The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-29
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.

WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.
Cotton Stands Not Good. Tobacco Planters
| Wait for Rain.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 21.-This
bulletin covers the weather and crop
conditions for the week ending Satur,
day, April 18th, 1896, and in its prep
aration were used reports from one OF
more correspondents in each county OF
the State.
| WEATHER.
The hot weather of the past week was
noteworthy not only because the high.
est April temperatures, within the
time covered by the weather bureau
records, were recorded, but also be.
cause the heat wave was so prolonged,
as such steady heat is characteristic of
July or August, but remarkable for
April.
The heat of the week converted a
deficiency of 70 degrees in tempera-
ture since March 1st, which existed at
the beginning of the week into an ex-
cess of about 25 degrees.
The week exhibited another feature
of midsummer in that it was as hot,
or hotter, in the interior as on the
coast.
The daily mean temperature aver
ages from Z to ~ degrees per day
higher than the normal, and from II
to 16 degrees higher per day than
during the previous week. The greatest
gain occurred in the extreme western
counties, and it was warmest in the
south central counties. The highest
temperatures reported was 90 on Fri
day, the 18th at Gillonsville, Hampton
county, and the lowest was AZ on Sun
day, the 18th, at Greenville.
The mean temperature for the week
for the whole State. taken at 45 differ.
ent stations, was 73, and the normal
for the same period is approximately
G3.
There was but one shower reported
the entire week. and that occurred in
the upper portion of Sumter county
on the evening of Friday, the II, and
the greatest amount that fell was less
than one. tenth of an inch (0.03 at
Camden.) Along the Immediate coast
the absence of rain was partially sup
piled by heavy dews, which substain-
ed vegitation, but in the interior there
were scarcely any dews.
The normal rainfall for the week is
approximately 0.S0 inch. The def
cheney in rainfall for the whole State
is now over four inches, since March
1st. The last beneficial rain occurred
on April 3D..
The winds were generally from the
south and southwest, and were very
dessicating, especially on newly plow-
ed ground.
There was less than the usual
amount of cloudiness generally, ex-
cept in Berkely county, where the SUM-
shine was reported less than so per
cent. of the possible, while for the
greater portion of the State it ranged
between 80 and 80 per cent.
CROPS.
The reports covering last week di-
vide the State into two distinct divis-
ions, but the line of demarkation is
not well.delined one; in a general
way it runs from Abbeville to Lancas-
ter county. To the northward and
westward of this line the reports all
declare the hot, dry weather favora-
BILE on crops, with the exception of
oats sowed since January, which are
needing rain badly. To the south
| ro,l q ID ,rae+ror5 nf Tho limo tho ra
ports indicate a less favorable and more
diversified condition, altogether on &C
count of the lack of rain.
Net only has there been less rainfall
in this division since the crop season
began, but the soil is less retensive of
moisture generally.
Corn of earliest planting is general
ly up with good color and growing
fast, but few satisfactory stand are re-
ported and replanted corn does not
come up and will not until it rains;
the same is true of late planting. Corn
planting is practically finished, except
ate May or June corn.
Cotton planting slackens, both be
cause the greater portion of it has been
planted and because the ground is toe
dry for thorough preparation, while
others prefer to wait for rain before
planting. The first planting is up,
but not to good stands. Later plant
ing cannot germinate.
| Wheat is doing we'll generally, but
needs rain to prevent it from heading
prematurely.
The condition of fall oats has not
changed materially since last week
and is fairly promising except that il
is likely to head prematurely should
the dry weather continue. Spring
oats are failing everywhere and in
some localities the crop has already
failed.
Pastures have improved generally
under the influence of the hot wealth
er, but in Beaufort county pastures
are failing.
| Tobacco lands are prepared and only
waiting for rain to begin transplant
ing little of which was done before
the ground became too dry.
Irish potatoes need rain as do gar
dens, the latter are parched on ligh
soils.
Early blosoming fruit does not lool
promising generally, but late bios
soming varieties appear more favora
BILE, except that some report fruit, es
pecially peaches, dropping badly or
account of the dryness.
In view of the hot weather there l.
remarkable freedom from destruct
I;ua ;neactS. renortS from variOuS sec