Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-20
THE CROPS NEED RAIN
DAMAGING EFFECTS OF DRY wEA-
Their FELT LAST WEEK.
In Middle Virginia and the Valley
Sections the Conditions Becoming
Droughty-DctafIed Reports OF Cor
respondents from Many Counties.

unfayOrdDle TOT crOp-Bro"th O'Ni nv
entire State on account OF the lack OF
rain. This is especially noticeable IN
the Middle Virginia and Great Valley
sections, where the deficiency In mois-
ture has been the greatest. In the
moro southerly counties OF these two
sections conditions are fast becoming
droughty. a general and soaking ram
would be Of much benefit.
TIDEwATER SECTION.
Weather conditions over this section
during the past week have been favorable
as to Temperature, but deficient in rain.
Scattered showers. mostly light in quan-
tity OF moisture deposited, have oe-
Cured here and there, aiding crops 10
some extent. However, good, SOAK
ing rain would be of great benefit, as
conditions are beginning 10 assume
droughty aspect. Most Of the corn plant
ed is coming up very nicely, and con-
siderable cultivation has been done. The
prospect for fruit has fallen OFF slight
Iy. owing TO frost and severe local
storms accompanied by hail. which
stripped numerous orchards. Small fruits
are doing we'll. Strawberries are being
picked and marketed. Cotton and pea
nut planting has been pushed, and to-
bacco-pants sci out.
MIDDLE VIRGINIA.
Absence of rain throughout the counties
of this section has done some injury to
the growing crops. Wheat, which has
heretofore been slowly but steadily i'm
proving, has deteriorated. and Is heading
low Chinch bugs continue 10 do damage
TO this crop, but do not seem 10 De
spreading. being confined to few coun-
ties in Piedmont and Southside virginia.
In the few localities which have been
favored with showers, a good deal OF
tobacco has been planted, but elsewhere
the farmers are awaiting season. In
consequence of this many OF the plants
are overgrown. Glover still holds fairly
good, but in general is heading snort
Garden trucks needs rain. Corn is grow
ing well, and seems to suffer less from
drought than other paintings. Potatoes
are being injured by potato-bugs in some
sections.
THE GREAT VALLEY.
In this section the drought he's been
more general than in either OF the other
divisions. and, as a result, vegetation Is
more backward In a few places local
showers have fallen and relieved the sit
uatIon somewhat, but even these have
been insufficient for crop purposes, and
the need for more is becoming imperative.
The dry weather Is affecting grass ana
pastures seriously and delaying farming
operations. The southern counties or TINS
section are suffering the most. Wheat
has fallen Off from its previous condition.
and is heading low, and Is short In straw
Corn is reported coming up quickly in
most localities. and is being cultivated
Fruit is holding its own.
Remarks of Correspondents.
TIDEWATER VIRGINIA.
Warsaw. Richmond county-C. n. Con-
stable.-Rain is needed. Corn up well;
wheat heading; strawberries ripening.
Sunbeam. Southampton county-W. ii.
Daughtry.--Weather favorable TO crops.
Peanut and cotton planting almost over.
Onancock, Accomac county,. c. Wea-
ver.-Potatc patches and beds cut by
frost Of the 9Th. Apple crop ruined;
peaches not hurt; rain needed.
Birdsnest. Northampton county-C. X.
Moore.-The recent rain did much good.
Spottsville, Surry county-B. w. Jones'
Corn being worked; peanut planting well
advanced; oats short; pastures excellent;
potato bugs plentiful; rain needed.
MIDDLE VIRGINIA.
Spoke. Henry county--W. b. Eanes.-
Chinch-bugs injuring wheat and oats.
Plant-beds falling for want of rain. Very
little tobacco has been planted.
Co. arf.- Anu a
Powell.-Wheat headed and looks well.
Spring oats hold their own. Most of the
tobacco planted looks well. Glover almost
a failure Tobacco-plants overgrown. Rain
needed.
Lovingston, Nelson county-W. ].
Kidd.-Gardens making good progress. No
serious damage from recent hail and rain.
Strawberries ripening slowly. Apple crop
short. Some tobacco planted. Grasses i'm
proved.
Rocky Mount. Franklin county,. II.
Binford.-Rain needed badly. Apple crop
almost complete failure.
Orange. Orange county-R. c. Macon
A week of fine growing weather. Farm
ers ploughing corn. Oats, wheat, and
grass doing well.
Middleburg, Loudoun county-W. c.
Benton.-Rain badly needed. A large To-
Gust bloom. Gardens looking well.
Farmville. Prince Edward county,. c.
Vaughan.-Tobacco planting general.
Wheat not doing well.
Keysville, Charlotte county-E. s. JET
fress.-Rain needed badly. No change in
crops except wheat, which has gone back
ward.
Bon Air. Chesterfield county-W. IL.
Pleasants-Very warm and dry.
Fredericksburg Spotsylvania county-S.
c. Howison.-Good stand OF corn. Wheat
beginning to head. Oats improving. Gar
dens fourishing. Grazing good.
Abbeyville. Mecklenburg county-E. +.
McLean.-Early-p planted corn up and look
ing well. Tobacco plants overgrowing in
beds, no season for setting out. Very lit
tie fruit.
Big Island, Bedford county,. b. Cox
Short crop OF hay threatened by dry
weather. Tobacco-plants PLENTIFUL; sea-
son needed for resetting.
Harris Greek. Amherst county.-Rain
needed. Tobacco-plants getting over
grown. Glover doing fairly well. Peas
plentiful in market
THE GREAT VALLEY.
Hutons Scott county,. =. Curtis
No rain vet. Oats and grass damaged;
gardens suffering: wheat prospect bad
Bluestone. Tazeweli county-A. St.
Clair.-Most destructive drought ever
known at this season prevailing. Every
thing at a standstill. Corn coming up
badly.
Salem, Roanoke county-W. II. Ruth
roff.-Very dry. Grass suffering. Corn
coming up quickly. Wheat heading. Oats
need rain.
Graham's Forge. Wythe county David
Graham.-Crops pretty much at a stand
still. Drought becomes serious. Corn
being cultivated.
Marion, Smyth county-John S. Apper-
son.-Stn dry: meadows. and pastures
suffering Insects damaging small ber-
ries, and potato-bugs plentiful.