The record-union., 1898-02-23
THE DROUTH IN THE SOUTH.
LOWER HALF OF THE STATE IN
NEED OF RAIN.
Hercabouts Crops Are Doing Well,
and Fruit Trees Ready
to Blossom.

ana crop conditions is baSed upon re-
ports received from eight Weather Bu-
reau stations. fifty-two telegraphic re-
ports received through the courtesy OF
the Southern Pacific Company and many
reports scattered throughout the State.
Telegraphic summaries are also re-
ceived from the Observers at Los An
geles and Eureka, based upon reports
received by them from correspondents in
their districts.
The first general rain since February
9th fell on the night of the Goth and
morning of the Dist The prolonged want
of rain at this season of the year had
given rise to anxiety among farmers
concerning the crops. Not only has there
been marked deficiency in rainfall dur
ing this entire season. but the latter por-
tion of the last season was dry.
At San Francisco the rainfall since
April 1st to date has been only 1.40
inches, deficiency Of 1901 inches. The
last rain therefore is very welcome and
will prove to be of the greatest bene-
fit
With the exception of the extreme
north coast, the rainfall for the week
is much below the normal. South of the
Tehachapi there has been trace or ram
and the deficiency is from six TO eight
inches.
The temperature has been below the
normal in the northwestern portion or
the State; about normal on the central
coast. and from three to five degrees
above the normal in the interior.
Grain. particularly growing grain and
feed. were feeling the effects of con-
tinued dry weather. The present rain
came in time and prospects are much
brighter; provided the usual springs oc-
cur. the crops will probably be abun-
dant Fruit trees are beginning to bud
in favored localities. Almonds are bios
soming and apricots are in bud.
The average conditions for the week
ended February y, 1898. We're:
mperature-Eureka.4 43 degrees, Red
Bluff -, Sacramento 53, San Francisco
%, Fresno %, San Luis Obispo 56, Los
Angeles 80. San Diego 5G.
Rainfall-Eureka 2.36, Red Bluff "a.
Sacramento 20, San Francisco IA,
Fresno ID, San Luis Obispo .0S, Los An
gees T., San Diego T.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
Shasta County-Warmer and light
showers Pruning we'll advanced.
Tehama County-Half inch of rain,
ana warmer. Grain growing rapidly.
Almonds in bloom.
Glenn County-Farmers busy plowing.
Light showers Sunday evening. Grow
ing grain is doing nicely.
Solano County-Trees beginning to
bud Grain doing well. Sufficient mois
ture in ground for the present. Good
invigorating rain fell Sunday night, just
what growers most needed.
Sacramento County-Showers Sunday
night; crops in fine condition. Growing
grain and hay show we'll.
Yolo County-Warm with rain. Plow
ing and spraying now on; prospects Of
large croo.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
San Joaquin CounIy-Grain growing
we'll, more rain needed.
Merced County-Growing grain looks
we'll but more rain needed. Pruning
nearly over.
Stanislaus County-Rain. Crops doing
we'll. Farmers still seeding with faith
in late rains.
Kern County-Grain and feed growing
rapidly Warm weather dried the land.
Monday cooler with good showers.
Kings County-Dry. No change since
last resort.
Tulare County-Light frost on 18th
and 10TH light rain on list. Crops
COlng well. NeSu ram IOr WHEAT al
mond and apricot trees in bloom.
COAST AND BAY SECTIONS.
Scnona County-Crops of all kinds
doing well. some plowing in-orchards
and VINEYARDS.
Napa County-Weather of past week
mild with light frost. Outlook fair for
good grain and hay crop, and full fruit
yield. Still plowing.
~ ID,~ac raYxy
much improved: will probably have two
thirds crop.
Santa Cruz County-Crops doing very
well.
San Mateo County-Dry north wind on
18th and 10Th; heavy showers on 10Th,
beneficial to crops.
Santa Clara County-All crops doing
well. Early fruit trees in bloom, april
cots are blossoming Rain of both of uni
versal value.
San Benito-Grain and feed had about
stopped growing. Fruit outlook good.
Monterey County-Rain needed badly
for crops Showers on DIST. Crops
growing we'll at present.
San Luis Obispo County-Warm morn
ings. cool during days. Looks like rain
to-day (21sU. Farmers are still crop
ping but need more rain. Grass is very
short.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Santa Barbara County-Continued
warm. drv weather. Hay is being put
in on low ground; indications of short
hay crop.
Los Angeles County-Bassett-Wa Warm
and dry. Rain needed badly on the high
lands 10 help grain crop. Duarte-Warm
and cloudy: shipping oranges: rain
needed badly. Los Angeles-Fair with
some fog: crops beginning to show that
rain Is needed. Palmdale-Less than one
inch of rain SO far; crop prospects un-
improved. Pomona-Warm and some
fog. San Fernando-Warm and dry:
rain badly needed for growing grain;
other crops doing well.
Ventura County-Every one wishing
for rain. Much barley and beans
shipped: also oranges and lemons Lit
lie damage by late frosts except to
lemon crop.
Orange County-Cloudy and cool Rain
needed badly TO save small grain.
san Bernardino County-Valleys badly
in need OF rain.
Riverside County-Dry and warm. In
dications that grain crop will be light on
account of scarcity of rain. Little adj
vance In growth of grain and feed. In
dications of rain on 10th and 18th, but il
did not come
San Diego County-Nothing seems to
be suffering'bu soon will be. Almond
trees are blossoming and orange and
III. YaAxy