The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-28
CAROLINA'S CROPS.
THE WEEKLY BULLETIN OF THE
STATE BUREAU

STATE BUREAU
AS Issued Last Week by Observer Bauer
Information as to the Progress of Farm
Ing Operations.
The following is the weekly bulle.
tin of condition of the weather and
the crops of the State issued last week
by Observer Bauer:
TEMPERATURE.
The temperature averaged two de.
grees per day below normal during
the past week. The day temperatures
were warm and the nights rather cool,
with light frosts on the mornings of
the 11th and 10th, which how
ever, did no noticeable damage. The
highest temperature reported was IS
on the 18th at White Hall; the lowest
was IS ON the 18th at Liberty and Sa-
luda, and the State mean for the week
was 80. The normal for the same
period is approximately IS.
RAINFALL.
The rainfall during the week was
light over the entire State, and fell in
scattered showers during Wednesday
and Thursday. At quite a number of
places NO rain fell during the week.
The heaviest weekly rainfall reported
was 0.69 at Greenville. Twenty two
places reported some rain, the average
amount being 0.19, and the normal
for the week is approximately 082 OF
an zach. Rain is needed to bring up
lately planted cotton and for gardens,
also to soften the crust on heavy lands
that were, until recently, too wet to
cultivate and which baked in drying.
The light rains did not interfere with
farm work, which was uninterrup ted
during the entire week.
SUNSHINE.
There was more sunshine than dur.
ing any previous week of the season.
Partly cloudy weather prevailed on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
and generally clear weather the rest
Of the week. The percentage of pos
sible sunshine for the week was 80,
and the normal percentage is about
70.
The nights were generally clear,
with the exception of Wednesday
night. The estimated percentage of
sunshine ranged from 48 at Orange
burg to 95 at st. Paul.
The winds varied from brisk to
light in force and in direction from
northerly to westerly.
CROPS.
The week was very favorable for
the preparation of lands and for plant
ing and farm work progressed rapidly
over the entire State. Under the in
fuences of bright sunshine and dry
ing winds even low lands became fit
to cultivate.
The nights were too cool for the
best growth of crops, especially cot
ton and corn, which in consequence
are reported sickly in places but gen.
orally are growing nicely.
Corn planting made rapid progress
during the week and is nearing COM
pletion in the more easterly counties
and central portions of the State,
where the early planted is coming up
to good stands; but stands are damag.
ed in the southeastern counties by cut
and bud worms and by birds, which
are reported very troublesome, neces.
stating considerable replanting. In
the western counties corn planting is
well under way, and that early plant
ed is coming up.
Corn planting is now general over
the entire State, and about two thirds
finished in the eastern portions.
EARLY planted coming up to fairly
good stands, but is not favored by the
prevailing cool nights. In the west.
ern counties where the season IS late,
cotton planting is given the prefer
ence over corn in many places.
In the tobacco districts plants are
fine and plentiful. Considerable
transplanting has already been done.
and this work will become general
when rains come to supply the need.
ed moisture. Setting out tobacco is
in advance of last year.
.Rice planting has been pushed dur.
ing the week. In the lower districts,
including the Combahee. Sake
hatchie, the lower E 1isto and around
Charleston two thirds of the crop is
planted; but on the Santee and near
Winyah bay planting is much delayed
by high water. March rice coming
up we'll.
Wheat, oats and rye are growing
rapidly and look very promising, but |
need rain in places. Rye is heading
over the eastern and central counties. |
Sweet potatoes coming up in beds. |
Irish potatoes doing we'll but need
rain. Potato bugs have appeared in |
Charleston county, but are not nu-
merous as at this time last year.
Reports concerning peaches are
more favorable generally than last
week, and unless injured hereafter |
promise a fair crop. Apples and
pears still in bloom and apparently un-
harmed.
Gardens growing slowly but are
yielding early vegetables over the
greater portion of the State. Truck
ing interests need rain and warm
weather for best growth. |
Favorable reports were received |
concerning all the minor crops usual |
ly cultivated at this season of the year.
The feeling of Encouragement has
disappeared and farmers are pushing |
their work with energy.
The national bulletin of April IL
gives progress of corn and cotton
planting as follows:
tCorn nlantinp has continued. |