Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-08-16
Weekly Weather-CrOp Bulletin.

Weekly Weather-CrOp Bulletin.
The State Weather Bureau fur
nishes the STANDARD with the follow
ing report for the week ending Aug.
18th:
WESTERN SECTION
The week has been one OF warm,
dull, and smoky weather, with not even
sprinkle ol rain. Though the
average temperature has been only a
tritie above the normal, the atmosphere
has appeared very stagnant and OPP
pressive, owing to the dense smoke
that has So thickly prevailed the air
from immense forest fires in the
Peninsula, and other localities of the
State. Not only has the sun been
partially, and at times wholly, obscured
by the smoke, but ashes and particles
OF SCOT have been deposited upon grow
ing vegetation to such an extent as to
inlure it.
The need Of rain to extinguish the
fires and clear away the smoke is
seriously felt, and on the higher lands
pastures and late crops are suffering
severely In the moister valleys and
bottom lands no injury has yet been
done 10y the drouth.
The reports as a rule, are somewhat
unfavorable. The ripening of grain
has been DELAYED by the smoky
weather, so that harvest is yet I'M
finished. In some localities it is but
just begun. In Lewis and ThurstOn
counties it is well along towards COM
pletiOn, and there is fair average
crop. Oats are not filling we'll on &C
count of the drouth. Potatoes are
feeling the lack OF rain in all sections,
and the indications now are that the
crop will fall far short of the average.
Forest fires are doing considerable
damage in Chehalis county. The
weather is too dry for potatoes. In
Cowlitz county crops are generally fair,
but corn is drying up. In Skagit coun-
ty heavy fog and smoke have caused
oats to ripen slowly. Rain at present
would lodge lots of oats now standing,
but would clear the air and help har-
vesting. Forest fires are increasing i'll
Whatcom county. The pea and po-
tato crops will be short on account OF
dry weather. Harvesting is well along.
Oats on the lowlands are No. | on up
lands short. Springs and streams do
not appear to be affected by the dry
weather. In San Juan county souther-
ly winds are more frequent, with in
dications of approaching change in
the season. In kitsap county the
high lands need rain, but the valleys
are standing the dry weather all right.
Oats are well in tie milk. Most OF
the second crop Of clover will not do
to cut. The aphis has become very
troublesome in Snohomish county.
They are on fruit, cabbage, turnips,
and oats; the latter are covered. In
Pierce and King counties the lice both
on hops, and also on fruit and vegeta-
bles, are increasing by millions. as
never before. Hop men say that this
is the worst season since lice began to
appear four years ago. Garden truck
will be short on account of dry weather.
Fruit is being much INJURED by particles
of smoke deposited upon it.
EASTERN SECTION.
The weather has been very hot and
dry, a typical harvest week. In Yakima
county, where irrigation is practiced,
all crops are looking well. Harvest is
progressing favorably in Adams coun-
ty. The indications are that fall wheat
will yield 20 to %, and spring wheat
Is to Is bushels to the acre. In Walla
Walla county the weather has been
favorable for fruits and vegetables.
There was trace Of rain on the 9th.
Harvest is over and good yields are re-
ported The barley crop in Lincoln
county will be little over one-half.
Vegetables are doing poorly. The sit
uation in Spokane county seems un-
changed. The high temperature was
damaging to late grain. Harvest be-
gun in the vicinity Of Latah. The
hot winds have prevented grain from
heading we'll in Columbia county, and
vegetables are not doing well.
In Klickitat the heat has been
excessive, sunburning the apples, and
drying up blackberries before ripe
enough to pick. The potato crop will
almost be failure. The threshers
have started up and fall wheat is turn
ing out we'll. Grasshoppers have done
considerable injury to grain and gar
dens. Grass is good for this time OF
year and stock is looking we'll.