The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-08-19
Weekly Crop Bulletin.

COLUMBIA, 5. e Aug Is, 1896.
This bulletin covers the weather
and crop conditions for the week
ending Saturday, Aug Is, and in its
preparation were used reports from
one or more correspondents in each
county Of the State.
WEATHER
The abnormal neat contin ued. durio g
the entire week with but little variation
from day to day, although he tendency
was towards lover temperature. The
heat vas general, there having been bat
67e degrees difference between the
highest and loves: weekly means, viz:
Sc at AIlendale and 81 at Greenville.
The weekly mean for the State was 81,
the approximate normal 49, Fifteen
places reported maximum temperatures
of 100 or above on one or more days.
The highest temperature vas 100 90
he 10th at Gii!isonvile, the lowest 60
en- the 18th at Greenvillc aud Cheraw.
The rainfall was copious and we'll
distributed over all sections of tie
State, although it fell in scattered
showers in the nature Of tauuderstorms.
These storms we're most numerous on
Wednesday and Friday. In places,
notably Chesterfield and Pickeas coan,
ties on the 14sh. aud Orangeburg on
the 11th, they we're accom- panied by
high wind, hail and washing rains that
did material injury to corn and cotsco.
This week. IS stations report rain
against % last week, and % stations
report measurements exceeding an inch
agsiast I last week
The following places reported heavy
raics: Allendale, 1 81; Greenwood,
1.42; Spartaubrrg, 200; Cheraw,
1.67; Florence, 2 "a; Kiugstree,
$50; St. Matthews, l Is; Yemassee,
POI; Columbia. 1.37 /; ST. Georges,
1.4O; Piropolis, 3.32; santuc, 2 10;
Camden, i 35; Oakwood, 2.05; Ello-
rec, l 80; Chesterfield, IS; Walbal-
la, 1856; Darlington, 3.11; ; Trenton,
! Al; Little Mountain, 2 10, Gillison-
Vile, l 16; Poverty Hill, l.20; So
ciety Hill. 1859. The average of all
rainfall reports is l 30, aud the normal
for the weed is approximately l.53.
The sunshine averaged about normal
for the State, with many places having
an excess, in other words, cludiness
varied greatly over the State.
CROPS.
The weather was more favorable for
crops 10 general than for soUe time
previous, especially 10 the matter of
rainfall, but the good efeots of the
rains we're negstived by the continued
abnormal heat which in PLACES caused
sca.diog Of cotton and peas. There re-
maioed localities at the end of the
week which had entirely insufficient
rain aud at those places crop deteriora-
ton was rapid, the drought affecting
all vegetation. Happily such districts
in the aggregate form but small por-
ton of the area Of the State.
Late corn suffered severely from the
heat and dry weather and is called e
partial failure, being undersized aud
the kernals drying and shrlvellcg.
By far the greater portion Of the corn
crop vas made before the dry weather
set 10 and is consequently safe Fod
der pulling continues Iuterfercd with
10 places by the rains and by dry
weather 10 others. Much fodder on
late corn is SO burnt and dried as to be
au6sted for saving, and this important
forage crop is comparatively light enc.
The continuous bot weather is still
an adverse factor in the seasonal devel-
opment Of the cotton plant, causing
shedding Of leaves, blooms, squares
and half grown bolls as reported during
the preceding week, but not quite so
freely as then. Rust is common and
reported from. all sections of the State.
The heavy rains, where they occurred