The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-09
THE CROP BULLETIN
First Weekly Report of Gill;
mate and Crop Service
Large Proportion Of Winter Grain Killed
Past Week Has Been UnfavorabIe, and
Work isa Week Late,

The first of the Weekly Crop Bulle-
tins, for the week ending April 7th 1902,
has been issued by Section Director c.
L. Won Hermann, of the Weather Blu
reau. The bulletin contains the follow
ing useful information for farmers:
The winter of 19O1-'02 was extremely
cold, not by reason of unusually low min
lmum temperatures, but in consequence
or steady daily deficiencies in tempera-
ture, and the entire absence of the usual
periods of warm weather during more
than four months.
October, November, and January were
very dry, while the rainfall of Deem
Der and February was very excessive.
The early beginning of winter, and the
drought during October and November,
1901 delayed the seeding of winter wheat.
rye, and oats, which work was further
interrupted by heavy precipitation in De-
cmeber. Nearly all the cereals were
seeded much later than usual, and the
unfavorable weather conditions caused
slow and imperfect termination of seeds,
which were not stimulated by warmth or
protected by covering of snow. Reports
generally indicate, therefore, that a very
large portion of the winter grain crops.
especially oats, was killed, and that the
stands secured are very poor, although
this is somewhat cCunterbalanced by the
increased acreage. AS regards the small
grain crops conditions are worse than
last year. The following brief summaries
for the first three months of the year
confirm the impression of unfavorable
prospects for the cereals this season:
January.-The weather conditions were
very unfavorable for winter wheat, oats,
and rye. The almost complete absence
OF precipitation during the two first de-
cades, with generally clear skies and
bright sunshine, while agreeable for per-
sCnal activity and health, proved very in
furious for grain which was prevented
from terminating.
February.-Very little farm work of
any kind was accomplished during Feb
ruary. The condition of the cereals could
hardly be estimated on account of the
slight signs of growth above ground, but
all reports were unfavorable, and indi-
Gated extremely backward condition of
both winter wheat and oats. While much
grain was killed, it is thought that the
roots of much of the crop retain sufficient
vitality to- give a moderate stand when
growth starts.
March.-On the whole March was near
ly normal in temperature and was quite
dry. There was only one severe cold
wave, which eliminated in the lowest
tempera lures for the month on the 18th,
but vegetation and crops were nowhere
sufficiently advanced to be injured. ex
ecpt truck crops in the eastern part OF
the State which generally received ade-
quate protection. The loss from the
freeze therefore, was comparatively
slight. The outlook for the truck
crops and strawberries in the
important trucking section of east
ern North Carolina is bright; in fact
weather conditions this spring have been
far better than last year. and the yield
of vegetables and fruit bids fair to be
heavy and of excellent quality At the
close of March many fruit trees, chiefly
peaches. plums, cherries, and pears were
in full bloom with good prospects for n
full crop. Farm work and preparations
for The coming season are far in advance
of last year. though still somewhat be-
hind the average, especially in the ives
tern part Of the State.
Reports of crop correspondents for the
week ending Monday, April Z, 1902, indi-
cate that conditions were not favorable
during the past week on account of very
cold and windy weather. The tempera-
ture averaged over degrees daily below
the normal, and heav frosts were general
On several mornings. Showers occurred
on the 4th which were small in amount
and not injurious. Except in several
western counties where it is still too wet,
the condition Of the soil is favorable for
~.
termination OF seeds While several COR
respondents state that peaches were
killed by frost, the concensus Of opinion
is that fruit of all kinds generally es-
capped without serious injury, and the loss
to strawberry and truck crops was rela-