The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-30
THE wEATaER AND CRops.
Good Rains Needed Over the State
Hot Weather and Light Showsers-
Great Improvement in Cotton.

4 tth SottOh.
, The following is the report of tn
weather bureau for the week ending
July 23d instant.
} Correspondents, as a rule, repor
that the condition of all the crops con
J tinues satisfactory, but there are man,
exceptions from all parts of the State
Good rain is the indicated need for
great portion of the State as 1t was tn,
case last week, only the need for rail
has become more urgent, for two reas
ons, because in some portions of th,
State very little or no rain fell during
the past week, and because it was
very hot week with less than the usua
amount of cloudiness to prevent the
4 ground from drying quickly ever
where the rainfall was heavieit. The
reports indicate that in williamsburg
and Union counties the droughty con
ditions are most severe and there corr
is firing badly. In portions of Aiken
Anderson, Pickens, Greenville and
Barnwell there has been considerably
less than the usual amount of rain since
the crop season began; in fact, with
the possible exceptions of Newberry
Richland and Fairfield, where there
has been plenty OF rain, it appears that
in every county there are large tracts
where the summers rainfall has been
below. the usual amount and in such
sections the crops are poorest, being
slightly under an average condition,
otherwise they are above an average.
There was a hail storm in the ex-
treme western portions of the State
and In Chesterfield on the 18th, doing
but little damage; it was accompanied
| by high wind in places that blew
| down trees, stripped the green fruit
from the trees, 1eveled corn and cot
| ton, fences, etc. The wind did mate
rial injury over limited areas only
On the same date there were heavy
rains in Newberry, Richland, Fair
field and portions of Lexington coun-
ties that did more or less injury by
washing lands, OVERLOOKING creek bot
toms, etc.
The winds were generally from the
south, southwest and west-very hot
and drying.
There was more than the usual
amount of sunshine except on the
immediate coast, where it was about
normal.
The temperature was very even dur
ing the entire week, with maXilna
ranging from 8S to 102, and mininla
from 6S to 7S exception notedl. The
lowest maxima and lowest minima
occurred along the coast, and the
greatest range in the interior, so that
the daily mean temperature differed
but little in the different portions of
the State.
The highest temperature reported
was l02 on the 17th at Gillisonv lille
lowest was 62 on the 18th at Batesburg.
The mean temperature of the week
for the State was about 49, and the
normal for the same period is approx
imately 80.
The raiE of the 18th was the heaviest
and most general for a week past. On
the 10th Saturday and 2lst Sunday
there were light local showers in vari-
GUS parts of the State, but they were
for the most insufficient for the grow.
ing crops. OF the 81 stations reporting
rain during the past week, 81 report
less than the usual amount and & more.
The average of the 81 stations, includ-
ing the rain of the 18th is l.01 inches,
and the normal for the same period is
approximately l.39 inches.
AS indicated above the general con-
dition of the crops in this State is no
longer as uniformly good as heretofore,
except that cotton has made great i'm
provement everywhere, the weather
having been just right for it. In places
it is turning slightly yellow, and in Il
few places growing too much to weed.
In some localities it continues small,
and in others has attained IL seasonable
growth, but everywhere it is fruiting
we'll with very little shedding. Lice
have entirely disappeared. Rust has
formed on sandy land ia u few places,
otherwise the crop is clean and free
from pests. 1t is being, or has been
laid by generally.
In the eastern portions of the State
or h tnn Ht,,in hn
early corn crop Is safe and is fine one:
westward and where the rains were
wanting it Is in q critical stage, but as
yet looks promising. Bottom land
corn Is looking fine everywhere and is
being laid by generally. The present
prospect is that the entire corn crop
will be an extra large one this year,
only small portion Of which is already
made.
The pea crop has improved and q
good stand has been attained in most
places. Some being sown even now.
In places pods are large enough for
picking.
Sweet potato slips are doing we'll, but
the crop still promises to be less than
an average one owing to the reduced
acreage. Second crop of Irish potatoes
is being planted.
Cutting and curing tobacco is the
order of work in Williamsburg. Flor
ence, Darlington. and to a less extent
in a few other counties. The entire
crop Is said to be fine one of superior
quality
General preparations are being made
for planting fall vegetables. Some
turnips being SOW II ana large acre age
indicated.
Fruit continues plentiful generally,
but in Florence county is said to be
scarce. Apples appear generally to
be inferior and unsound. The second
crop of figs promises to be a large one
in the eastern portion of the State
Large shipments Of water and musk
melons were made to Northern and
Western markets, nevertheless the
local markets are glutted and prices
very low.
Gardens are practically ruined over
a large part of the State, as tho wealth
er has been too hot and dry for them,
yet fine okra and tomatoes are in abun-
dance.
German millet is growing we'll, and
so are sorghum cane, rice, peanuts and
pastures.
The prospects, in general, are very
encouraging at this the midsummer
season, when nearly all crops have
been laid by and are entering their
third or last stage which ends with
fructescence.