The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-15
THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

THE WEa HEN ANU ChOPS.
Crop Season and Vegetation in General is
Backward.
This bulletin covers the weather and
crop conditions for the week ending
with Saturday. April 4, and in its
preparation were used reports from
one or more correspondents in each
county of the State.
The general weather conditions du-
ring the past week favored the farmers
in the preparation of lands for plan
ing, but during the latter portion OF
the week were generally unfavorable
for termination of seeds and growth
of vegetation.
The mean temperature for tho State
WIS about SO, the normal for the same
period is approximately So. The first
four days were extremely warm,
which condition ended in general
thunder showers during the evening
and night of the first wednesday,,
and was followed by falling tempera-
ture, to the freezing point over the
western portion OF the State on Friday
(30. Light frost was general on the
morning of the Sd and 4th (Friday
and Saturday., but fruit and vegeta-
bles were apparently uninjured by it.
The highest temperature reported
was 90 degrees at Shaw's Forks, Aiken
county, on March 3lst. The lowest 80
degrees, at Reid, Greenville county,
on the morning of April Sd. Minima
temperature of SO degrees were report,
ed as far eastward as Orangeburg
county on the morning of April 8.
The ground is very dry, for with the
exception of February, when there
was decided and general excess, there
has been deficiency in rainfall during
each month since last September. The
amount that fell during March, 1896,
was about one-third tho usual amount.
This condition was favorable for
plowing and preparation of lands for
planting, 80 that now lands are practi-
cally all prepared for the usual spring
crops.
The rainfall during tho past week
came in one series Of thunder showers
during the evening and night of April
1st, and was quite general over the
State. The rainfall was for the most
part light, but ut Greenville and Lit
tie Mountain the measurements were
1.39 and 1.38 inches respectively. The
average amount of all places reported
rainfall was 0 .66 inches. In few To-
calities the rainfall was heavy enough
to wash lands badly.
The sunshine averaged about 60 per
ceut. of the possible, with the highest
percentages in the northwestern por.
tons of the State and the lowest in the
central portion. There was a high
wind, of short duration during the af-
ternoon of April LIST, but with the ex!
ception of uprooting few trees and
blowing down some fences, it did very
little damage.
The crop season aud vegetation in
general is backward, owing to the pre-
vailing cold weather during the month
of March. The termination of early
planted seed was slow and such corn,
potatoes, etc., that were up were nip
ped by the frost Of Friday but not en-
tiely destroyed. The dryness of the
ground has also been against rapid
termination or growth, nor were the
rains of the week sufficient to remedy
this adverse condition.
Corn planting has been pushed in
the eastern half of the State and gen.
orally begun elsewhere. The ground
is dry enough to permit tho planting
of bottom lands as well IS uplands.
Ground is quite generally prepared
for cotton, but as yet little has actual
ly been planted except in tho south
eastern counties where considerable
has been planted, part of which is Of
the sea island variety.
Wheat is looking well generally and
free from insects, except in Orange
burg county where Hessian flies have
appeared
The general condition of fall oats is
good, and but tWe correspondents,
both from the same county, report
poor stands. Like all other vegetation
oats are making slow growth.
The truck farmers along the cost re-
port early vegetables ready for ship.
ment, but that generally the season il
late; eighteen days late one cores
pondsnt states.
It appears to be the concensus of
opinion among correspondents that
peaches are only partially injured, if
at all, and that apples, pears and other
fruits generally were entirely nnin-
jared by the late and previous freez.
ing weather.
Gardens are for the most part very
backward.
The opening of the crop season can,
at this time be briefly summarized in
this way. Farmers are we'll up with
their work; fall sown crops look
promising; but it is generally too cool
and dry, the latter being the more Sc
rious drawback.
Shot in the Dark.
JACKSONVILLE, April Especial to
The Times. Union says: Last night
about z o'clock Deputy Sheriff John
w. Hanchey, near Funiak Springs,
Fla, was assassihated while walk
ing in his yard with 8 lighted lamp:
Hia sistAr startad for assistauco and