3G0 Ninth Annual Report of the 



scarcely bopjnn. Manj' liad finished sowing barley and, in warmer 

 districts, rye was beginning to head. Hop vines were strong and 

 vigorous, and tying well under way by the 15th. The cool, cloudy 

 w^eather was unfavorable to tobacco plants and they made slow 

 growth. Planting potatoes, ti'uck gardening, etc., was well ad- 

 vanced, except in localities of heavier soils where work was 



deemed ten days behind hand. In the warmest sections apple 



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trees w^ere in full bloom, but in the north plums, pears and cher- 

 ries were just starting to blossom. A frost on the 22d slightly 

 nipped tender garden plants, but did not impair the generally 

 favorable outlook. At the beginning of the third decade grasses^ 

 grains and fruits were growing nicely," and were reported by many 

 as " never looking better at this season of the year," but it was 

 too cool for the quick germination of seed in the ground. Frosts 

 of 26th-27th slightly damaged fruits and gardens in a few exposed 

 localities. In many districts corn and potato planting was finished 

 by the end of the month, but on uplands and wet soils many had 

 scarcely begun. 

 J June was an exceptionally cool month, the principal cold periods 

 occurring about the 2d and 21st. Severe frosts occurred in 

 northern localities and also in the southwest. The rainfall was 

 very light in the west, but heavier than usual in the central and 

 eastern counties. About the usual rain frequency and cloudiness 

 prevailed for the State at large and after the 10th the prevailing 

 w^eather was fair. During the first decade the frequent rains and 

 cool cloudy weather retarded corn planting and oats seeding, and 

 the season already being late many of the fields designed for oats 

 were prepared for millet or buckwheat instead. Corn and potato 

 seedings rotted badly during this weather and much replanting 

 became necessary. Haying had begun in southeastern localities by 



