Evening journal., 1900-08-16
HOT, DRY SPELL
WAS INJURIOUS
Human Beings, Animals and
Plant Growth Suffered
Crops Are Either CurtaiIed Or GeRer-
ally Backward in Delaware
and Maryland

For the week just closed the Climate
and Crop Service of the Weather Bu-
Feau has issued the appended report
for the Delaware and Maryland sec
ton:
The hot, dry weather was injurious
to human beings, animals, and plant
growth. Many deaths resulted from
the hot wave, either directly or indi-
rectly. Several instances were report
ID where horses were overcome by the
heat while working, and died in the
ield. The damage to crops. especially
10 corn, tomatoes and gardens, was
great, and the outlook had begun TO as
sumo a serious phase when material,
II not permanent, relief was afforded
py the rains Of the 18TH It is feared,
however that many OF the crops can
nct recover the damage recently sus-
aimed, and that final yields will GER
aainly be shortened. Flowing was
pushed early in the week, but the in
freasing heat and dryness soon
brought the work to a close, except in
Nhe river bottoms. The weather was
favorable for threshing, and for the
fOmpletion Of oats and hay harvest I'M
Jarrett county. At the close of the
Week springs were drying up and wells
cunning low i'm many localities.
GRAIN AND GRASSES.
The threshing of wheat during the
week showed a continuance OF good
fields and an excellent quality of grain.
IN Garrett county the oats harvest isl
Hver in places, but some Of the late
Town remains to be cut, and a few
Nelds Of timothy are still standing
i4ate corn has passed through a try
ng ordeal In all districts, and il Isl
likely that the previously promising
utlook for q good yield has been Sc
iously impaired. In fact, late corn
las suffered during this week very
much as early corn did during the
fully drought. Both the early and late
irops show a curled leaf and spindling
4 talk, and it is thought that the ears
re not filling we'll. The rains Of Sun
ay helped the situation. but even with
4 dditional moisture short yields are
8 he best than can be hoped for. Pas
3 ures are brown and sparse. and live
& tock is losing weight; on some farms
ows and horses are being fed on PROV
nder. Timothy sown with wheat last
all has been entirely burned out in
4 lowed this. season and reset. The
loyerseed crop will be short Grim
4 on clover has been sown during the
yeek, but the heat is against good
lands, and that which came up earlier
thought to have been killed. Buck
yheat is showing bloom in portions of
Jarrett county; the crop has been hurt
81 ~ the drought, but not seriously as
let
The hot sun has hurt fruit badly. In
Washington county some OF the peach
S are ripening out of season, being
Orced to maturity, while in other or
hards the crop has been almost ruin
d. In nearly all districts the COM
ined effects of heat and drought have
made the fruit small. Apples have
ropped badly during the week. Peach
hipments from southern Maryland
nd many Of the Eastern Shore coun-
les have been large during the week
'lums are fairly plentiful. Grapes are
S ipening and are generally Of good
uality. Pears. while a short crop, are
Ound and well favored.
MINOR CROPS.
Tomatoes suffered greatly during the
week. The vines look we'll but have
allied to give profuse bloom, owing to
he dry weather. The crop is generally
backward, one correspondent stating
hat in his section dorchester county,
he canneries usually commence oper-
,tions between July 26 and August 10,
but that there will be no tomatoes can
aed there this year before September l..
rhe berry crop is short, being curtail-
I'd by the drought. Watermelons are
ipening in Anne Arundel county; they
ire below average size, as are canta-
Oupes, also. Gardens have been hurt
by the dry weather in all districts, and
IN some localities they are almost ruin
d. Early potatoes are a good crop in
Garrett and fair in Washington, but
n other counties poor yields are the
ule. Late potatoes are not promising
Very little turnip seed was sOwn dur.