The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-30
CONDITION Of
VIRGINIA I | ! { [ CROPS.
Improvement il the Condition OF.
Wheat tobacco Plants
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tssf- ~
The weekly crop bull atm, issued by the
local bureau OF the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture is as follows:
General Conditions Generally bright,
mild weather prevailed over the State
tIroughou the week. Farm work was
carried on suninterruptedly and rapid
progress made in blowing for corn, corn
planting, spring oats seeding, and gar.
4 dening, etc. The open weather prevailing
was also favorable for vegetation, and
some Improvement in the condition Of
grass, pastures and fall-sown crops took.
place. The soil, however, is getting dry,
and warm, soaking rains would be of
great value. In some sections of the
State, pastures have made sufficient
growth to afford grazing for stock, but
in the southwest Valley counties they
are coming, on very slowly and the turn
ing out of stock Is now about two weeks
late The warm weather occurring IN
the forepart of the week was followed
by light frosts in nearly all sections,
but no damage to vegetation occurred.
Winter Wheat-A majority of the cor
respondents reporting on this crop are
Of the opinion that some Improvement
in its condition has taken place. 1t APP
pears to be slowly recovering from the
effects of the winter. However, there
is no doubt that the yield will oe very
mu oh reduced even with the most 1aVol-
able weather from now on, as the early
seeding is generally thin, and the late
seeding, for the most part, failed or
termination Some fields have been
plowed up for spring oats
Winter Oats-This crop was so badly
winter killed that it IS practically fail
ure. and most all Of the acreage seeded
to it last fall has been ploWed up lof
spring oats.
Spring oats seeding is about COM
pleted in all portions Of the State except
locally in the Valley section, where the
season is more than usually backward
and much Of this work remains to be
done In the Tidewater and Middle dlV1-
sion counties the crop is coming up and
making excellent growth, and IN those
localities in the Valley section where 1t
has been seeded it is also coming up
nicely Good stands are being secured.
Rain would be beneficial.
Corn-Both blowing for and the plant
ing Of this crop have made excellent
nrogress. A good deal of planting on
uplands has been finished. In most all
sections the ground is in very good or
der: locally, however, the reverse IS
true, the soil being. cloddy and refrac-
tory. But little progress has been made
toward getting in the crop IN loWlands,
the soil being as yet rather too wet.
Rain would be helpful for the germlna-
ton Of the seed now in. but Wotld retaIo
planting in the lowlands
Tobacco plants continue backward
Reports of scarity are local, however
the majority of correspondents this week
reporting them to be plentiful
Potatoes Qrish) are coming up nicely
in all sections. Planting OF this crop was
about finished during the week.
Fruit peaches, plums. cherries and
some varieties of apples. is blooming
heavily and the prospects for good crop
are encouraging so far. Light local
frosts have occurred, but so far without
damage.
Truck crops continue promising. tne
weather having been very favorable for
them. except possibly for English peas.
which need rain