The Forrest City times., 1897-08-06

Russellyille ............................. None ueAarkaha' ...............,........ 0. 3s "afreh .'t..' None The weather has generally been too dry and hot for growing crops, though very few localities report good rains. Cotton is doing fairly well generally. The plant, though small, is fruiting and holding it's fruit we'll. Some com plaint of shedding in localities on the uplands.
 Corn is only doing moderately we'll, and is generally needing rain. One good general rain would make the crop.
 Millet, peas, sorghum and sweet po- tatoes doing very we'll, and pastures somewhat revived and improved. But little complaint of lack of stock water. Fruit doing well in northwest sec tion, but elsewhere is rather small and inferior.
 A general soaking rain would bene- fit everything.
 NORTHEAST SECTION.
 The temperature has averaged 1.4 deg. per day above the normal and the aver age rainfall has been .76 inch less than the normal amount
 Showers have generally been very light and local Where rains have fallen all crops are doing hne. but where no rain has fallen during the week corn is suffering for moisture. Cot ton is doing fairly we'll The plant is small but fruiting we'll Some complaint of shedding on the uplands. Corn promises only fair unless the season from now on to maturity is excep- tionally favorable It is feared that much of the crop is so badly injured by dry weather that It can not revive unless it rains very soon Sec ond crop of clover hay being harvested but the crop is light. Millet doing reasonably we'll Pastures drying up, and stock water getting scarce in localities. Sorghum and peas coming out some. Fruit generally inferior
 SOUTHWEST SECTION.
 The mean temperature averaged 3.4 deg. above the normal, while the pre- cipitation was 80 inch less than the average amount.
 Only fewye light showers reported during the week, and some localities are suffering for moisture. In few localities cotton is reported shedding and in great need of rain. but gener- ally the plant is holding it's own and fruiting we'll and the outlook is very promising with favorable weather until maturity. Corn has improved. but Is beginning to need rain again. and late corn will begin to show damage unless 1t rains within few days. Sweet potatoes
 
 crop fair. Turnips and late Irish potatoes not doing we'll; many potatoes rotted on account of the ground being too hot when planted. Peaches rottng, grapes fine, apples good.
 CENTRAL SECTION
 The weekly mean temperature aver aged 3.7 deg. above the normal, and the than the normal.
 Cotton generally is doing very we'll, and in some localities Is excellent, while in others is needing rain. The plant is small but full of fruit. and Is holding it's fruit we'll In parts Of Faulkner county heavy rain fell on the 26th giving all the moisture that was necessary Corn Is needing rain generally and many report that with one good rain fin the ensuing week q good crop would be made. Some corn thor oughly ripe and ready for the mill Sorghum. peas and potatoes doing fairly we'll Millet has improved. Fruit ripening, but generally small
 SOUTHWEST SECTION.
 The temperature has averaged 5. deg. per day above the normal. and the total weekly rainfall has averaged .35 inch below the normal.
 The rain was in the form of light showers in the early part of the week. Cotton is holding up very well, except in sections of Nevada and Hampstead counties, where 1t is fruited light on account Of insufficient moisture, and is now commencing to shed Late corn has suffered severely from the drought. and could not now be benefited. Fodder is being pulled from early corn. Some turnps being sown where the ground is not too dry. Sweet and Irish pota- toes doing fairly well. Pastures were revived by recent rains
 NORTHWEST SECTION.
 The weather in this section during the past week has been characterized by excessively high temperature and an entire absence of precipitation.
 The normal weekly precipitation for this sec- tion Is nearly an inch The temperature has averaged 43 deg. daily above the normal Sum- mer apples are being shipped; the yield Is good Peaches also are being marketed; the fruit is large and fine. Grapes ripening nicely; clear of mildew or rot. Cotton is doing particularly we'll Plant well fruited, no shedding and pros- pect fine Corn would be greatly benefited by rain, on the uplands 1t Is badly hurt Fodder pulling in progress. Some farmers sowing tur- nip seed. Pastures improved and gardens re- vived by rains about ten days ago All grow ing crops would be benefited by rain,
 F. Fl. CLARKE,
 Section Director, Little Rock, Ark.
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