The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-06-05
MALICIOUS MAY.
The Month Has Given All Crops Heavy
Blows.

bulletin of the condition of the
Weather and crops in the State for
the past week, issued yesterday by
State Observer Bauer. will be found
Of unusual interest:
The unseasonably cold, cloudy
weather, which was so unfavorable for
most crops during the greater portion
of the previous week continued the
greater portion of this, with an addi-
ton of too much rainfall; onl y Oh the
last two days did the temperature rise
to the normal.
While there have been lower tenn
peratures recorded in the month of
May in previous years than have been
recorded in this yet seldom, if ever.
has there been such 4 continued cool
period rs there has been from the 18th
of the month up to date The temper
ature has been continually below the
normal for the past Is days, with an
accumulated deficiency of 113 degrees,
or an average of ten degrees colder
than seasonable each day. This is the
record of the central station, and the
figures would apply to the whole
State, with but little change.
The rainfall since March 1st, which
date marks about the beginning Of the
farming season in this State. has been
about ) inches in excess the normal
During March there was an excess of
1.6S inches; during April 2.S9; and
during May up to date, over half an
inch. These figures are also from the
central station, but would approx
mate very closely to the data for the
whole State. the rainfall has been much
greater, in fact, nearly two times as
much having fallen over considera
bic portion.
This temperature and rainfall data
is given at this time because the first
of June is practically the end of the
planting season, and it will be inter
esting to note the subsequent growth
and development of crops keeping the
above weather conditions in mind.
The winds during the week were
generally easterly, until towards the
latter part they became westerly
They were generally light, and aside
from being too cool, were not particu-
larly noteworthy.
There was a marked and harmful de
ficiency in the duration of sunshine,
with only the last day Of the week,
monday, 9th clear over the entire
State, the others having been either
partly or wholly cloudy. The per-
centage of possible sunshine averaged
about 80 for the State, while the nor
NAL for the same period is 90 per cent.
or more. The deficiency of sunshine,
in connection with previous large per-
centage Of cloudines, greatly retarded
the healthy growth of crops, and cor
respondents say that two weeks of
clear weather would be highly benei-
cial.
The range Of temperature was much
below the normal, with an average of
between and Tdegrees per day below
in the eastern portion of the State and
from S to 10 in the western portion.
After the 90 Thursday the tempera-
ture rose gradually, reaching about the
normal on the last two days. On the
22d wednesday, the departures below
the normal averaged about Is degrees
over the entire State, and on the fol-
lowing morning there was an extreme
ly light frost in few places which did
little noticeable injury
Highest temperature reported dur
ing the week was 81 on the 21st and
22d at Gillisonville, Hampton county;
the lowest AZ on the 23d at Cheraw.
The mean temperature Of the week for
the State was about 66, and the normal
for the same period approximately 733.
There were showers on five days of
the week in portions Of the State, on
four days generally, and in a few
places on only three days. The rain
fall was heaviest, and excessive, along
the coast, the western and northwest
erns counties, and in scattered locali
ties elsewhere. 1t was generally in
excess of a normal amount At
Greenwood, the measurment was rs
inches, the total of three days rain.
The average of 50 correspondents meas
urements for the week is 173 inches,
the normal for thesame period is 0.93.
Without exception, every report re-
ceived during the past week notices
falling off in the condition of cotton.
On sandy lands especially the stand is
dying rapidly. 1t was injured some
what by cut worms, which were active
during the cool weather Many fields
are being patched and planted over;
some have been plowed up and planted
in corn, peas or tobacco. Some to for
age crops. Hoeing and chopping to a
stand not generally pushed, about
completed ina few counties. The cot
ton is looking best in the western por-
ton of the State as far eastward as
Edgeield, Newberry and Union coun
ties: elsewhere the stand is very brok |
en- and the plant sickly. Late planted
fieles quite grassy.
Corn has been only holding its own
at best, and that not generally. It is
turning yellow in many places, and
the stand on bottom. lands especially, |
has been greatly damaged by bud
worms. Much bottom land intended
for corn has not yet been planted ow-
ing to toomuch wet weather and there |
is much replanting being done, max |
ing the stand very uneven.
Oats has improved and its condition |
is satisfactory. The condition of wheat |
has not changed noticeably. More sun
shine is the indicated need of both |
crops, as well as for all crops gener-
ally.
Tobacco plants have withstood the
unfavorable weather well and are re-
ported as growing nicely. The young
tobacco plants have been attacked by
grassphoppers in places, but as yet, no |
widespread injury has been done.
Melons are not doing well at present:
the cool, cloudy, wet weather having
affected them adversely.
The weather conditions seem to have |
suited rice very well and it is said to
be growing right along. with a very
large acreage planted