The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-09
FARM WORK REPAIRED
CLIMATE AND CROP DuLLITIN
 or WEATHL1 BUREAU
Winter Months wsrs Generally Un- favoxable-Prospscts f,e Fruit and Vegetables Very Dfsght.
 Pears Damaged.

,,vne.n n,n sar us .serr vorS emrers,ure. averaged several degrees below the nor mal. with . severe freeze from the 18th to 22nd of December. when temperatures were as low as zero in some northern other districts, the minimum during the second decade being generally lower than previously recorded at that season: quite decided cold periods also occurred January and 6. and F to II: though no decidedly cold periods occurred in Feb ruary, that month. as whole, was unu- sualiy cold. On the 2Sth-29th of Decem- ber, very excessive rains occurred, par. ticularly in middle and eastern counties, aging floods in all the larger rivers; some what less than the average moisture was received during January. and the rain- fall was comparatively light during the eral, and, in soma places. heavy to ex. cessiye rains on the first two days, but frequent rains occurred during the latter part of that month, with heavy. to ex- northeastern counties on the last two days, which overfiowed and damaged lowiands. badly washed upiands and lcft the ground too wet for work. Fall sown freeze in December. which also seriously damaged wheat, while, in Gulf counties. gardens and winter trucking crops were ruined. During January and February SVHle PiOWlHk was u0uCs diu So&ttO LVW oats were sown. those in southern coun- ties making good stands and doing fairly well, but being generally unpromisins elsewhere. In the extreme southern por- tions of the State. considerable gardening was done in January, and Irish potatoes were planted. During February lettuce, radishes and onions were planted in mid- dlc and southern counties. and some melons in the latter district, where green peas were up and strawberries were blooming and promising. At the close of February, buds were beginning to swell on peach trees in southern and middle counties, ebut very few, if any, were In bloom.
 Tho month of March, as a whole, was also unfavorablc for preparatory farm work; except during the first decade when there was some favorable weather, the rains occurred at such short intervals that most al lowlands remained too wet for work: during the middle of the month and the greater portion of the last decade heavy to excessive rains occurred quite generally. being particularly excessive III some west-central and north-central counties causing nearly all streams te overflow. with damaging floods in all the larger rivers during the last few days, and entirely suspending all farm work Temperatures averaged nearly normal, though there were several cold spells, with a moderate freeze and light to Kill ing frost over middle and northern coun- ties towards the close of the second de- cade: owing to the lateness Of the sea son, practically no damage was done py cold. except to fruit in northern counties. which was slightly injured At the close of this month. preparation of land Tor corn and planting of same were very IF. regular. varying from half plowed. hall planted and some very early up Tn south- crn counties. to very little or this wor' accomplished in middle and northern counties; as a rule. not more than one third of the corn land had been prepared; very little land had been prepareu TOT cotton. and practically no cotton planted; practically all fruit trees were in bloom with peaches and pears dropping bloom and forming fruit towards the close or the month; gardens were rather bsek- ward. though onions, radisnest peas, coming up freely in middle and southern counties and doing we'll; strawberrles were ripenng near the coast ana truitihs heavily elsewhere.
 The first seven days in April gave gen erally favorable weather for blowing ot uplands, and such preparatory farm work was pushed, till interrupted by general rain on the 7th; bottom landS however continued too wet for work' teinpera- lures averaged several degrees below the daily normal. with light to heavy frost on first few days, doing but little dam age. however. Preparation of cotton iahd Is just getting under way, with some or this staple planted in middle and south ern counties. About one-half of the corn land has been prepared. with planting varying from just commenced in north ern districts to about completed ip some southern counties. where some of this grain is coming up to good stands. Wheat and fall sown oats are not promising, though some improvement Is noted, but late sown oats are fairly satisfactory; gardens are backward. though Irish po- tatoes and peas are coming up to fairly good stands in northern counties, and all trucking crops are promising in middle and southern districts, with very early vegetables maturing in latter section; some cane has been planted In middle and southern counties; strawberries are very promising in all districts, and are ripening quite generally in southern counties, where watermelons are coming up The outlook for fruit Is very favor able except for pears, which were some what damaged by the recent cold spell
 Note.--Thc above summary of farming operations and crop progress to date Is given for tho benefit of those sufficiently of the same. Correspondents are request cd to mail their reports so as to reach this office not later than Monday morn ing Each card is of value in preparing this bulletin. and. even if you have but little to report, let us hear from you regularly Subsequent bulletins will con tain quotations from reports of corPes- pondents, which will be used in rotation.
 Frank P, Chaffee.
 Section Director. Montgomery. Ala.
 
 A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER. .