The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-05-05
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.
The Reports are Better than Expected
Unusual Heat i'm April.

Unusual Heat in April.
The following bulletin covers the
weather and crop conditions for the
week ending Saturday, April 25th, and
In It's preparation were used reports
from one or more correspondents In
each county Of the State
Hot weather continued the entire
week, but with u gradual tendency to-
wards lower temperature. There was
more cloudiness, also, that tended to
make the heat more tolerable than dur
ing the previous week The excess in
temperature averaged ton degrees p2f
day over the normal, ranging froh{
on the coast to II in the westerIf
tions of the State. The heat wa$
evenly distributed; thirty-two stations,
reporting mean temperature, did not
differ more than degrees for the
week.
a maximum temperature of 90 was
recorded at Gillisonville on the goth,
| and the weeks minimum of 81 was
recorded at Greenville on the 2lst, and
at Society Hill on the 25th.
The dry weather was greatly reliev-
ed in places by rains that covered the
entire State during the afternoon and
night OF Friday, the 24th, with the ex-
ceptions of parts of Fairfield County,
where no rain fell.
The north central counties, includ-
ing Richland, Fairfield, Union, New
berry, York, Lancaster and Sumter,
had least rain with amounts in no place
exceeding O.5O Of an inch and gener-
ally less than OBS OF an inch in the
extreme western counties the rain was
somewhat heavier, and also in the Sa-
vannah Valley, while in the eastern
portions of the State the rainfall
averaged from 0.50 of an inch to l.SO
inches.
More rain is needed and no crop has
had enough.
The beneficial effects of the rain
were increased by the generally cloudy
weather during the latter portion Of
the week. The first OF the week was
almost cloudless. The sunshine aver 3
aged about "A per cent of the possible.
The thunder storms of Friday eve
ming (24th) were accompanied in many
places by vivid lightning and high
winds, the latter having reached al
most tornado force in Aiken County,
with considerable damage to fencing,
forests and to buildings, but crops
were too small to have suffered injury.
High winds were quite general on that
day, but the resulting damage, il any,
was slight.
There is little change to record in
the general condition of crops, except
whero the rainfall was most copious,
all vegetation was freshened and vi
talized, but over the greater portion O..
the State the need OF rain has not been
materially lessened by the amounts
that fell, which in many places gave
only surface wetting. The northeas-
tern counties fareG best in the ematter of
rainfall, and there all crops and vege-
tation were looking we'll at the close
of the week.
Ravages by insects arc this week re-
ported from various portions of the
State Coloradobeetles in York, Char
lesion and Beaufort counties; q small
beetle has attacked the tobacco plant.
cut worms are destructive, in the fields
and gardens in Lexington County, and
other reports Of less specific nature in
dicate the prevalence of insect pests
over a large portion of the State.
The majority of correspondents re-
port corn in fine condition, with good
stands, healthy color, and growing of (
well, in view OF the dry weather. Bot
tom lands are yet to plant largely, but
more rain Is needed to soften the
ground before it can be prepared.
early planted corn is in some instances
receiving its second working. Later
planting coming up slowly but salts
factory ones, while later planting time
is in very fine, promising condition
over the entire State.
Cotton planting has progressed fairly
well, having been resumed since the
rains, and is nearly finished different
sections report from 10 to 25 per cent.
yet to plant. That OF earliest planting
is up to pretty good stands, but hardly
4 tipfn l,1 l., l,,. -.
is coming up very slowly, but will be
helped by the rains where heavy
enough. The cotton crop has generally
made satisfactory advance over the
p eyious week, and has, where up, q
good, healthy color, and is receiving
its first plowing.
Some tobacco has been transplanted
in the northeastern counties where
the rains made the ground wet enough,
but more and heavy rains arc needed
to make transplanting safe, and SO this
work was not pushed during the week.
Reports from Kershaw County state
that many beds failed, that in conse-
quence of the scarcity of plants lands
tobacco will be planted to other crops N
principally cotton. Generally tobacco
plants are looking fine.
Wheat is heading low, but retains q
good color. Fall oats are heading very,
low were greatly helped by the rains,
but need more rain. Spring oats con-
tinue to fail, and any amounts of rain
would scarcely bring it into condition
to make crop.
Rlce, sugar-cane, melons and the
usual minor crops are being largely
plaHted and where up are growing
well, tut with these, as all other seed,
germination4e.yery slow.
In places sweet potato slips are ready
for setting Frujts look promising
generally. and apples particularly SO,
in the western counties. Wild blackz
berries are blooming finely and promise
to be plentiful.
Farm work Is well advanced and is
up with the needs Of the crops. Up
land pastures are failing for want OF
rain.
The advantage in crop conditions
now rests with the eastern portions OF
the State, while on tho previous week
it was with the western portion, the
rains having caused the difference.
j. w. BAUER, Director.