The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-16
IMPROVEMENT IN CROPS.
That's What the Weather Crop Report
Sa1s-Lack Of Rain.

COLUMBIA, s. c., May 9.-The fol
lowing Is the weather crop report fol
the weak ending yesterday: The gen.
eral tenor Of the reports for the past
week indicates an improvement in
planted crops and natural vegetation
This is not universally true for the
State, as the showers from which the
greatest beni6t was derived, were very
light or entirely missing In many sec
tons of the State, even where contlgu-
Gus townships or farms were drenched
with rain. There were, however but
few places that had no rain either dur.
ing the fore or after part of the week,
yet in most places it was too little to
penetrate to the roots of plants and to
relieve the drought. Even where the
rain was most copious more is still
needed to give the growing crops q
good stand, or to help small grains
which will soon be in the milk" and
De7ond help. The extreme Western
and Northern tier Of counties report
the greatest improvement, from Oconee
to Chesterfield, where showers were
quite general. The only adverse fact
ors were hail storms which along mar
row paths did some damage to young
plants and tender vegetation, and cut
and bud worms that damaged corn ana
gardens to some extent.
There was very little cloudlness dur
ing the week and no day but that. there
was some sunshine. With the eXcep.
ton of few tornado winds accom-
panying thunder storms that did a lit
tie local damage In the Northwestern
part Of the State, no damages is report
ed from that source. The hrst TWO
DAYS of the week were about normal,
but after Wednesday the heat was
steadily above the normal, averaging
three degrees day on the coast to SIX
and seyen in the central and Western
portions. Warm nights caused a very
decided Improvement IN the color OF
vegetation. In Charleston, Berkeley
and the greater part of Colleton coun-
ties there was very little raio and the
drought has parched vegetation IN gen
eral; the only TWO crops that appear to
be doing we'll are rice and melons, the
former prom ses very we'll while the
latter only farirly. Melons 10 the
Northern part of the State are failure
in many places.
Etr!y planted cotton is not MAKING
a good stand, although from some Sec
tions the reports indicate an average
stand; that of later planting promises
better; but is not all up yet being re-
tarded by the surface crust and lack OF
moisture. In Charleston County this
crop can hardly be anything but fail
ure. Chopping out and working has
begun in places.
Corn has improved in color and stand
especially on bottom lands, upland
corn as a rule has not shown as marked
an improvement. Worms are doing
much damage.
Oats have not improved except for
very late soWn fields which took on a
better color and made rapid growth
Fall soWn oats nearly, If not completely
q failure.
Wheat is looking much better and
there is a prospect of fair yield al
though it Hill aot be full crop. Where
tobacco is cultivated the reports lndl-
cate that the plant is about ten days IN
advance Of it season and doing we'll.
Potatoes are growing rapidly where
the vines have not been injured by bugs
and can be said to be doing well. Only
a few reports mention fruits and those
are not encouraging. The acreage OF
cotton, corn and other grams has been
slightly increased in Anderson County
but it is thought the total of all crops
will approximate the average of other
years. Showers on Monday night (7th)
will prove highly beneficial.
J. w. BAUER,
Director, 5. C,S. ". 5.