Part 9

_Cotton._—Cotton was favorably affected by the weather of the week except where there was a lack of moisture in the more western portion of the belt and where it was too wet in a few central and eastern localities. Moderate rainfall was the rule from the Mississippi Valley eastward, but to the westward little or no rain fell. Temperatures were somewhat above normal in the central and eastern districts and were unusually high in the northwestern portion of the belt. Sunshine was generally ample except in northeastern localities.

The crop made favorable progress in North Carolina, except where it was too wet in parts of the coastal plain. The weather was generally favorable in South Carolina, although there was too much moisture in some central counties and the plants were reported as sappy with some shedding, but fruiting fairly well generally. The week was very favorable for cotton in Georgia where very good to excellent progress was reported, and generally fair advance was indicated from Alabama.

The progress was very good in the northern and southern portions of Mississippi but less favorable where the rainfall was heavier in the central portion. Cotton showed very good development in Louisiana and most of Arkansas, the warm, dry weather being favorable in the latter State. Conditions were less favorable, however, in Texas and Oklahoma. Peanuts were shedding in the former State as a result of warm, dry weather, although the early planted crop continued in fair to good condition. The progress of the peanut crop in Texas was poor to only fair, and progress and condition were fair in Oklahoma although the plants needed rain badly in the western portion where wilting and shedding were reported.

Weevils were generally less active, particularly in the western portion of the belt, although they continued numerous in most sections and were doing considerable damage in many localities. Bolls were reported as opening rapidly in southern Georgia and picking progressed favorably. The weather was very favorable for this work in the southern portion of Texas.

_Potatoes._—White potatoes made generally good progress throughout the country during the week. Showers were beneficial for the crop in many portions of the Rocky Mountain and Plateau States, except in local areas where unirrigated potatoes needed more moisture. Some damage from disease and insects was reported from comparatively small areas in the northwestern Lake region and the crop was injured in portions of the lower Great Plains by heat and drought. In some sections of the middle Atlantic coast area more moisture would have been beneficial. Digging was in progress northward to the Lake region. Planting continued in portions of the Southeast. Sweet potatoes did well generally and were reported as making excellent growth, except in Florida where they needed more rain.

_Truck and miscellaneous crops._—With sufficient moisture in most of the interior Valley States, truck crops and gardens showed improvement, although they were damaged in portions of the Ohio Valley States by lack of moisture. They were unfavorably affected in a few localities of the east Gulf area. Rain was badly needed in the Southwest and unirrigated truck was suffering in the far Northwest.

Sugar beets improved in Colorado and were doing well in Utah, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The weather was favorable for tobacco in the Northeast, but this crop was injured by drought in portions of Kentucky and plants were yellowing in places in Ohio because of insufficient moisture. The weather was favorable for checking rust in the Ohio Valley localities. Sugar cane was doing well in the lower Mississippi Valley, but cane and peanuts were needing rain in Florida. In Virginia peanuts were reported as small and the fields grassy.

RAINS HELP WESTERN RANGES.

_Meadows, pastures, and stock._—Alfalfa was benefited by local showers in the Central Plateau area and meadows and pastures were improved in many interior Valley States, although moisture was needed in some sections. Considerable rain fell over the northern and northwestern Great Plains and in the central Rocky Mountain districts, resulting in material improvement to ranges. There were also local showers in the far Southwest, which were beneficial, but only partial relief was brought to New Mexico, where much of the range was still slowly deteriorating and stock was thin. Ranges were further unfavorably affected by lack of rainfall in Texas, and pastures were mostly burned dry in central Oklahoma. More rain was needed in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but pastures continued very good in the Middle Atlantic States and the Northeast. Pastures were reported short in Michigan, and while still good in Wisconsin they needed rain in many localities. Ranges were in poor condition in Minnesota.

_Fruit._—There was some damage to fruit by heat and lack of moisture in Oklahoma, and some harm resulted locally from high winds in Missouri. Apples and prunes would have been benefited by rain in some of the more northwestern States. Otherwise the weather conditions were generally favorable for fruit in practically all sections of the country. Prunes and olives were sizing up nicely in California; oranges were fair to good in that State; but lemons were less satisfactory because of last winter’s freeze. Strawberry plants were favorably affected in Florida and citrus fruits were in good condition.

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=The Mexican bean beetle= was reported as a serious pest from several counties in Tennessee.

Warm in Southwest during Week.

Moderate midsummer temperatures prevailed in most sections of the country during the week, except for unusually warm weather in some south central districts. Maximum temperatures were frequently above 100° in Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and northern Texas, the highest reported in this area being 104° at Oklahoma City on July 26. Chart 1, page 120, shows that for the week as a whole the temperature averaged below normal in the Northeast, some north central localities, and in most sections west of the Rocky Mountains. Elsewhere the weekly averages were above normal, being decidedly above normal in the lower Great Plains section.

Rainfall was generally of a local character during the week, with light to moderate, and in a few instances heavy, showers reported generally from the Mississippi Valley eastward, as shown by Chart 2, page 120. Good rains occurred in the northwestern Great Plains, but little or none was received from the southern Plains southward.

Average August Weather.

The last two columns of the table on this page show the normal temperature and precipitation for the month of August at the various Weather Bureau stations throughout the country. The average temperature for August differs but little from that of July, although as a rule August is slightly cooler except on the Pacific coast. East of the Rocky Mountains the coolest August weather usually occurs in the upper Lake region and the Northeastern States, where the monthly normals are about 62° to 65°. The normals are slightly above 80° in much of the Gulf coast section.

Rainfall in August is frequently of a local character, resulting largely from thunderstorms. The highest monthly averages for August vary from 6 ins. to more than 8 ins. and occur in the more southeastern States. The dry season continues over the Pacific Coast States and little or no rain is expected, except for occasional showers in the mountains and in the more northern districts. Thunderstorms during August are usually more frequent along the east Gulf coast than in any other section of the country, occurring on the average on about 20 days during the month. They are usually active also during this month in the far Southwest, this being within the season of maximum rainfall in Arizona and New Mexico and portions of the adjoining States.

Irish Flax Industry Failing.

The Irish flax industry is threatened with extinction, according to a report from the American Consul at Belfast. The area under flax for the present year amounts to only 25,000 acres, compared with 40,000 acres in 1921 and 127,193 acres in 1920.

The Irish Department of Agriculture has been urged to formulate and adopt a scheme for the improvement and maintenance of this staple industry of Northern Ireland.

Mississippi Tomato Shipments.

Mississippi’s tomato output has grown by leaps and bounds. In the spring of 1920 there were 1,360 cars shipped from that State. The 1921 movement was 1,960 cars, and this season the shipments filled approximately 3,450 cars.

════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ WEEKLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION——AUGUST NORMALS.