The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-28
CROP CONDITIONS FAVORABLE
Fruit, Except Grapes, is Poor--Most
Crops in Excellent Condition.

The reports of correspondents of the
Weekly Crop Bulletin, issued by the
North Climate and Crop Service, for
the week ending Saturday, july %,
1896, indicate that the past week was
generally very favorable for the
growth of crops, which have improved
materially. The temperature was
above the normal every day except the
10th, and the latter part of the week
was very warm, with maximum tenn
peratures above 90 degrees; rain oc-
CURED on four days, which was very
beneficial, and there was too much
only in a very few localities; there was
an abundance of sunshine. Cotton, sor-
ghum, tobacco, sweet potatoes, field
peas and rice are all above average, and
in excellent condition. Fruit is poor,
except grapes, which are fine.
Eastern District.-Nearly every cor
respondent reports past week favora-
bic. The weather was very warm to-
wards the end, with plenty of sunshine
and Mttle rain, butplenty to keep crops
growing. All crops are doing well and
have improved In the northern por-
tion of the district it has been one of
the best weeks since May. Farmers
have been killing grass, and laying by
is about done. Cotton is recovering
from the effects of excessive rain, and
it is much improved; weed Ia sc and
boiling we'll 1t is shedding squares at
good many places, but no. badly.
Corn also improved; caring fiIFiy, and
much of the crop made. SOM fodder
ripening on early corn, but n9s being
stripped. Some firing reported on low
lands. Tobacco curing an full pro-
gress, with better cures than last week.
Grapes are ripening and very fine;
vines loaded.
Central District-A fine, warm week,
with few showers, generally very ia
vorable to crops, which are growing
very fast, except bottoms, which were
drowned out. Abundant sunshine
caused late corn to grow we'll; some re-
ports of corn firing on light, sandy soil.
Upland corn looking remarkably well,
and lowland crop has improved IN
many places. Fodder-pulling will soon
begin in the South. Cotton is shedding
squares and leaves in some localFules
and welcoming in others, but plants are
generally large and healthy. Some cor
respondents reports hollis nearly open
This very advanced stage places the
crop in considerable danger of damage
by the usually heavy rains of August,
as cotton needs dry weather after 1t
begins to open. Tobacco. improved,
but fea-bugs are numerous. Rain is
needed to make tobacco just topped
spread Some good cures are reported.
Peas and potatoes are good; some tur-
nip seed planted Grapes good.
Western District.--Past week more
favorable, warm with few beneficial
showers, butt too much in portions OF
Mitchell and Buneombe counties. Pros
poets for corn good; dryer weather en-
abled farmers to clean fields and lay
by; corn caring we'll; corn on creek
bottoms was too much injured by the
freshet to improve much COTTON
shows some improvement since the
rain ceased, and is boiling nicely; no
shedding reported. Tobacco doing
very well; sweet potatoes and gardens
good; pea crop fine and large crop
planted Some thrashing still 20 be
done; the wheat seems to turn out bet
ter than expected.