Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-18
WEATHER-CROP REPORT.

Crops in Northern New England AGAIN
in IA Critical Condition from Drouth.
The weather during the week ending
Aug. II was favorable to crop conditions
in Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and Con-
necticut, and in some sections of Yer
mont. The rain of the 10th and 1lth
was, in most Instances, generous in
amount and timely, resulting In great
benefit to all vegetation. Little rain fell
in the northern portion of the district,
where it is greatly needed. The weather,
especially at night, has been too cool in
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont for
corn and potatoes, and crops generally.
Copious rains fell in southern New
England on the 10th and 1lth: also in
coast sections north to Portland. The
largest amounts we're noted In eastern
Massachusetts. Only light showers
occurred in the more northern sections
of the district.
| The seasonal temperature of the week
Iwith the rain of the 10th and 1lth, has
Improved the general conditions of all
growing crops In southern New England.
With few exceptions the precipitation
was sufficient for present needs and IN
manv cases to last corn and vegetables to
maturity. In many sections the rain
was most timely, and without which
certain crops would have suffered great
injury and in others total loss. More
moisture will be shortly needed for
pastures and meadows, and for fall
plowing and seeding. Also to replenish
streams, springs, and wells. The condi-
tions are less satisfactory in the greater
portion of Maine, New Hampshire, and
Vermont. There are some sections in
these states where little or no rain has
fallen for the past two to four weeks and
some crops have reached critical condi-
ton. The dry weather is seriously felt
In many sections of New Hampshire and
Vermont, though the need of rain in
these states is not so great as in Maine.
The cool weather has also served to re-
tard crop growth in the northern states.
Reports indicate that light frosts were of
general occurrence in favorable locali
ties, on the Sth and 9th, mostly in low
lands of northern New England. There
was also evidence of slight frosts in some
sections of Massachusetts and Connecti-
cut. However, so far as known, no
damage resulted from frost in any quar-
ter, except to check the growth of crops
and to cool the soil.
There is yet considerable uncut hay,
mostly on meadows, in Maine and
scattered localities in New Hampshire
and Vermont. The weather of the past
week has been favorable to securing the
crop and good progress has been made In
the work. Excepting in sections where
the drought prevails, pastures have i'm
proved, and fall feed is plentiful. The
reports are generally favorable to
hungarian and fodder corn.
Oats are being harvested in all parts
of the northern states, and with few
exceptions the crop is good, though
generally below the average. Barley,
where mentioned. Is reported in good
condition. Early sweet corn is reported
failure In the vicinity of Foxcroft, Me-,
due to the prevailing dry weather. Corn
is at standstill at Centre Conway, Me-.
it is rolling and husks drying before
maturing of grain in the neighborhood of
Dorset, Vt. But. as rule, the corn crop
remains promising and reports indicate
that the yield will be above the average.
The outlook for fruit is unchanged.
Berries are plentiful; apples in good
condition.; peaches, plums, pears and
grapes estimated as light crops. Grapes
In some sections continue to rot badly.
Cranberries are in excellent condition,
and all indications point to good crop.
Picking will begin in week or ten days.
There is more or less complaint of rot,
rust, and blight in connection with the
potato crop. As yet no great damage
has resulted, and there is little probab-
| lily that any great loss will result from
the sources mentioned. In general, the
crop is in good condition, and with every
promise of more than an average yield of
potatoes. Beans are almost a failure at
Enfield, Me. Cabbage is cracking and
: rotting to some extent at East Temple
ton, Mass. Unfavorable conditions are
vegetables are in good condition and
promise bountful supply.
At the County Fair.
Each store has some one thing that
can be made interesting at fair time.
Some merchants use the exhibiting space
to good advantage in furnishing a rest
room for all who care to sit down, or in
providing checking room for baskets or
bundles. A good thing is to have COM
Portable chairs or some seats for the sight
seers. People 60 to great deal of trouble
to prepare their dinner for fair day. A
merchant could offer a ticket good for
dinner at the dining hall to all who had
purchased goods for a given amount at
his store. He could have a dinner hall
of his own and serve dinner to all his
regular customers. Those who were
not customers could get dinner ticket
by buying due bill for given amount.
II you have new or staple line of goods,
have lecturer-a good talker-who
could tell about the wool in the clothes,
the fruit In the can, the material from
which your product was made, the way
il was DreDared for market II an article