The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-28
A WEEK OF HEAVY RAINS
THE GROUND EVERYWHERE HAS BEEN
THROUGHLY SOAKED.
Though the Precipitation in Some Sections
Has Been Excessive it Has, as Rule,
Been Beneficial.

The Weekly Crop Bulletin for North
Carolina, issued yesterday, says that the
week ending July Goth was very wet;
the ground has been thoroughly soaked
nearly everywhere. The rainfall aver
aged over 2 inches for the week, with
amounts varying from l to 8 inches.
While the rainfall in some sections was
excessive, with minor damage to low
land crops by standing water and over
flowing streams, and some injury to corn
by high winds, the seasons on the whole
have been very beneficial and crops have
made excellent progress. Cotton is hold
ing it's fruit very well; tobacco and
corn have improved. Sweet potatoes are
very fine and digging has commenced;
rice is heading nicely. Fair weather,
with more sunshine. is now needed.
Eastern District-The reports of cor
respondents in the Eastern district are
very favorable. Showers occurred
throughout the week, and the ground
is thoroughly soaked. Some excessive
rains occurred, washing land, and there
was too much rain for low lands, but the
damage is insignificant. The tempera-
ture was about normal, with less than
the usual amount of sunshine. Crops
are doing very well indeed. Cotton inn
proved rapidly; continues to bloom nicely,
and, though not as large as last year,
will have more bolls; it is holding its
fruit well as yet: some fields are getting
grassy. Corn planted in May on low
lands is very promising. The rains came
too late for a good deal of corn which
was damaged by previous drought. To-
bacco good; cutting and curing pro-
crossing finely, with fair results. More
peas were planted for forage and reno
waiting land than usual Digging sweet
potatoes for market begun; crop fine.
Gardens improving
Central District-Showers occurred on
almost every day this week; ground is
too wet to pillow in many sections and
farm work is hindered. Low lands are
standing in water, with some damage to
crops. Local heavy rains and wind
storms did some damage chiefly by beat
ing down corn in Guilford county
Greensboro, Wake county auburn and
Raleigh, Warren county (Embro),
Franklin county LaureD, Person county
Bethel HilD, and low lands have been
flooded, especially in Richmond county;
but the aggregate injury to crops is not
great, and is fully balanced by the i'm
provement in crops throughout the dis
trict. Cotton is growing fast; holding
fruit well; laying by interrupted by wet
weather and some fields becoming
grassy. Upland corn made excellent
growth; too much water for low lands.
Tobacco has improved; leaf fine; more
than two-thirds topped; cutting and
curing progressing slowly; crop will be
short on account of diminished acreage.
Meadows and pastures fine. Preparing
land for clover and turnips and seeding
turnips begun.
Western District-The rainfall was
abundant and general this week, follow
ed the latter part by fair weather. Some
minor damage was done by heavy rains
washing land and filing bottoms. In
general, correspondents report fine grow
ing weather and excellent progress in
the growth of crops. Corn growing
rapidly; looks we'll; nearly all laid by;
the crop is better in west portion than
in other portions of the State Tobacco
crop small, but doing well. Cotton
could not do better. Wheat threshing
continues in extreme west, but will soon
be over everywhere. Stubble land is
being turned for another wheat crop,
and field peas are still being planted.
Grapes are ripening; good crops. Other
fruit very short