblers,
fycatchers, sparrows, etc. The lesson 10
be learned from this is, that with less
birds to keep the insect pests under con-
troll, the fruit grower and others must do
much more work himself.
Maine.
Considerable rain fell in showers over
tlA IA, s.fA Alaf,-
during the week and, under the influence
Of the warm weather and sunshine follow
ing, all crops are pusJ-Hg ahead very fast.
Grass especially is %ickcning up and
growing well and IL showery conditions
continue for two weeks more a good crop
will be assured in most fields Some dam
age was done by lightning on the l4th and
10Th and slight injury by hail on the first
OF these dates. In Oxford county the
heavy showers have delayed hocing. Small
fruits are promising. In Cumberland
county early apples are setting well, but
late ones are practically failure.
New Hampshire.
In the southern part of New Hampshire
the dry weather has seriously affected
grass, and there is every prospect of light
crop. Some correspondents say 80 per cent
will cover the crop as compared 10 the
average. In southern Rockingham county
the field and garden crops are being seri-
ously injured; oats and peas are drying
up; potatoes and corn are turning yellow;
some pieces OF grain are plowed under and
fodder corn planted, but that fails to come.
In moro northern sections, however, field
crops are growing fast and grass Is en-
couraging. In Coos county there will be
full average hay crop out. Grain is do
ing we'll. Wild strawberries are very
thick, and other small fruits are promis-
ing well. In HillSboro county where
there was very good setting Of app =
they have nearly all dropped off, and there
is much less promise of good yield than
formerly.
Vermont.
The outlook for all crops is very good In
Vermont, as light showers have fallen in
most districts during the week. One OBJ
server in Addison county says, "a wonder
fully growing timo." There is the usual
complaint Of light hay crop on old fields,
but the prospect is good for large one on
now fields and low lands. Apples arc
dropping slightly, but the crop appears
very promising, the frost really serving
only 20 thin them out in places
Winter rye is headed out and is good
Corn and oats are looking finely and grow
ing fast More rain is needed to keep
crops growing,
Massachusetts,
Moderate local showers prevailed in
northern counties on the 18th dSng "a
great deal OF good wherever the rain fell.
1t started garden truck and field crops
along and helped grass very much. In
other parts OF the state where the showers
"A a Ia a hp po,ir.
ming to feel the drought. Strawberries,
especially, are having their quantity and
length of yield shortened Corn is doing
well generally and potatoes though un-
even are improving Cranberry bogs are
improving in condition. The wood on
grapes has been renewed and is full OF
blossoms. Cherries have blasted badly.
One correspondent I'm MidtsNscx county
states that blackbcrrcs are almost total
failuro. Pea picking has begun. The
asparagus season is about over. Haying
has begun to u slight extent, and the crop
Is not very promising. Old unicrtilized
fields especially are short and thin, some
will hardly pay for cutting. The cankcr
worm have generally ceased operations
and the apple trees are recovering.
Rhode Island.
No rain has fallen during tho week in
this state, and the top Of the ground Is
getting dry, but all crops arc growing
very fast. Old fields will give n light hay
crop, but newly seeded ones are showing
finely. Strawberries are ripening and are
very fine, with a large yield. Grapes that
were killed by the frost arc putting out
snothe set Of blossoms
Connecticut.
Very light showers fell in northern
counties during the week, moistening up