The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-20

The DrOught-Esca pc OF Convtets-ScOtt
against SGolbrand - Price OF Corn
Thermometer at C0lumbta-The Law
School I'm the University.
~ [FR0M OUR OWN CoRREspoNDENT.l -
COLUMBIA, July l9.-rwo months ago, farm
ers all over the State were in despair about the
crcps, because OF the frosGs and continued cold
weather. Hundreds OF them pronounced the
whole crop ruined and the feeling that
fourth ofa crop Of cotton could not possibly be
made this year was in many sections the set
tied and prevailing conviction Of the cotton
growers. These same men are now sm ling at
the error Of that feeling and are rejoicing in
the prospect Of q good if not fine crop OF cot
ton this year. This co Institutional tendency to
howi-to distrust the laws OF Nature and cavil
at the details Of provfdence--is now in July
maniSesting itself at s'
THE DROUGHT. q"
There are rains fitting here,a ths..s about
the State every day or two; but the prevailing
weather is dry in the extreme. In the lower
part OF Fairfield, near R,dgeway, and in two or
three localities between the Broad and saluda
Rivers. there have been rains within the past
week. In the Fork-the lower part of Rich
iand-the drought Is extreme. One planter
tells me that his corn is dead. He howe YER.
ADDS that on the 18th OF last July it was also
dead-the leaves crisp to within few inches of
the stalk, and the tassel white-but on the
18th there CAME rain; the stalk ,ok new vigor.
the living few inches of fodder became fresh,
and the entTe energies of the plant being di.
rected to de8elopment of the grain-the result
was fair crop Of corn after adj. The fact is
that ii the silk and tassel both get out before
the drought sets in, it is n IT once in score Of
years that dry weather will greatly mod,fy the
yield OF corn. One perfect tassel will fructify
dozen or more silks; and thus eleven tasseIs
may be absolutely killed without DESTROYING
the prospect of grain, provided the one other
remain alive. Old corn is suffering most.
Young corn aud cotton can stand it some dava
longer without necessary injury; still rain
seems to, be universally needed.
a rsa, THAT PENtTENT1ARx.
The week just past chronicles the escape Of
six cohvicts from Mr. Stolbrand's penitentiary.
-Four fell upon their guard, while working at
some distance from the enclosure, disarmed
and beat hun, and made of. Two others
worked through the enclosure These six
hhdedto the two mentioned q few weeks ago,
ana the sixteen that Governor Scott pardonea in
shislsss batch. make twenty -four convict felons
recently let loose among us; tits apparent that
Scott is eight ahead OF Stolbrand, as far as
heard from; hnt the difference between these
doughty opponents Of penal laws is that, while
bcotS's psrdozs are lavishly published to all,
Cespeciaiiy to alinegro voters) Stolbrand's es-
ee:sAs arc Iops lark as possible. Besides,
TO Btelbrands credit, we must remember that
this penitentiary is but a single squad of that
Grand Army IT the Republic Of which he is
chranaandsr.in-chiefa ~ inls pos,; ana too IN any
other duties may haze prevented his snccess-
fpl competition With his more fortunate rival.
Corn is selling fifteen miles below Colurn bia,
In the country. ut ono dollar thirty-five cash.
Professor Joseph LeConte Of the University
ofSouth Carolina-the highest author ity on
the subject in this c,ty --states that tho ther-
ndoneter has not at any time this year ,gone
above ninety-flye degrees In his own house,
in well-ventilated, shady rooms on the second
story. the thermometer has not been above
eighfy-nine degrees; and when be takes the
precaution ofshutting down the saskes in the
morning. the thermometer does not rise aboye
eighty~six degrees. Or. LeConte publishes
these facts because the local press had stated
that thermometers had been mp to one hun.
dred, to one hundred aud four. and even to
one hundred and six degrees in cool places:
and he does not wish the reputation Of Colum-
bia damaged by the impression that it suffer
anything like an equatorial warmth. The
highest temperature observed this season was
at the tax meeting week before last. Nh
The election Of Major Melton to the chair Of
law in the University has already determined
three students Of this city to take their course
Flaw studies there next session; and the pros
pect is that this department will enter upon o
prosperous session from the first
~ !'ssts CoRsAH.