The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-23
~WBATHERcOROP BULLETIN.
General Review of tho Past Season
"A EairlY PrOSDerOua Year.

IA falrly prosperous Year.
Director Bauer, in charge of the
weather bureau at Columbi Il is send
ing out the last of tho weekly reports
for this scasou, has given u Summary
OF the weather and crop conditions
during the past year, which will prove
interesting as a review to our readers {:
There was. generally, an excess OF
temperature from January to July, the
greatest departures both above and be-
low tho normal having occurred in
March, alter the first of July the tenn
perature averaged about normal ,until
the second week in October, when it
became much cooler. There were
some wide fluctuations in tbs
tnrc, tho most notable of which oc-
cured on March 9th and 30th, when
freezing weather prevailed over tho
entire state, destroying practically
the entire fruit crop and doing much
other damage. All vegetation, which
had attained considerable growth, and
crops that wore planted and up, es-
pecially gardens, were ruined. There
was another cOld-wave with frosts about
the middle of May, doing slight injury
TO crops, and some unreasonable cool
weather early in June.
There was loss than the usual amount
OF rainfall up TO June II and IL with
severe drought conditions after the 10Th
OF May. During July showers were
umerou n timely, and during Au-
gust and September there we're ex-
cessive and damaging rains throughout
the eastern half of the State, while at
b same time there were portions OF
the western half that needed rain.
There were few hail storms and no
very destructive ones, and until the
storm OF September Goth and 18th but
little injury to crops was caused by
winds: The storm of October 9Th and
9th did some damage, principally by
flooding bottom lands, Killing frosts
on the l4th and 18th of October il the
western portions of the State, cut all
late crops in that section.
The cotton crop was about an ave
age one in acreage. Its condition up
to the first of July was, on the whole,
poor, but the folds were we'll worked
and clean. From July on the plant
made rapid growth and began to fruit
heavily. This condition was sustained
throughout the season in the western
portion OF the State, while in the cast
ern half it's condition deteriated rap
idly during August and September en-
tlrely on q OF much rain that
caused rot, rust, and shedding with a
consequent loss of the plants vitality,
as well as causing grass and weeds to
defy the cultivator and the hoe. Late
planting suffered most. Taking the ag-
gregate crop of the State, it promises
to be somewhat less than that of the
previous year, a few places report it a
better one.
The acreage of corn was larger than
FOR some years, and the weather, on the
whole, extremely favorable until the
greater portion Of the crop was made
SO that the corn crop Is Undoubtedly
the largest produced in years, and is OF
excellent quality. Its condition was
quite uniform over the entire State. |
Early planting made the best crop.
The pea crop was not as good as US
ual, althoughathe acreage was some
whatl larger. Its condition was fair and
promising until the middle OF August,
after which became diversified, gener-
ally de~teriorating, with q promise OF a
ordinary yield, estimated at 80 per
cent. of the full crop.
There was planted, in many coun-
ties, a smaller acreage Of rice than
usual, owing principally to q scarcity
OF seed, but the crop grew well and re-
turned q good, remunerative yield,
after allowance is made for the loss
from the September storm.
After allowing for exceptions, sor-
ghum was II full crop of u superior quail
1ty. The acreage was up to the aver
age, IL not larger.
The tobacco crop, where cultivated,
did fairly well, although the weather
was not entirely favorable, but it prov
to he a paying crop.
Grasses made all their growth, after
the July rains set in, 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,
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