The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-19
MUCH DAMAGE BY DROUGHT.
The Dry Hot Weather Seriously Affect
ing Crops Everywhere.

The Dry Hot Weather Seriously Affect
ing Crops Everywhere.
The reports of correspondents of the
Weekly Crop Bulletin, issued by the
North Carolina Station, for the week
ending Saturday, May 10th, 1896, indi-
cate continued upfavorable conditions
on account Of drought now prevailing
nearly everywhere, and becoming ser
ious. The week was very warm, with
maximum temperatures as high as
SO, and the mean 10 degrees per dav
above normal. There was an excess
Of sunshine. Though scattered show
ers occurred on four days amount Of
moisture was altogether insufficient for
the requirements of crops. Wheat and
oats are suffering most severely, and
late planted corn and cotton, though
the bulk of the cotton and corn crop
is doing remarkably well. Trans
planting tobacco has been greatly
hindered, and plants are becoming
oyergrown. Trees seem to be she'd
ding fruit more than usual.
Eastern District.-The past week
was very warm, the maximum tenn
perature reaching ninety-six degrees
even 1T Wilmington, and far too dry.
Quite a severe drought is prevailing
nearly everywhere, and particularly
in the southern counties. There were
light scattered showers in ten counties
on four days, and reports from those
points continue favorable, but else
where reports are discouraging. Corn
on stiff lands is suffering for lack Of
rain, and in a few cases is reported to
be dying, but generally the corn croD
looks well. Early cotton is about all
chopped out, with good stand, and
doing well; it has reached a height OF
six leaves in southern counties; chop
ping continues actively; late planted
cotton coming up with difficulty and
some dying on light soils Transplant
ing tobacco and sweet potato slips
much delayed; what was planted ear
ly is growing nicely. Wheat, rye and
oats have deteriorated and require mois-
ture badly; many truck gardens are
nearly ruined by drought Peanuts
are coming up. Strawberries have
been about all shipped
Central District.-Very warm wealth
er prevailed the entire week; it is al
together too dry to be satisfactory,
and everything needs rain, though
scattered showers were reported on
four days. 1t is probable that with
rain in time the damage by the drought
would as yet not be serious, but the
outlook is not favorable Corn is grow
ing fairly well and but little replant-
ing has been necessary so far; plant
ing late corn stopped. Early cotton
mostly reported with good stand
chopping going on, and crop in rood
condition to grow with rains; cotton
planting all done bat the drought has
prevented large field Of late planted
from coming up; some young cotton
is dying. Where light showers oc-
CURED transplanting tobacco made
some progress, but elsewhere has been
seriously delayed and plants are be-
coming oyergrown; some farmers are
planting and watering, which is cost
ly. Sweet potatoes ready to set out but
suffering from drought. Wheat head
ing we'll but low; some damage by
chinch bugs; both wheat and oats on
uplands viii be failure without rain
soon. Crops all well cultivated.
Western District.-The week was
very warm, with but little rain Show
ers occurred here and there, but all
small in amount The drought is more
severe in six of the central counties
from Cabarrus and Meclxlenburg north
to Surry. Wheat, oats, grasses and
gardens have suffered most from the
drought; large number of CORES
pondents report serious injury to
wheat and oats. Other crops seem to
be standing the dry weather remark
ably well Reports as to stand of corn
and cotton continue good. Chopping cot
ton and working over corn made good
progress during the week. Some to-
bacco plants and some sweet potato
slips were set out, but generally it was
too dry for that work Irish potatoes
doing fairly well, though damage by
insects continues.