The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-08

work made some progress especially the
planting of truck crops in the east many
tobacco beds also were seeded
The conditions during March indicated
the approach of an early spring. The tenn
perature was above normal the entire
month. the excess averaged approx
mately degrees for the State; the tenn
perature did not even reach freezing I'M
til the 26th and 9th, when killing frosts
occurred west of the Blue Ridge. and
light frosts east of the mountains as far
south as Wilmington but with very little
injury to crops. Vegetation was much
advanced in growth and before the end
Of the month fruit trees were generally
in bloom, and many forest trees were
in leaf. The disadvantageous feature for
March was the excessive rainfall which
delayed blowing and caused the flooding
of low lands with some damage to wheat
in places. However, much blowing was
accomplished during the week ending
March goth The weather was very IA
vOrable for the growth of wheat. oats
and rye which advanced rapidly; plants
were spreading and jointing nicely at
the close of the month. Strawberries
were in full bloom before the end of
March indicating a crop from one to
three weeks earlier than the average.
the plants We're strong and heavy. and
conditions favor a large crop of excel
lent quality. Truck crops also are we'll
advanced especially asparagus, cabbage,
early irish potatoes, lettuce and rad
ishes; some large shipments of lettuce
and radishes have been made; an early
and successful season for truckers seems
assured. The severe coast storm on the
29th and Goth did apparently little dam
age to agricultural interets.
Reports of crop correspondents for the
week ending Monday, April 6, 1908, indi-
cate that conditions have not been ia
vorable for the rapid progress of farm
work, on account of the excessive rain
fall on March Goth and 30th which caused
freshets in the rivers, flooded low lands,
and generally kept the soil too wet to
pillow. Easterly gales caused exception
ally high tides in the coast region. Plow-
ing and other preparations for planting
the staple crops are still behind but
this is largely in contrast with the early
advance of spring, as blowing car easily
be accomplished in good time with favor
able weather. The temperature during
the week remained decidedly above nor
NAL until Saturday, April 4, when a very
rapid fall occurred to a few degrees be-
low the freezing point in the Western
District with light snow. The freeze
extended into the central portion of the
State Sunday morning and ice formed in
places. Fruit trees, such as peaches, APP
| pies and cherries, were generally in
/ bloom, and the injury caused by the
| freeze to the fruit crop must have been
| very great. Reports in regard to the
| amount of damage done will appear in
| the next Bulletin. Warning of the APP
proach of killing frost was so widely
| distributed by the Weather Bureau to
| the farmers in the trucking section, that
| truck and berry crops probably received
| adequate protection. A little corn has
/ been planted in the southern and eastern
portions of the State and some is up. To-
| bacco in beds is we'll advanced in growth
| and the plants are plentiful. Wheat, oats
| and rye appear unusually fine, and are
l large in growth; some fields of wheat
were yellowed by cold, and much of the
| crop in very low ground has been ruined
| by high water. Less than half of the
4 spring oat crop has been seeded. Truck
crops were generally planted early and
i are doing WE'LL irish potatoes are up
| May peas are in bloom; few strawber-
ries have been shipped. Gardens are
| fairly we'll advanced in the east, but
/ are backward elsewhere.