The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-04
IT WAS TOO COOL
Last Week Not Favora-
able for Best Growth.
Drought in Central Part OF State--Evi
dence Of Large Increase in Acre
age Of Cotton-.Tobacco
Plants are Small.

The weekly crop bulletin issued by
Section Director G. +. Won Herr
mann, of the North Carolina section
of the United States Climatic and
crop Service says for the week end
ing Monday, May End:
"The weather during the past week
was not favorable for the best growth
of crops. Rather low temperatures
continued to prevail, except on the
first two days Of the week, though the
departure from the normal weekly
temperature for the State at large
showed deficiency of only degrees.
There was, however, an absence of
warmth enough to stimulate the
growth of vegetation. In the central
portion of the State. notably over
most of the counties from Warren
south through Wake and Johnston
to Cumberland, the week was char
acteriZed by drought, almost no rain
whatever having occurred during the
entire week: on the other hand in
the eastern and western portions OF
the State very beneficial showers oc-
CURED on the Goth and eth. Con-
siderable hail was reported on the
26th in Chatham Guilford and Surry
counties, without any damage. Rainy,
cloudy weather in few western
counties stopped blowing and plant
ing for o few days. but placed the
soil in excellent condition. Generally
the entire week was favorable for
farm work. which has continued TO
progress rapidly. except i'm central
counties suffering from drought.
Warmer weather is needed every
where to start termination of seeds
and showers are required in the CEN
trial portion, even general rain
would be beneficial.
planting cotton continues to adj
vance rapidly, with every evidence of
large increase in acreage; forward
cotton is beginning to come up nicely
i'm the South portion, and needs
warmer weather to do well. Planting
corn also continues, except in some
mountain counties. In the central
and east portion of the State most
of the upland corn has been planted
In the south portion corn is generally
coming up nicely to good stands, in
the north the plants have been yell
lowed by cool weather Tobacco
plants are small, but growing more
rapidly, and in many counties. are
quite scarce; few farmers have be-
gun to transplant tobacco and much
land is ready for planting when sea-
sons occur. Wheat, rye and spring
oats are improving, though needing
more rain; many spring oats remain
to be seeded. Red clover is in bloom
and needs rain Irish potatoes are
coming up everywhere; in many
eastern counties they are doing wei
having recovered from the previous
injury by frost, in others the stand:
are irregular, and crop late. Gard
ems are also late, though improving
Most of the truck crops need rain
May peas are doing well, and picking
will soon begin; beans are poor
Strawberries are ripening and ship
ments are under way. The reports
about the fruit ere are very diversi
fed. North of Line drawn east ant
west through Raleigh it appears tina
most of the fruit crop has been killed
south of such line and especially ovel
most of the western counties south
of Buncombe. at least half a crop o.
peaches and more apples may be ex
pected. In many western counties
fruit trees are still in full bloom.
Grains reported: Goldsboro. OIL
inch: Greensboro, LIS: Lumberton
Ola; New Bern, DIG; Weldon, O.32
Raleigh, O.13; Charlotte, 040; viii
mington, 0.40; Asheville, OBJ; Saxon
1.52; Liberty. 1877 Settle, OBI; Hen
Jacksonville, 0.S0.'