The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-07
WEATHER AND CROPS.
HE cONDl ZION OF THE STATES'S
FARMING INTERESTS.

by Director Bauer.
The following is the weekly crop
Ind weather bulletin issued by Obser'
Yer Bauer:
The mean weekly temperature aver
wed 80, which is one degree above
he normal. The first of the week was
comparatively cool, followed by exces-
i've heat with maximum temperatures
bn the oath, 25th and 26th ranging
rom 100 to 1O6 over the southeastern
bounties. The lowest for the week
Was So on the 22nd at Spartanburg.
III RAINFALL.
The weather was showery, but hard
y enough rain fell generally for the
needs of crops, in many places none,
Ind in q few too much. Thirty:one
weekly measurements amounted TO
less than 1 inch; Is from 1 to 3 inches
hnd 8 over Q inches, with 30 as the
- largest amount, at Trial. The aver.
age of 49 reports was 0.79 and the
APPROXIMATE norma for the week is
In Clarendon, Spartanburg and
Edgefeld fields were washed by heavy
rains.
Severe local storms, of wind, rain
land hail, doing more or less injury to
corn, cotton and tobacco, in a few in
stances running entire fields, occurred
lin Clarendon, Spartanburg, Ander-
son, Aiken, Edgefeld, Darlington,
Richland, Bamberg, Kershaw. Sum
ter, Berkeley, Orangeburg and Char
la1ton. The extreme northeastern and
northwestern counties were free from
local storms.
The sunshine varied greatly in diff.
forent portions of the State, but the
average of all reports indicate about a
normal per centage of the possible du-
ration.
CROPS.
The week on the whole was favora.
BILE for the development of crops,
which made satisfactory advance ex.
cept where injured by wind, hail and
wet soil. Much mention by CORES
pondents is made of grass in fields,
but qualified generally by the state
ment that the weather favored killing
grass.
Corn is being rapidly laid by in
good condition except that stands are
Irregular and that over considerable
areas throughout the entire State rain
is needed. 1t is more promising than
at any time this season. Some fields
were injured by high wind breaking
down the larger stalks, and by exces-
sive heat curling the leaves during the
day.
Cotton has begun to blossom freely
over the eastern counties and squares
are plentiful everywhere. although
the plant is small for the season. In
portions of Berkeley, Kershaw, Ches.
terfeld and Chester the ground is too
wet for cotton and the plant deterio.
rated. Many fields are becoming foul
with grass, but not enough so to mate
rally injure cotton. The stand is very
even and growth during the week was
good. Commenced laying by in sec.
lions.
Sea Island variety above an average
condition for the season. Is blooming
and fruiting well.
Tobacco has improved generally. Is
buttoning low and shows frogs eye"
in places. Has deteriorated and con-
dition poor in Kershaw. Is ripening
prematurely and some cured during
the week.
Rice is doing we'll. Peas were ex.
tensively sown and coming up to
good stands. Sweet potato slips grow
ing well. Sugar cane excellent. Veg
etables abundant. Melons will be
shipped from Barnwell this week; this
crop improving slowly and is gener-
ally late.
Special, full and final reports on
wheat, oats and fruit were received
and can be briefly summarized as fol-
lows:
Wheat-The bulk of this crop is
raised in the northwestern counties,
or the territory bounded by lines
dawn due west and north from Co.
lumbia. Within this area less than
the usual amount was sown. Its con-
ditions promises an average crop, con.
frmed by the little threshing that has
been done. Fifty per cent. of the re-.
ports indicate a full average yield. It
was harvested and gathered in good
condition generally. In a few coun-
ties the yield was reduced by rust.
Oats-Early sown oats were best,
and in many sections very good; 70
per cent. of the reports indicate excel.
lent, the remainder fair yields. Oats
sown during the winter and spring
were generally poor and the latest
sown complete failures. Very little
spring oats were sown. Some oats
were damaged slightly by rain while
being harvested.
Pesches-The reports on this fruit
range from ''full crop" to "none."
Fifty per cent. of the reports indicate
that trees bore some peaches of an in
ferior quality and many rotting as
they ripen; 20 per cent. report a full
crop but not of very good quality. The
crop as a whole was a poor one. Seed.
Engs, of no commercial importance,
are quite plentiful everywhere. Late
varieties are better than the early va.
riet1es.
Apples-The apple crop is in places
the best for years. Fifty per cent. OF
the reports indicate a full crop; IS
nearly so. and only eight a failure.
Much of this fruit is, however, of in,
ferior quality, rather small and shows
signs of insects. Many trees blighted
and web'worms numerous. Spraying
is not generally practiced.
Pears-An average crop but many
trees blighted and fruit damaged by
insects, maturing fruit of inferior
nnalitu il tha r1,le rathan than tho az