The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-07
CROPS ARE CLEAN
And Farm Work is fuIIy
Up to Date.
But Rain is Needed Over the
Entire State to invigOr.
ate Crops and Soften
Soil.

The weekly crop bulletin of the
bureau says of crop conditions in the
State last week:
''Droughts begins to prevail at an
increasing number of places in North
Carolina, being quite severe in more
than IL central counties, as well as in
several along the coast. Except the
deficiency in rainfall the weather
during the week, ending Monday, July
3rd, was favorable especially for farm
work The injurious effect of the
drought was to a large extent mitiga-
ted by the moderate temperatures ana
cloudy weather that prevailed, which
prevented the scalding of crops and
at the same time made the week fav
orable for farm work. The meah
temperature for the State at large
averaged about 76 degrees, or nor.
NAL but this was 4 degrees lower
than the mean for the proceeding
week, maximum temperatures much
above 90 degrees did not occur, and
the nights were rather cool, but not
sufficiently so to materially check the
growth of crops, even cotton. While
the weather has been very dry, some
light showers temporarily refreshing
CROPS OCCuIGCu, CIlleDS OII JUNE OUIll,
and July lst, but the actual amount
of precipitation received was hardly
sufficient in most places to wet the
soil West of the Blue Ridge (Swain,
Madison Buncombe) many counties
received copious rams. others east OF
the mountains, none whatever. Crops
are now all clean, well cultivated,
and farm work is fully up to date, but
rain is much needed over the larger
portion of the State to invigoraue the
crops as well as to soften the soil
which has become hard and dry, inter-
fering with cultivation and with the
planting of field peas.
Although the nights are somewhat
cool, cotton has continued to improve,
and may be said to be almost normal
in condition, though plants are still
small and late in some sections.
blooms appeared during the latter
part of June in a large number of
counties, and for the season are al
ready very numerous, lice continue
to be reported in many counties, rain
would be very beneficial to cotton
as we'll as to most other crops corn
is doing fairly well, and is very ir-
regular in growth old corn is suffer-
ing from dTaught which is causing
firing and twisting on uplands; young
corn in low lands is doing we'll; much
corn has taSSeled rather low; laying
by is nearing completion, except the
young corn. Tobacco is suffering a
little from lack of sufficient moisture
which is causing it to bottom out;
topping is under way in the central
west portion; cutting has begun in
the east and south, and in a small
way curing has commenced. Thrash
ing wheat and oats continues with
rather poor results as regards both
yield and quality of the grain. Spring
cats and rye are being cut and are
better Stubble lands are being
planted with field peas to a larger ex
tent than usual; peas already planted
need rain and in many counties the
ground is too dry to permit further
sowing at present. Peanuts are doins
fairly well. and are blooming, but the
stands are not perfect. Gardens are
suffering from drought nearly every
where. Sweet potatoes look Wen
Fruit is fairly abundant.
The rainfall for the week was
Lumberton, 0.54; Hatteras, 0.40; Will
mington, 0.02; Pomona, 0.50; Moncure
O.03, Greensboro. 0,5S; Newbern, 0.02;
Weldon. 050; Raleigh, Oh; Davidson
C.3S; Hendersonville, 1855; Charlotte
0.20; Asheville, 2.40