Evening journal., 1900-04-12
FIRST BULLETIN
OF THE SEASON
Isued BY the Climate and
Crop Service, the Friend
of Farmers.
ALL FRUITS PROMISE WELL


BIG CROPS OF PEACHES. PEARS
AND APPLES, AS WELL AS
SMALL FRUITS.
The Climate and Crop Service has
just issued it's first bulletin OF the sea-
son. The statements found in these
bulletins will be a summary OF reports
obtained from about 150 correspond
ents, representing all parts OF the
States of Maryland and Delaware, and
will present as accurately as possibly
the prevailing weather conditions from
week to week, their relation to general
farming operations. and their effect on
crop growth and development. The re-
port for the week just ended is;
When plowing for Winter wheat be-
gan last Fall the soil was very dry
over much of the section, and conse-
quently the work made slow progress
AS many farmers preferred TO SOW late
to reduce the chance OF damage from
the Hessian fly, this delay was not a
subject Of complaint The fly after
ward appeared in most localities, espe-
cially in the earlier sown fields, but
up to the present time it has not been
possible to estimate the damage likely
to ensue from the pest.
The months of Autumn and early
Winter were deficient in precipitation,
and the snow covering was at all times
| light There were no very cold spells,
however, and about the only damage to
Winter grain was experienced at the
close of December and the beginning Of
January, when a cold wave prevailed in
this section. Later freezings and
thawings were not without injury, but
a general snowstorm at the middle OF
February brought benefits that very
nearly Offset previous damage. Later,
the lowlands suffered somewhat from
standing water, and at the close OF the
month the crop was less promising than
at any previous time. February cold was
also unfavOrable to peaches. which
were slightly touched by frosts in the
western counties.
/ March was cold, damp and cloudy.
| The soil was lifted by frosts, but wheat
and clover sustained injury only in low
and poorly drained lands. Flowing
and general farming operations were
prevented by the wetness of the soil In
Western and Northern-Central Mary
! land. and made only slight advance in
}, the southern and eastern counties.
/, AS already itimated, the advance OF
Spring has been rather slow this sea.
son. Thunder storms. with hail, snow
( and rain occurred I'm some localities
on the 4th, and the first seasonable
warmth OF the week occurred on the
[ 9Th. The closing days were warm, and
gave fine growing weather The light
precipitation that fell was equal to all
needs, as the ground had previously
been full Of moisture, although pre-
vailing brisk winds had aided in dry
( ing out the soil. Cloudy weather pre-
vailed during the early and middle por.
ton of the week, followed by bright
/, sunshine.
/, Spring plowing has been backward
but in the last three days rapid prog.
ress has been made, except in wet low.
lands. Work was checked by the rair
and snow of the 4th, but at other time.
the weather permitted either the haul
ing Of manure or working on the driel
uplands.
Wheat generally presents a good ap
pearance, showing better on fallov
: than on corn land. Glover was thrown
out considerably during the Winter
I but timothy sown last Fall looks well
Clover seeding is now in progress
Some oats have been sOwn in an bu
2 the extreme western counties.
The peach crop seems to. havee es
capped serious injury in all sections. A
a already stated, the frosts Bipped som
J. lowland orchards in Western Maryland
j. but elsewhere damage has been yer.
s light. The buds, while not forward
d are swelling under the present warmth
d and blooms are beginning to show Il
s Charles county. Keifer pears ar
heavily budded. Apples promise vel
but the buds are rather backward.
Early truckers in the northen centrs
= counties have planted peas farthe
\ south the pea crop mas been in tn
. ground for two weeks. Gardens ar
= being made in nearly all localities
Some early potatoes have been plante,
: Strawberry setting has commenced i
- Caroline county and in southern Deli
% ware.