Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-07-07
WEATHER-CROP REPORT.

The Drought Broken Generally in New
England and Crops Picking Up.
On the whole. the week ending Monday
was bright and sunny, except on the 2Sth
and 29jh, when the heavy rains occurred.
The temperature has been somewhat
variable. The days were generally
warm, but without extreme heat; the
nights cool. Temperature fell TO the
frost point in northern sections on June
30 and July l.
The abundant rains which fell during
the past week over most of the district
have etlectually broken the severe and
long continued drought. and a marked
change for the better IN the general
situation can, with pleasure, be chroni-
cled. The weather for the week has
been all that the farmer could desire
the soil has been well moistened. and
with the worm, sunny days following
the rain, all crops made good and salts
factory growth. While the rain came
| too late in many sections TO benefit the
first crop of hay, it is asserted, never
theless, that the failure will not be as
great as was judged from early cuttings.
Meadows and pastures are starting up
and show improvement. On light soils,
the hay crop will undoubtedly be very
light, and much ground will be, or has
been, plowed preparatory to planting
corn or sowing fodder crops. especially
In the southern section. On the other
hand. well manured grass on damp land
promises nearly a full yield.
Planted crops. put In during the dry
season. and which would not have ap-
peared save for the rain, are now in sight
and have a fair chance for maturing.
In few portions of the district, prin-
| cipally in western and central Vermont
and parts of New Hampshire and Maine,
the rainfall has not been sufficient to
break the drought, and the unfavorable
reports of the past weeks are still re-
ceived. These are, however, exceptions,
and the drought is now confined TO
limited areas. Complaint is also made,
principally in the northern sections, of
cold nights and high, drying winds. but
even with these drawbacks, crops are in
general looking well.
The rain has helped the garden truck.
ing interests TO large extent, and gar
dens well cared for promise fair to good
returns.
A very little haying has been done in
the northern section. With good
weather, cutting will be general in New
Hampshire and Vermont during the
coming week. In Maine, it will be some
10 days before much is done and in
| Cumberland and Aroostook counties an
average crop is expected, Haying con-
tinues in the south, except that it has
been suspended during the week in por-
tions of Rhode Island.
Corn has made marked Improvement,
and in some localities it will sustain
practically no loss. 1t needs more
warmth in the northern counties. Ia
extreme southern Connecticut the rye
harvest is well advanced, a week ahead
of an average year. Elsewhere, in the
southern section, it is headed well, and
is making good progress in the north.
In Newport and Washington counties,
Rhode Island, apples are set full and are
doing well. In Fairfield county, Con-
necticut. very heavy set of grapes is
reported, cherries were a fair average,
and currants fine. Elsewhere In the dis
trict, the outlook for fruits continue poor.
There are no peaches, pears or plums
reported, and apples are virtually total
failure, except as mentioned above.
Early potatoes could be helped but
little by the rain. The condition of the
fall crop is reported as promising, ex-
cept, perhaps, in extreme eastern Maine,
where it is about 10 days behind. A
good yield of peas has been forthcoming