The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-09

from the effects of the prolonged
drOuth. Not in the memory Of the old
est inhabtant has there been so little
rain in April and May, and so far into
June as the present year. The result
is painfully obvious. The grass is turn
ing to hay in the fields the pastures are
covered with dry stubble. and the hay
crop is practically ruined. Under the
very best OF conditions, less than halt
the hay of ordinary years will be
harvested. The correspondent writes
! that unless rain comes cOpiously in a
very short time, other crops will fall
off in production more than One-half
! Market gardeners are dismal indeed
and the fields have an appearance OF
desOlation.
In Bolton the prolonged drought has
created havoc with the hay crop. AL
ready farmers have begun the harvest
of hay, and find that there is a shrink
age Of more than so per cent. Farmers
with barns stocked with old hay are
reaping a harvest Of dollars, and are
receiving nearly double the price usu-
ally charged this time of year Other
crops are suffering comparatively, and
even should rain come now, the earlier
crops Of market vegetables cannot be
helped.
During the drought the stone water
ms LlbhEH VIZ ltiE mann MS II " clS las
not been in order, and hundreds of
horses have suffered. This laXity of
town management was quickly rem
edied when Chairman FELTON, was in
formed of the situation.
The PhillipstOn correspondent writes
that the dry weather has diminished
the hay crop fully one-half, and farm
ers will be obliged in many cases to
purchase hay TO feed out to their stock
the coming winter Cows who have
been turned out TO pasture come home
nights completely tired and worn, and
have to be fed quite generously with
hay. Should rain come copiously soon,
the other crops may yield fairly well,
but if it does not come down there is a
gloomy prospect in store. The water
in nearby ponds and brooks is very
low, and the landscape usually beauti-
full this time of year. has a desolate
parched appearance. Everybody here
wants rain.
The farmers generally in Westboro
and vicinity think that their hay crop
has been damaged badly A good deal
Of the hay has grown to stalk, and
other portions of the hay field appear
like a barren waste. Those who have
been accustomed to raise strawberries
for the market say that there will be
very few native berries, as the greater
part of them have dried up. The
streams are getting low, the streets are
parched and burned, and Westboro and
vicinity is suffering for the want of
rain.
The drought in Douglas has damaged
the hay crop to such an extent that
the farmers say that they will not cut
half a crop. Especially on the uplands,
it is very noticeable, as large fields
have patches where the grass seems to
be burned Other field crops are suf-
fering badly for the want of rain. Fruit
trees and small fruits are in the same
condition, and unless there is a fall of
rain very soon they will be a total fail
ure.
The prolonged lack of rain in Leices-
ter has injured the prospects of gather
ing a good hay crop very materially.
On moist land the grass does not ap-
pear to have suffered much, but in
many places the grass has headed out
before getting its proper growth, and
the haying season win have to begin
earlier than usual this year.
Lawns in the centre of the village be
gin TO look bare, and even the most
careful watering does not suffice to
| keep the grass in good condition. As
yet no restriction on the use of garden
hose has been placed by the water
commissioners through scarcity of
water and every citizen who has the
right to water his grounds is using the
privilege to the utmost
On SJOneWall farm, owned by Col. S.
E. WinsloW, there are two acres of
strawberry plants which will not pro-
duce much unless the rain comes quick
ly. Nearly as much land has been COW
cred with young asparagus plants, and
these are drying UP rapidly.
A small bay CTOD is eNOpcted his sea =
son, and other crops will suffer in pro-
portion.
The drought is seriously affecting the
whole town of Uxbridge. The hay crop
will be the lightest for a great many
years, Already many fields are dried
up, and will not pay for cutting. The
farmers have great difficulty in getting
crops up. Corn is growing well, but
potatoes are very poor. The water in
the streams is very low, and the reser-
voir is running dry. Already the board
Of selectmen have issued a warning
note to be sparing of the use of water.
| This is an annual cry and always will
| be until additional water supply is fur
nished the town. The cry usually does
not come until the latter part of July
| or the first of August. and the outlook
for drinking fluid is extremely dubious.
A report from Fitchburg says The
continued dry spell of the past seven
weeks, has had most disheartening
effect among the farmers and produce
reiseTs in the northeast section of the
country, and the direct loss to them on
account Of the lack of rain is heavy
! The slight showers of Wednesday, how
ever had a telling effect, although of
slight duration, and crops were much
| benefited thereby. The hay crop has
/ suffered terribly, and unless there is
| immediate relief the crops in this To-
! cality will be reduced at least two
| thirds of the usual cutting. The effect
| on the quality will also be noticed to 9
/ large extent. The farms on what IS
4 known as Pearl hill are OF the most
/ sturdy in this vicinity, and here the eff
| feet of no rain can be plainly seen
| One farmer who has a large stock farm
| and raises immense quantities of hay
| sufficient for his own consumption. and
| to supply others. has already sent foI
| $500 worth of Michigan hay in order
| that he will not be short. This is the
! first time that he has been compelled to
! do this in the long history of his farm
! ing, and what is his experience cannot
! well help being that of others all about
/ him. Corn is also a heavy sufferer, and
/ one farmer reports that his crop planted
/ three weeks ago has hardly swelled
! enough to break the kernel and he dis
pairs Of any sort of a crop this season
/ The effects Of Wednesdays rain, how
! ever, were plainly to be seen this morn
/ ing but unless more comes. will be a
/ mere aggravatiOn. The drought will
/ have the effect Of making prices of food
/ stuffs high. and will also cause a
! shortage among the farmers themselves
/ who if they are far seeing Will lay in
/ the stock that they are sure of being
! short of. Fitchburg can well be proud
! of the money expended for its large wa
/ ter supply, and many farmers are I'M
/ der obligation, as many have means Of