Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-15
WHAT A FUNNY MONTH
April, Usually Coy, is This
Year Capricious.
STARTED WITH FROST
THERE HAS BEEN SCARCELY a
DAY WITHOUT RAIN.
Wet, Nasty, Disagreeable Has Been
Complex Nature Of the
First Half.

The first half of April has been one of
the rainiest and most disagreeable periods
of any similar season for a. number OF
years. Scarcely day has gone by with
out some rain, and when rain was not
falling the sky was in the main part beset
with clouds.
1t has been a peculiar April thus far in
other respects. March was mild and balmy
as a whole, some Of the days resembling
those of early summer. Because of this,
when April arrived all fruits were unusu-
ally far advanced.
From the 4th to the 9th of April the
whole country east of the Mississippi river,
including Tennessee, and the northern por-
ton of the South Atlantic states, expert
enced temperatures below freezing,
weather bureau stations in the more north
erly districts reporting temperatures from
@ to 1S degrees below the freezing point.
Severe on Fruits.
According to summary of crop con-
ditions just issued by the weather bureau,
reports indicate that many varieties Of
fruit suffered severely. This applies par
ticularly to peaches. In California
while some damage was done by frost.
the outlook is more favorable On the
north Pacific coast. where the present sea-
son has been backward fruit was not ex-
posed to injury.
In the districts east of the Rocky noun
tains during the week ending April 13 the
temperature was highly favorable for
growth of vegetation. but farm work was
very generally retarded by rains in the
lake region. central valleys and Atlantic
coast districts, while complaints of lack
Of moisture were received from portions of
the central and west gulf states.
In the central and northern Rocky noun
tain districts and on the north Pacific
coast the season is very backward, and
Washington and Oregon have suffered from
cold, wet weather. In California the con-
dtions have been generally favorable with
the exception of some damage by frost.
Corn planting is in progress as far north
as Kansas. southern Missouri, Tennessee and
North Carolina; farther south planting Is
well advanced and is completed in some
sections.
Winter Wheat Excellent.
The condition of winter wheat is gener-
ally excellent, and it has made splendid
progress since the first Of the month. In
the upper Ohio valley, however. the freeze
of the 4th and 5th caused some injury. On
the whole. the condition of the crop in the
winter wheat belt east of the Rocky noun
tains. is more promising than for years
In California the outlook is also promising
but in Oregon and Washington the condi-
ton of the crop is less favorable, especially
in the last named state, where about ono
third Of the acreage will be resown.
Spring wheat is nearly completed in Iowa
and Nebraska, and is progressing well in
South Dakota. None has yet been sown in
North Dakota and in northern Minnesota,
but in southern Minnesota some has been
sOwn on rolling lands.
Oats continue promising in the southern
states, and seeding Is nearly completed or
well advanced in the central valleys, where
the early sown is coming up we'll
Cotton planting has made good progress
in the central and western portions of the
cotton belt, except in the flooded areas of
Mississippi and Louisiana. Planting is we'll
advanced in southern Georgia, but is pro-
crossing slowly in northern Georgia and in
South Carolina.
Over the southern portions of the CEN
trail and eastern districts and in Texas
early paintings are coming up to fair to
good stands. Tobacco plants are plentiful
and generally growing well, though late in
Kentucky. Transplanting has begun In the
Carolinas.
An Excess Of Rain.
The rainfall in Washington since April 1.
according to the weather bureau. amounts
to nearly four inches. Those of us who
have been compelled to tramp about wet
pavements and sidewalks would likely place
the computation a trife higher than the
conservative forecaster out in M street.
Up to Sunday the fall of rain from April
1 amounted to 2.22 inches. During the last
three or four days 1t has rained almost con-
tinually. The rainfall from o'clock Mon
day night up to o'clock this morning was
1.9S inches
But those who have been inconvenienced
by the rain and have become sore and tired
OF the constant excess Of moisture may feel
a trifie relieved by comparing the rainfall
during three days beginning Monday,
March %, when it Appropriated 3S4 inches.
The men who daily with figures out at
the weather bureau at that time made some
interesting computations which showed
that six billion gallons of water had fallen
in the District of Columbia. enough to
make a lake or fill reservoir one mile
square and thirty-two feet. Deep an area
and depth of water sufficient to float the
battle ships Of the worlds navies.
A Break in Sight.
But there is break in sight
The weather Is generally clearing west OF
US. The rain may display it's tenacity
throughout the day. The indications are
however. that the sun will be able to pay
US welcome visit on the morrow.
A peculiarity of the storm is the reported
possibility Of frosts tonight in the interior
of North Carolina, northern South Caro-
lima, northern Georgia and central and
eastern portions of Tennessee and Ken
lucky
The seawall opposite the steamboat
wharves was covered with water this morn
ing, and 1t was reported that the speedway
about the vicinity Of the bathing beach
had been somewhat damaged by the high
water.
POTOMAC RISING RAPIDLY.