The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-08-19
ALL ABOUT THE CROPS.
The Crops I'm the state, the Cotton Crop, and
the Crops In the United States.


The State Department of Agriculture
has received 257 special reports, cover
ing every county in the State, on the
condition of tho crops, and furnishes
the following summary Of these reports:
COTTON
The unfavorable seasons s in juno and
July retarded the growth of cotton. The
excessive rains caused vigorous growth
of grass, and the crop was greatly in
Jurcd in removing it. The reports of
August 1st show that the plant is small
and poorly fruited. A slight improve
mCnt is noticed on some of the red clay
lands over condition on July 1st, but on
light, gray sandy soils the condition is
reported lower than for the previous
month. In some localities tho crop has
suffered for rain. The reports, with few
EXCEPTIONS are unfavorablc.
The correspondents generally concur
i'll the opinion that larger yield than is
now anticipated will be realized if the
fall is late.
The condition on the 1st of August is:
In upper Carolina, 81; middle Carolina,
GG; lower Carolina, 73. Average for tho
State, G7.
Upland corn, where it has been we'll
worked and fcrtilizcd, is reported in fine
condition, but III some sections the crop
on sandy lands has been injured by cX-
| cCSsivC rains.
In many places tho crop on bottoms
was totally destroyed by the spring
Hoods, and only a part of these lands
was rcplantcd.
The condition is reported in upper
| Carolina at G5; middle Carolina, "a :;
lower Carolina, So. Average for the
State, II.
The reports on the condition Of rice
arc generally favorable, except where
1t has been injured by the frcshcts. In
Georgetown county, ono of the corrc-
spondcnts estimates that onc-half Of the
crop has been destroyed. The condition
is reported at ST.
OTHER CROPS.
The condition Of the other croDs is
reported as follows: Sorghum, S5; su-
gar cane 50; peas, SO; Irish potatoes,
81, and sweet potatoes, 81.
Cotton in the South
The following is the New Orleans Ma
tional Cotton Exchange crop report for
the month of July:
Returns have been complete from all
parts i'll the belt and our revision of the
acreage, based on county reports, is com
| plctc. Much field work has been accom-
plishcd during the month of July, re-
sultlng, however, in the abandonrncnt OF
some lands, which were beyond re,
dcmptlon, and tho thinning out in vari
GUS localities of stands from cleaning up
but from present indications this aban.
donmcnt is not calculated to alter om
acreage basis. Bcrhaps no season has
shown to greater extent than this
the advantages of thorough cultj vation,
for where this has been the case the
difference i'll the outlook of the crop is
very marked.
CHANGING over the belt, we find that
the two Carolinas have continued on the
downward scale. Alabama has made
considerable improvement. Gcorgia,
Mississippi, Louisiana and TENNESSEE
show some advance, while Arkansas has
added greatly to her former good condi-
tlon. Texas, however, has Just about
| held her own and fears are expressed in
| this latter State of threatened drought.
In some localities worms are mentioned.
The bulk Of the crop cast of the Mis-
slssippi is, however, backward and
therefore dependent upon favorable con-
dlLonS from now on for the maintenance
OF present prospects.
The condition of the crop by States is
as follows: Virginia, so per cent; North
Carolina, rs; South Carolina, II; Gcor-
8la, 50; Florida, 81; Alabama, 80; Ten
ncssce, 81; Arkansas, 97; Mississippi,
81; Louisiana, 50; Texas, 9S. The aver
age for the belt is 1914, against 83.5 last
month and 81 last year.
Crop Reports from Washington.
Spring wheat returns nt the Dcpart
mcnt OF Agriculture for August | show
an Improvement in the condition in
Iowa. a small decline in Wisconsin and
Nebraska, and heavy reduction in
Dakota. The causes of deterioration are
drought and chinch bugs. Heat has been
excessive III many districts that have
produced Al fair yield notwithstanding.
The harvest IS two weeks earlier than
usual and tho quality usually good ex-
cCpt III sections where heavy loss from
blight has occurred.
The general average of condition is
reduced from S3.2 to 80.1. At the time
OF harvest last year the average was 8G.
Fart OF the loss last season occurred after
20 WV - AZ wiz l'lIoOllU lNC6U Is ul-
ready nearly over, with improving
meteorological conditions the final esti-
mate cannot be much further reduced.
The present average is nincty-scvcn for
Iowa, instead Of ninety last month. No
less than twenty-five counties, each pro-
duclng from two hundred thousand to
one million bushels, report the condi-
ton at one hundred or over. In Min
ncsota there is an increase from seventy
eight to eighty. The reduction in Wis
consln is from scvcnty-fivc to seventy
two; in Nebraska from eighty three to
cighty-twO, and in Dakota from eighty.
five to slXty-two. Winter wheat prcTi-
ou$ly harvested not reported this month.
COTTON.
The cotton crop has suffered from wet
weather in all the States cast of the Mis-
sissippi and i'll Louisiana. The average
condition has been reduced from eighty
six to cighty-onc.
The average for Virginia is seventy
five, North Carolina scvcnty-four, South
C3rolIn" siXty-scvcn, Georgia eighty,
81