The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-12
too MUCH RAIN IN
MARCH
First Weekly Crop BuIIe.
tion Tells Of Big Cot
ton Preparations.

The first of the Weekly Crop Bulletins
was out yesterday, issued by Section Di-
rector c. f. Won Hermann. for the North
Carolina section of the Climatic and Crop
Service OF the United States Weather
Bureau. 1t is in part as follows:
''In some respects the opening OF the
crop season of 1904 must be considered
untavorable, chiefly Oh account OF the
severe winter weather and the frequency
of rains during March which delayed
blowing to some extent In marked con-
trast to the spring of 1908, however, there
was a general absence of excessive rain
fall and very little flooding of low-lands,
and the temperature conditions during
March, when farm work and crop growth
really begin, were favorable.
1.-The winter of 10000 was in reality the
coolest on record since meteorological OBJ
servations began to be Systematically ia
ken, namely in 1872.
THE mean temperature for the three
winter months is 26.9 degrees which is the
lowest on record: the previous nearest
approach to such a low winter mean oc-
cured in 1928 with 37.S degrees. Yet
the absolute minimum temperatures re-
cored this year were not noteworthy, hav-
ing often been surpassed on previous oc-
casions, the low temperatures were rath-
er the result of the complete absence Of
the usual periods of a few warm days
that generally occur during our winters.
/, is remarkable that the cold weather
was not accompanied by much precipita-
ton, though the average snowfall (un-
Inelted) for the winter. incnes. was
somewhat larger than usual. The de-
fciency in rainfall for the four months
was over inches. The effect of the
dry weather during the fall was greatly
to delay the seeding of winter wheat and
oats, while the early cold prevented germ
ination and gave the cereal very late
start
THE temperature conditions during the
week ending Monday, April Il,h, 1904
were not favorable for the best growth
OF crops. Killing frosts occurred on the
4th and 5th, with much damage to fruit
and truck crops. Peaches, plums and
cherries were in bloom, and the peach
crop especially was no doubt severely
thiDned in the central-eastern portion oil
the State. but is not thougn~ to have
suffered great damage in the west ap
Piles generally escaped with slight injury
and early beans just UP, and May peas
were much damag ed; strawberries suf
fored slightly. Another frost Monday
morning, April 18th, was not heavy
enough to do any damage. During the
middle of the week the weather wa:
warmer, more or less cloudy, with light
rains on several days. The week was
Very favorable for the advance of farm
work OF all kinds. which made rapid
progress, though still somewhat behind
the average i'm the west In a few wes
tern counties the soil is still too wet
while in Others in the central portion, es
pecially Moore Johnston and Wake coun-
ties it is a little too dry and hard to
pillow, but over the larger portion of the
State the soil is in excellent condition.
and Flowing is going ON everywhere.
though there Is much complaint of the
scarcity OF labor.
preparations for large cotton crop
are well underway and large amounts OF
fertilizer ae being distributed. Planting
con is progressing over most OF the east
GIN and southern portions of the State.
Tobacco plants in beds are small and
late but look well Winter wheat has
made marked improvement during the
week also oats where not killed. Rye,
clover and grass are growing rapidly.
Spring oats are being seeded and many
have come up nicely. Considerable ad-
vance has been made in the progress OF
alanting and growth OF truck crops;
large quantities of Irish potatoes have
been planted! lettuce is heading and ship
ments going North; May peas will prob
ably recover from the damage by frost,
and yield fairly well. Strawberries are
coming into bloom. Planting gardens is
progressing WE'LL