The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-21
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.
The Condition OF tho Crops Improved
as General Rule by Recent

This bulletin covers the weather ant
crop conditions for the week endin&
Saturday, May 8, and in its prepara
tion were used reports from one OF
more correspondents in each county O
the State.
Although the average temperature
for the past week was just the same
as for the week preceding, yet. rela
lively, it WIS slightly cooler, rs the
seasons increase in temperature
averages about degrees q week dur
ing May. There were several COO
nights, and minimum temperatures o
80 or below were reported from the
high lands Of the western and north
crn counties. The minimr for the
week were 40 at Ridgeway, 4S at Che.
raw and Elloree, all On Friday, the
Sth. The maximum temperature was
81, reported from Cheraw on the 9th.
The mean temperature, for the State
for the week-beirg the average OF
36 weekly mean temperature reports
was 90, and the normal for the same
period is approx imately 60. Tho high
est means was 73 at Poverty Hill,
Edgefieid County, and the lowest G4
at Reid, Greenville County. The
mean temperature for the State since
March lst has been about Is degree
| per DAY ABOVE normal.
There were quite general showers
over the entire State on the 3rd, 4th
aud 9TH, but the rainfall was never
tholess partial, and in consequence
there remain large portions of the
State where tho drought is not re-
lieved, the ground having received
country about six miles wide, in
| Pickens County, the RAJ 'rfall exceeded
four inches on the Bird, and was accom-
panied by large hail, that in the vici-
nifty OF Looper's destroyed all vegeta-
tlon in its path and stripped the trees
OF fruit. The path of this destructive
| hail was narrow and short. The heavy
rains washed lands badly in Pickens
and Edgelield Counties, and newly
planted lands have since then crusted
over.
Over the greater portion Of the area
comprised by Aiken, Lexington, Rich
land, Sumter, Fairfield, York. New
berry, Union, Karshaw, Chester and
Lancaster Counties, the rainfall re-
mains deficient. Over the remainder
OF the State enough rain fell for the
| immediate needs Of tho crops.
| The following heavy rains were re-
ported: Looper's 4.2O; ; Liberty 100 ;
Augusta, Ga, LIS; Greenville 2.34 !;
Florence lbs; Yemassce l.76 Trial
l,GO; Reid 1.I5 Longshore LOG Glenn
son College 2.S7 Ellorce l.25; Gillison-
vile l.2G; Poverty Hill 2.l0. Thirteen
other places reported amounts from
0.5O to 100, and fifteen places reported
amounts less than half an inch The
average Of fl rainfall reports was LOB,
and the normal for the same period is
approximately OTIS.
| The sunshine was in excess of the
normal: the percentage of possible
ranging from 80 at Trial to 89 at
Waterloo, with an average for the
State (26 reports) of 7c per cent. The
normal is approximately 60.
The prevailing wind for the week
was from the N. e., followed by S.
w. and w. They were generally light
and without material influence on
crops.
Crops, as rule, made satisfactory
progress during the week, except that
few cool nights seemed to put a
decided check on the growth Of corn
and cotton, but fortunately the wealth
er soon turned warmer. With the ex-
ception Of the territory already noted,
there seems to be sufficient moisture
for most crops, but grains would be
greatly benefited by more rain. The
|
cept for some Of the minor crops and
for the bottom land corn, and this is
making satisfactory progress. The
following brief summaries express the
| general conditions Of the various crops
named, and when a particular crop is
not mentioned it may be assumed that
the reports on it are in the main fa-
vOrablc.
Corn continues to do we'll; is gen
erallly worked clean, has good color,
and stands are satisfactory. Reports
on corn without exception continue
favorable, unless that some report it
small for the season, and that cut and
bud or heart worms arc damaging the
stand in ~ number of the counties.
Cotton received slight check to
growth during the few cool nights,
but without sustaining any material
injury. Stands are reported tho best
ever known in Anderson, Darlington,
and Chesterfield Counties, and over
the entire State the stands are. good.
Some complaints OF grass in Edgefield
and Pickcns Counties, where the
ground was too wet to work. Cotton
is reported rs having % good, healthy
color generally. Stu Island cotton has
~ good stand and is thriving. Chop.
ping TO a stand continues actively
| Nuu In plaCeS CO'lOn mas been DlOW ed
tho second time. Planting has finish
ed.
Transplanting tobacco was pushed
during the week. Somc farmers arc
obliged to water the plants to save
them, it being necessary to transplant
regardless Of the condition of the
ground, on account of the size of the
plants. The scarcity Of plants will
lessen the contemplated area devoted
to tobacco.
Irish potatoes are generally reported
to be very small, almost q failure owe,
IL largo portion Of the State, owing tc
the ury weather, and arc needing
. mo- @ rain everywhere. Potato bugs
=, are reported from q number of cOun
lies, being more destructive in Char
lesion County, where some fields arc
practically ruined by them. Grain.
+ have made great improvement, bu
spring oats are generally considered {
. failure, although in places the rain,
started vigorous growth. Oats arc
about ready to harvest in the Eastern
, portions of the State. Fall oats are
short, but heading we'll.
i. H.. L