Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-25

UNREASONABLE WEATHER.
Sunshine ana Warmth Now Needed u
Promote vegetation.

Sunshine ana warmth Now Needed 10
Promote Vegetation.
Boston. May 24.-Tho weekly bulletin Of
the New England section of the climate
and crop service OF the weather bureau
says: Cool. unreasonable weather, at
tended by high winds, frequent showers
and a marked deficiency Of sunshine, has
prevailed over the entire New England
district the past week. Precipitation on
several days in northern sections assumed
the form of sleet and snow. Hail was re.
ported from several localities i'm central
portions, and In southern and coast secS
tons fog and misty conditions were prev.
alent the first half Of the week. Taken as
a whole, the weather Of the week has
been very unfavorable for general pla,t
growth and farm work. The week has
been cold and unpleasant in all sections,
semi-wintry conditions prevailing on sew
eral days in northern localities. Frost was
reported from the northern and some cen.
tra1-western portions oil the 18th, 2oth list
and 22nd. tho surface OF the ground being
frozen quite hard in places the mornings
OF the Goth and 2.nd Precipitation was
quite general over the entire district on
the 18th, 18th. 18th, 18th and 18th, copiors
showers falling in central and northern
coast sections. while in interior and
southern sections fre' ,uent but small
amounts were recorded. Thunder showers
prevailed in northern localities on the 18th
and In central portions On the 10th, 18th
and 18th, in several in. tanccs being ac.
| companied by hail on tie 5th in portions
of Massachusetts. Scct .,nd snow were
reported from northern sections on the
18th and 11th. and from ccntral-wcstcrn
portions on the 10th.
CONDITION OF ,ROPS.
The cold and unreasonable conditions of
the past week have retarded the advance
of all crops. and field work especially in
northern sections, has practically been at
Il standstil. Tho gener~l rains in the
extreme northern and ,-cstern portions
have somewhat relieved tln droughty con
ditons of the past six ,oks, and present
prospects are very bright for the near
completion Of plowins. planting and SOW.
ing. The reccn, cool spell has tended to
promote root spreading aud tho thickcn-
ing of grass aud stoolnr of grain. thus
making the outlook for sSod harvests OF
both hay and grain mos, i@omising. Sun
shine and warmth is Y,..t is now most
needed to promote vegetarian.
Grain-In central port ions corn planting
has begun. while in sout fern sections 1t
is somewhat backward. bang delayed by
the cool and stormy weatAr In northern
sections TIVE land is near ready. but the
ground is still too cold q alanting Some
correspondents report thaf>early- planted
corn is rotting, and that considerable
sweet corn was washed ort by tho rains
of the week. Early rye = heading gem
orally in southern fields, although nearly
"A foot less in height than IN an average
season. The prospects Tor good oat
crop in all sections are excellent. Con-
siderable sowing yet remains to be done
in northern portions.
Grass-The majority d. correspondents
are enthusiastic over q SIS and hay pros
poets. stating generally thar the outlook
for good crop - n'cre favorable than
for several Seasons past. Cattle arc be-
ing turned into pastures in all parts Of
the district and where grazing lands have
been backward on account Of a lack Of
moisture, they have recuperatcd rapidly
and are now furnishing abundant fccd.
In several instances winter rye has adj
vanccd far enough to he cut for fodder
In northern sections thc long-continucl
meadows.
F'ruit-The blossoming period. except
apples is about over in the southern soc
tions. and prospects of bountiful harvcsts
are excellent. Apple trees are not bloss
oming ns freely as last year. but reports
state them to be very full for tho "on
year" All fruits arc in blossom in cen.
tral portions. and buds are coming on
c.
eral correspondents state that leaf blight
has appeared on pear trees. and the tent
caterpillar has been discovered in south
ern orchards. OF small fruits more win.
tcr-killing is noted than was at first ap
parent at grape vines and berry canes
more especially of the blackberry. Itasp-
berries and currents arc budded full. Re-
cent frosts have slightly damaged many
stra wbcrry beds. Cranberry vines report
I'd last week as being badly wintcr-killed
are not thought to be permanently in.
jurcd. although much smaller harvest
than that of last year is looked for.
Observation-Disclosures and corn are ad
vancing rapidly and receiving their first
hooing in the more southerly portions. In
central sections conditions are not so far
advanced. though potato planting is about
finished and early peas have been hocd
Gardens have not been completed in the
northern portions. Cutworm have invad-
I'd gardens and cold frames in central
sections. and have done considerable dam
age more especially TO asparagus. The
hail OF tho 18th slightly damaged many
gardens. Strawberry beds are in blossom
in southern localities and also seed tur-
npS
Tobacco--Tobacco plants need warmth
and sunshine. Some beds are being plow-
ed for transplanting and many acres
have already been set. Nearly all grow
crs expect to have much larger acre
age than last year.