The Forrest City times., 1896-07-31
FARMING IN ARKANSAS.

Hot and Dry Over Almost the Entire stats
The Northwest Counties Visited By
Refreshing Rains, aud Crops Are Doing
Nicely--Tn Other Localities Fields Would
Burn IL Fire Was Applied.
The week ending Monday, July 81,
was much warmer than usual at this
season, the daily mean temperature
averaging 6 degrees per day above the
normal, the maximum temperatures
at Little Rock, 1o2 degrees. being the
highest ever recorded at this station
during the third decade of July.
The precipitation was deficient in all
but the northeast portion of the state
where it was excessive in localities.
In the northeast counties abundant
rain has fallen and all crops are in a
fourishing condition. Cotton is fruit
ing nicely, the plant healthy and
strong and outlook the most favorable
for years. Early corn is made and a
good crop, while late corn promises
oven better. In all other portions of
the state, however, the outlook is very
discouraging, cotton is shedding its
leaves and squares and has ceased
growing. 1t is opening rapidly and
the first bale was marketed at Hope
on the 25th.
Old corn is ruined and late corn on
the verge of destruction. In some To-
calities all crops are failure.
Sweet potatoes and peas are being
injured by dry weather, pastures and
prairie-grasses are destroyed by heat.
Stock water is becoming scarce and in
localities wells are failing The out
look is indeed discouraging and gen.
eral soaking rain is greatly needed.
NORTHEAST SECTION.
Generous rains have fallen in all
parts of this section, except in the ex-
treme southern counties and in parts
of Cleburne, Fulton. Jackson, Inde-
pendence and lizard counties, in the
northwest part of the section. Where
drought continues cotton is reported as
shedding fruit and blooming high up
on the stalk. Early corn is damaged,
but late corn is uninjured as yet.
Where rains have fallen, which en-
braces the grerter part of the section.
all crops are growing fine, cotton is
healthy and strong and the best
prospect ever known in this section of
the state. Early corn has made good
crop, and the late corn promises even
better. The following rainfalls were
reported in this section during tho
week: Corning, 3.25; Rector, 2.75;
White Hall, 1.20; Gainesville, 9. 6s.
SOUTHEAST SECTION.
Drought continues over by far the
tor W off
widely scattered localities showers
have occurred which have been of
great benefit to ali crops, especially to
late corn and cotton, which were much
revived Generally, however, serious
damage has been done to the cotton
crop. Much complaint of shedding and
rust, squares and leaves falling off;
old bolls opening rapidly. Old corn
ruined, but late corn has a chance Of
making something if rain falls soon.
Grass is burned up and hardly pays
for cutting.
CENTRAL SECTION.
Drought continues over the greater
part of this section and everything is
suffering for rain. In few loca lities
showers are reported, but they covered
only small areas. In the hill country
everything is literally parched, many
fields would burn if fire was to get in
them. While the bottom lands are not
SO bad as this, yet the condition of all
crops is very discouraging, particularly
on the light, sandy lands. Cotton has
stopped growing and Is shedding bad
ly. Late corn is nearly ruined and
pastures played out. Stock water is
getting scarce in many localities and
some wells are failing. In portions Of
Saline county all crops are reported q
failure
SOUTHWEST SECTION.
The temperature during the past
week has been abnormally high and
has been unrelieved by rain. AS a
result of the trying weather all grow
ing crops are falling off rapidly,
pastures are burning up and stock
water is becoming scarce. Cotton
is failing rapidly. Even in the
heavy black lands where moist.
ure is retained for an unusual
length of time the crop /. declining
There is much complaint of rust and
'heuuihs' Noetoh 10 ooR inning 10 open
Rain is very much needed for late corn.
Unless it comes within the next few
days late corn will make very short
crop.
NORTHWEST SECTION.
Hot, dry weather has had ruinous
effect upon all growing crops and has
baked the ground, so as to make late
potato planting impossible. Corn has
suffered seriously, and even with tho