Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-08-05
Weather and Crops.

western Oregon. Cooler weather and
less smoke though more clouds, have
prevailed during the past week, with
rain Friday night, Saturday, and an
occasional rain shower Sunday. The
rain was heaviest in Portland, where
U.63 of an inch fell: at Roseburg OIL
Of an inch fell, ,and from thence SOUTH
ward, decreasing to 0.03 Of an inch in
Jackson county. The rainfall was un-
usual and unexpected, and was not
produced by any general storm move-
ment, such as prevails in the winter
season! The temperature averaged 3
deg. cooler than the week preceding,
the lower temperature occurring in
the day time. The heat Of day aver
aged 70 deg, as against S3 deg. of the
week before, while the night tempera-
ture averaged So deg, the same as the
preceding week. The winds have been
light in force, aud from the south to
west in direction.
Crops-Harvesting Of fall-sown
wheat, Of oats and barley is we'll
along, and some threshing has been
been done. The rains have done no
injury TO the cut grain, and will not
do injury unless they should be long
continued, which Is not EXPECTED.
The rams were of benefit to late
planted potatoes, to. pasturage, to
corn, TO gardens and to hops. such
rain as. has prevailed Is very unusual
at this season of the year, but 1t will
be of much benefit. Some correspond
ents are of the opinion that the rain
will be of benefit to late-sown gram,
but such can hardly be the case. 1t
is a foolish experiment to SOW gram
OF any kind after May 10 and espe-
cially so after June |. Many cores
pondents report that where the
ground is properly prepared and the
grain properly 'sown that good crops
are the result. Good farming in Ore
gon. will always produce good crops,
and this is especially true OF that por'
tion of Oregon west OF the Cascades
Corn for table use is in the market,
and is In quality better than usual.
Melons In the Southern counties are
1ripe and plentiful. Late cherries are
about over. Early peaches and early
apples are ripe; raspberries and black
berries are plentiful; strawberries are
gone; Hops, where cultivated, have
made good growth; the burrs have
formed; lice have appeared. Many
hopyards are not having any atten'
tion paid to them. The fruit pros
poets have not changed. Gardens
have been greatly benefited by the
rains; garden produce is very plenti-
fnl.
The conditions prevailing today are
such as to indicate that the current
cool cloudy and showery weather will
pass away, and that the weather will
become much warmer before the week
closes.
There have been many reports con-
cerning the poor grain and fruit crops,
and in order that the producers them
selves could make report, there was
issued from this Office on July 20 cir
cular which was sent to some 500 pro-
ducers in Oregon, asking them estate
the conditions as they were on August
II. Some 300 reports have been re-
ceiyed and from the following sum-
mary is made.
The coast counties, consisting OF
Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos and
Curry, and the western portion oi
Lane aud Douglas-This section Is not
great grain section. The grain was
principally sown before April /, and
from May 10 to June Is. That first
sown is turning out very well, and ap'
proximately an ayerage;that sown late
is in many places not fit for hay. Ol
the fruit the prunes are practically q
failure. Some few varieties will have
a small yield. The peaches are a fail
ure. This section on a whole Is nc
place to even try to raise peaches ol
apples there will not be much OF
crop, and it would be expressed as yer,
poor.
The same for pears. The dry
weather very seriously affected th'
smaller fruits, wild berries in many
Instances drying up before maturing