The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-22
A GLOOMY OUT LOOK.
WEEKLY BULLETIN OF THE CONOl-
TON OF THE CROPS.
The Rains ard the Cold Snap Have Very
Fad Effect on Cotton and Other Crops
I,pt. .1>a 20

What the Reports Indicate.
COLUMBIA, S. c., May 15.-The fol-
lowing weekly bulletin Of the condi-
ton Of the weather and crops in South
Carolina for the week Just ended
makes rather discouraging summary
Of the condition of the crops particu-
larly the cotton crop. The facts pre-
sented, however, will be Of great in
terest to the farming class:
The past week was warm and show
cry until Saturday evening Q1th).
when the weather suddenly changed
to decidedly cold, with lower mini
mum temperature than has been re-
corded for many years, if ever. during
the second week of May, on Monday
morning, causing light frost in exposed
localities in the western, central and
northern counties. The damage caused
by the frost is slight. Injury was con-
fined to the most tender vegetation,
such as sweet potato slips, garden
truck. melons Of differciIt kinds, and,
to a limited extent, ccu.tvl. The effect
on cotton will be more apparent a
week later. The weather was cold
enough to chill all vegetation and re-
tard its heretofore rapid growth. Fruit
or berries. it IS believed, not injured.
The information from correspon-
dents indicates that it was generally
favorable we k for growth, but that
in places, acsregating large part of
the area of the. State, there was too
MUCK rain for farming operations,
still further delaying cotton and corn
in the western counties, but this work
is fas: nearing completion.
There was so much cloudiness and
so many showers that where fields
were worked the grass was not entire
ly killed and fieldsare becoming grassy
and will give farmers plenty of work
for some time.
There was light hail in the eastern
portion of the State on the 9th and
11th, but the damage was nothing.
The lack of sunshine, heretofore
Motel, continues, and more sunshine
would be very beneficial, to cotton and
corn particularly so.
The temperature ranged above the
normal until the 18th Sunday, but
on this and the day following it was
below, bringing the average for the
week about down to the normal. The
greatest departure occurred on the
18th, with from 10 to Is degrees below.
The highest temperature reported
was 95 degrees on the 10th at Central;
the lowest was AZ on the 18th at Watts,
Abbeville county, making an unusual
ly wide range in a single week at this
season Of the year. The mean temper
ture OF the week for the State was
about 20. and the normal for the same
period IS approximately 70.
There were scattered showers IN
some portions Of the State every day
Of the week except the two last. Early
in the week they were generally heav-
lest and most numerous in the north
ern counties and in the Savannah val
ley counties, but on Saturday the
showers were quite general and heavy>
over the entire State. The amount of
rainfall varied greatly in different To-
caliiies, even in the same county, but
it was sufficient for the needs of grow
ing crops everywhere and in places ex-
cessive. The average of As reports
giving rainfall is liz inches, while
normal is approximated 0.95 inch. A
number of places reported from 200
to $50 inches, and no place that stated
amount reported less than 0.5G inch.
Cotton is dying in many places, not
confined to any particular part of the
State, but this information comes from
nearly every county. Entire fields
are replanted, and much patching"
is necessary. Chopping out has be-
come general over the eastern portion
of the State, and is beginning in
small way elsewhere. Planting near
ing completion. It appears that on
clay lands the stand is generally very
good.
Corn continues to grow well, but
cut worms and wire, or heart worms
are damaging the stand seriously
in many portions of the State Corn
has generally good color and a Wig
orous growth and looks very promis-
ing. 4 few reports only state that it
has sickly color. Some bottom lands
yet to plant and considerably replant-
ing necessary.
Grains continue to do well, being
entirely favored by the prevailing
weather. Fall oats, where it escaped
the winter, isheading, as is also wheat.
The latter in places looks thin, but its
general condition is good. Spring
oats are not uniform over the State,
being reported most excellent general
| ly throughout the western counties
and variable elsewhere.
Melons were injured some by cut
worms, water and the frost of Monday
in the western portions. Generally,
the melon crop is growing off very
well, and has on an average about the
same acreage devoted to it as in form
er years.
Rice is growing nicely. Ground is
being prepared along the coast for
planting June rice. 1t appears that
more ground will be planted in rice in
the interior than heretofore. Florence
county will increase the acreage con-
siderably. The crop looks very en-
couraging.
The frost nipped Irish and sweet po-
tatoes in places, but they are not seri-
ously hurt. Potato bugs are quite nu-
merous along the coast truck farms.
Reports OF sweet potatoes rotting in
beds continue l'ransplanting was IA.
vored BY the weather.
Gardens are doing well and are con-
tinuing 10 improve in condition. It's
gratifying to state that in this all re-
ports agree, as gardens so largely sup
ply the focG OF al the people during
the summer months.
Fruit continues promising generally
although exceptions are noted IN varl,
Gus localities where blight has affected
pears ard apples.
Peaches are dropping badly in
places but enough will remain on the
| - :, :; .,,o,,TI,f 10 rine,, = laroe