Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-17
WEATHER AND CROPS
Ranges Are Needing Rain and the
Irrigation Water Supply is
Getting Short.
A VERY LIGHT LAMB CROP
In Most Sections of New Mexico Fruit
Has Suffered from Frost and
Grapes Are Badly Hurt in
Some Counties.
(Santa F'e, N. NJ, May IL, 1899

(Santa Fe, N. NJ, May IL, 1899
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, Climate and Crop Bulletin of the
Weather Bureau, New Mexico Sec
ton.
The weather for the past week ending
May Is, continued dry and windy gen
orally, while the days have been warm,
but the nights cool. Light showers &C.
Cured over northern sections on the
Sth, which greatly revived vegetation
in those parts, but over the territory
generally, crops and ranges are suffer-
ing from the drouth, and some central
and eastern localities are threatened
with a scarcity Of ditch water.
Corn planting progresses satisfact-
orily, and in the south is about finished.
Spring wheat, oats and alfalfa, as a
rule, are making a fair growth, al
though somewhat later than usual ow-
ing to the cool nights and lack Of rains.
The frosts not only damaged alfalfa in
central sections, but it is thought will
considerably delay the first cutting.
In the warmer valleys of the south, the
first cutting of alfalfa has already be-
gun.
Special reports on the fruit prospects
indicate that central sections suffered
most from the frosts. In the lower
Pecos valley apples and peaches prom
Use a good crop, although the earlier
frosts proved disastrous to plums,
cherries, apricots, etc. In the lower
Rio Grande valley fruits generally are
very promising. Higher up the valley,
in the vicinity of Albuquerque, and to
the eastward, the blooms and young
fruit generally were killed on all trees,
and in the vineyard districts it appears
that even the vines are dead. Further
north the damage does not seem to be
so reat, many orchards appearing
quite promising, although peaches, april
cots and apples generally suffered
greatly.
The Landing season, owing to the con-
tinued drouth and the cold nights, is
proving very unsatisfactory. Reports
indicate that over central and northern
sections expectations average from 40
to 60 per cent. The recent showers,
however, have brought more favora-
BILE conditions to northern counties.
Range cattle while in fair condition,
are not improving as they should at
this season.
The following remarks are quoted
from reports Of correspondents:
Aztec-Prof. G. e. Mead-An mus
ually favorable week. Gardens look
nice; potatoes nipped by the frost
are rapidly recovering. The frost last
week did thousands of dollars damage
to peaches and pears, and somewhat
injured apples. A great many apple
trees are not yet in bloom. Farmers
are busy planting corn and potatoes.
Abundance Of water for irrigation.
Highest temperature, "a; lowest, 80; no
rain.
Bernalillo-- Brother Gabriel - Frozen
fruit falling rapidly with the Increase
of the heat. Apples suffered more than
pears, while nothing is left of the
peaches, plums, apricots and cherries,
and there is but few ounces. Straw
berries and currants seem untouched.
Replanted tomatoes, and cabbages,
peas and lettuce growing nicely. Not
only We're the buds on grape vines
killed, but the vines themselves seem to
be drying up. Oats and wheat gener-
ally in good condition, but alfalfa was
injured in places. Ranges improving
| slowly, and unless rains come soon,
stock interests will suffer considerably.
Corn planting progresses, in some sec
lions the young plant is from two to
four inches high. Many young trees
have been set out. and are thriving.
Highest temperature, 81; lowest, AZ; no
rain.
e. Las Vegas-J. Thornhill-Windy
and frosty for the last three weeks, but
alfalfa and spring wheat are doing fair
ly we'll; oats grow slowly on account of
the cold nights. Strawberries also late
in BLOOMING, while fruit trees are just
beginning to bloom and leaf out.