The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
DONE WITH THE DROUGHT.
THE CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
AND THE CROPS.

| The Encouraging Weekly Bulletin Assueo
| by State Observer Bauer Wednesday.
General improvement Caused by the
Rains.
The following weekly bulletin OF
the condition of the weather and crops
of the State will be read with more
than usual interest in view OF the
heavy rains during the past week:
| This bulletin covers the weather and
crop conditions for the week ending
Saturday, May % and in its prepara-
ton were used reports from one or
more correspondents in each county
of the State. =.
WEATHER.
The average mean temperature of 40
places for the week was 79 degrees,
the same a. for the previous week, and
was due to somewhat lower day tenn
peratures, but warmer nights. The.
means ranged from "a at tHagood to S3
at Gillisonville. The normal for the
week is approximately 70. The maxi
mum temperature was 100 at Black
vile On the 9th, Gillisonville on the
18th, and Cheraw on the 21st; the.
minimum was 60 at Batesburg on the
21st, Greenwood on the 22d and 23d. g
There were numerous showers DUR,
ing the last three days of the week
over the greater portion of the State,
but in lower Barnwell, Colleton,
Hampton, Charleston and Beaufort &
counties the rainfall was either very
light or entirely absent, and there the
drought was intensified to the detri-
ment of the crops generally.
There are other limited areas where
but little or no rain fell, as follows: In
the vicinity of Hawthorne, Windsor
and Oakwood, Aiken county; Spring
field, Orangeburg county; Jordan,
Clarendon county; winnsboro, west.
ward to Bsoad river, Fairfield county;
Anderson Henderson county; portions
OF Pickeng and Greenville counties;
Waterloo, Laurens county; Poverty
Hill and Trenton, Edgefeld county;
Santuc, Union county; Little Noun.
tain, Newberry county, and Leesville,
Lexington county. Heavy rains,
damaging crops and washing lands,
occurred in lower Richland, Green.
vile, Pickens, Andersons, and
Fairfield counties. Hail fell in
various western and central counties
on the 21st and 23d, damaging the
stands of cotton to- some extent.
The following heavy rains were re-
ported: Columbia 1.20, Greenville
2.07, Florence 1.94, ERngham 2.53,
Camden 1.69. Elloree 1.5O, Liberty
1.50, Central 1. 80, Pinopolis 3.24, Darl-
ington LIS, Clio 2.35, Society Hill
1.55, Statesburg / 81, Clemson College
1.25, Six other places reported amounts
from 0.50 to 100 inch; and % places
amounts under 0.50 OF an inch, the
average of AZ reports being O.SO and
the normal for the State is approximate
ly O.ss
The sunshine range between 20 and
80 per cent. of the possible, except in
Berkeley and Williamsburg counties,
where it ranged between 80 and 60.
CHOPS.
The general condition of crops is de-
cidedly better than it was on the previ.
GUS week, the exceptions being con-
fined to those sections where there was
little or no rain, as already noted, and
elsewhere to such crops that were too
far advanced towards maturity or
were nearly ruined by the previous
drought to be benefited by the late
rains. Corn has made satisfactory a6-
vance in growth and has been general
ly well cultivated, is clean, healthy
and ofgood color. In places it wilted
badly during the day. Earliest plant.
ing is about ready to 'lay BY" Bud
worms did some damage on bottoms in
| Edgeield county, but generally worms
have given very little trouble. Late
corn coming up and some being plant.
ed. With the exception of small and
comparatively unimportant areas
where the stands were damaged by
hail, and also where it is just coming
up, or came up irregularly, cotton is in
fine condition. 1t is of fair growth
and improving; is of good, healthy
color, well cultivated, and only few
sections are threatened with grass. It
is free from insects and disease gener.
ally. The drought did cotton no ap.
parent injury, and the abnormal heat
since planting favored its development
Squares are forming plentifully on
April cotton.
Tobacco growing we'll, and trans
plantingis again being pushed. Plants
continue scarce, and some in the beds
are too large to transplant, 80 that
lands intended for tobacco are being
put to corn.
Wheat in the western counties prom
ises fair yield, but elsewhere is poor.
Oats are generally poor, and spring
oats will amount to nothing. Wheat
and oats harvest quite general.
Melons generally in blossom and
looking promising. Have been at.
tackled and are dying from 1ungous
disease in lower Richland county.
Sweet patato draws being trans
planted and are doing well. In New
berry and Union counties are being
watered. Irish potatoes are not pro.
missing, and are of inferior quality and
small size generally.
Gardens are somewhat revived, but
vegetables are very scarce and of poor
quality. In places, gardens are entire
| ly ruined.
Fruit prospects are poor. Peaches
continue to drop, and apples to rot on
the trees. 1t IS the opinion of CORES
pondents that the extreme heat was
unfavorable for fruit. Fine black.
berry crop in Pickens county, and
generally over the whole State.
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