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