The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-21
THE CROP CONDITION.
WHAT THE STATE BUREAU HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THEM.

WHAT THE STATE BUREAU HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THEM.
The Weekly Bulletin Issued Tuesday by
Observer Bauer-Of Interest to Farming
C1asses-The Outlook.
COLUMBIA, April 14.-The follow
ing is the second weekly weather crop
bulletin of the season issued yester.
day by State Observer Bauer. 1t is
of special interest to those watching
the progress of farming operations in
this State:
TEMPERATURE.
The temperature for the week ever
aged three degrees warmer tnan nor
NAL, due to very warm weather dur
ing the first part of the week and cool
weather on the last two days. The
highest temperature reported was 81
on the 9Th at Gillisonville, and the
lowest 3S on the 10th at Liberty and
Greenville. The lowest on the morn
ing of the 10th ranged between 3S and
45 over the entire western portion of
the State. The State average temper
ature (being the mean OF all reports
received) was 64.
RAINFALL.
There were heavy rains over the
western counties on the 5th, washing
plowed lands badly and causing fresh
cts, with loss of life, on some of the
streams. There were also excessive
rains over the northwestern portion
of the State on the 9Th. Other days
with rain were the 9Th, 9th and 10th,
general over the State; on the 9TH and
9th, local showers. Hail accompanied
the rains of the 5th over the western
counties, and the heavey rains on the
9Th, with no damage to crops. The
rainfall for the week was very heavy,
amounting to 2:23 at Darlington 4:19
at Society Hill; 4 90 at Mont Glare;
2. so at Sellers; AIS at Walhalla; 4 n
at Loopers; 2.25 at Pleasant; 3.49 at
Greenville; 2. So at Greenwood; AIS at
Liberty; 2 "a at Santuc. The average
of IS reports from all sections of the
State was 1. 70 inches, and the normal
for the same period is approximately
0.70 inches.
SUNSHINE.
The sunshine was more nearly nor.
NAL than during the previous week.
The estimated percentage of possible
sunshine ranged between % at Socie-
ty Hill and rs at Pamela. The average
of 70 reports is so per cent. of the pos
sible, while the normal at this season
is nearly 70 per cent.
CROPS.
But little progress could be- made IN
farm work during the week on ac-
count of the continued wet condition
of the ground. Over the western
group of counties, and including one
third or more of the entire area of the
State, only from one to two days
blowing could be done, after the
ground became fit and before the
work was again interrupted by rain.
O yer this portion of the State farm
work is very much delayed and Ghe
season fully two weeks or more later
than usual. In the central counties
and the extreme northeastern counties
the farmers are about up with their
work and planting is progressing rap
idly towards completion, especially
corn planting in Horny, Marion and
Marlboro. Corn planting is general
over the entire eastern and central
portions of the State as far westward
as Fairfield, Richland, Lexington and
Aiken counties. To the west and
north of these counties very little corn
has been planted and lands are yet un-
fit for preparation. Scarcely any bot
tom lands have been planted, corn is
coming up very satisfactorily, but in
some localities replanting will be
necessary. Gut and bud worms
have done considerable injury to
corn. In the western counties corn
planting is from Is to 20 days late.
Cotton planting is fairly begun, and
will this week become general over
the esatern half of the State. As yet,
the area planted is quite limited. The
early planted is coming up to good
stands. In the western half of the
State, in the preparation of lands for
planting cotton, blowing, hauling OF
Fertilizers and listing the same, scarce
ly anything has been possible, owing
to the wet, sodden condition of the
soil. 1t is reported from many local
tiles that fields will not be as thorough
ly prepared as usual.
Tobacco beds are doing we'll, with
plants plentiful and large enough to
transplant, which work has been COM
menced in Marion and Florence coun-
ties.
Melons nearly all planted and some
up in Barnwell.
Rice planting is delayed, as the
lands cannot readily be drained.
Some fields planted.
There will be large acreage devoted
to sorghum cane, if the seed can be
secured. Seed being reported very
SC arce. Some has already been plant
ed and coming up.
Pastures growing we'll and afford
excellents grazing.
Cabbages, peas, asparagus, cucum-
bers and strawberries being shipped
from Charleston.
Peaches very materially injured in
the northern and western counties
during March, but this weeks reports
from those counties would indicate
that not all were killed. In the
central and eastern counties peaches
were not materially injured, in places
not at all. Apples are in full bloom
and are safe, as also are pears and
grapes. :,
| nardans are hanlr ward hut oanerallY