Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-03
Damage from Drought.
CROPS IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY
SUFFER SERIOUSLY.

/ ne ury weather Is becoming seTl
Gus menace to crops in the Connection
valley farming districts. The brigh
prospects which the farmers had a few
weeks ago for an average crop of to
bacco, potatoes and corn are getting
gloomier every day, with the hot Au
gust sun pouring down on the alread,
dried-up soil. Tobacco that is CROWN,
on sandy soil has better chance thai
that grown on clay or rock soil, as ther'
is still little moisture in the deel
sandy soil, which will give the croI
about ten more days of natural help be
fore it, too, will show signs of decay
The potato crop is also suffering badly
Although the foliage looks as we'll al
could be expected, when the farmers
dig for the potatoes there are but few to
be found of sizeable growth. Corn is II
the same predicament, and while the
stalks are waving high, the ears are sc
dwarfed that the farmers have not the
courage to harvest them and take them
to market. 1t is so with all crops
everything needs water.
The farmers in the vicinity of Wind
sor Locks, Conn.,, and more especially
the tobacco growers, are in a depressed
state of mind over the lack of rain
| The growers whose crops are not ye1
ripe are hopeful, but others can set
nothing but disaster ahead for their fine
fields of tobacco. Potatoes are suffering
more than the tobacco crop. Tomatoes
are not badly affected as yet.
The drought in the vicinity of Rock
vile, Conn, is the most severe for years,
and will cause much loss to the farmers.
The greatest damage is reported to pota-
toes, and farmers estimate loss of at
least half of the usual yield. There is
little feed in the pastures, as they are all
burnt up by the dry, hot weather.
Corn is now suffering severely, but rain
may save the greater part of the crop,
although the yield will be smaller than
usual. The tobacco has stood the dry
weather well until within week or so,
but it is now affecting it seriously.
There will also be light yield of veg
etables and all kinds of fruit, with the
possible exception of grapes.
Athol, Mass, and vicinity are feeling
the effects of the long dry
spell, and fields and highways are suffer
ing badly. Fortunately the first crop OF
hay is about all in but the lack of rain
will injure the usual large amount OF
rowen. Berries are still very high, espec-
tally high blackberrieS and blueberrieS.
Other late crops are also feeling the
effects of little moisture. A drive over
the roads around Athol finds them all
dusty. In several places the dust al
most reaches the hubs, and the farms
h. Of,
which are out to pasture at the present
time, are finding slim rations. Reports
from Petersham, Royalston and North
Dana were in effect much the same as
those from Athol, and the farmers are
all worrying, and not needlessly, over
the present outlook. The farmers re-
port the crop of potatoes from two to
three weeks late, but expect large
crop. The first crop of hay was good,
but if the dry weather continues the
farmers fear the second crop will be
poor.
For the first time this year Brattle-
boro, VT, and surrounding towns are
feeling the need of rain, although j,
hardly can be said that the territory is
experiencing drouth. In the northern
/ part of the county the dryness is scarce.
| ly noticeable, but in the southern part
the effect of the dry weather is begin
ming to be apparent in the pastures and
in fields, where the grass or second CROP
has been cut recently. Vegetation
there is beginning to turn red. The
most serious result thus far has been
shortage in the milk supply and dairy
products, but the farmers are producing
a fairly good supply by feeding from
their harvested crops. Corn curls a
little in the daytime, but it appears
vigorous in the morning. Tobacco
plants wilt little under the sun, but
recuperate during the night. The sup
ply of water in the springs is diminish
ing, but few springs have failed. The
potato crop has reached point where
drouth can do it but little harm.