The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-12
TOO HOT AND DRY.
Farming in New England Is
Impeded by Lack of Rain.
A Wide Range in Temperature
Rain Is Needed in All Sections.

New England section OF the United
States agricultural department. ]. War
rem Smith. director
The weather In New England for the
past week has been generally pleasant,
with strong ranges In temperature
Sharp frosts occurred on the morning OF
the sth. but only slight damage resulted.
No rain OF amount has fallen over any
district. and In many places only trace
during the week. At Falls Village
Conn, only a trace OF rain has fallen In
three weeks; at Storrs. Conn, the fall
has been SO inch In 3S days. AT Block
island no rain has come since April II.
In most parts OF New England the con-
ditions are nearly as bad and crops are
suffering Farm work is being carried
on rapidly. Much planting and sowing
has been done, except in the extreme
north.
There is still some frost in the ground
I'm northern Maine. and very little plant
ing or sowing has been done. A heavy
shower passed across the central coun-
ties on the night OF the 10th, and grass
and grains have been given better out
look. In the southern part Of the state
II is too dry and seeds germinate slowly,
and newly seeded land shows up poorly.
The week has been favorable for farm
work, and Ii has been pushed. The con-
ditions remain favorable for fruit. Some
potatoes have been put in In southern
counties and considerable sowing done.
More than so barns in the vicinity OF
Augusta were wrecked or damaged on
the night OF the 1lth. and the loss, II Is
thought. will reach $4,000.
New Hampshire.
"Hot and dry is heard on every hand
throughout nearly all the central and
southern part of New Hampshire, and
nost correspondents unite in saying
that rain is badly needed. Grass is
growing well, but is thin, and the feed
In pastures Is not as good as II should be.
Farm work has been carried on very
fast, aud great deal Of ground is ready
for seed. Planting Is fairly well under
way in most sections. but the bulk of the
crops remain to be put in. One corre-
spondent In Hillsboro county reports
that garden seeds never came UP better.
bat generally the ground is too dry,
The leaves are coming out very fast, and
apple trees arc blooming profusoly. Pear
and plum blossoms are not quite SO
abundant and there are still less peach
sets to be seen. Cherries and wilC
strawberries are in full bloom in south
ern counties In Rockingham county
one correspondent reports that cult.
waited Strawberries were badly winter.
killed.
Vermont
The first part OF the week was cool +
Vermont, but the last part has been yer
warm, and fruit buds have come out wit
q rush. Pears and apples are showinc
zap well, but one correspondents IN Chit
tenden county reports that plum anc
cherry trees are coming into blossom,
sparlngly a correspondent in Lamoiie
county states that grass never looked
better at this time of year but the general
report is that 1t Is growing very slowly
end that the feed i'm pastures is poor
One corresponding in Windsor count
says that many farmers are plowing VI
last years seeded ground because the
dry weather OF last season prevented Il
catch. Dry weather is the great com
plant of the farmers In this state and
the correspondents generally ssy that
warm rain Is badly needed.
Massach usstts.
A heavy frost was experienced in east
ern Massachusetts on the morning OF th
Sth, but IL is thought no damage
amount resulted. except 10 early straw
berries in Plymouth and Bristol countic
1t has been so cool that the water has N,
been yet drawn Sc OF many Of the crai
berry bogs, arG no damage from q,
frost has been reported from those tha
were exposed. Ii Is stated that tho app
and cherry trees have bloomed so full
Bristol county that q loss OF a good ma
blossoms would DC a benefit. Dr. FISH
OF Fitohburg reports pears In fun boo
OH the 9th. eight days earlier than &
average for 30 years A sharp thunde.
storm passed eastCrly over the soutl
eastern part OF the state on the 5th ~
conpaniod by short hailstorin. Raj
is badly needed in all sections and O.
pecially on the Cape. Here lille plan
ing has been done on aceou" az the dr
condition OF the soil. Asparagus ha
grown very fast during the past fc,
days.
Rhode island.
A light sprinkle OF rain fell over IL.
greater part OF Rhode Island on the Jth
but the drying winds OF the past few
days have evaporated the moisture VERY
completely from the top OF the ground
At Block island, no rain has fallen since
April IL. and the fields and pastures
are suffering. The temperature has
shown strong ranges during the week,
hot westerly winds being followed by
cold easterly ones. Farm work is pro.
crossing. Some corn has been planted.
Connecticut ----
The drought is becoming quite severe
IN tho greater part OF Connecticut. and
II is causing quite good deal OF anxiety.
Strawberries and small plants are show
ing the effects or the want Of ra'~. and
grass and grain grows slowly. y the
stand is thin. The correspondent, East
Morris. I4itchfeld county. states that