The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-08
THE CROP BULLETIN
WEEKLY REVIEW or THE ALA
 BAHIA SECTION.
Summary of Farming Operations and Progress of the Crops
 Compiled by Agents of \ the Government.
MontxorneY

vorable for farm work; the first two weeks or December gave generally favorable condi- were sown. and much new land cleared; gen eral and heavy rains occurred during the mid de and rains were also fairly general during too wet for blowing. During the last half of January there was sufficient dry weather to permit some farm work being done. and more oats were sown. February was an unusually wet month. the rainfall being heavy to exces- siye over near the entire State on the 10th ith and l6th-i i7th. causing damaging floods in all large streams and inundating much low land; before these floods entirely subsided, an- other general and heavy to excessive rain oc- sSsa sSs s on the " nns nearly portance swept over the State during Decem- Der and January; the first occurred on Christ assa. si1ins sround isVsi ' ssmpsTsrss % g. ,o~ %s as degrees above zero in northern portions of the State. and .6 degrees in gulf counties. this freeze: the other, on January 18th and 18th. did some damage to fall sown oats in few localities. The rains of February 18th wave of the Winter. giving zero temperatures in some northwestern counties. and 24 degrees to the Gulf coast. Oats. particularly those by the freeze. in some fields. all of the latter being killed; fall sown oats were not 50 badly damaged. and wheat was only slightly injured. Warn weather during the latter part of Jan- uary and the first week of February caused many early peach and plum trees to bud; such % buds were generally killed by the freeze of the middle of February; early vegetables. particu- lariy English peas. in middle and southern counties, where, previous to the cold wave. such crops had made good progress. were also cotton and corn land was prepared, and prep arations for early trucking crops were under way: particularly in southern counties where planted. and where strawberry plants were quite promising. the acreage in strawberries po am February, except in . few southeastern coun- ties. where the rainfall was least. and where some cotton and corn land was prepared.
 While somewhat more than the average warmth was received during March. and tht rainfall averaged nearly normal. the month quent rains during the first half of this month
 ns tSs o wet Gs S o orally favorable weather prevailed and al work was pushed. Upland corn planting wa, vanced in middle counties, and started ii northern portions of the State. with some O this crop up to fair stands in a few southern very backward, and very little cotton wal planted. Lowiands were too wet to work. ant general rains on 28th and goth again sus weather permitted. and. while much of tn Winter sown oats did not recover from damag by the February cold. Fall sown oats mad
 
 small crop of rye. Temperatures average, quite high during the first two decades. bu heavy to killing frosts in middle and northern counties on the 25th and 26th caused furthe damage to peaches in the latter district, wher they will be almost @ failure: pears were alB seriously damaged in northern counties; fl southern counties the damage was comparative ly light. and the prospects favor fairly goo peach and pear crops over the southern hal ed in southern counties by the close of tn month. when many early vegetables were u | and promising in that district: by this time counties, ps where % tomatoes were being trans | planted: Irish potatoes were then being plante | in northern portions of the State. where othe berries were beginning to ripen in Gulf coun | ties.
 The first six days in April gave generally ia | vorable conditions for farm work. except | general, but moderate, rain on the night c | the 3rd-4th. which only slightly retarded blow
 pie sunshine, but the last few days were quit | cool, heavy to killing frosts occurring in mid | dle and northern counties on the 9th. whe l light frosts also occurred in many souther i counties. Much upland corn was planted, an | this work is about two-thirds completed. wit | considerable up to fair stands in southern an | middle counties. Preparation of cotton landi | while quite backward Is now being pushed l and planting is getting under way in man
 southern and some middle counties. Nearly a bottom lands continue too wet to work Fla | sown oats and wheat continue very promising
 and recently sown oats are doing well. Tn
 serious damage to the peach crop by Februar | cold and March frosts is evident fin man western counties. and 1t is now thought tha | even with most favorable conditions, onl l about two-ffths of the State will make a goo | peach crop. Pears and plums continue prom
 ising over the southern half of the stat' l Strawberries are ripening in middle wester
 districts. and being shipped in good conditio | from southern counties. Gardens are doin | we'll in southern and middle districts. and bt | ing planted in northern counties, where. | some places, early vegetables were killed b | the frost of the 9th. Pastures continue eS 1 cellent Much commercial fertilizer is bein | used on cotton lands.
 Note-The above summary of farming opera | tions and crop progress to date Is given fC the benefit of those sufficiently interested 6 | to desire a complete history of the same. Sut | sequent bulletins will contain quotations froi reports of correspondents. which will be use | in rotation.
 | FRANK P. CHAFTEE,
 Section Director, Montgomery. Ala