Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-09-30
WEATHER-CROP BULLETIN.


The Last Report of the Season Finds Har-
vesting Practically Completed.
In general the weather of the week has
been favorable. The warm and pleasant
weather of the early part aided the rapid
ripening and harvesting of all crops, so
that no great amount of damage resulted
from the general frosts of the morning of
the 2lst. During the middle and latter
part the weather was much cooler,
though, excepting on the 21st, no frosts
were reported. The rain of the 23rd re-
lieved the drought which was becoming
quite serious In many parts of Maine,
Vermont and New Hampshire, excepting
in few sections of Maine, where more
rain is reported needed to fill streams and
wells and place pastures in good condi-
ton. But over the greater part of New
England the rainfall was sufficient to
place the ground in fine condition for
blowing, seeding and all fall work.
The average temperature for the week
was about degrees cooler than the one
preceding, but with greater extremes,
rising to near so degrees during the early
part in central and southern sections, and
on the morning of the 2lst falling to near
freezing parts of the central and north
ern portion.
The rainfall of the week was confined
to the last part and was generally CO.
pious, supplying sufficient moisture for
present needs except at few points in
Maine. At some points more than 2
inches was reported to have fallen.
Harvesting is now practically COM
pleted except the picking of apples and
digging potatoes on late fields. Though
killing frosts occurred on the morning Of
the Dist in the interior parts of Mass
achusetts and Maine, and in New
Hampshire and Vermont, crops were so
nearly secured that no great loss resulted.
Farmers are now giving their attention
to fall work and preparing for winter.
Owing to the abundant rainfall during
the greater part of the season fields are
generally in excellent condition for
winter.
AS whole the season has been salts
factory and reports indicate that the
result of the seasons work has been
profitable, and rather above the average.
Corn is now being husked and is re-
ported good and large crop without
exception. Buckwheat is reported a
good crop. The conditions are excellent
for fall blowing and seeding, which,
though delayed by the rainy weather of
the 23rd and 24th is being rapidly COM
pleted.
The season favored grass. There was
an unusually large crop of hay of good
quality. The hay crop has been so large
that in many instances rowen and
meadows have not been cut. Pastures
and fields are reported green as in June
with excellent fall feed.
In sections of southern New Hamp
shire apples are reported a large croI
and of good quality, but otherwise the
crop is light, many reporting it to be no
more than half or third of the usua
crop.
Peaches, plums and pears are generally
light and below the usual quality
Cranberry picking is we'll advanced
but the crop is much less than expected
much damage having occurred from in
insects, sun-scald, and early frosts.
Potatoes are an average crop excep
in few instances where rot was severe
digging VIII soon be finished. Squashe
a large crop of good quality. Vegeta
bles generally yield we'll.
This bulletin closes the issue for 1898
The Bureau wishes to express its ap
r probation of the valuable work ant
efforts of the correspondents during tn
past season and hopes all will be able t
4 resume their reports in 1899.