The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-13
FARMERS SUFFER FROM
 EXTENDED DRY SPELL
Water is Getting Low and Gar den Truck Wilting All
 Over the State.
POTATOES SMALL AND FEW
State Cattle Commissioner Sees Suffering Ahead if
 Drought Continues.

The continuous drought Is affecting crops. In some instances the effect Is disastrous. From the statement of farmers In various parts of the state the corn crop is not seriously af- fected if it Is at all. As we'll known agriculturalist from Litchfield county said, this morning, corn Is hot weather crop and thrlves in heat that wilts other farm produce. The reports from the tobacco growers in- dicate that tobacco Is not suffering from the drought. The weather be- fore the drought set in was favorable to its growth and the dry spell did not retard it's development. In a week or ten days tobacco growers will begin to cut their crop, and the out look for an abundant yield is very promising at the present time, The only thing the growers dread now is hail storm. A fall of hall would destroy thousands of dollars worth of tobacco that is now healthy and of strong growth. A Hartford Times re- porter took a trolley ride to Rainbow, Sunday afternoon through a tobacco re- zion, and the crop everywhere had an encouraging appearance. There were some tobacco growers on the car and In discussing the crop prospects they said that appearances indicated a rec ord-breaking year in the abundance of the yield.
 From all accounts the vegetables commonly known by the generic term
 garden truck" are suffering from the drought. Where it is possible the farmers are watering the vegetables by hand, but this method never re- lieves the parched vegetables suffl- ciently to offset the absence of rain.
 General Heman A. Averill, the cat tie commissioner, whose home is in Ltchfeld county stated yesterday mor- ming that the farmers in his county are suffering for want of rain. The mead ows, from which the grass has been recently cut, are dried up and the short stub" grass which should be fresh and green, has dull yellow coll or, indicating the effect of the drought. General Averill said that the wells and streams in Litchfield county are very low and there will be positive suffering if rain does not soon come to relieve the situation. It will be serious if catte cannot get suf- flcient supply of water to drink. Veg etables are very backward in Litch- field county. Potatoes, particularly, are backward. They are of small size, not having reached their full develop ment, and the number Of potatoes in the rows are below the average. Gen. eral Atwater said that on Sunday he saw in piece of meadow q condi- ton which showed as clearly as any, thing else the effect of the drought. A neig'hboring farmer had cut lot of weeds that were growing near the highway inside the fence, and he gathered them Into heap and burned them. Sparks from the fire fell on the recently moved meadow a few feet distant, and the stubs" of grass in the meadow became ignited and
 burned for quite a distance. In ordinary seasons the stub" land
 would be too green and fresh to catch fire.
 George A, Parsons assistant clerk in the office of the labor commissioner and who Is quite successful in growing roses at his home on Blue Hills ave- nue, said to-day that the latA roses are struggling for an existence this year, owing to the continued dry spell. The principal crop of roses comes in June and this years was as abundant, If not more 30, than the average, and the flowers were aSnfully developed as here-
 tofore He hW number of rose bushes which yield buds until the cold
 weather sets in, and these, as a rule, afford him the pleasure of contributing of roses after the June season is over. But this season he will be denied this pasure, or at least he will not be able to indulge it so generally as hereto- fore. One of Mir Parsons neighbors on Blue Hills avenue Is growing three acres of tobacco, and Mir Parsons said it Is seldom he has seen such prom ising field of the fragrant weed
 The reports from various places in Hartford county show that the farmers and vegetable growers in this county are suffering from want of rain. Water Is getting very low and garden truck 1 is Wilting Corn is thriing in Hartford county as 1t Is elsewhere, but potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, beets and other gar den truck are stunted and in danger of not reaching their full development be- fore the time arrives for harvesting them. Potatoes, which are a staple ar ticle of food on every ones table, will be short this season. The supply will be scant and the tubers will be small.