The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-20
WEEKLY CROP REPORT
Precipitation Greater Than
Ever Before Known.


Boston, July 20.-New England was
visited on Tuesday and Wednesday. the
18th and 14th. by rain and wind storm
OF an exceptionally violent character,
resulting In more or less destruction to
the newly grown crops. fruits. etc.. not
to mention the damage In other direc-
| tions.
The loss In those sections which bore
the brunt Of the storm will amount to
large sum. although II Is found that
| first estimates were overdrawn. Re-
ports indicate that the storm was most
severe along the valley OF the Connecti-
cut river in southern New England. but
Its force was also very great through
out the northern states of the district
Eastern Massachusetts, and Rhode ISL
and. while escaping the heavy precipi-
tation. sustained q furious gale. The re-
markable feature OF the storm was the
tremendous downpour Of rain. Such tor
rents Of water that fell over most of New
England have seldom. II ever. been ex-
perenced over so large q portion of this
territory.
A few Of the largest amounts, officially
measured. are appended: Hartford and
Windsor Conn.,. 9.17 inches; Farming
ton Conn, 821; Greenfield Hill, Conn.
&04; West Hartford. Conn.,, 7.61: West
Eimsbury. Conn. 7.Ss: New Salem.
Mass, Sol; Leeds, Mass. $50: Win
chendon. Mass. 600: Burlington, VT,
sol; Middlebury. VT. over s inches In
tervale. N. H., $50. Some localities re-
ceived much smaller falls, Hartland and
Northfield, VT. a trifle less than 2.5 and
s.5 inches, respectively, and in Rhode
Island and the coast sections OF Massa-
chusetts the total falls for the week were
generally less than one inch.
Special reports rendered to this office
BY correspondents show that crops on
highlands suffered less than those on
lowlands, and that the largest part Of
the direct money loss will be charged to
highways, bridges, etc.. rather than to
crops.
Hay was the most seriously damaged
Of all crops. especially on meadows and
intervales. where the rising streams
carried Off quantities that was being
cured. while that uncut Is so filled with
dirt and lodged that II Is almost worth
less.
Nearly all growing crops will right
themselves. This Is particularly true Of
corn and potatoes, which have probably
sustained little permanent injury and
have made a very good showing since
the rain. Oats were badly beaten down
and will not right up well. so that In
many cases they will be cut for fodder.
Considerable tobacco was damaged In
Connecticut and In western Massachu-
setts. but comparatively small acre.
age Is a total loss. The high winds
wrought havoc to fruit and shade trees:
apples. both late and early, were blown
of. also peaches and pears.
Since the middle of last week tho
Weather has been very favorable and
everything has rushed forward rapidly.
In Maine a wonderful increase Is noted
In the growth Of grass. corn and pota-
toes. Haying IL. In general. under way,
with an average to a heavy yield re-
ported, according to location. Lowlands
are too wet In New Hampshire for hoe
ing. Haying Is nearly completed In
Rhode Island and southeastern Massa-
chueetts but in Connecticut II will be
much delayed on lowlands. There are
very decided symptoms Of potato rot
in portions of the last named state.
J. w. Smith.
Section Director