The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-07-18
IMPROVED CROP CONDITIONS.
The Weekly Bulletin OF the Westher and
Crops.

COLUMBIA, S. g.. July 1l.-The fol-
lowing is the weekly bulletin of the
condition Of the weather and crops
about the State for the past week, as
issued yesterday by Observer Bauer Of
the State weather service:
The weather during the past week
favored the rapid growth Of all crops
and continued to afford opportunity
for repairing and planting minor food
and forage crops, such as peas, pota-
toes and tuTnips, and 50 forth, and
the acreage Of such crops promises to
be the largest ever known in many
sections. Such crops deserve greater
attention than is generally accorded
them in the system Of economy Of the
Southern planters and farmers, and
together with vegetable and fruit gar
dens should more largely supplant
strictly money crops thsD is at
present the case. The increase in acre
age is, therefore, an encouraging sign.
The temperature for the week ranged
below the normal. averaging about
degrees day on the coast to about l
degree day in the interior and Wes-
tern portion, and this with more than
double the usual cloudineSs has devel-
oped a tendency in cotton TO shed its
fruit in few localities, and favored
an almost too rapid growth Of "Weed"
everywhere. The rainfall was more
general than heretofore and il the
southeastern portions Of the State vas
excessive to the point of serious i'm
pairment of the crops. Portions Of
Pickens, Fairfield and Spartanburg
counties are comparatively dry and
need rain.
Cotton made rapid growth and is
generally fruitiDg well, bet the wet
ground has prevented ploughing to a
considerable extent and consequently
some fields are becoming grassy. AS
yet no material injury has been done
by the grass or lack OF sunshine, and
| the crop is in fine condition over the
whole State. 1t needs more sunshine
| to favor fruiting ana TO check its ten
deEcy to grow to weed.
| Corn improved very much and even
that of early planting is responding to
the pushing weather. although the
stalks of such corn are in many places
reported "spindling". Laying by" is
being delayed by the wet weather, but
will soon be general. Peas are still
being soWn but seed are getting scarce.
Early soWn poor stand, that sown on
stllbble since the rain set in, growing
nicely. Potato slips or vines in de-.
mand for settings, the planting of
which continues quite general. The
melon crop falls below expectations,
being a small crop OF small melons, al.
though some fine fields are reported.
Rice, tobacco, sorghum, potatoes and
gardens as we'll as grasses all show
marked improvement over their condi-
tion week ago.
Farm work generally behind hand,
owing to rainy weather. The adverse
conditions were washing rains in Sum
ter and Aiken counties, aud severe
and destructive thunder storm in Ab-
beville, which besides damaging crops,
killed considerable stock. There were
some high winds in various portions
of the State but the damage resulting
was, even il the aggregate, not very
great.
The following heavy rainfalls are re-
ported: Charleston, 57l; CheraT, Y;
Florence, 266; Greenville, 100; Spar
tanburg, 2.75; Batesburg. 2.75; Black
vile, 220; Greenwood, 2 81; ;Hardeevi)le,
3.4l; Kingstree, 387; SAINT Matthews,
448; Mccormick, 175; Eiloree, 345;
Trial, 2 81; Liberty, 175; Easley, 2.58;
Statesburg, Ala; Oakwoo", 29O; Pho.
polls, 3O7; Howe, u; Central, 1.01;
Port Royal, 402; Red, 100; Heath
Springs, 200; E1ingham, 1.34; Society
Hill, 254: Coaway, 3 81; WaVerly Mills
$3.50; Chesterfield. 204; LongshOre, l 81
Hollands Store. I.54; St. Stephens, 4 30
Camden, 1859; Ella, so; Tiiler's Ferry
1877: Trenton. 2. SO: Beaufort. 6.95.