The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-25
Weekly Crop Bulletin.
Cloudy, threatening weather,

lOudy threatening WedIueft Win
showers nearly every day, prevailed
over the entire state during the past
week, until Sunday, July 10th. The
rainfall was generally detrimental To
oops and caused Il complete suspen-
sion of all farm work. While mostly
IL the form Of light showers, heavy
downpours occurred at many places on
the 18th, 18th and 14th, which caused
Il rapid rise in the rivers, with flooding
of lowlands. This va the case espe~
cially in the west. where all streams
were out of their banks, and the
French Broad was very high; thou
sands of acres of lowlandS were under
water, and the crops growing thereon
were badly damaged. Hillsides were
washed in places, and generally h
ground is so sOggy hat work in the
fields is quite impossible. The average
rainfall for the week from twenty Sc
lected stations was 800 inches, or more
than double the normal oun Very
little hail, however, was reported. The
temperature conditions We're not unfa-
vorable; the mean was slightly above
normal, but without extremes; no max
ina abOve sc degrees occurred until the
close of the week. The sultry, damp
weather caused rapid and a growth
of most crops, as well as Of grass and
weeds, which are again becoming very
troublesome in many fields. More sun
shine is needed. and opportunity to
finish laying crops.
Cotton is reported quite generally to
be making ram growth, and in the
central-eastern portion is not fruiting
well; considerable damage by she'd
ding of forms and young bolls also &C.
Cured; some rust is reported: i'm the
western portion of the state the crop
is fruiting well. While cotton at pres
emf appears to have been considerably
damaged. the crop was generally in
such good condition as regards tillage
just before the rains began that prob
ably a few days of dry weather will
show less injury than anticipated. Up
land corn was benefited by rain, except
where pollen was washed off from
plants just in bloom, but young low
land corn was injured nearly every
where; the true extent Of the damage,
however, cannot yet De ascertained. To-
baccO did fairly well on we'll drained
land, but suffered a little on low ground
WucTe SOIue Is Udhlup OH second wv
cutting and curing are now under way
in a number of counties, but conditions
were not favorable for making good
cures during the past week. Some
b n oats still in shock in the
west We're damaged by sprouting, and
some uncut oats were lodged. Peanuts
and sweet potatoes We're slightly in
1ured, more for want of work than 9TH
erwise. Field peas grown for hay are
very thrifty, and many more will he
sown. Melons have suffered from ex-
cessive moisture and are poor in quail
ty. The wet weather has favored the
rapid development Of those fungus
grOwths which cause the decay of
fruit, and much rotting OF peaches, ap-
pies and grapes is reported. Early
grapes are ripening.
Rains reported: Goldsboro 0.30,
Lumberton 1.22. New Bern las, Wei
don, 2.O6, Wilmington 40, Hatteras
0.6O, Davis 1.50, Nashville 3.14, South
port 1861, Greensboro 3.96, Raleigh
%, Moncure 3.24, Lexington SO, Po-
mona $50, Angler 2.25, Charlotte 30,
Asheville 400, Hen~dersonvilIe $50 and
Morganton SIG.