The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-30
WESTERN OREGON

Weather The past week opened with
fair. warm weather. but on Wednesday
changed to rainy and cloudy weather:
since Wednesday there has been little
sunshine and rain has fallen every day.
over on. inch OF rain fell In the VII
lnmctle valley and along the coaA, dur
ing the paht week. ana from onc-half TO
three quarters Of AN inch fell IN Douglas.
Josephine and Jackson sountlca Since
tho FIRST Of the month over u inches OF
rain have fallen at i.inglolc. curry coun-
~. Throughout Western Oregon the
rainfall 10 far In April has been In TX
cess VI tho normal. A thunderstorm
prevailed In tho willamette vallsy the
afternoon and evening Of the Jth. which
Was accompanied by lightning and hail.
The temperature has averaged four de-
grocB higher than the preceding week.
the mean being - dec. The day tenn
poraturc averaged % deg. and the night
a deg The highest temperature during
the week Was e6 deg.. while the lowest
was % deg There was a marked de-
ncloncy In the amount OF sunshine. Tie
winds wcrc generally southrrly ana light
In force. There we're a few light frostn.
but from them no damage was done.
Cropn-'rhe sunshine and warmth OF
the firHt two days OF the week placed
the soil In good condition for plowinE
ana seeding. but the rain which COM
mcuccd on Wednesday again retarded
far work. and the week as a whole must
bo recorded as being unfavorabie 10 farm
operations The rise In temperature
was OF great benefit TO the sown grain.
both fall and spring. The spring grain
in now above the ground and Is stooling
very well. Tho fall and wlnter-sown
grain Arc very promising Sunshine
would be OF great bcncit nov. especially
TO grain on low lands, The rains have
greatly retarded spring sowing: the re-
suit will be that much oats will be sown
later for hay. though Hpring wheat is
sometimes Hcwn as late as May lh, and
fair yields result: usually. however late
sown spring grain II expected to pro-
duco only hay SO far the weather has
not been Injurious TO the grain crops.
The ground IN thoroughly soaked. and
unless the weather should suddenly
clear on and become very dry and warm,
the present supply OF moisture In the
soil is sufficient to mature all 'rops. The
rains have retarded work In gardens, Po-
tatoeR that were planted In March have
made good growth. and, the new po-
tatoes arp as large as walnu,s. The
onion crop Of Washington county Is not
entirely planted ms yet, the rainy weather
seriously rctarling that work. The sea
son ls somewhat late and farming opor-
atlons ara delayed. yet there IL sufficient
time for all crops to be put into the
ground. April In 1876, iSSS and 1875 were
similar to the current month. and these
were years OF good crops.
Frult-Thc blooming OF fruit continues;
a.. - usNI nrlV haN
dropped their bloom; cherries pears and
pruncs are now dropping their tloom,
Apples are yet In full bloom, The cur
rent rainy weather is more harmful TO
the fruit bloom than was the frost OF
several weeks ago The r,spondents
continue to differ as 10 the injury done
by the frost to the fruit, As was stated
In last weeks bulletin. the peach crop
has been the most seriously Injured, but
TO what extent injury Aas been done
cannot be accurately determined, There
viii he circular sent out to all corre-
spondcnts and fruit-growers asking for
special report on the fruit. TO Ne rem
dcrcd on May |, and from these special
reports II Is expected that in the bulletin
next week comprehensive and accu-
rate statement can he given as 10 ,he
damage. II any. that has resulted TO the
fruit from the frosts and rain. II Is.
however. conceded that In some places
damage has been done-the amount In
In all places question, The correspond
cnt at st, Paul Marion county, reports;
II have taken great pains to examine
the fruit and have found that the peach
es and early cherries are considerably
damaged. plums, prunes and late cher
rites are slightly affected, sufficient to
save hand pruning. All other fruit
trees have all the fruit on them that
they can hear" The correspondent at
Dallas, Polk county, and correspondents
In all counties report: Not so much
damage to fruit as was first anticipated"
The berries are entirely uniniured, and
viii bear with their usual prolific char
acterlstcs,
Stock-The range food Is good and
stock IL In good condition. I.ambing Ia
about over and there has been practical
ly no loss, Shearing Is nearly COM
pleted and an excellent grade Of wool
has been the clip this year.
Sunshine and warmth are greatly need
ed for all vegetation. The atmospheric
conditions have not as yet assumed their
summer type, and until they do showery
weather will result.