Evening journal., 1903-06-04
CROPS HELPED
BY GOOD RAINS
Vegetation Has Taken a
Second Lease on Life Since
Showers Came
WHEAT BEGINNING TO HEAD
Farmers Are More Hopeful Now About
the Grain Yield, and Fruit Has Been
Helped and Potatoes Benefited.
Other News Of the Farm.

NN'Ni ANNW~ ~ NtfN e'ANf
The temperatures for the past week have
averaged 4 trihe below normal. being COM
paratlvely warm during the middle por
tion and cool at the beginning and close
of the period says the United States Clim-
ate and crop report. Showers have been
of almost daily occurrence, and cloudiness
has prevailed to an unusual extent. Thun-
derstorms were of frequent occurrence, ac-
companled by sharp lightning that oc-
casloned slight local loss to barns and
trees. Hail fell i'm some of the southern
and eastern counties but did no damage.
There was o general absence of high winds
during the thunderstorms.
The deficiency in temperature was not
unfavorable to crops, except possibly dur
ing the cool spell at the close Of the week,
which was not fully covered by reports;
this fall in temperature may have been
productive Of slight damage in the noun
tains, but elsewhere could have had no
evil effects beyond a tendency to check
growth. The generous amount of mois-
ture that was received during the week
greatly revived all crops, and added ma
terlally to the Frightening Of prospects
that had already become apparent to-
wards the close of the period covered by
the last report. over the northern and
central portions OF the section the rains Of
Friday evening, the 29th, were the heav-
lest of the season thus far, and some dam
age was reported by washing on hill sides
and rolling land especially in recently
planted corn fields; in the west and south
the rains were wholly beneficial. while in
the extreme southeast there were districts
of lighter rainfall where the ground Is still
too dry for perfect crop development
Since Friday plowing and planting have
been retarded, but during the middle part
of the week much progress was made.
In the trucking districts the weather con-
ditions have been admirably suited for
purposes of transplantng, and the same
is true of outdoor pursuits in the counties
largely devoted Ito tobacco raising.
Grains and Grasses.
Wheat heads are becoming more COM
peteiy formed as the weeks pass. In the
upper and interior countries the upland
fields are expected to give fair to good
yields of grain; the lowland crop shows
some rust, but heads of good length are
generally reported. in the south and
southeast. the light lands suffered so Sc
verely during the drought that the wheat
will not recover from its effects, and poor
returns are all that can be looked for. Rye
has improved in all districts, and is head
ing nicely. with a better straw generally
than is shown in wheat. Oats are yellow
ing in low grounds, and the straw is short
i'm nearly all felds, but In the uplands a
good color prevails. Pastures have i'm
proved wonderfully during the week, and
afford ample sustenance for live stock in
practically all localities. Old meadows
look fresh and green from a distance, but
closer inspection shows that weeds and
other foreign growth fill up the poor
stands of timothy to large extent A
short hay crop is am almost assured out
come Of the loss sustained during the
drought. and the more progressive farmers
are sowing millet and hungarian grass tc
help make up the deficiency in the staple
forage products. In parts of the south the
early clover cuttings have given good re-
turns. in others the yields have been poor
but all has been saved in fine condition
The early corn presents good stands ir
the we'll titled lands, but in the field.
broken during the dry weather as we'll as
in most of the clay lands the stands ar,
quite uneven and unsatisfactory. Plow
ing and planting are I'm all stages of pro
gress. Early fields are receiving frs
cultivation In districts where ground is We
to be broken for planting in June. Thesl
late paintings will further supply the
shortage in hay dn case they fan to cons
to maturity before the cold weather o
autumn. Much replanting has been dom
in the early fields, and more will prob
ably be necessary in the fields that wer
washed by the heavy rains Of Friday last
Cherries Light Return.
The fall in apples, which began early
continues throughout much Of the section
the thinning has not vet passed beyond tn
point where IL may be regarded as bene
fetal although some fears are beginning I
be expressed locally that a light crop vii
result. Peaches and pears are general
source. Early cherries have gone to mar
ket. giving light returns
Gardens have made good growth durn
the week. which has been a favorable on
throughout for an small plants. Earl
potatoes are receiving their first cultiva
ton, and are in bloom in St. Mary
county; bugs are becoming troublesome
and have already caused some damage