The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-07
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.
The Reports arc Better than Expected
Unusual Heat in April.


The following bulletin covers tho
weather and crop conditions for the
week ending Saturday, April 18th, and
in its preparation wore used reports
from ono or more correspondents In
each county of the State
Hot weather continued the entire
week, but with q gradual tendency to-
wards lower temperature. There was
more cloudinCss, also, that tended to
make the heat more tOlerablc than dur
ing the previous week. The cXccss in
temperature averaged ten degrees per
day over tho normal, ranging from
on the coast to II in the western por-
tions Of the State. The heat was worry
evenly distributed: thirty-twO stations,
reporting mean temperature, did not
diller moro than 3 degrees for the
week.
a maximum temperature Of 0S was
recorded at GillisOnvillc on the 10Th,
and the weeks minimum of 81 was
recorded at Grecnvillo on the 2lst, and
at Society Hill on the 18th.
The dry weather was greatly rclicv.
ed in places by rains that covered the
entire State during the afternoon and
night Of Friday, the 2lth, with tho OK
coptiOns Of parts Of Fairfield COunty
whore 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.50 of an inch and goner
ally less than 0.25 Of an inch in the
extreme western counties the rain was
somewhat hervior, and also in the Sa
vannah Valley, while in tho cas- terri
portions OF tho State the rainfall
averaged from 0.50 Of an inch to lSC
| inches.
More rain is needed and no crop has
had enough.
Tho beneficial objects of tho rain
wore Increased by the generally cloudy
weather during the luttor portion OF
the week. The first Of the week was
almost cloudlcss. The sunshine aver
aged about IL per cent OF the possible.
The thunder storms of Friday cyc-
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
tho general condition OF crops, except
where the rainfall was most COpious,
all vegetation was frcshencd and VI
talixod, but over tho greater portion OF
tho State tho need Of rain has not been
materially lesscnod by tho amounts
that fell, which in many places gave
only surface wetting. Tho northoas-
torn counties Jared best In tho matter of
rainfall, and thore all crops and yegc-
tation were looking we'll at the close
of the week.
Ravagcs by insects are this week re-
ported from various portions of the
State: COlOradOIbeetlcs in York, Char
lesion and Beaufort counties: q small
beetlc has attacked the tobacco plant,
cut worms arc destructive, in the fields
and gardens in Lexington County, and
other reports OF less specific nature in.
dicatc the prevalence Of insect pests
over large portion Of the State.
The majority Of correspondents re-
port corn in fine condition, with gooG
stands, healthy color, and growing OF
WELL in view Of tho dry weather. Bot
tom lands arc yet to plaut largely, bu
|
ground before it can be prepared
Eurly planted corn is in some instance
receiving it's second working. Late
planting coming up slowly but salts
factory ones, while later planting tim
is in very fine, promising conditio
ovcr tho ontirc State.
Cotton planting has progressed fairl
we'll, having boon resumed since tn
rains, and is nearly finished difforer
sections report from 10 to 25 per cen
yet to plant. That OF earliest plantin
is up to pretty good stands, but hardl
satisfactory ones, while later plantin
Is coming up very slowly, but will b
hclpcd by the rains whore heav
enough. Tho cotton crop has general
made satisfactory advance over tn
previous wook, and has, whore I'D,
good, healthy color, and is rccciyin
its first blowing.
| Some tobacco has been transplante
| in tho northeastern counties wher
the rains made the ground wet enough
but moro and heavy rains are needc
to mako transplanting safe and 50 thi
work was not pushed during tho week
| Reports from Kershaw County stat
that many beds failed, that in conse
| qucnco of the scarcity Of plants land
that wore fertilized and prepared fo
tobacco will bo planted to other crops
principally cotton. Generally tobacc
plants are looking fine.
Wheat is heading low, but retains
good color. Fall oats are heading yer
low; were greatly holped by the rains
but nccd moro rain. Spring oats con
tinue to fail, and any amounts of raj
would scarcely bring it into condition
to mako crop.
klco, Sugar-cane, melons and the
usual minor crops are bcing largol,
planted, and whcro up arc growint
well, but with these, as all other seed
termination is very slow.
In places sweet potato slips are read,
for setting. Frojts look promising
generally. and apples particularly 50
in tho western counties. Wild black
berries arc blooming finely and promise
to be plentiful.
Farm work is we'll advanced and Il
up with the needs OF tho crops. Up
land pastures arc falling for want OF
rain.
Tho advantage in crop conditions
now rests with tho eastern portions O
the State, while on the previous week
1T was with the western portion, the
rains having caused the difference.
j. w. BAUER, Director.