The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-04
OCTOBER DRY AND HOT
ONLY ONE-HALF THE USUAL AMOUNT OF
RAINFALL.
The list Was the Warmest Day in October FoI
Ten Years--Review of the Crop
Season
Season..

The report or w eatner E0recaSter V on
Herman, for the month of October,
shows that the mean temperature for
the month was 63 degrees, which is no
less than 5 degrees above the normal.
There were only days on which the
temperature was little below the
average. All the rest OF the days vary
/ ing from 1 to 16 degrees warmer than
usual. The highest temperature was
/ 50 degrees on the 1st, which is the high
est October temperature experienced at
Raleigh since 1887. The lowest temper
allure for the month was 43 degrees on
the 31st, which is a relatively high mini
mum temperature. The greatest daily
range was 30 degrees on October list.
October was an exceptionally dry
month, particularly the first half of it.
The total rainfall was 2.62, which is
only 80 per cent of the usual amount.
After the 10Th, cloudy rainy weather
prevailed. The deficiency in precipitation
for the season from March LIST to the
end of October was over IS inches. The
heaviest rainfall this month occurred
on the Goth, the amount being 1873. The
number of rainy days during October
was Il.
The prevailing wind direction was
north, with an average hourly velocity Of
z milns, Tho highest velocity was 26
miles from the north on 25th
The relative humidity for the month
was Il per cent. The number of clear
days was IL, partly cloudy 10 and
cloudy 10.
The crop seasan says the Weather
Forecaster Won Herman in his review
of the crop season Of 1897 in North Caro-
lima, says the heavy rains during Feb
ruary and March delayed all farm work,
while the excess in temperature adyanc-
ed all vegetation so much that fruit
trees were generally in bloom before the
end of March, and were considerably in
jured by frosts between the 25th and
Doth.
The weather conditions during April
were not very favorable for the growth of
crops, but much farm work was accom-.
plished during the latter half of the
month. The most unfortunate features
were the heavy frost on April ID and
21st, which both did very much damage
to the fruit crop, practically running it,
except in some extreme western counties.
Too much rain occurred generally the
first half of the month, though much
was necessary to enable PREPARATION of the
soil to proceed.
The growth of all crops continued to
be very slow during May on account of
the prevailing cool weather; but the
entire month was quite favorable for
farm work. The deficiency in tempera-
ture was two and half degrees dur
ing May. Limited areas suffered dur
ing this month from frost and hail
The weather during the middle of the
crop season: June and July-were very
favorable. Both months were nearly
normal in temperature and precipitation.
July was warm, with hint of the COM
ing drought
During August crop conditions became
very diversified and much less favorable
The deficiency in precipitation for the
month was over two inches. and the
drought began to he severely felt at the
close. Injury TO cotton, however, did
not begin until the last week in August.
The last week of August marked the be-
ginning of one Of the worst droughts
on record, and steady deterioration Of
crops began.
September was extremely unfavorable
month. Drought prevailed practically
from the beginning to the end, and was
perhaps the most severe ever felt in
the State. Cotton was irreparably in
jured, squares, bolls and leaves fell off,
half grown bolls cracked and dropped;
the intensity of the drought increased
during the middle of the month and
the top crop of cotton was utterly ruin
ed: complaints of rust and premature
opening became general. Fall blowing
and seeding was at standstill. Pastures
dried up; turnips, late peas, potatoes,
peanuts and rice all suffered seriously
Vegetation began to take fall appear
ance before the occurrence of frost. The
latter portion of September was cooler,
with frosts in the mountain regions.
Severe drought and very warm wealth
er continued during October up to the
18th. The weather was very favorable
for gathering fall crops, but greatly de-
layed breaking for fall seeding. Fine
rains occurred after October 10Th, when
the drought was finally broken. Cotton
was gathered in fine condition, in guam
tity probably a third less than expected
at the end OF August; at the end of
October about Is per cent remained I'M
gathered, some of which was injured by
heavy rains and high winds in the east
ern portion of the State. Corn on the
whole was fairly good crop, at least In
the west, though drought damaged much
late corn in the central and eastern por-
tions of the State by drying it before ma
turity. About thirty per cent remained
ungathered October 31st. The latter part
of the season was more favorable for fall
blowing and much wheat, rye and grain
in the western half of the State at the |
close of October with very little dam