The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-07
IS CROP DIVERSITY
Things Generally in Bet
ter Shape.
Cotton Doing Only Fairly Well and
Stands of 1t Remain Good But
the Growth Has Been
Slow

There is increased diversity in the
condition of crops as reported from
the various sections of North Carolina,
but, as a rule, the weather this week
was more favorable for farm work
over a large portion of the State, than
for several weeks. Rains occurred
on the 29th, Goth and 31st of May in
many central counties. which kept the
soil very wet and continued to inter-
rupt farm work. A number of very
severe local storms with high winds
and hail damaged crops in several
counties on May 31st, chiefly in Hall
fax Sampson, Martini and Craven
counties in the eastern district, Scot
land, Johnston, Vance, GuilfOrd and
Harnett in the central district, ana
only Surry and Iredell in the west
over nearly all of the western half
of the State, as we'll as most of the
northern and northeastern counties
the week was dry and favorable for
work. which progressed vigorously;
many if not most of the fields which
have been foul for several weeks We're
given a thorough cultivation, and
crops placed in good condition. On
the other hand the temperature con-
ditions have not been favorable for
the rapid growth of vegetation. While
the average temperature was only
slightly below normal, the nights have
been quite cool. and unfaVorable for
cotton and corn. The day tempera-
lures while not very high, in connec~
ton with more abundant sunshine
were favorable. The coolest days oc-
Cured from the 1st to the 4th of
June.
In the western portion of the State
during nearly the entire week, and
elsewhere during the last three days
which We're dry, excellent progress was
made in cleaning and cultiVating crops
though many fields remain very grassy
in the central portion, where work IL
yer ymuch behind.
Cotton is doing fairly we'll where it
has been kept cultivated; the stands
remain good but growth has been
slow on account of the absence o.
stimulating high temperatures; in the
majority of counties where the crop
is uncultivated and grassy, and much
of it not yet chopped to stands the
condition is poor; nevertheless the
condition of cotton is such that rapid
recovery would probably occur with
warmer, dry weather. Corn also Is
improving slowly in growth. but in
many counties where originally excel
lent stands had been secured, the
stands are now reported irregular and
poor on account of the raVageS of cut
and bud worms; some farmers are
killing corn in the southern portion,
the planting of lowlands could be fin
ished with a week or ten days of dry
weather. Peanuts are doing We'll;
early planted are being chopped to
stands, late planted are coming up
slowly: Wheat, oats and rye are rip
ening rapidly; cutting has begun, and
the harvest will be general in a week
or So While in the west reports con-
corning these crops continue favor
able, in the central portion wheat is
said to have suffered considerable in
Jury by excessive moisture, which has
caused the plants in many fields to
fall to the ground before ripening;
rust is also reported in many coun-
ties but attacked the crop too late
to do material damage. Irish potatoes
are giving a poor yield in the eastern
portion of the State where digging is
under way but are reported in good
condition in the west. Sweet potatoes
have all been transplanted and are
doing we'll. Garden vegetables are
generally fine. The prospect for APP
pies has diminished on account of
blight Hay making has commenced
with indications for a large and eX-
Ilppt crOn