Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-19
Hope Again Fades
For Drought Relief
Possibility Held
Out for Showers
In q or 5 Days

Weather Bureau looked in vain
for any sign of showers before
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Even the five-day forecast
presented no definite indica-
ton of rain" during the period,
but it said that scattered
showers were a possibility"
Tuesday or Wednesday.
County agents in Virginia
and Maryland reported crops.
plants and trees were suffering
and one estimated that half
the fall hay and pasture crop
had been lost.
A request for drought disas-
ter relief for Fauquier County.
Va. was made by County Agent
Lemuel Sutphin, jr., this week
to State Commissioner of Agri-
culture Parke C. Brinkley.
THE drought is reaching the
proportions of 1883" Mr.. SUIT
phin said. If we get immediate
rain, it would certainly aid the
corn crop Pastures are burned
up and alfalfa is standing
Stlll."
Menace on Eastern Shore
Foresters were on the alert
for fire danger in the parks
and forests because of the
dryneSS.
In Baltimore it was an
nounced the Department of
Forests and Parks had moved
emergence fire equipment to
the Eastern Shore.
Henry Buckingham, State
forester, said forest fire con-
ditions there are very critical"
Three fire trucks and a fire.
line pillow have been stationed
in Dorchester County, where
no appreciable rain has fallen
since June Z.
Fairfax County Agent Joe
Beard said pasture crops are
most severely affected in the
county, particularly in the
western section. He estimated
half the crop already had been
lost and that the second hay
crop had suffered equally.
Critical Stage Near
Mr.. Beard said the situation
was affecting the early corn
critically because this is the
point where it is making ears.
The effect on the late corn
crops remains to be seen, he
added. Rain within a few days
would revive it, but a delay Of
a week or 10 days would be
critical. he said.
Lack of a good general rain
since April also is causing
plants and trees to suffer. Mr..
Beard reported. He said he is
getting so calls a week from
residents whose oak and other
shade trees are dying.
The situation is aggravated
in newer housing developments
where excavations have lowered
the water table. he said. He
said there had been few reports
OF wells running dry so far. but
small streams were drying up.
Prince Georges County Agent
P. E. Clark called conditions
now as bad as in the 1880
drought. He said pastures look
like "Sandbanks" and cited
serious effects on the crops.
Tobacco Damaged
Tobacco is suffering very
much" he reported. Tobacco
can take lot OF punishment,
but it has already been
damaged"
Pasture, corn and vegetable
crops also are fighting a losing
battle against the dryneSs, Mr..
Clark said. land we had only
half a crop Of wheat"
He added that wells are going
dry and streams are drying
up, No Federal aid has been
asked to cope with the situa-
ton. but the problems are
being studied and some deci-
sion may be reached next
WICK, Ilc odiu.
The agent noted that I'VE
have suggested that farmers
put in emergency pasture crops.
but they can't even pillow the
ground"
Eastern Shore farmers pre-
dicted serious crop failures and
Anne Arundel County officials
warned OF dangerously low
water supplies.
Tomatoes Hard Hit
Farmers and independent
Gamers in Dorchester County
said the current tomato crop
already was a 80 per cent
failure" Tomatoes are con-
sidered a dry-weather crop.
but the farmers said the
drought has prevented the last
side-dressing Of fertilizer from
being absorbed in the soil.
Samuel c. Linton. general
manager Of the Maryland To-
bacco Growers Association. said
that unless there is a good rain
soon the Southern Maryland
tobacco crop is in for drastic
loss. He estimated the crop
in the ground now for a yield
of only about 8 million pounds
as compared with a normal
outlook Of 35 TO 40 million
pounds.
The Weather Bureau re-
ported that only .l9 inch OF
roiY had haap racordad FIR