The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-05
THE WEATHER AND CROPS.
The Wee klY Bulletin OF the State Ruresu
for the Past Week.

for the Past Week.
The following is the bulletin Of th'
condition of the weather and crops O.
the state for the week jast ended, a.
issued Tuesday by State Observe
| Bauer:
During the week ending. August p.
| the temperature fluctuations were
somewhat below normal limits owlngto
more than the usual amount Of cloudi
ness, especially during the hottest por
tions of the day which prevented very
high maxima, and at night which re
tarded radiation preventing low min
ina; the resulting average temperature
for the week did not vary more thar
two degrees from the normal in any
portion of the State being generally
slightly below. Highest temperature
for the week, 95 at Oakwood on the
25th; lowest 60 at Greenvllle on the
22d.
In most sections of the State the sun
shine was deficient averaging some
what less than 50 per cent. Of the pos
sible over the entire State.
The rainfall was local IN its charac-
ter, although fairly well distributed Oh
the 18th and 265h; the showers were
heaviest in the southern portion OF the
State. The amount Of rainfall varied
greatly, ranging from nearly four in
ches in portions of the south and south
eastern counties to trace or none at
all in the upper counties. A cloud
burst was reported from Orangeburg
county that did much damage, and
washing rains from various other
places. There was severe bail storms IN
Sumter county, however, causing no
particular injury, and severe wind
and hail storm in Greenville county
breaking down corn and cotton. The
excessive rains of two weeks ago were
very destructive in Darlington county,
damaging old corn and running late
planted, and it is estimat ed that cot
ton was reduced in propect 40 per cent.
Communication with the town of Dar-
lington was interrupted for nearly two
weeks by the high water.
The diversity of soil and topography y
Of the State makes 1t improbable that
the same weather condNtions would be
equally favorable for crops in all por-
tlons of the State, and the condition
of cotton at the present time exampli-
fes this very strikingly; owing to the
heavy rains for the past few weeks
cotton on sandy soil is poor crop, con-
tinues to shed too freely and rust is
developed very generally, while the
plants growth has stopped with
scarcely any top crop; from this condi-
ton cotton grades up to as good fields
as can be produced any time or where,
but taken all together the prospects fall
considerable short of an average crop.
Bolls are maturing and opening rapidly
and prcking will, in a short time, be-
come general.
Corn has received No setback, aid
fodder pulling which is ending in the
low counties. is general in the cup
country" One correspondent who has
travelled extensively throughout the
State, states that in his opinion the
corn crop has been over estimated and
will not prove to be much, if any, great
er than an average crop.
Tobacco suffered severely during
the first of the month and the rains
ruined to large extent the very pomis'
Ing crop of July.
Reports from the rice counties con-
firm previous estimates.
Peas are giving evidence of bearing
and are growing luXuriently.
Syrup making is the prevailing oc-
cupation in districts where cane is
grown extensively. and the gener al
opinion is that the yield OF syrup do es
not come up to expectation, although
the cane is juicy.
Potatoes, turnips, gardens and pas
turage continue to do well, the warm
moist conditions having been extremely
favorable. Truck farmers are begin
ing to prepare their lands for winter
and spring vegetables.
The wet ground is causing Irish po'
tatoes to rot in places.
Scuppernong grapes are ripening and
are reported plentiful IN portions of the
State, being about the only native fruit
grown in any abundance this year.