The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-05-06
WEATHER AND CROPS.
Too Cool, No Rain and Frost Have
Damaging Effects.

Too Cool, No Rain and Frost Have
Damaging Effects.
The following is the weekly bulletin
of the condition of the weather and
crops in this State issued by Observer
Bauer, of the State Bureau:
TEMPERATURE.
The temperature averaged 5 degrees
| Fer day below the normal. The days
i were sufficiently warm, but the nights
were COOL The maximum temperature
reported was SO on the oath at Gillison-
vile, and the minimum % on the 2lst
at Saluda, and 80 at Florence and San
tue. The mean for the State being the
! average of SO stations, was 80 and the
MOI NAL approximately Is.
The north central and northeastern
portions of the State reported the low
est average temperatures. Along the
lower coast and over the southeastern
portions it was from to 2 degrees per
day cooler than usual.
RAINFALL.
No rain fell in any portion Of the
State during the entire week. -.
ALI correspondents report the need OF
rain. In the western portions OF the
State, to soften the baked soil so that
plowing, preparation for planting may
be finished, this work being now large
ly suspended, and to aid recently
| planted corn and cotton to germlnate..
In the eastern portions rain is needed
for growing crops generally, but more
particularly for transplanting tobacco;
to bring up late planted corn and cot
ton; for the trucking interests and gar
dens, and for oats, which are beginning
to head.
Stands of late planted corn and cot.
ton very irregular, owing to the lack OF
moisture. j..
Normal rainfall for the week O.so of
an inch.
SUNSHINE AND WINDS.
TWAS practically cloudless week.
The estimated percentage OF possible
sunshine ranged from 80 to 100 and
averaged "a per cent. The normal is
about6S per cent.
The winds of the week were high
northeasterly-becoming variable.
FROST.
| Frost was reported on the 18th, goth
and 2lst, quite general over the entire
State on the last date, but injurious
over the northeastern counties only,
where considerable corn, young cotton,
tobacco in beds, peaches. and gardens
we're partially destroyed. Ice formed
in Chesterfield, Marlboro, Marion and
Horry counties on the morning Of the
21st. Over the western counties it IS
believed the high winds prevented a
killing frost on that date.
CROPS.
The weather was extremely favorable
for farm work, but too cool and dry for
growing crops and for breaking up'bot-
tom lands or clay soils generally.
Corn planting is about com pleted
over the eastern and central portions;
about half finished over the remainder
of the State. It is com ing up very we'll
in places, in others very poorly. Stands
are consequently very irregular even in
the same counties. Worms and crows
damaged stands seriously from Hamp-
ton and Beaufort northward necessita-
ting replanting in many places. Frost
cut corn to the ground In Horry and
Marion, but reports state that it ls
coming up again.
Chinch bugs have attacked corn in
Chester and York. From York west
ward. corn planted early in March will
have to be replanted. -,
Cotton planting progressed rapidly
and is now about half finished over the
western and central counties. In many
places, in eastern sections, planting is
practically completed. Slow germina-
ton and growth owing to cool nights
and want of moisture. Stands very
uneven. Replanting necessary over
northeastern counties, where many
fields were destroyed by frost. Rain
and warm nights would prove benef-
cial. Sea Island cotton practically all
planted and good stands have been Sc
cured.
Some tobacco has been transplanted,
but rain is needed to push this work on
a large scale. Uncovered beds injured
by frost; damage immaterial.
Rice planting made rapid progress,
and stands generally satisfactory.
Wheat continues to look promising.
Chinch bugs have damaged it some in
Chester and York counties. Rain would
benefit it.
Oats stand in need of moisture gener-
ally, and are beginning to turn yellow
for the want OF it, in the more easterly
counties whore it is beginning to head.
In Chesterfield some fields apparently
injured by frost.
Peaches are not as much injured as
earlier reports indicated. Some
localities, in the same section, re-
porting O fair "set" and 9TH
ers that all are killed. Apples
promise we'll, q few reports only indi-
cate any injury to them. Plums, cher
ries and apricots plentiful. Dewberries
ripening in Barnwell. Blackberries
blossoming profusely over the central
and northeastern counties.
Canes, melons and pastures making
slow growth.
Too cool and dry for the coast truck
farms. Potatoes, strawberries and
beans at standstill for the want Of
rain.
Sweet potatoes in beds not growing
we'll generally. Irish potatoes coming
up and doing we'll.