The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-13
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT
IN THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS OF
THE STATE.

| W -
Observer Issued Yesterdsy-The Rain
Relieves the Situation Somewhat. ~
The following is the encouraging
weekly bulletin of the condition Of
the weather and the crops of the State
issued yesterday by State Weather
Observer Bauer:
This bulletin covers the weather
and crop conditions for the week end
ing Saturday, May Q, and in it's prep
aration were used reports from one or.
more correspondents in each county
of the State.
WEATHER.
The past week was considerable
cooler than the previous one, with q
mean temperature about Q degrees
above the normal. The mean. for the
week was So degrees, that being the:
average of 40 stations reporting mean
temperature; the normal for the same
period is approximately 81 degrees.
The highest mean was 73 degrees, andIss
occurred at Shaw's Forks, Aiken couns!
ty; the lowest, 66 degrees, occurredlatS
Little Mountain, Newberry county.
The maximum temperature for the
week was 80 degrees on May LIST, re-
ported from Gillsonville, Hampton
county, the minimum was 4S on April
9th, reported from Lynch, Florence
county. and 80 on the 26th, reported
from Elloree, Orangeburg county.
The excess in temperature over the
normal since March was slightly in.5
creased, and now averages about 1.5i
degrees per day.
The late drought was effectuauy re-
lieved at most places during the week.,
but the showers were scattered and
partial, so that there yet remain many
localities without beneficial rains, but
generally the rains were sufficient for
the present needs of crops. In rich.
land, Newberry, York and portions OF;
! Sumter, Kershaw, Lancaster and Lex
ington but little rain fell, and pfacti-
cally none along the southeastern4
coast. Elsewhere the showers were
we'll distributed and in places heavy.
The following heavy rainfalls were re.:
ported: Society Hill, 1.60; Green
2.S4; Pickens, 1.s2; Camden, 1.27;
Averill 1.53; Spartanburg, 1.04; Pow
erty Hill, 1.20; Santuc, 121. Tea!
other stations reported measurements:
ranging from 0.50 to LOO, and 26 10.
ported from none to O.5O. The average
of 43 rainfall records for the week IL
O.54, and the normal for the same
period is approximately 0.79.
Note-Special reports received since:
the regular reports were closed state
that rain was general over the State
on Sunday and Monday May 8 and4.l
Liberty, Pickens county, reported
over 4 inches. The special reports
will be recorded regularly in the next;
bulletin.
| CROPS. .E
There is a decided better tone to
crop reports as compared with the.
previous week, and with but few
limited exceptions all crops made salts
factory Improvement, due to the rains
of this and the previous weak. The,
full beneficial effects OF the late rains,
are not yet reflected in the reports, ex-,
cept where anticipated, so that con-
tinued improvement may be expected.
Corn made satisfactory advance our
ing the week. 1t has received its 6rses
work generally, and in places its Sec
ond. The later planting has not at
tanned good stands yet, but will be.
materially helped in this respect by
the late rains. Corn retains q good
color, but cut worms are damaging
the stands in a few counties. But.
worms were injuriously active in Lex
ington and Edgefeld counties during
the few cool nights. Much bottom,
land corn yet to plant. All reports
on corn are favorable. ~5l,. -
Cotton planting is practically fin.
ished, reports indicating that in a few
counties from to 10 per cent. only
remains to be planted. That that
which is up has a vigorouns stand Of
good color, but later planting coming
up to irregular stands, but during the
latter part of the week a great inn
provement was noted in this respect
Chopping out has been actively begun.
The hot, dry weather of the past two
weeks affected cotton favorably, ex-
cept that it retarded termination. Sea
Island cotton has good stand and
color, but needs rain badly.
The failing tendency of grain was
effectually checked by the rains. Oats
have shown much improvement dur
ing the latter portion of the week, but
it continues to bs the opinion Of most
correspondents that oats cannot fully
recover from the damaging effects OF
the late drought. Fall oats look more
promising than spring sowing. Oats
are ripening in the southeastern coun-
ties, and heading generally: Wheat
also has improved, and in places has
sufficient length of stalk, and is stool
ing and heading satisfactorily.
Tobacco has grown we'll in beds.
Plants are small in beds that were re-
planted in March. Transplanting has
been slow, some farmers watered the
plants by hand previous to the rains;
Transplanting will now be pushed
rapidly, as the weather favors II.
Plants continue comparatively scarce.
Rice seeding continues, and what Is
up appears to be doing well generally,
except in Florence county. where
poor stands are reported. The wealth
er favors late planted rice.
The different reports continue to ex-
press a diversity of opinion as to the
fruit prospects. In some localltes
fruit is dropping freely, wilhelm other