Evening star., 1944-07-09
Heavy Drought Loss
Feared 10 Maryland
And Virginia Crops
Ruin Needed in Next
Few Doys; Mercury Hits
80 Degrees in Capitol

Concern for crops in Virginia,
Maryland and severely affected Mid
western States continued to grow
yesterday in the face of increasingly
serious drought conditions, while
Washington, experiencing an 88-
degree temperature after several
days in the upper COS, had hope of
getting cooling afternoon thun-
dershower today.
Farm experts predicted heavy
damage to truck and Victory gar
dens. as we'll as hay, corn and other
crops unless rain falls within the
next few days. The official forecast
for Washington called for CON
tinued humid weather" with some
indications" of a thundershower this
afternoon.
Temperature of 8s Here.
Beginning at low of 73 degrees,
recorded at 5:45 am, the ther-
mometer rose steadily to SO at 6
pm. when it began to go down.
Light breezes during the day helped
somewhat relieve the sweltering
population.
While lack Of a heavy rainfall
has cut into the water supply to
some extent, District residents have
not yet been asked to curtail their
use of it either for household or
lawn and garden purposes. In
nearby Falls Church, Arlington and
Alexandria, however, curbs wefe put
on sprinkling lawns and gardens.
In Montgomery County, civilian de-
fense officials have begun a program
OF watering Victory gardens.
No sign of a break in the heat
wave, extending all over the country
east of the Rockies. was visible yes
terday and crop experts pointed out
soaring heat was beginning to dry
out subsurface moisture
Most seriously affected was COM
mercial and victory garden vege-
table production in the Midwest. |
where an Associated Press dispatch
quoted Prof. H. D. Brown of Ohio
State University, secretary of the
Vegetable Growers Association of
America, as predicting that current
damage would prevent gardeners in
Ohio. Illinois, Indiana. Tennessee,
Michigan land many other States
from meeting quotas set by the War
Food Administration.
Overall production has been cut
80 per cent in that region, Prof. |
Brown declared, while some vege-
tables, such as cabbage, beans and
sweet corn were off so per cent.
Maryland Pastures Hurt.
At Hagerstown. Md, r. C. F..
Weagley, president of the State
Farm Bureau, told the Associated
Press dry weather already had hurt
pastures and late corn and hay
crops. Many more days of con-
tinued dryness would be disastrous,
he indicated.
The University of Maryland Crop
Service said the situation
had reached the point where serious
drought damage could take place
in the next few days.
Mayor Hugh V. Gittinger of Fred
erick called on the citys residents
to economic in the use of water for
lawn sprinkling purposes, explain
ing there was no indication when
the hot, dry spell would end.
Frederick County Agent Henry R.
Shoemaker told the Associated Press
he did not believe any permanent
damage to truck crops generally had
been done as yet, but said rain was
needed in the next few days.
Parched districts of Virginia re-
ceived trace of rain yesterday, but
not enough to dispel the drought
threat. Richmond had its first rain
fall in Is days. while Lynchburg,
Danville and Winchester reported
brief showers.
In the Shenandoah Valley, which
enjoyed good crop growing weather
during early summer months, corn
was reported in serious condition
from lack of water. Apples and
peaches had not been affected.
Baltimore officials reported that
the heat, together with last sum-
mer's long dry spell, had resulted
in loss Of nearly half the trees
and shrubs planted in the last two