The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-13

normal the percentages of possible
ranging from SO at Trial to SO at
Waterloo, with an average for the State
(26 repor's) of 10 per cent. The Dor.
NAL is approximately go.
The prevailing wind for the week
was from the N. h s, followed by S. W.
They we're generally light aud without
material Influence on crops.
CROPS.
Crops, as rule, made satisfactory
progress during the week. except that
few cool nights seemed to put de-
cided check on the growth Of corn and
cotton. but fortuo a:cly the weather soon
turned warmer. With the exception of
the territory already noted. there seems
to be sufficient moisture for most crops,
but grains would be benefited BY more
rain. The planting season is practi-
cally over, except for some of the MI
DOR crops aud for the bottom land corn,
and this is making satisfactory prog
ress. The following brief summaries
express the general conditions of the va
rious crops named. and when partIcu-
lar crop is not mentioned it may be as
sumed that the reports on it are in the
main favorable.
Corn continues to do we'll; is general
ly worked clean, has good color. and
stands are satisfactory. Reports 90
corn without exception continue favor
able, unless that some report it small
for the season. aud that cut aud bud or
heart worms are damaging the stand in
a number Of the counties.
Cotton received a slight check to
growth during the few cool nights, but
without sustaining any material injury.
Stands are reported the best ever known
10 Anderson, Darlington aud Chester
field counties, and over the entiro State
the stands are good. Some complaints
of grass iu Edge6eld aud Pickens coun-
ties, where the ground vas too wet to
york Cotton is reported as having
good, healthy color generally. Sea
Island cotton has good stand and is
thriving. ChoppiOg to a stand oon-
tinues actively, and in places cotton has
been plowed the second time. Plant
ing is flushed.
Transplanting tobacco was pushed
during the week. Some farmers are
obliged to water the plants to save
them, it being necessary to transplant
regardless of the condition of the
ground. on account Of the size of the
plants. The scarcity of plants will
lessen the contemplated area devoted to
tobacco.
Lowland rice is 10 excellent co.,
dition. with tgood stands, but upland
rice is generally poor. being small, and
of uneven stand.
Irish potatoes are generally reported
to be very poor, almost failure over
large portion Of the State. owing to
the dry weather. and are needing more
rain everywhere. Potato bugs are re-
ported from a number Of counties,
being most destructive 10 Charleston
county, where some fields are paactlcal-
ly ruined by them. Grains have made
great improvement, but spring oats are
generally considered failure. although
10 places the rains started vigorous
growth. Oats are about ready to bar
vest 10 the eastern portions Of the State.
Fall oats are short, but heading well.
Peaches continue to drop badly ;
other fruit doing fairly we'll. Plums
ripening in southern portions inferior
quality. Berries plentiful. Grapes
promising. Melons doing we'll every
where. and iu places are iu blossom.
Larger areas than usual being de-
voted to sweet potatoes in number Of
counties. Draws plentiful.
Gardens yielding plenty Of vegeta-
bles, although where the rainfall was
lightes: they continue to fail.
J. w BAUER,
Section Director,
Columbia, s. G.