The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-30
Abundant Showers Fall Over the
Great River Valleys.
COTTON PLANNING GOES ON APACE
Tobacco Plants Continue Small But Are Gener
ally Plentiful Except in Maryland. Trans
planting is Now in Progress in
North Carolina.

The Weekly Crop Bulletin of the North
Carolina section of the Climate and Crop
Service of the Weather Bureau, for the
week ending Monday. April %, says;
-~s,rop correspondents are almost unani-
nous in reporting that during the past
week The first really spring like weather
occurred and that conditions. both for
farm work and the growth of crops, were
the most favorable SO far experienced
this season. The entire week was warm,
dry and sunny. and vegetation made
wonderful progress. The temperature
rose to almost summer heat, and aver
aged about s degrees daily above nor
NAL, yet without marked extremes, for
although 80 degrees was reached on the
23rd at several places, that degree is not
remarkable for April; the temperature
Monday morning (2Sth) was almost low
enough to check growth. Very light
showers occurred here and there on
Thursday and Saturday, but nowhere did
the total for the week reach as much as
half an inch The general absence of
clouds favored abundant insulation. To-
wards the close of the week rather high
winds dried out the soil, and rain is be-
ginning to be needed to assist cultiva-
ton and the sprouting of seeds. Flowing
and planting were possible every day
during the week, and farmers advanced
work rapidly, and in several counties are
reported up with their work.
Planting corn is approaching compile
tion in the central east portion, and is
going On actively in the west; planting
in bottom lands, which are now fine in
condition. will soon be underway. Corn
is coming UP nicely to fairly good stands,
except early planted in southern coun-
ties, which is somewhat irregular; a
little in the, South has been plowed.
Planting cotton is now general under
conditions as favorable as could be de-
sired; cotton is coming up fairly we'll,
but chopping to stands has not begun ::
indications begin to point to diminished
acreage. Tobacco plants in beds are still
thin, but the plants made good growth
during the week; transplanting has COM
mcnced in several eastern counties, but
rain is needed to enable this work to be
carried on extensively; on account of
the small size Of the plants little delay
will not be harmful. Wheat continues to
improve; spring oats are very fine; rye
is beginning to head. Gardens are ad-
vancing nicely. Truck crops generally
look we'll; shipments of radisnes and let
tuce are about over. and picking peas
will soon begin; Irish potatoes have been
nearly all planted, and have come up to
good stands; the Colorado beetle is
causing damage in several counties.
Strawberries are now ripening in the
cast, some have been picked, and ship
rents will begin actively within a week
Planting rice is well advanced, and prep
arations for peanuts are underway. On
the whole reports in regard to the con-
dition of fruit continue very favorable;
trees in the west are so full of bloom
and elsewhere are setting fruit so nicely
that the prospects for a large crop Of
fruit is very promising. Pastures have
improved considerably.