The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-08-12
Weekly Crop Bulletin.

COLUMBIA, S. G Aug IL, 1896
This bulletin covers the weather
and crop conditions for the week
ending Saturday, Aug 8, and in its
preparation were used reports from
one or more correspondents in each
county of the State.
WEATHER
The temperture. continued above
the normal, but averaged 2 degrees
cooler than during the previous week
-85 last, SO this. The maximum
was 100 on the 7th at Spartanburg
and on the 4th at Beaufort, the mini
mum Sc on the 18th at Elloree, the
7th at Liberty, the 9Th Greenville.
Weekly mean temperature for the
State 80, approximate normal 80
The rainfall was scattered, with a
few heavy measurements, as follows:
Charleston, l .46 ; St. Mathews. LIS ;
Yemassee,i e,i2.40 Trial, 2 81; Long
shore, l.26 ; Elloree, $50; Beaufort,
1.80.
ONLY % out of A reporting stations
reported any rain, and at 8 the
amounts were under half an inch.
This had no appreciable effect on the
crops, as it dried almost as fast as it
fell. There continues plentiful
supply Of stock water
There was all excess of sunshine
the average for the State was 81 per
cent. of the possible, while the nor
mai is about 66
The winds were light southerly,
and southwesterly generally, very dry
and dessicating.
CROPS.
From all portions of the State
come the reports of deterioration in
crop condition, due to the excessive
heat and. want of rain, save in two
localities in eastern counties, where
too much rain and extreme heat are
the assigned causes for the falling OH.
In a few cf the western counties the
injury has as yet been comparatively
light, because scattered showers have
confined the damage to broken areas
and the previous conditions were so
very good, but even there each day s
heat has a telling and irreparable
damaging effect
Early corn is about all matured,
and therefore safe, but late corn is
suffering very much. The kernels
seem to harden before filling out,
being literally dried up or parched on
the ear. Most of the fodder has been
pulled and saved in good condition
in some counties this work is still
going on, but the leaves are hecom-
ing almost too dry-they crumple and
break in handling. The hot weather
has not injured corn, taken all to-
get!ler, to any considerable extent.
Not single report was received
but that stated that cotton is fail
ing. So general and extended is the
injury done by the heat and want Of
rain that only Sea.Is!and cotton
escaped, and that is ripenipg prema-
turely it is thought
A few correspondents reports are
given in abridged form, as they
tersely show the condition and de-
terioration that the plant has suffered
during the last week. The reports
are given by counties.
Berkeley-Cotton failing; too much
rain Newberry, rust, scalding and
shedding. Williamsburg, failing
very fast. 0rangeburg, failing ex-
cessi7e heat, no rain; opening fast
Chesterfield, shedding leaves, forms
and half grown bols. Darlington,
blooms and forms falling off; open
ing prematurely. Kershaw, opening
very fast, drying up Greenville,
dropping off OF leaves and squares.
fairfield, on sandy land has failed
very much Aiken, parching and is
opening (2) failing and opening