The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-04-28
Weekly Crop Bulletin.
COLUMBIA, S. C. April 27, 1897
TEMPERATURE.

The temperature averaged five de-
grees per day below the normal. The
days were sufficiently warm but the
nights we're cool The maximum ten
perature reported was 80 on the 24sb.
at Gillisonville; and tbs minimum %
on the 21st at Saluda, and 50 at Flor
ence ADD Saatuc. The mean for the
State, beiog the average of So stations,
was so, aud the normal is approximate
~ IS.
TIE north central ADD northeastern
portions of the State reported the low
est average temperatures. Aloug the
lower coast, and over the southeastern
portion it was from l to 2 degrees per
day cooler than usual.
RAINFALL
No rain fell in any portion of the
State during the entire week.
All correspondents report the Deed Of
rain. In the western portions Of the
State, to soften the baked soil, so that
blowing. preparation for planting aud
planting may be finished. this work be-
ing now largely suspended and to aid
recently planted corr and cotton to
germinate.
In the eastern portions rain is need
ed for growing crops generally. bu.
more particularly for srausplanti0g TO-
bacco; to bring up late planted corn
aud cotton for the trucking interests
and gardens and for oats which are
beginning to bead.
Stands of late planted corn and cot
Ton very irregular, owing to the lack of
N oistrre.
Normal rainfall for the week 0.80 Of
an inch.
SUNSHINE AND WINDa.
1t was practically cloudIess week.
The estimated percentage of possible
sunsbice ranged from 80 to 100 and
averaged "a per ceot. The normal is
about 68 per cent
The winds of the week we're high
northeasterly becoming variable.
FROST
Frost was reported on the 18Th, 20th
and 2lst, quite general over the entire
State on the last date, but injurious
over the northeastern counties only,
where considerable coru, young cotton.
tobacco in beds, peaches and gardens
we're partially destroyed. Ice formed
iu Chesterfield, Marion and Horny
counties on the morning of the 2lss
Over che western counties IL is believed
the high winds prevented q killing frost
on that date.
CROPS
The weather was extremely favorable
for farm work, but too cool aud dry for
growing crops aud for breaking up bot
tom lands or clay soils generally
Corn planting is about completed
over the eastern aud central portions !;
about half finished over the remainder
of the State. Il is coming up very
vel! in places, 10 others very poorly.
Stands are consequently very irregular
even in the same couo,ies. Worms and
crows damaged stands seriously from
Hampton and Beaufort nortoward. ne-
osssitating replausiog il many places.
Frost cut corn to the grouod in Horny
and Marioo, but reports state that it is
coming up again.
Chiuch bugs have attacked corn io
Chester aud York. From York west
ward, corn planted early in March will
have to be rep}anted.
Cotton planting progressed rapidly
aod is now about hall 6sisbed over the
western and central counties. 10 many
places. in eastern sections, planting IS
practically completed Slow geTnloa-
tiop aud growth. owing to cool nights
and want of moisture Stands very
uoeveo Rsplaoting necessary over
northeastern counties. where maDy
fields we're destroyed by frost Raio
aud warm nights would prove beoeh
cial Sea Island cotton practically all
planted and good stands have been Sc