The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-14
Eastern Maine Appears
To Suffer Least.
The Dronth Extends as Far
South as Rhode Island.

Bangor, June 13.--In this section thers
has been little rain for some time, but IL
10 not known that there Is any great
damage resulting 50 far. Rain is much
needed, the farmers say and the hay
crop Is likely to be light in consequence
unless the conditions change rathsr
speedily. There Is SO far little talk Of
mink or water famine. The last rain fall
was last week and removed for the pres.
ent any danger. Further east there was
q slight rain today which did much good.
Lawrence. Mass. June 1s.-Nothing
but immediate and long continued rain
viii save the hay crop upon which the
most of the farmers hereabouts depend al
most solely for livelihood. The total
rainfall for the past three weeks has been
less than half an inch.
The long period of drouth is assuming
a serious aspect in this section, the farm
ers Of the surrounding. towns being
alarmed as the losses from the failure of
early crops become day by day more
certain.
Augusta, June 15.-The dry weather
has affected the crops in this section to
o certain extent, though no estimates can
be made as to the extent The hay crop
will be affected the worst. II rain should
come at present, matters are not SO se-
rious. but they would soon be nearly up
TO the average, The drouth Is not so SO.
we're as near the sea coast and far into
the country the conditions grow better.
The only rain in two weeks was smart
ssaower last Wednesday night. -
New Bedford, Mass. June ia.-The
country around New Bedford was never
50 dry as it Is at present and farmers all
through this section are complaining of
the threatened destruction of their crops.
The hay crop Is entirely spoiled and no
amount of rain Will do 1t any good, al
though a steady soaking rain would en-
sure second crop. The local straw berry
crop is almost worthless. /.
Truck 60 rdeners have been hauling
water for their crops for weeks and with
out artificial means Of supplying moist
ure their season would be a failure.
Manchester, N. H., June 13.-Farmers
| in this section Of the country are greatly
| discouraged over the poor prospect of good
crops. 1t has been estimated thut the
yield of hay this summer will not be half
the usual quantity. In the past six weeks
not enough rain has fallen to be measured.
Norwich, Conn.,, June 13.-The drought
In Eastern Connecticut is severe. The
| grass crop is ruined and green peas,
strawberries and garden crops are near
ly destroyed. The earth Is as dry as pow
der to depth of several inches. There
has been but one shower In five weeks
and that was only sufficient to lay the
dust for few hours.
Lewiston. June lathe drouth in
this ssotion "a varx savara h,,t Httia "a.
has fallen for the last two or three weeks.
The farmers report grass as looking poor
| and unless rain comes before long, there
will be light yield. Other crops are
somewhat backward owing to the same
| cause.
| Providence June 13.--This section of
the country is experiencing q most re-
| markable spell tor this season of the year
the measured rainfall for the past month
having q mounted to but half an inch.
The hay crop in Rhode Island has been
seriously injured and will be very short
Some OF the farmers are getting their
| hay now. wesks before the usual time
The produce dealers report short and
backward crop in peas, cabbnges, pota-
| toes, etc. ,uand. what it being received is
OF rather Inferior quality.
Millbury, Conn.,, June Ia The drouth
throughout nearly all Western Vermont
has become so general and severe as to
cause much alarm over the prospect of
crops. Through considerable portion
of the Champlain valley the hay crop, the
most valuable of Vermont crops, usual
ly. is in very poor condition and it is too
late for rain to cause much of an improve
ment. 1t looks as II there would not be
more than half a crop and the farmers
who have old day held over are now be-
ginning to realize handsome prices for it.