The record-union., 1898-04-06
RAIN VERY BADLY NEEDED.
REPORTED INJURY TO FRUIT-
CONFIRMED
Grain Already Beyond Relief IN
Some Sections and Badly Need
in Rain in Others.

Following is the climate and crop SER
vice report OF the United States Wealth
Ell Bureau, California Section, Tor the
week ended April 1, 1898:
The following summary of the climate
and crop conditions is based upon re-
ports received from nine Weather Bu-
reau Stations, fifty-tWo Geographic re-
ports received through the courtesy or
the Southern Pacific Company, and
many reports scattered throughout the
State. Topographic summaries are also
received from the observers at Los An
geies and Eureka, based upon reports
received by them from correspondents
in their districts
The past week failed to bring relief
from the unfavorable conditions which
have characterized the season. The
rainfall was far below the normal in all
sections Rain is badly needed through
out the State. Light showers occurred
on the % in the northern portion but
a disappointingly small amount of rain
fell except near the vicinity of Red
Bluff The temperature was more
nearly normal than it has been for some
weeks previous. The continuance of
nOrtherly winds and the absence OF rain
have caused the ground in portions of
the great valleys to become so dry that
it cannot be cultivated without irrigat-
ing. Reports of the preceding week
concerning the great injury done to al
monds, apricots and early peaches are
confirmed. Grain is already beyond re-
lief in many sections, and badly in need
of rain in nearly all others. Stock is
being moved to the Sierras and north
ern counties.
The average conditions for the week
ended April /, 1898, We're:
Temperature-Eure A, Red Bluff
IS, Sacramento %, San Francisco 81,
Fresno IS, Independence II, San Luis
Obispo -. Los Angeles 80, San Diego
% degrees.
Rainfall-Eureka 0.0S, Red Bluff O40,
Sacramento 0.04, San Francisco trace,
Fresno geo, Independence 0.04, San
Luis Obispo 000 Los Angeles 900, San
Diego 00O.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
Shasta County-Rain on April LIST
will help grain; prospect of a fair crop
of pears and prunes.
Sacramento County-Crops not look
ing we'll because Of heavy north wind
and need of rain: land that heretofore
produced fair crops of hay will not
yield pasturage this season.
Butte County-Cold north winds pre-
vailed most of the week; ground too
hard to cultivate without irrigating;
peaches and apricOts make a better
showing than expected.
Tehama County-North winds very
bad for grain and hay; some rain which
did good, but more badly needed.
Glenn COunty-LiGht showers follow
ed by north winds; prospects very dis
coura9ing; farmers are all idle.
YOlO County-Light rain Saturday
morning: preparing to irrigate or
chards; ground very dry; spraying
Solano County-North winds have
greatly damaged grain: unless rain
comes soon crop will be light.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
San Joaquin County-Farmers plant
ing sugar beets on account of failure
of wheat; apricot trees blooming second
time now; small crop of apricots; al
monds killed.
MERGED County Grain improving
very fast: sandy land with an inch
more of rain Will insure good crop;
heavy land not showing up so We'll;
warm growing weather.
Stanislaus County - Outlook poor;
drying up fast; inside canal limits out
look still cheerful; elsewhere. beyond
hope; late rains benefited grazing on
elevated sections; there will be some
grapes and late fruit; shearing finish
ed; fair output Of wool.
Kern County-Grain doing well; usual
April rain will make q good crop.
Fresno County - Continued dry
weather and southwest winds have de-
stroyed grain near Fresno in the foot
hills considerable grain will mature if
more rain: apricot crop Will be almost
a total failure; peach crop about one
third to one-half; vines safe thus far;
shearins will last two weeks.
Kings County-Prospect for grain
very poor and frosts have killed most
of the fruit.
Tulare County-Grain doing we'll as
could be expected; rain needed; fruit
killed
COAST AND BAY SECTIONS.
Sonoma County-Orchardist through
blowing and cultivating: north winds
should there he no further damage a
fair fruit crop viii be harvested; past
ure drying up light land: prunes as yet
uninjured.
Napa County-COld weather has de-
stroyed almonds. apricots and most of
the peaches and .prunes ground dry
and hard from north winds; grass short
and poor; good grain crop.
Alameda County-Apricots nearly a
total failure; other fruits doing nice
ly hay and grain suffering from the
dry weather.
Lake County Outlook not very
bright; rain badly needed; without
doubt, apricOts. almonds and nearly
all peaches are total loss: peas. APP
pies and probably prunes are not dam
aged; very little farming being done
except on low land: grapes are begin
ming to start.
San Mateo County-Crops will fail
unless rain comes; fruit damaged by
frost: strawberries killed