_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.