The record-union., 1898-01-05
THE FARMERS NEED RAIN.
IRRIGATING CITRUS ORCHARDS
DOWN SOUTH.
Conflicting Reports Regarding the
Effects Of the Recent I'm
usual ErOsts.

Weather and crop bulletin of the eli
| mate and crop service of the United
States Weather Bureau, California
section, for the week ending January
| s. 1898:
The following summary of the climate
and crop conditions is based upon re-
ports received from eight Weather Bu-
reau Stations, fifty-two teIegraphic re-
| ports received through the courtesy of
the Southern Pacific Company, and
many reports scattered throughout the
State. Telegraphic summaries are also
| received from observers at Los Angeles
and Eureka, based upon reports re-
i ceived by them from correspondents in
| their districts.
! No rain fell in the State during the
| past week. The temperature has been
decidedly above the normal, except in
| the vicinity of San Francisco, where it
has been cooler than usual. In the
southern portion of the State the mean
temperature exceeded the normal about
! ten degrees. AT Los Angeles the tenn
perature has been about fourteen de-
grees above the normal.
There is a general cry for rain, and
in some localities farmers are uneasy
because of the absence of rain. Re-
ports are conflicting as to the damage
done to the citrus fruits by the severe
frosts. The loss has been variously
estimated as from 10 to 20 per cent.
of the crop. Grain growers are anx-
iously waiting for rain. In the south
citrus fruit growers are irrigating. In
some localities dry, desert winds have
evaporated nearly all of this seasons
rainfall.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
Shasta County-Cold with heavy
frosts.
Tehama County-No material injury
TO citrus fruit; grain not looking well
because of extr nely dry, cold weather;
plowing and seeding still in progress.
Butte County-Favorable for orange
picking, as the ground is not muddy;
clouds and fogs have kept the tenn
perature above the danger point so
that no injury has been done by frost;
grain looking we'll; pruning well under
way
Colusa County-Great need of rain;
farmers plowing and seeding as fast
as possible.
Soiano County-Winter plowing fin
ished; summer fallow doing well; rain
greatly needed.
Sacramento County-Cool and frosty;
large acreage of wheat being put in;
rain is needed; now blowing and seed
ing
Yuba County-F'rost doing no dam
age; plenty of moisture for plowing and
seeding; a very large acreage has been
seeded; the early sown looks well.
Yolo County-Continued heavy frosts;
rain much needed; pruning.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
San Joaquin County-Still very dry,
with heavy frosts; rain needed.
Stanislaus County-Heavy frost; no
damage reported; plowing delayed for
want of rain; some seeding; farmers
confident of rain before middle of
month.
Merced County-Weather moderating
some; farmers uneasy because of lack
of rain.
Kern County-Heavy frost daily; feed
getting very scarce.
Fresno County-Plowing about stop
ped because Of absence of rain; if good
rains come soon much more grain will
be sown; pasture and wheat suffering.
COAST AND BAY SECTIONS.
Alameda County-Dry weather is
having bad effect on farmers; many
have had to stop plowing.
Tul1re County-Continued cool nights
with frosts; somewhat warmer; need
rain.
Monterey County-Cool with light
frosts.
Santa Cruz County-Getting too dry
for crops; rain needed.
San Luis Obispo County-Cold, part
ly cloudy and cloudy; need rain.
Santa Barbara County Slightly
warmer; ground getting dry and needs
rain; very little seeding being done.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Los Angeles County-Los Angeles
Clear and very warm; crops already
sown suffering from want of rain; cell
cry and cabbage doing nicely. Bassett
Warm and dry; still seeding grain
where ground is damp. Pomona
Warm and dry; oranges and lemons
doing well. Duarte-Warm and dry:
rain is needed badly; orange crop ready
for picking; very little, if any, damage
done by frost.
Orange County - Santa Ana-Cool.
clear and very dry; farmers waiting for
rain; shipping some celery.
San Bernardino County-Redlands-
Clear and warm; oranges ripening rap
idly; rain needed very badly.
Riverside County-Riverside-
tinued dry and warm weather with
north Winds normal output of oranges;
back county badly in need of rain.
San Diego County-Moway - Clear
and dry: prevailing wind west; seeding
still in progress, though retarded by
lack of rain.
Eureka summary: The week has
been an Improvement on the preceding
one so far as favorable conditions are
concerned; grass is thriving and stock
doing We'll.
Los Angeles summary: Warm with
dessicating land winds Irrigating or
chards. Stock dying from short feed
and cold in the vicinity of San Luis
Obispo. Rain needed badly