The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-11
BIRDS SCARCE.
May Retard Crops Subject
to Injury by Insects.
Vegetation Checked by Cool Weather
and Touches Of Frssts.

Boston, June 1.-THE United Statea
department of agriculture issues the fol
lowing weathcr-orop bulletin Of the New
England service, J. Warren Smith, di
rector:
Warm, cleudy weather prevailed the
drst Of the week, with from one-fourth To
one half inch of rain in northern and from
one-half TO over one inch in southern sec
tions. This last part of the week was gen
orally fair, with strong winds and cold
nights. General light frosts were reported
In lowlands on the mornings OF the 7tb,
9Th and 9th, but little IL any damage wa,
done. A damaging hail and wind storm
passed across northern Vermont and New
Hampshire ON the Cd, and one passed
down the Housatonic valley, In Connecti
cut, on the Sd. The last named caused
considerable damage to trees and field and
garden crops.
S. A. Tenney Of Newport, N. IT,, and r.
w. Boise Of Blandford, Mass, comment on
the great scarcity Of all kinds of birds, and
express the fear that injurious insects will
increase accordingly And, as most ccrre
spondents do mention an apparently IN
usually large number Of insect pests, we
are interested TO know II the absence oi
song birds has been noted elsewhere.
Maine.
In general the weather has been little
too cool for the best growth Of corn in thit
state, but IL Is coming we'll In most places
and some pieces are ready for hoeing
There are reports of light frosts In the low
lands on the mornings Of the 9th, 7th and
sth, but no report of damage from it
Potatoes came up unevenly on some fields
and there has been some replanting neces
sary in Aroostook county, but for the most
part this crop Is growing well. The rain ha,
helped grass and pastures very much. Seed
time Is virtually closed and some hoeine
has been done. The weather bureau OBJ
server at Eastport reports deficiency oi
10 % inches In the rainfall since Jan. 1,
and Of 6,75 inches since March 1.
New Hampshire.
Light frosts on tho mornings Of the 9Th
9th and 10th did . little damage To corr
and beans on low lands in Rockingham
county, but no injury Is reported from
other places. On dry lands In the south
eastern part Of the state the grass Is grow
ing up tall and thin and is coming te
maturity too fast, although the rains ol
the week have helped the grass fields, and
especially on low lands. 1t has been .
little too cool during the last part Of the
week for corn, and in some fields this croI
Is only Just breaking the ground. On,
correspondent In Hillsboro county states
that apples promise q fair crop, but most
other reports are that apples are not set
ting we'll. Grapes were practically ruined
in all but the most sheltered fields; plum,
and cherries were badly blighted; straw,
berries promise we'll in most places. and
blackbcrries have blossomed very full.
Vermont.
More rain fell in most of western and
northern Vermont than In New Hamp
shire or Maine during the first part Of the
week, and although the ground has dried
very fast with the clear sky and strong
winds of the past few days, all crops have
been greatly benefited and are growing
fast. Grass needs more rain, and is still
too thin on dry fields but it has been
greatly improved; pastures are in good
condition generally. Except grapes, the
crops that were apparently so badly dam.
aged by the frosts in Nay have recovered
wonderfully In the past few days, and are
now promising. Damaging pests are ali
unusually plenty.
Massachusetts,.
Extremes of heat and cold and moistur.
and dryness Of the air are not conducive
TO the largest vegetable growth, but for all
that the season Is some days ahead OF the
average for this time. Tho cool nights
have retarded corn, and there was q light
frost in low lands In western countries OF
the morning of the 7th, but no damage re.
suited. The rain has done great good te
crops in all central and western countries,
and oil are growing we'll, but on the Cape
practically no rain has fallen this week,
. OF nj lie hax hol
tation in check. Grass Is ripening fast In
Plymouth county and haying will b,
early; some have begun cutting already
Pastures are In good condition. Straw
berries are beginning 10 ripen, and in.
dicate a full crop. Cranberry bogs are
being injured by the fireworm. There 1,
some complaint In Middlesex county that
potatoes did not come we'll, and some
fields have been replanted. Considerable
replanting Of oil crops has been necessary
In Bnrnstable county. Potato bugs ars
apparently more numerous than usual
Tobacco setting is mostly completed In
the Connecticut valley, and the plant,
have been put out under favorable ciroum
stances.
Rhode Island.
There were reports of a light frost in
low lands on the morning Of the 9TH In
this state, but no damage of amount re.
suited. The weather throughout has been
rather cool, and the raw, easterly winds
have prevented much growth In field and
garden crops, but they are generally prom
ising and looking well. Abundant rain
fell over the southern part of the state on
the 4th to 9Th, and grass Is greatly ben.
Gifted.
Connecticut.
The weather has been little too cool
for most crops, but still they are pushing
along fairly well. Grass and grain are
thickening up and making good growth.
In the northern section grass needs moro
rain to make full crop In Litchfleld
county last years seeding is a failure on
many pieces. Corn Is backward, but IL
came mp wcll, aud with warm weather
will push along fast. Potatoes came up
rather unovenly in places, and the fields
look ragged, but are improving. Turnip
seed is maturing well. Cutworms are do.