The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-08
THE CROP OUTLOOK is GOOp.
Past Week a Very Favorable One for
Farm Work.

The past winter, on the whole, has
been a very favorable one for farm
work in North Carolina. Although the
first three months were below the nor
NAL in temperature the deficiencies
were not great. and the effect was
chiefly to delay the blooming Of fruit
trees, so that several sharp frosts in
March did little, if any, damage. There
was an exces Of rainfall in February,
but March was relatively dry, and fa-
vored uninterrupted farm work
Flowing and other preparations for
planting are generally well advanced
The cool weather during March was
unfayorable for truck crops III the
Eastern District, necessitating some re-
planting. BY the last week Of March
plum and peach trees were in bloom,
and the strawberry vines had set Der
ries ian the east. In the eastern por-
tions of the State forest trees are be-
coming green.
The reports Of correspondents Of the
Weekly Weather Crop Bulletin, issued
by the North Carolina State Weather
Service, for the week ending Saturday,
April 4, 1896, indicate very diyersi-
fed week. the earlier part favorable,
with warm weather and generally
plenty of rain, the latter part unfayor-
able on account of cool, frosty weather
In the northern portions of the West
ern District there was too much rain.
The temperature was above normal
Afa4s ~ 1ts%
rest of the week.
Eastern District.-The past week in
the Eastern District was generally fav-
orable, though the rains from March
goth to April I'd interrupted farm work
There was little too much rain only
along the northern coast The last
three days were clear, cool and windy
Frost occurred on two mornings, which
injured strawberries, but the winds
were so brisk that little damage is
thought to have occurred to fruit trees.
Of which peach, plum and cherries are
in bloom. Spring seems rather late
and vegetation backward Truck
crops, though retarded by cool weather
seem to be doing well. Vegetables are
Just coming up in the north, and are
much further advanced in the South.
Considerable progress has been made
with gardens. Irish potatoes have
been planted, and sweet potato slips
are being bedded. Corn planting is
well advanced. Farmers, on the aver
age. are well up with their work, and
their lands are well prepared.
Central District-The first four days
of the week were warm and rainy,
and greatly benefited small grains,
though interrupting farm work in the
central and northern portions, where
the rainfall was heaviest. The last
DAYS were too cool and windy Frost
and ice formed, and many reports OF
damage TO the peach crop were re-
ceiyed, but it is very probable that the
wind prevented the formation OF frost
much above the ground. and that the
damage to fruit has been oyerestlma-
ted. Peach, pear and plum trees arg
! now III bloom. The ground drled oul
rapidly and work was well IN hand
the last part Of the week. Much corr
| has been planted in the SOUTH ane
| some cotton. The condition OF wheat
oats and rye is very diversified, though
these crops are looking very well or
good lands, and made much progress
/ during the first warm, rainy days OF tht
I week. Tobacco plants arc looking wei
1 and are plentiful, but small Irish 20
tatoes have been planted, and garden
/ ing is progressing in the south. Farm
ers are well up with their work.
| Western District.--ln the western
and northern portions OF this distrie'
| there were some heavy rains on the
lst and Cd, especially in Yancey, Madl
son and Bnncombe counties, which
washed lands, damaged crops, ane
caused foods in the mountain streams
! In general the rainfall on the frs
| four days Of the week, with warm
| weather, was beneficial, though inter
| rupting farm work The ground wa
| slightly frozen on the Sd and 4th, and
peaches have probably been damaged