The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18
CROPS BOOMING.
Promised Big Corn Crop Is
Now Assured.
Potatoes Are Rusting Somewhat in
Some Districts.

Boston, Aug. IS. - The following
weather-crop bulletin is Issued by the
United States agricultural bureau, New
England section, j. Warren Smith. di-
rector:
The week ending Aug. II. 1896, has
given an unevenly distributed amount
OF moisture. but plenty of sunshine, and
during the first part of the week excess
sve heat. Northern New Hampshire,
central Massachusetts,, and Connecti-
cut and Rhode Island. received over one
inch of rainfall. while other sections re-
port from a trace to one inch. The high
temperature and sunshine have ad-
vanced crops very fast, and everything
seems TO be doing well, except that in.
southern sections potatoes are rusting
to considerable extent
Maine.
Corn has made a remarkable growth
In Maine during the past week. and II is
now pronounced up TO the average at
this season. with a good yield indicated.
Pastures are in good condition, and the
grass in fields is starting up fast Wild
blackberries are ripening, and are a
heavy crop. Apples are very promising.
oats are being harvested, and indicate
The potato rust is appearing in southern
counties.
New Hampshire.
The extreme heat checked farm work
for day or two in New Hampshire, but
crops have grown very fast. Corn es-
pecially has advanced wonderfully, and
both field and sweet corn is very promic
ing. Reports OF potato rust, or blight, TO
q greater or less extent, come this week
from Hillsboro, Cheshire. Sullivan,
Rockingham and Merrimack counties;
the outlook is not very good for the crop.
Berries are still plenty, and reports from
nearly all the state say that winter
apples are holding on we'll, and that the
trees are breaking down with their loads
of fruit. Apples are coloring up well.
Pastures are excellent. Beans are good.
Grain is very good. Flowing and seed
Ing for grass Is now going on.
Vermont
Pastures are getting short in parts OF
Vermont. but IT is green, and the grass
in fields is growing fast. Grain is being
harvested in good condition. 1t stands
up well for the reaper. and where
threshed Is yielding unusually well.
Corn seems to have made up for lost
time, and is pushing fast toward ma
turity, particularly the sweet corn for
the canning factories. Reports of po-
tato rust have been received from Chit
tenden, Addison, Windsor and Orleans
counties; the damage is apparently not
extensive yet, but IL is spreading. Apples
are reported to be large crop, of good
quality.
Massachusetts
Oupr y,Oot Of oh re thora bo
been sufficient rainfall for crop needs
during the week. and everything is ad-
vanclng well. There is, however, a
marked deficiency of moisture in tho
subsoil in some sections. and few days
without rain lets the surface dry our
rapidly. Corn and late forage crops
have made a rapid growth. Pastures
hold out well. Tobacco looks WELL and
is being cut. Tomatoes are ripenins
well generally. and good crop is at
hand Cranberries have been badly sun
burned or scalded. 1t has been rather
too hot for the best growth OF cabbagcs.
Apples are making fine showing.
Rhode Island
All late crops have been helped along,
and early ones have ripened well in
Rhode Island The top of the ground
was getting ury. Dut the nSaNy ram on
the 14th put it in good shape again.
Corn has cared thickly, and is very
promising. onion seed is a fine crop.
Farmers have begun threshing their
oats. Apples are rather unevenly dis
tributcd.
Connecticut
No damage is reported in the farming
region OF Connecticut by the hot weather
OF the week, while all farm crops are
growing and ripening fast. Pastures
are good. Corn and forage crops have
made a rapid growth ana good crops arc
assured Buckwheat is fine. Potatoes
are generally biightlng. snd there are
occasional reports OF decay. onions arc
blighting some in southern Fairfield
county. In New Haven county the
onion seed is very promising. Apples
are ripening we'll; they are dropping
badly in northern Litchfeld county.
Tomatoes are ripening slowly. La,e
cabbage and turnips have been greatly
helped by the coplous rains.