The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-26
CROPS ARE
NOW SAVED.
Much-Needed Rain Comes at
Last.
EVERYTHING FRIGHTENED
People and Plants Much Enjoy the
Downpour Supposed to Be
Quite General Through
the State.
EVERYTHING FRIGHTENED

While the precipitation was not such
as might have been desired, the rainfall
on Sunday last will prove Of very gen
eral benefit to farmers throughout the
State, Suffering crops VIII lift up their
heads again, and in the prospect OF more
favorable weather. will now BIO enabled
TO make some Roadway after tho weeks
OF retarded growth.
The early drought has been widespread.
and In many localities heavy damage has
been reported. Wheat has been injured
md oats also. Truckers have suffered
particularly bad. Strawberries have shrlv-
eled up on the bush, so that match might
rake a bonfire of q whole Held. me
bushes would fairly rattle when the Der
r,es were picked. Tomatoes. which should
have been in the ground by May 10th.
are yet implanted. and but little corn
has been set out. Apples have been fall
inu from the trees, Tobacco plants have
been abundant, but this advantage mas
been Offset by tho fact that 1t was I'M
possible to set them out. No plough
could cut through The dFy s.eny I,f eafth
THESE conditions have been particularly
marked in some sections OF Henrtco coun-
49, near Richmond. but they have pre-
vailed elsewhere In the State Reports
IRON, correspondents wero by no means
cheerful when they came to speaE OF
crop prospects. and the monthly STATEMENT
of the Weather Bureau to the Washing
ton headquarters was distinctly d!scour-
aging. In all directions farmers were
crying for rain,
The rain came Sunday. The day broke
cloudy and few drops fell early IN the
morning. During the afternoon It made
es II to clear off, and then came terrific
wind. which bent trees Ms though they
we're pipesteIns. The rain was In inter
mittent SMELLS, but 1t literally poured In
Zig drops at times. The worst OF IT was
over by 10 o'clock at night, and vegeta-
t,o,, and people were refreshed and re-
iiewed by the downpour. The clouds CON
tinned in the sky throughout the night
and yesterday. and will probably stu be
here to-day. There was some rainfall yes
terday. hut not to amount to anything.
FALL OF ONE INCH,
REPORTS received by the weather bureau
NE very scanty, and for this reason It Is
heavy rainfall at any place, fall OF
one Inch is reported from one place up
the river. No other report has been re-
ceiyed. 1t is understood. however. that
tho precipitation was quite general
throughout the State: The Quantity . Oh
one half of an lnoh The Tidewater Sec
ton was particularly we'll Watered;
Great benefit to crops Will result from
Tho downpour, There might have been
more of It, hut such as 1t was It will
do great good. It Is the first good wet
TIM tho land has gotten this month. The
e,,th has been loosened up, stuff already
in the ground can grow. and other stuff
can be planted So far as Richmond Is
concerned there Will probably DO no moro
+, infall to amount to anything. The
clouds will still DO here. but they will
stay In the sky.
In some sections the storm of yesterday
did more damage than good, The fierce
wind snapped trees and blew down OHM
news and so on. Hail was reported from
some parts. and the Inevitable goose egg
IL being exploited once more There is
said to have been slight fall Of hail
here.