The times., 1898-08-10
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
The Weekly Bulletin of the DE.
/ partmant of Agriculture.
COTTON GETS LITTLE SUNSHINE
Improyement i'm the Outlook for
Corn Is Soted-Unfayorable Pros
Now i'm Progress I'm the Northwest
Tobacco Promises Well.

yesterday its climate and crop bulletin
for the week ending August at a. m.
The summary follows:
The favorable weather conditions of
the previous week have continued in the
Central Valleys, Middle Atlantic States,
and New England, where the rainfall has
been ample and in some sections exces-
sive. In the Southern States the week
has been unfavorable for cotton, owing
to insufficient sunshine and excessive
rains On the north Pacific coast the
week was unfavorable, being dry and ex-
ceptionaIly hot In Washington wheat
harvest was interrupted by intense heat,
which has caused the late grain 10 shriv-
el Numerous complaints of damage to
grain in shock by wet weather, which has
also interrupted threshing, are received
from portions of xhe Ohio, Upper Missis-
sippi and Missouri Valleys.
Corn has continued to make excellent
progress, and, except in portions of CEN
tral Kansas, Southern Nebraska, and
Central Illinois, the outlook is materially
improved. Some damage, however, from
local storms, is reported from portions
of the Middle Atlantic States and New
England, and in Ohio the crop is in need
on cultivation. In Nebraska corn has suf-
fered considerable permanent injury from
the drought which prevailed in July The
early crop in Kansas is about made. and
the late Is promising, except in central
counties, where much has been cut for
fodder. A marked Improvement is re-
ported in Illinois. where a good crop
eFxI.
In Minnesota and South Dakota the
weather conditions have been less favor
able than in the previous week for Spring
wheat harvest which is now in progress
as far north as Norman County, in north
ern Minnesota, and will reach the boun-
dary by the 18th. In Oregon and Wash
ington excessive heat has caused the
crop TO ripen rapidly. too rapidly for har-
vesters in the latter Stale, where much
late grain has been injured.
Frequent and heavy rains over the
gre&teF-part of the cotton belt have not
been favorable TO cotton, causing too rap
i'd growth Of stalk, rust and shedding 10
continue. Boil worms are also reported
as numerous in the central and western
portions In Texas the crop is in a good
state of cultivation, and the plant, as a
rule. looks well. Cotton is opening slowly
generally throughout the central and
eastern portions of the cotton region
Reports concerning tobacco indicate
that this crop is in q very promising con-
dition generally. in Ohio, however, it is in
need of cultivation, and complaints of
'frenching' continue from Kentucky. The
outlook in Virginia is exceptionally prom
isng Cutting is about finished in North
Carolina and some of the early planted in
Ohio and Pennsylvania has been housed.
Owing to abundant rains. the general
condition Of the soil is most favorable for
plowing for Fan seeding, which work is
usually well advanced for the season"
The bulletin contains a statement Of the
crop conditions by States, based upon re-
ports from more than twelve thousand
climate and crop correspondents, collect
ed at State section centers of the climate
and crop service of the Weather Bureau.
The conditions in the nearby States,
the grain, cotton and tobacco regions are
given as follows:
Maryland and Observation-Disclosures
Weather continued not and sultry, ex-
cept one or two days; thunder showers
were frequent and general except in the
southern half of Eastern Shore counties:
week favorable 10 growing crops which
are greatly improved; oat thrashing in
progress. yielding a little better than ex-
pected last week; corn much improved;
tomatoes and late potatoes now doing
well; tobacco growing nicely. but fields
are uneven; Fall plOwing and following
in progress.
'Nirginia-Richmond:W Week warm. with
fairly well distributed showers; all work
abreast of season; wheat thrashing out
poorly. except fair yields over small
areas; corn and tobacco continue excep-
tionally promising; sweet potatoes, pas
lures. and gardens very good; turnips be-
ing seeded; land being prepared for Win
ter wheat and clover; haying finished.
good crop.
North Carolina-Raleigh: Flourishing
condition of all crops maintained by
warm, showery weather; too much rain
and some damage by wind in few west
ern counties: cotton improving, less
shedding; some bolls ripe; slight damage
TO tobacco by flea bugs; minor crops con-
tinue excellent; fodder pulling and Fall
plowing begun.
South Carolina-Columbia: Excessive
rains damaged lowland crops in localities;
corn very fine in places, but generally un-
der average condition; cotton large of
stalk. well fruited, but rust and shedding
increasing. fields grassy, boil opening
slowly, needing dry weather and sun
shine; tobacco harvest about finished; rice
continues promising.
cloudy weather has besn injurious to cot
ton. which is making stalk rapidly. fruit
ing poorly, and rusting and shedding;
some cotton opening and picking begun
in several counties; fodder pulling retard-
ed and some damaged ry rain; corn and
other crops doing nicely; crops grassy
and land too wet to work
'.Alabama-Monrso omery: Too muN rain
for cotton. which is opening slowly.
making too much weed and rust and
shedding becoming general; crops injured
considerably by wind storms in south
east counties on Sd; corn will make a
large yield; wet weather damaging fod-
der and delaying hay; fruit rotting;
minor crops doing well
ssissippi-Vicksburg: Continued
showers; boil and army worms, shedding,
rust, grass and overgrowth seriously in
1ured cotton; some very favorable re-
ports Of cotton received, however. mostly
from the northern counties, where rains
were moderate; first bale received at |
Meridian on 5th; corn fine: gardens fruit
hay, fodder, and minor crops progressing. |
but injured locally by heavy rainfall.
''Louisiana-New Orleans: Showerv
weather during week with heavy local
rains over northern and southeastern
portions; cotton has made rank growth
but is not fruiting well in localities
while in many places it is shedding fruit |
crop grassy, boil worm has appeared in |
north portion; sugar cane and rice doing
well
'Texas-Galveston: Week of showerv
weather but rain too light to benefit |
crops except in scattered districts; cotton
In good state of cultivation, fruiting
nicely plant looks well generally, but |