The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-09-13
The Crops In the State.

The outlook for the farmers of South Car
oina is very gloomy. The long drought
has been general, aud il is fair 10 esiimnte
for the State at large that not exceeding
three f"urlhs of mn average crop of both
corn and cotton will he made. The crops
in 1882 were The best that have been made
in this State since the war, and the farmers
began the present year under especially
favorable conditions. The stock of b,eud
Stnffs was the largest sines the wnr, mud j,
was fervenily hoped that with another favor
bile year the fnrmcrs would be enabled ia
set even with the world. \ succession O,
nntnvorabie seasons has effectunlly blight.
ed The prospects which were so encouraging
1T the beginning of the pregent crop year,
The cold wet spring greatly retarded plant
ing operations, and interfered with the
growth of the fall grain crops, and with the
spring seeding of oats and other cereals
Inc ylesu OF Inc small grain crops was very
much reduced by these uutoward circum-
s''nces, ana II was Into in the season before
active work could be commnnced on The
inrns. Then III many sections there were
numerous complaints Of scarcity of availa,
bic labor, and to add TO the complicatiop
OF the situation, just when the crops were
beginning TO grow vigorously, all this was
succeeded b. the fearful drought of July and
August.
1he A""S and Courier publishes to~day
specinl reports from twentysnine of the thr-
'y'three counties in the Slate, showing the
condition Of the corn and cotton crops.
In Abbcville county the yield of corn vii
not be more than one-lalf of an average
crop, and the yield of cotton not exceeding
one third Of IN average crop. Upland. corn
~ almost complete failure, and bottom
corn will not make more than the hnlf of an
average yield.
In Aiken county only two thirds Of n cot
on crop will be- made. and about three four>
tbs of corn crop, as compared with last
year.
In Anderson county the colt on crep will
fall short Of the annual yield fully fifty per
cent. Upland corn IL m entire failure, and
bottom corn will not make more than three
| fourths Of The average yield.
In Bnrnwell county the yield Of both corn
and cotton will not exceed three fourths of
| an average crop. In some sections of this
county the catcrpillars have appeared and
are spreading rapidly:
In Beaufort county three fourths of an
average crop Of cotton is expected and but
little or no corn. The cotton on The sen is
lands has been attacked by the catcrpillars
which nrc playing havoc
In Rcrkeley county the whole season was
unfavorablc to the successful growth Of the
crops; but il is eslima ell that cotton will be
10 per cent OF the crop Of 1881, and TINT
the corn crop has been cut short at least ten
pcrc mt.
Very mrch the same estimate may also
he made Tor Charleston county, bul the raw
ages OF the cnlclrs!&r on the sea islands ,lu.
ring the past three weeks have been fearful
and the prospects for an average crop are
growing less every day.
In Chester county the cotton crop will he
one third less and the corn crop two fuhs
less tlnn last year.
No special report from Chesterfield coun
ty has been received, but the lnlest press
reports give n very discouraging account
OF the condition of the crops there The
soil in Chesterfield is generally sandy and
requires n great deal of rain to feed the
crops IL ~ fair to assume that the Weld
both corn and cotton will not exceed half of
the usual crop.
In Clnrrndon county corn will make one
third and cotton not more than one half of
an average crop.
In ColIct"n county the cotton crop is re-
ported to be remarkably good. although the
cntcpillars have appeared in some sections
The corn crop has been greatly damaged
by the drought. AMI will not yield more
than three iourlhs of nn average crop.
In Darlington county two thirds of nm nv.
"""or cr"p o. cotton and one half Of M uy-