The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-11
AN ENCOURAGING PROSPECT.
The Weai her Generally Favorable and
Marke ed ImprOveme at In All Crops.

The Weather Generally Favorable and
Marked ImprOvemehtinA at in All Crops.
The following is the report OF the
weather bureau for the week ending
End of July:
The past week opened with crops
| noeding rain over q considerable por-
tion OF the State, but particularly in
Spartanburg. Greenville, Pickens,
Union, Laurens, Newberry, Ander-
son, Abbeville and Aiken counties.
There were also dry districts in other
portions Of the State where the need
of rain was not quite SO urgent.
During the week showers were
numerous but very partial some
farms, or even fields, having all the
rain needed, while adjoining farms
Or fields had little or nohc. Beginning
with the 29th Saturday and contiru-
rains were more evenly distributed.
and no portion of the State but that
received some ruin in that period.
During the week there were wash
ing rains in Kershaw county, where
fields are becoming grassy, being too
wet to work. There was also an excess
Of rains in portions of Florence and
Barnwell counties hindcring cultiva-
tion.
There were local high winds doing
damage, over limited areas, to trees
to cotton, and corn, in Chesterfield,
kershaw and williamsburg counties.
The sunshine during the week was
less than the normal, averaging only
about So per cent. for the entire State,
and ranging from 40 ut Statesburg,
Sumter county, to ~ at McColl, Marl-
boro county, but it was generally suf-
licient for the needs of the crops.
On the 18th there was q hail storm
in Marlboro county, but it did little or
no damage; on the 26th there was u
hail storm in Chesterfield county that
did some damage to crops.
The temperature was quite even
during the whole week, and on no
day did the departure from the nor
NAL exceed 3 degrees. 1t was slightly
above on four days and below, o. nor
NAL, on three, making the average for
| the week AS nearly ScusOnable us is
possible TO determine.
| The highest temperature reported
was 100 on the 23th at Blackville,
and on the 26th and 9th at Loopers
the lowest reported was G2 on the 29tl,
| at BateSburg.
| The mean temperature of the week
| for the State was about W, and the
| normal for the same period is approx.
mately SO.
The only existing unfavorable con
dition is the continued deficiency in
rainfall in portions OF the State. There
were showers every day during the
past week in some section or other,
but they were generally light, with
marked exceptions. The rains of the
latter portion Of the week fell after
many correspondents had mailed their
reports, and SO do not appear in this
weeks summary, but will appear in
the figures OF the next bulletin. The
heaviest rainfall for the week is re-
ported from Charleston, with Il fall of
2.S4 inches there were ten other
places with amounts OF from | to =
inches. The average of 10 rainfall
reports is 0.9O, and the normal for the
same period is approximately LIS.
AS result Of the generally favor
able conditions, as shown by the above
| weather review, there continues to be
q marked improvement in all crops,
and farmers are we'll up with their
work, the fields being, with Il few OK
ceptions, clean and we'll cultivated.
The staple crops, cotton and corn,
are small but growing we'll. The
former being noted as the smallest for
many years at this season. 1t is
is putting On squares freely; first
blooms were generally reported dur
ing the last week Of June, which is
considerably later than usual. In
Anderson and some other of tho Wes-
tern group Of counties its growth has
hitherto been greatly retarded by the
dry weather, but now looks promising.
Sea Island cotton growing fairly we'll.
Old corn is being laid by all over the
State, as the weather permits. 1t is
in the silk and tassel, and although It's
! stalk il short, yet its color is good and
promising generally. Bottom land
corn IS said to be in excellent condition
everywhere and making rapid growth.
Some cora being planted on oats stub
| blcs, but peas are receiving the pre-
| ference In many places for planting
stubbIe.
Wheat thrashing is noaring compile
tion with generally satisfactory yields,
but aothing extraordinary. Late oats
are u good crop in Sumter, Fairfield
and Horny Counties, anu possibly gen
orally SO.
The tobacco crop was greatly inn
proved by the rains Of the past week
In Williamsburg County some has
already been cut, and it will soon be
fit to cut in portions Of Florence and
Darlington Counties.
Peas urc growing well lately, and
u large crop is being planted on oats
stubbIe. The showers have enabled
peas to germinatc quickly.
Melons have made decided improve.
ment and are promising Il large crop,
but arc 80 late that II is feared that
they will not ripen in time to find Il
| remunerltivo market.
Advantage was taken Of the showcry
weather to plant sweet potato 81 ps,
and the crop now promises better than
at any time this year.
| ~..Gardens suffered most from the dry
weather, and in portions of the State
arc practically ruined. However, it
is said thcy can be replanted, and with
favorable weather, yield large crops
Of fall vegetables.
Peaches are scarce and Of poor
quality in Horny county, but peaches
as we'll rs many other varieties o
fruits and berries, are generally quite
plentiful. The quality OF the frui
Varies in different sections, but i