The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-15
THE CROPS OF THE STATE.
Cotton, Corn and Rice all Damaged by
the Rains and Freshets.


The State Department of Agriculture
has received 1873 reports on the condition
of the crop of an average date OF July
lst, and furnished the following summa-
rv of these returns for publication:
CoTToN.-Thc June lst reports TO
the Department of Agriculture showed
that the Spring opened late and heavy
rains followed planting. The nights
were cool and the ground damp, prevent
ing the early termination ofseed. The
rains during the past months have been
almost unprecedented, producing Il Wig
orous growth of grass, which retarded
the development of the cotton plant.
The stands were injured in removing the
grass. On account of the excessive rains
the crop could not be properly worked.
A large part of the crop on bottom lands
has been washed away by the floods.
In some sections small patches planted
by tenants have been abandoned. Dam
age to the crop by rust, shedding and
lice is reported by several correspon-
dents. In localities the plant is said TO be
turning yellow and dying from the sup
posed exhaustion of fertilizers. Some
Of the correspondents report that where
the crop has been well worked it is look
Ing well, with prospects ola fair average
crop, but the great majority Of the re-
ports are unfavorable. The condition
is reported in Upper Carolina at 73,
Middle Carolina rs and Lower Carolina
IS. Average for the State IS, against
9G at the same time last year. This Is
lower than any report made by the
National Department Of Agriculture on
the condition of the crop Mt the same
time III the past seventeen years.
CoRN-The correspondents estimate
that 30 per cent, of the entire corn crop
of the State is planted on bottom lands
and fully three-fourths of this part OF
the crop was destroyed bv floods in May,
replanted over again and destroyed in
June. In some sections corn has beon
planted and destroyed four times on these
lands. The upland corn is reported in
fine condition with prospect Of full
average yield. The condition Of the en-
tire crop, including that portion not de-
stroycd on bottoms, and that replanted
is reported at II in Upper Carolina, IS
In Middle Carolina and 81 in Lower Car
olina; an average for the State of 80.
RICE-The Counties Of Beaufort.
Berkeley. Charleston, Colleton, George
town, Hampton, Horny, Marion, Orange
burg and Williamsburg produce 95 per
cent. oEthe Rice crop Of the State. The
average condition Of the crop in those
Counties is reported at 0l. \ Berkeley
correspondent says that the freshet In
May destroyed all of the old rice on the
upper and middle plantations. and serI-
.ously injured that on the, loN.i ones.
The June fyesA sAe ssnaRf Ting anu the
damage it has done cannot now be esti-
mated. Between the June freshcts
planters got in most of their June rice,
but the crop cannot be an average one
either in quantity or quality. Upland
rice, is in fine condition. a Colleton
correspondent says. "Much of the inland
rice has been covered by water for ut
least ten days. and the general opinion
is that 25 per cent. loss has already
been sustained" In Williamsburg the
crop is said to he in fine condition. The
average condition OF the crop. including
that planted i'll the upper and middle
Counties, Is reported at 50.
OTHER CRops.-Thc condition OF
the smaller crops is reported as follows {:
Sugar. 81; sugar cane. 90; sweet pota-
toes, 9G; Irish potatoes, 94, and garden
products, 90.