Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-17
CROPS IN THE STATE.


The State Department of Agriculture has
issued report on the condition of the crops
in South Carolina, July 1st, based upon re-
turns of county and township correspon-
dents, from which we summarize the follow
ing:
The rains during the month have been
very injurious to grain. The rainfall has
been unusual and general all over the State
The greatest damage resulting from the eX,
cessiVe rains is the injury done to small
grain; and as the northern counties pro-
duce the largest proportion OF grain, the
loss from the cause stated is heaviest there
Nearly the entire crop Of wheat and oats
had been harvested before the June rains
began, consequently a large part OF it was
caught in the fields, and the quality OF the
grain has been seriously damaged: In
many places it has sprouted in the shock,
and in some cases has rotted. The flour
made from the wheat is often dark and in
ferior. A part of the crop, however, was
gathered in fine condition. The prospects
for large grain crop on the first of June
were never better. With increased area
and favorable seasons the indications point.
ed to an unprecedented yield, but this eX'
pectation has been dissipated in part by the
unfavorable seasons since and while an
unusual quantity has been harvested, 1t Is
not probable that the out-turn OF sound
grain will exceed an average crop. Large
Quantities of the grain is still shocked in the
fields, as the farmers have been unable to
remove it, and only very small proportion
has been threshed.
The first estimate of the corn area made
by the Department this season showed an
increase of per cent. over last year, but Ia
ter returns indicate an increase OF per cent.
This latter estimate is nearer correct, as the
first returns were made on the lst OF May,
and all of the grain had not been planted
The rich river and creek bottoms are now
chiefly relied on for the corn area, and the
crop on these lands has been badly injured,
and in many localities entirely destroyed by
the floods in the streams during the past
month. Much of this will be replanted,
but the loss is, to large extent, irreparabie
Upland corn is in splendid condition, as the
seasons have been remarkably favorable foII
its growth and development. The general
condition for the State is estimated at 50:
The continuous rains have been very Diet,
rimental to cotton. For the want of SUM-
shine the growth of the plant has been
checked, and the rains have brought up an
abundant crop of grass. The soil has been
so saturated that it has been impossible to
destroy the grass, ana III mas cOutluueC "
grow while the cotton plant was retarded
One correspondent says that only three days
ploughing has been done in three weeks
The weed is 'sappy'' or succulent, and 1t Is
feared will not be in condition when the
rains cease to resist and benefit by the not
rays of the sun. In some sections 1T is said
that the plant is not fruiting well. A cor
respondent in the upper part of the State
saws that over one-half of the cotton planted
in his section was never chopped out" and
has been abandoned. The lower counties
seem to have been more favored than the
other sections of the State. The condition
of cotton there is reported at 1O5, while IN
the middle section of the State it is estima-
ted at 81, and in the upper at S3-giving an
average for the State of 50.
The farmers are much depressed by the
unfavorable seasons of the past month, but
still have much to encourage them. The
grain crop will, from present indications,
be an average one; the cotton, SO far, is not
seriously damaged; upland corn, isunusual-
ly good, and the smaller crops are up to aV-
erage condition, so that it is probable that
by the end of July they will be much more
hopeful than at present.