The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-09-11
wEATHER-CROP BULLETIN
or the South Carolina Climate and
Crop Service.

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or the South Carolina Climate and
Crop Service.
Below is Section Director Bauer's
weekly crop report as prepared by
one or more correspondents through
out the State:
Marked changes in crop conditions
cannot be looked for at this season of
the year, especially under tho normal
weather conditions such as prevailed
during the week under review. The
principal crops are, indeed, so far
matured that they are no longer sus.
ceptible to meteorological influences.
Minor crops can yet bo benefited by
the rains Of the past week.
The last fodder has been pulled
from late corn and from one-third 20
one-half of it is unfit for forage on
account of being badly burnt by the
sun The grain Of late corn is gen.
orally not full nor we'll developed, and
last weeks estimate of the poor con-
dition and yield of late corn is fully
sustained by this weeks reports, With
this difference. that q few localities
have made full crop. Corn in por-
tions of Hampton is infested with
weevel and worms in the ear. Corn
is 80 nearly ripe that its yield cannot
be affected by any sort of weather,
except such as may favor or inter-
fere with gathering or housing the
crop.
The past week gave less favorable
weather for rice harvest than the pre-
vious one, there having been showers
on all but two days in the rice region.
On one day heavy local wind storm
did considerable damage to few plan
tations. On the whole tho rice crop
will be very good one, at least for
the early seeding. Late or juno seed
ing looks we'll.
Cane seemingly was improved by
tho rains: Syrup making has begun
In various portions Of the State but no
reports as to yield have been made.
There is no improvement tc note in
the general condition OF cotton. The
weather no longer affects it as for the
most part growth has stopped, the
plant is nearly or quite dead, and half,
or more, OF the bolls open. In few
localities the plant remains green and
stimulated by tho late rains, shows
signs of putting on top-crop. Blooms
are very scarce now; in many fields
none are to be seen, which indicates a
small late crop. Indeed, it is the opin-
ion of nearly all the correspondents of
this service thst cotton will be picked
out by October 1st, or by the 18th of
that month at the latest. 1t continues
to open very fast and the first picking
was heavy one. Many correspond
ents say that this is the earliest season
:or cotton within their recollection.
Sea- Island cotton continues to do very
we'll.
Tobacco curing is over, and it ap-
pears that this crop lacked uniformity
in the various counties where cultivat-
ed. In Florence the crop was large
but Of inferior quality. In Williams
burg there was less raised than last
year. In Darlington and Kershaw the
the quality is reported to have been
very good but the stands irregular and
the yield comparatively poor. The
above arc the only counties from
which special reports on tobacco were
received.
There seems to bo An improvement
noticeable in tho condition of peas, es-
pecislly where planted in corn fields,
but where sown in open fields with
grass for hay the crop is not 80 good.
The latest planted has revived and may
yet make n good crop.
Sweet potatoes have apparently TAX
en- on new growth where the showers
fell and an increase in the size of
the tubors is expected. Where pota-
toes have been dug they have turned
out small in size, and consequently
small in yield.
Much land was sown in turnips and
other root crops, following the rains,
and better stand is expected than has
heretofore been obtained.
Tho cooler weather favored farm
work and it is being prosecuted in ad-
vance ofthe season. Flowing for fall
seeding has been begun.