The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-16
THE OUTLOOK BETTER
The Coming of Spring I'm
proves Conditions
Large Crop Of T,bacco Contt mplaed. Truck
Backward But Has Escaped Serious
Damage by Frost.

The Climate and Crop Service Depart
ment of the North Carolina section or
the Weather Bureau gives the follow
ing as a synopsis of conditions for the
week ending Monday, April 14th:-
''The past week must be characterized
as only moderately favorable for aSri-
cultural interests in the central east
portion of the State, and as rather un-
favorab in the west. where the ad-
vent of spring is much delayed The
temperature AVERAGED about degrees
daily below the normal, ard frosts oc-
CURED on several mornings at exposed
places in the hilly region of the Pied
mont plateau, with temperatures slight
ly below freezing in the mountains, es-
pecially the morning of the 9TH. The
latter portion of the week was warmer,
spl ing-lilxe. and favorable everywhere.
"A general rain occurred Monday af-
ternoon and night, which averaged an
inch for the State at large and was real
ly Lot needed, though less disadvantage
Gus in the east :han elsewhere. The
rain stopped work for a few days, but
as the remainder of the week was dry,
the soil in excellent condition, the tenn
perature more agreeable, progress i'll
blowing and planting made better head
way. Lowlands are still too wet and
have so far received little attention. The
cold, windy weather of the early part
of the week checked the germina ton of
seeds, and caused slow growth of crops
and forest vegetation.
ssManu advanced farr,ar.c have nearly
completed the planting of upland corn
in the east: elsewhere the work has
made fairly good progress, but is pro-
oeeding slowly west of the Blue Ridge,
where blowing is backward. In the eX
trenne south portion solne early corn is
just coming mp. Very little cotton has
been planted, but preparations Tor a
rather big crop are advancing rapidly.
and large amounts of fertilizers have
been spread. A large crop of tobacco
is also contemplated; plants in beds APP
pear TO be abundant in many counties.
but are generally small; liz several cOun-
ties plants are thin and scarcity in
the supply is threatened. The improve
ment in Wheat continues, but plants
are not spreading rapidly. Winter oats
are so nearly failure that the land will
lie largely put into spring oats or corn.
Spring oats have come up nicely and
lock we'll; seeding continues in the
west. Rye is fairly promising.
Truck crops are backyard but have
fortunately escaped any serious dam
age by frost; May peas. beans and cab
bage Plants are doing Well, and aspara-
gus is nearly ready to cut. The crop of
Irish potatoes will he large, as planting
is advanced even IN the west portion.
The preparation Of gardens has been
slow. While some reports speak CT con-
siderable damage to peaches by frost,
the abundant bloom remaining seems to
indicate that an abundant fruit crop
may yet be obtained. apples are just
coming into bloom as far west as Me-
Dowell county: without further injury
from frost The strawberry croI' will he
large and of good quality. Pastures are
starting into growth very slowly in the
extreme west"