The record-union., 1898-04-20
IT COULD HARDLY Be WORSE
CONTINUED BAD OUTLOOK FOR
GRAIN CROPS.
Livestock Down South ON the
Verge of Starvation-Fruit
Doing Fairly Well.

Following is the report Of the Cali
fornia section of the climate and crop
service of the United States Weather
Bureau for the week ending April is,
1898:
The following summary of the climate
ana crop conditions is based upon re-
ports received from nine 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
received from the observers at Los An
geles and Eureka, based upon reports
received by them from correspondents
in their districts
The drought continues in California;
the only rainfall for the week reported
from the various Weather Bureau sta
tions amounting to only 0.02 of an
inch from Eureka. The deficiency in
rainfall is nearly one inch in the north
ern coast sections; half an inch in the
great valleys, decreasing southwark,
and about a quarter of an inch south
of the Tehachapi. The weather has
been warm as we'll as dry. The tenn
perature for the week exceeds the nor
NAL about ten degrees in the interior
and five degrees or more along the CEN
tral coast.
The continued absence of the late
spring rains gives little hope of relief
and the prospects for crops could hard
ly be worse. While the cloudy weather
at the beginning of the week was not
unfavOrable. the subsequent north
winds dried up the land and in places
finished the grain. The 18th and 18th
We're unusually warm days; the tenn
perature in places breaking the record
for the period.
Grain and hay have suffered severe
ly and the outlook is discouraging.
Stock is starving and horses can be
bought in some localities for 81 %.
Sheep are perishing. Fruit doing we'll,
but as 0rchardists have not faced such
a dry season before, the future is un-
certain.
The average conditions for the week
ended April IS, 1898. We're:
emperature-Eureka 30 degrees, Red
Bluff GS Sacramento 80, San Francisco
60 Fresno 40, Independence 66, San
Luis Obispo %, Los Angeles 66, San
Diego 90.
Rainfall-Eureka 002, Red Bluff 600,
Sacramento trace, San Francisco 600,
Fresno 600. Independence 900, San
Luls Obispo 600, Los Angeles 600, San
Diego 900.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
Shasta County-Fruit not so badly in
jured by early frOsts as supposed; figs
are setting nicely, with promise of large
crop; grain at a standstill; driving
stock to summer ranges earlier than
usual; rain badly needed.
Tehama County-Crop outlook very
discouraging; doubtful if rain now
would do any good; favorable for fruit;
orange trees in full bloom.
Glenn County Summer fallowed
grain is standing the dry weather bet
ter than expected; some farmers expect
to raise feed for their stock
Butte County-Orange trees in bloom;
good indications of heavy crop of lem
ons, pIums, pears and prunes; Feather
River rising; snow melting on the high
ranges above.
Yuba County-On adobe lands and
rich river lands moisture is failing and
the grain looks very bad; all apricots
and almonds and almost all of the
peaches gone; no hay; small crop of
pears and prunes; outlook discourag-
ing.
Sacramento County-Ten days more
of this weather and hay and grain will
be an absolute failure; if good showers
occur will give one-third crop.
Yolo County-Fruit advancing rapid
ly; spraying fruit trees; heavy or
chards on low lands still being irri-
gated.
Solano County-First box of cherries
to go East this year shipped on the
18th eleven days earlier than last
year: good crop expected; other fruit
not showing up we'll; summer fallow
may yield half a crop; winter soWn
Will be a failure.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
San Joaquin County Dry, with
norther early in the week; grain dam
aged considerably.
Merced County-Wind drying land
very fast; winter sown grain and grass
too far gone to benefit by rain; sum-
mer fallow looking well.
Stanislaus County-Drying up fast;
crops inside canal district doing WELL
but outside beyond hope: north winds
Kern County - Irrigation water
scarce; fruit trees that are not frosted
doing we'll; limited acreage in dry
lands still promises grain; some dry
lands viii produce hay, some nothing.
Fresno County-Warm weather; in
creased flow of water from the noun
tains: much needed for irrigation.
Kings County-No grain; fruit that
escaped frost is doing well; vineyards
leafing out.
Tulare County-Outlook for grain
very poor; viii have some pears and
prunes.
COAST AND BAY SECTIONS.
Sonoma County-Grapes coming in;
prunes a good crop; rain needed.
Napa County-Indications of good
grain and hay crops; very fair fruit
yield.
Alameda County-Grain on southern
exposures drying out; prospects for
hay and grain poor; grass drying fast;