The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-14
No REAL DAMAGE so FAR
Early Corn Healthy; Late Corn Not
Doing So Well.
GOOD STANDS OF CORN IN THE SOUTH
Very Encouraging Reports Come from the
Cotton Belt. Temperature Conditions
in The South and on the Paclflc
Coast Most Favorable,

The Weekly Crop Bulletin of the
North Carolina section of the climat,
and crop service, says for the weel
ending Monday, May 18th:
Another most excellent week for thu
progress of farm work was experienced
and where sufficient rain fell the weather
was very favorable for the growth
cEops. However, drought has been in
tensifed over many counties by the tota
absence of precipitation, and from these
points many unfavorable reports Were
received Very beneficial showers oc-
CURED in many localities on the even
ing of the It'll, and it is thought that
the moderate rain of Sunday night was
general over the eastern half of the
state where it was most needed. While
more rain is required for crops in the
drier localities, especially for wheat and
oats, for transplanting tobacco. and tc
bring up late planted corn and cotton, II
appears that no positive damage tc
crops by drought has resulted so far
The temperature averaged quite high, In
spite of two cool days, on the Sth and
10th the mean being about degrees
above the daily normal. The amount OF
sunshine was also abundant. The tenn
perature conditions have been favorable
except that growth was slightly checked
by cool nights during the latter por-
tion of the week. Farmers have been
so active everywhere, that large num-
Der of crop correspondents report farm
work now well up and that crops are
clean and well cultivated; in many sec
tions the ground is now dry and hard
Planting corn and cotton are prac-
tically over, except that many bottoms
have still to be planted in corn. Early
corn looks healthy, has grown fairly well
and in the south portion is over IS inches
high; the crop is being cultivated gener-
ally. There are some complaints of
damage by chinch bugs and cut worms.
Late corn is not doing so well. Late
planted cotton is coming up slowly and
unevcnly on account of the lack of suf-
ficient moisture, so that good stands
are not yet assured; light rains have
benefited much of the crop; chopping to
stands is actively underway. The most
serious effect of the drought has been to
delay the transplanting of tobacco, and
in many sections plants are getting over
over the section where most needed and
will give an impetus to the work of set
ting out tobacco plants, which is now
underway in the most important central
northern counties. Peanuts are being
planted. Rice has come up nicely
Wheat and oats need rain, and are head
ing low; spring oats are well advanced
in growth. Complaints of damage by
potato bugs are more numerous than for
several seasons past. Sweet potatoes
have sprouted, but slips will be scarce
The strawberry crop was somewhat cut
short by dry. warm weather which ripen-
ell berries too small for market. Pos
lures have made slow growth during the
week
Rains reported for the week: Colds
hero SO inch, Charlotte "a, Greensboro
SIS, New Bern 50, Weldon Sc, Raleigh
II, Wilmington 20, Marion 1.O2, Hender-
aonville Loo. Henrietta .5S, Mocksville
IA, Settle So"