Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-03
CHOPS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.
The Conditions Favorable, Ihousn
A General, Warm Rain Is Needed.


A General, Warm Rain IL Needed.
The following is the United States De
partment Of Agriculture's climate ana
crop bulletin of the Weather Bureau,
Virginia Section. for the week ending
Monday. May ], 1899:
Reports of correspondents for the past
week indicate that crops have made gene
rally favorable progress. The weather
has. perhaps, been TOO dry in localities,
and want OF rain has caused local delay
n; the prosecution of farm work. princi-
pally ploughing. OF which considerable
yet remains to be done. on stin soil the
ground is too hard TO plough. general,
warm rain. in connection with warm wea-
ther would be very beneficial
In respect 10 temperature, the week has
been all that could be desired
Winter wheat has continued TO improve
under the influence of warm weather.
Where local showers have fallen the adj
vance has been decided. The early-sOwn
still maintains its advanced condition, as
compared with the late-sown.
Winter oats made good progress also
but reports Indicate that it was largely
winter-killed.
Spring-oats seeding is about all finished.
Favorable weather has resulted in an cX-
cellent growth OF the early-sown' put the
termination OF the late-sown Is being de
| layed from want Of rain. Good. general
showers are needed for this crop.
Corn planting has advanced rapidly
| where the ground was i'm good order. Dry
weather and consequent delay in plough
| ing have retarded this work, however
and much vet remains TO be done. Some
| Of the early planted Is coming up and
| looks well. Rain Is needed for germina-
| ton and preparation Of land.
Tobacco beds are all made end seeded.
| This work is much later than usual.
| Plants generally coming up and growing
well.
Potato planting 0rish is about 1rished
-, 8 hg NTfaIIn Valley
| counties. In Tidewater localities they
| are coming up. Sweet-potato leds stiil
| backward The indications ore for
| large acreage Of this crop.
Fruit prospects continue very good, eN-
| cept peaches. Apples and cherries are
blooming heavily.
Truck crops are improving steadily.
Strawberries promising; watermelons
and cantaloupes in; vegetables growing
well.
TIDEWATER VIRGINIA.
Jeffs. York-Potatoes and peas looking
| fine; some have rotted. Corn being plant
Calno. King William-Most farmers
| planting corn; wheat and grass coming
out some. but need rain.
| remperanceVille, AccOmac-A large
amount of ploughing done, and corn
planting begun strawberries very prom
| Using, but need rain; gardens and truck
| looking well; acreage of sweet-potatoes
|
Cohoke. King William-Wheat, clover,
and grass made good growth; some corn
| planted.
Pinetta. Gloucester-Corn planting in
| full progress Irish potatoes coming up
| but crowds of bugs; peas in full bloom.
| Dogue King George-Dry weather IN
| iured wheat and grasses, and delayed
ploughng, already very late corn pant
| ing will be general next week; gardens
| and pastures suffering.
| lJNpGn-l.HnG
ploughed: too hard " turn over; corn
| being planted, and ground being prepared
for planting by narrowing.
| GAINESVILLE, Prince GeOrge-Land so dry
| and hard that II is almost impossible 10
| TO do any work; the flea bug has made Its
| appearance on the corn that has come up
| Church View, Middesex-Ground too
| hard to plow; complaining commenced;
| farmers pushing ahead with their work;
| quite a large amount Of fruit left on
| trees.
Whaleyville. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| nearly over except late crops and on low
lands; preparing for planting peanut crop;
| Irish potatoes coming up nicely.
MIDDLE VIRGINIA.
Irwin. Goochland-Good week for corn
| growing; blowing and planting still in
| progress. though ground Is dry; some corn
up and looking well; oats partly winter
killed.
Red Plains. Frankin-Rain started
| wheat and grass to growing nicely; some
corn planted; gardens late; apples and
cherries the heaviest bloom for years.
Moorman's River, Albemarle-Land hard
and dry; all vegetation suffering; wheat,
oats, grass, and gardens show little i'm
! prOVement.
Rutherglcn Caroline-Corn planting
general, but ground too hard TO finish
breaking up wheat and winter grain thin.
but growing nicely; full apple-blOOm, but
J few peaches.
Gladys. Campbell-Weather warm; good
rains; busy planting corn; good crop Of
| fruit; wheat coming out very well: oats
| backward.
Harris Creek, Amhert-Iight rains put
light soil in good order for blowing, but
hard land not In order; plant-beds com
| ing forward rapidly; complaining COM
menced in earnest; early-sown wheat
growing finely; oats up finely.
Crewe. Nottoway-Wheat, oats, and
much hindered; winter oats nearly ali
killed; oats seeded this spring coming
up badly.
Louisa, Louisa-Corn planting on up
lands nearly over; rain much needed for
all products.
stony Point Mills, Cumberland-Al
crops have been favored by weather, but
top OF ground getting dry; FOR spring
sown oats and tobacco plants light show
ers are needed.
THE GREAT VALLEY.
Castlewood. Russell-Fine farming wea
Their; wheat growing nicely; oats gene
rally well up; corn planting in Crder
Gate City. Scott-Prospects good FOL
wheat crop; winter oats nearly all killed
: peaches winterkilled; apples In full bloom
farmers following for corn crop.
Wears Switch, Montgomery-Whea
doing well, but crop will be short; cat.
: and grass doing WELL young clover kille,
In some cases; corn, potatoes, End gar
den products being planted.
Mint Spring, Augusta-All growing
crops improved by rain; corn planning II
general progress; fine prospects for a hs,
crop; apple trees In heavy bloom; pears
light; virtually no peach bloom.
Shawsville, Montgomery-Mu needed
rain on Tuesday; wheat and grass i'm
proved. but light crop OF former expected
complaining begun, but much land ye
10 be plowed: fruit prospect good. except
peaches; tabacco-plants growing.