The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-10-24
LAST CROP BULLETIN.
Weather Director B.uer Ravls the es-
slc OF 1S0i.

LIZ IoiiO Hiug Is tue weather CTO y
bulletin of Director Bauer:
The past week was much cooler than
usual, the departures averaging six de-
grees each day below the normal
Highest temperature for the week 81;
lowest 3S.
There was a general, heavy, and in
places destructive rain and wind storm
on the 9Th and 9th. The amount Of
rainfall averaged over two inches, in
clrding the entire State. Many rivers
overhoWed their tanks and ruined
what was left of bottom land crops,
such as late corn, cotton, peas, and
much hay.
There was also q great deal of open
cotton blown out and stained. There
were light frosts on the mornings of
the 11th, 18th and 18Th, killing frosts
in the cup country" on the mornings
OF the 14th, 18Th and 16sh, which ruin
ed the greater part, If not the whole, of
very promising top crop of cotton.
The injury to other crops is compare.
lively Insignificant. This early frcst
is more disastrous as the season, in the
localities where the frost occurred, is
about fifteen days late.
GENERAL REVIEW 0F THE SEA.ON OF
1854.
Weather. There was generally an
excess Of temperature from January
to July, the greatest departures, both
above and below the normal, having
occurred in March; after the first of
July the temperature averaged about
nor mai until the second week in Octo.
Der when 1t became much co0l5r. There
were some wide fluctuations in the
temperature, the most notable of which
occurred on March q and SOth, when
freezing weather prevailed over the
entire State. destroying practically the
entire fruit crop and doing much other
damage. All vegetation, which had
attained considerable growth, and crops
that were planted aud up. especially
gardens, were ruined. There was
another cold wave with frosts about
the middle of May doing slight injury
to crops, and some unseasonbly cool
weatder early in June.
There was less than the usual
amount of rainfall up to June Itch and
18th with severe drought conditions
after the ooh of May. During July
showers we're numerous and timely,
and during August and September
there were excessive and damaging
rains throughout the Eastern half of
the State while at the same time there
were portions of the Western half that
needed rain.
There were few hail storms aud no
very destructive ones. and until the
storm of September 26.h aud 285t, but
little Injury to crops was caused by
winds. The storm of October 9th and
9th did some damage principally by
foodiDg bottom lands. Killing frosss
on the l4th and 18Th of October in the
Western portions of the State cut all
late crops in that section.
The cotton crop was about an aver
age one in acreage. Its condition up
to the first of July was on the whole
poor, but the fields were we'll worked
and clean. From July on the plant
made rapid growth and began to frait
heavily. This condition was sustained
throughout the season in Western por-
tiou of the State, while in the East ern
half lis condition deteriorated rapidly
during August and September entirely
Oh account of much rain that caused
rot, rust and shedding with conse.
quent loss of the plants vitality, as
well as causing grass and weeds to
defy the cultlvator and hoe. Late
planting suffered most. Taking the
aggregate crop Of the State, it prom
ises to be somewhat less than that of
the previous year, few places report
1t a better one.
The acreage Of corn was larger than
for soma years, and the weather, on
the whole, extremely favorable until
the greater portion of the crop was
made 50 that the corn crop is undou0t-
edly the largest produced in years, and
is of excellent quality. Its conditisn
was quite uniform over the entire
State. Early planting made the best
crop.
The pea crop WAS not as good as
usual, although che acreage was some.
what larger. Its condition was fair
and promising until the middle of
August which became diversified,
generally deteriorattng with a promise
of very ordinary yield, estimated at
60 per cent. of full crop. There was
planted in many counties smaller
acreage of-rice than usual, owing
principally to a scarcity of seed, but
the crop grew well and returned a good
remunerative yield, after allowance is
made for the loss from the September
storm.
After allo wing for exceptions, sor-
ghum was full crop of a superior
quality. The acreage was up to the
average, If not larger.
The tobacco crop, where cultivated,
did fairly well although the weather
was not entirely favorable, but it prov.
ed TO be a paying crop.
Grasses made all their growth after
the July rains set 10, yet the usual
amount of forage was saved.
A large acreage of sweet potato slips
was planted, and the average yield of
this Important food crop was, perhaps,
in excess OF the average. Irish potatoes
did not Go as well.
Small grains were more or less fail
ure, except that few counties pro-
duced the largest oat crop ever known
thsre. The weather conditions were
generally adverse to wheat and the
yield, conseq very poor. 1t was
a poor year for truck farms and
gardens, but during the summer
months vegetables were plentiful.
The adverse weather conditions can
be briefly summarized thus: The March
freeza; May and June drought; August
and september, excessive rains; Sep
uember, turricaLe; October, floods and
early frosts. 1t was, on the whole, d
fairly prosperous year for farmers, for
there was plenteous yield, but they
are greatly discouraged by the prevail
ing low prices for their products, es-
pecially cotton.
J. w. BAUER, Director.
Columbia, 5. G., Oct IL, 1894.
Note: This is the last issue for the
season of 1894. The Director returns
his sincere thanks to al! weather crop
correspondents for their services. The
reports were full. comprehensive, and
satisfactory.