The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
WEATHER AND THE CROPS.
WEEkLYREP oFTHE CONDITION
INTHlS STATE.

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Cotton, Corn, Rice and the Fruit Drops
Generally Favorable-The Melon Crop
Threatened.W Failure.
The following weekly bulletin, is
sued by Observer Bauer yesterday,
covers the weather and crop condi-
tons for the week ending Saturday
June u, and in its preparation were
i used reports from one or more cores
pondents in each county of the State.
WEATHER.
The week under review opened with
normal temperature, but the heat
increased during the week so that by
the end it was from 6 to 8 degrees
warmer than normal, the average
having been per day for the week.
The average of 80 stations reporting
mean temperature was 80, and the
normal for the same period isapproxi-
mately 79. The mean ranged between
"a, at Kingstree, Oakwood, Clemson
College and Waterloo, and 77at Gilli-
sonville.
The highest temperature for the
week was 102 reborted from Gillison.
vile on the 26th and ,1O1 reported
reportrd from Blackville on the 9th;
the lowest was 81 reported from Spar
tanburg on the 21st.
The rainfall was poorly distributed
and came mostly in the form OF show
ers, which were very partial. In the
central and western counties the rain
fall was very light, while over the
eastern portions of the State general
ly there was slight excess. Crops
are suffering for want of rain in Un.
ion, Edgefeld, Lexington, Barnwell,
Fairfield, Aiken, portions of Newber.
Nv. Laurens. Anderson, Oconee and
GreeR7a!e. but as yet corn is the only
crop needing seriously, and that
has suffered no fn}6SEassem Lack O.
moisture but which rain within
week or two would quickly remedy.
The ground is too wet in portions Of
OrangeDurg, Darlington, Florence
and Chesterfield where farm work was
somewhat retarded. The following
heavey rains were reported: Black
vile 2.07, Florence LIS; Charleston
rs; Kingstree 1.55; st. George'sl.s2;
st. Matthews 1.59; Yemassee 1.41;
Tiller's Ferry 1.53; Gillisonville I 81;
Anderson LII; Elloree $50; E6ing.
ham 1.S1; Darlington 4.52; Columbia
1.33; Chesterfield 2.s5; Society Hill
2.3S; Clio 200. It will be seen that
with the exception OF Ill at Ander-
son, all the heavy rain fell in the
eastern half of the State. In addition
to the above, % stations reported rain
fall for the week in amounts ranging
from 0.03 to LOO inch.
The average of 80 stations was 1.10,
and the normal for the came period is
approximately 1.31.
The rainfall in Darlington on the
Oath was phenomenal. In the town
of Darlington, and few miles north
and west of same, it was estimated
that more than inches fell. The
4. 50 reported above fell 8 miles south
east of Darlington.
There was an excess over the usual
amount of sunshine, except in the
eastern and southeastern portions,
where the sunshine was deficient, and
was only about 40 per cent, OF the
possible. In the western counties 1t
ranged from 70 to "a per cent. of the
possible, the normal for the State is
approximately 68.
CROPS.
The past week was generally favor
able for crop development, but there
were exceptions in the western coun-
ties, where it is too dry for corn, and
in the northeastern, where 1t Is too
wet for cultivation-eXcessive rain in
Orangeburg, Chesterfield, Darlington,
Marlboro and Florence interfered
with field work; never the less crops
over the whole State are generally
we'll cultivated and free from grass.
The reports on corn, for the first
time during the season, are unfavora.
BILE. Corn is firing badly in Florence,
Kershaw, Berkeley, Lexington, Barn
well, Hampton, Aiken and Marlboro.
Is needing rain in IL counties. Too
much water on bottoms in Orange.
burg. Insects damaging stands in
Kershaw and Lexington. In places
it is tasselling low, but sinking well.
tits being laid by generally, although
late corn still being plowed. The
heat during the latter portion OF the
week seems TO have been injurious to
corn, but the crop as whole is still
very promising.
There is a decided improvement in
cotton over the previous week. Lice
have not yet entirely disappeared, but
nearly so. But little damage resultd
from lice, and that's being rapidly en-
acted under the favorable influence Of
the prevailing heat. Cotton is gener.
ally blooming and fruiting we'll. Too
much water in bottoms in Orangeburg
where also stands are very much
broken. Is needing rain in Aiken Is
loosing lower leaves in Cherteraeld.
Is generally clean, we'll cultivated
and in very promising condition.
Sea Island cotton doing well lately.
Tobacco made fair progress and is
being topped in Kershaw and Flor
ence. The crop is very irregular as to
growth, even in the same field plants
range from a few inches to four feet
in height, in Kershaw.
Cane growing we'll generally, and
rice very much improved and free
from parasites.
Melons generally inferior being
small and poor. Fungous disease Of
vines seems to be spreading. Lice in
iured vines in Charleston and Barn
we'll.
Peas are coming to fine stands gen.
orally. About all planted that will be.
Fruit generally scarce. Peaches
and apples still droppinp and but few