Martinsburg Independent

Weekly Crop Bulletin.—The temperature during the past week was below the normal nearly every day, and the average deficiency amount about 4° per day. Owing to the prevalent cloudy conditions and the excess of moisture in the air, many days were very sultry and muggy. The week's rainfall was greatly above the normal. The week's weather on the whole was unusually unfavorable for farming operations. The frequent rains prevented hay-making and the harvesting of oats to a considerable extent. In the eastern and southern counties better weather occurred and gave better opportunity for finishing the corn crop and for hay-making and oats harvest. The corn crop in the State is very heavy and promises one of the largest yields ever known. The damage from storms while heavy was confined to localities and does not affect the general condition of the crop. The oats crop is also unusually heavy, but has been badly blown and tamped, making harvesting difficult. The potato crop is large and the tubers of fine quality. The yield from this crop promises to be very large. Gardens, melons and other small crops continue in excellent condition. The sowing of buckwheat has been nearly finished. Some of the crop is above ground and growing nicely. Fruit, grapes and berries are generally abundant. The apple crop is lighter than usual, but no complaints of its condition.