The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-05
WEATHER FAVORABLE
But Farm Work is Behind and
Labor Scarce.
Crops Are Small and Poor While Grass ard
Weeds Threaten to Take Possession
of the Fields.

The Weekly Crop Bulletin of the North
Carolina section of the climate and crop
issued yesterday by the Weather Bureau,
says:
1.-The weather during the latter part
of May continued decidedly unfaVorable
for agricultural interests, chiefly on ac-
count of the unnecessary rainfall on the
2Sth, Goth and 31st. and the prevailing
low temperatures which prevented much
growth of vegetation. The rainy period
however, seems TO be abating. since the
rainfall this week was local in character
and small in amount except on the 2Sth,
when it was quite heavy over portions of
Randolph, Alamance, Cabarrus and
Mecklenburg counties, and was accom-
panied by hail with considerable damage
to crops. The soil early in the week con-
tinued too wet to work and the cultiva-
ton of crops is very backward. The
weather was generally cloudy and cool,
averaging over degrees below the daily
normal in temperature, but cleared with
abundant sunshine and increasing warmth
on June 1st In general crops are still
small and poor; grass and weeds have
grown rapidly and threaten to take COM
plete possession of many fields; neccs-
scarcity and high price of labor indicates
that farmers will have unusual difficulty
in retaining fields and restoring crops
to normal condition. The latter part of
the week was more favorable for work
and a good deal was accomplished. Re-
planting lowlands where crops were ruin
ed by the freshets is proceeding rather
slowly and much of the damage seems
irreparable.
Cotton has been injured considerably
by low temperatures as we'll as by excess
sive moisture; much of it has yellow
ish color, indicating lack of vigor and
there is considerable complaint of It's
dying; some fields will be replowed for
corn. Progress in chopping cotton and
cleaning fields was more rapid during the
last four days; while the plants are very
small for the season the stands are fair
to good Corn also has suffered chiefly
from lack of proper cultivation: it shows,
however more improvement than does
cotton: much corn was yellowed by the
COOL damp weather, and has suffered
from ravages of cut and bud worms. The
stand of corn is generally poor, exceot
over limited sections where we'll Guilt
lands up to June 18th. Tobacco seems to
be doing fairly we'll; in the north central
portion much of the crop remains to be
planted; plants are abundant and of good
size Reports upon wheat are favorable;
unfortunately it has taken rust in some
counties, but as the harvest is near it is
thought the disease will not spread
rapidly enough to endanger the prospect
for an excellent yield. Spring oats are
iointing fast; winter oats are ready to
cut in the south Irish potatoes are fine
though damaged by the beetle. An
abundant supply of sweet potato slips
has been transplanted Grapes are
blooming and setting fruit nicely;
peaches and cherries are ripening in ia
vorable localities. Rice on the south
eastern rivers, though under water sew
eral days. seems not to have been ma
terially damaged.
Rainfall for the week at selected sta
tion Tin inches): Goldsboro 050, Green's
boro 070. Lumberton lie, Newbern Q,22
Weldon 0.34, Charlotte 200 Wilmington
0.50, Raleigh 0.42, Settle O.30, Mocksville
0.06, Statesville 0.56. Patterson OIL Yad-
kinville 0.5S Auburn Ole, Monroe 0.93,
Soapstone Mount 0.39'