Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-11
CLIMATE AND CROPS.
MATTERS OF PARAMOUNT INTEREST
TO TlLLERS OF THE SOIL.

AND OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO
THE CONSUMERS IN THE CITIES
AND TOWNSVILLE REPORT OF A
WEEK.
The United States Department Of Agri-
culture, Climate and Crop Bulletin Of
the weather Bureau. Maryland and
Delaware section for the week ending
Monday, May 8, has issued the following
report:
The weather during the past week has
been considerably irregular both as re-
CARDS temperature and rainfall. The
early part of the week was quite warm,
the first three days averaging about 10
degrees above the normal. The middle of
the week was slightly below the normal,
and the latter part slightly above the
average seasonable conditions. The
nights, however, were generally cool, and
there was deficiency of sunshine. Mod
erately heavy rains fell in the western
section and scattering showers in the
north-central counties but in the south
ern and eastern counties and Delaware
there was little or no rain. Light frost
without damage, was reported from Dor
chester county. A heavy rainstorm, with
hail. occurred i'm Washington county on
tho I'd. The rain did considerable lOca
damage by washing newly plowed felds
and fruit blooms suffered from the hail
but not much damage was done to grair
fields.
The week has been favorable for farm
work, except that it has been too dry II
some parts for plowing. 1t was not OF
the whole favorable for the rapid devel
opment and growth Of vegetation. Tit
rains in the western counties gave de
clded advancement sn that part and th'
showers in the north-central counties
were Of great benefit, but in the south
| ern and eastern counties dry weathe
has retarded growth. Rain Is very mucl
needed in all sections except the western
counties. In fact vegetation is beginning
| to suffer in some sections from the lacl
Of moisture, and the ground is gettinl
too hard to plow. The rains Of to-da,
Sth) appear to be general over the sec
| ton, and viii doubtless materially i'm
prove the situation.
Wheat has improved during the wee
in nearly all districts, except in th
southern and eastern counties, where
was retarded by the dry weather
made special advancement in the wester
counties, but also considerable improve
ment in the north-central counties, tn
main wheat growing district. On tn
whole 1t is looking fairly well, but wi
not be an average crop on account Of tn
damage from Winter killing. In mo.
| Il TQr
is heading out, but the crop will probabl
be short. Oats and grass are loolkin
well in the western counties and fairl
well in the north-central counties, but
the southern and eastern counties and
Delaware they are very much i'm need
rain; In some districts they are begii
ming to seriously show the effects Of dI
weather. Corn planting is rapidly nea
ing completion. 1t has been delayed
some districts by the dry weather, eau
/ ing the ground to be too hard for ploy
J ing. In another week, especially If nee'
U ed showers occur, the corn crop will I
planted. The early planted is beginnir
to come up in a great many localities.
Garden truck is doing well and on
needs a few general rains to make rap
advancement. Cabbage and toma
, plants are being set OUT those that ha'
been transplanted are doing well. T
mato plants are not so promising in Ha
ford county Strawberries promise
large yield. Potatoes are coming up W,
and are growing nicely. Peas are a
:, vancing and give good promise.
There Is not much change in the fri
=, condition; peaches viii be a failure wi
the exception Of a few favored localiti,
In Kent county near the shore Ii
peaches are set well, and bursting Z
= caps, but the correspondent at ChestC
town claims that a great many of t
blooms are drying and falling. 9th
fruit. such as cherries, pears. plums a
q apples. are promising, and the outlook CO
,s tlnues favorable for a large crop
p, most Of these fruits.