The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-19
THE GROWING CROPS.
THE WEEKLY BULLETIN AsTo THEIR
CONDITION.
Issued by Observer Last Week, Also Deal.
ing With tho Past Weeks Weather Con-
ditiona -TnrerAat Tn EarmarR -

=
day cooler than usual. The average
of 81 reports gives a weekly mean
temperature of 81. The normal Is ap-
proximately So.
The nights were unusually cold up
to the 7th. The days were moderately
warm. Two places reported q mimi
mum of 3s, two Of 40, one of Al, three
of 43, these occurred from the ID TO
the 5th, and over the western and
northern counties. The maximum
was SO on the 9th at Gillisonville.
FROST.
Light frost was reported from Yast-
Gus points in York, Newberry, Green-
vile, Spartanburg, Laurens, Union,
Chester, and from one place In Or
angeburg on the ID, Sd, 4th or 9th.
Generally these frosts were too light 10
nip vegetation but young cotton waa
somewhat damaged. s
RAINFALL.
There was no rain during the week
except light showers in Horny and
Marion on the 9Th. Twenty eight cd.
ditional measurements were received
with this weeks reports, of the rain
fall of May 1, making the corrected
average for last week LAO instead OF
Lie. The rains of the previous week
did not prove as beneficial as expected
owing to the cold, high northerly
winds which prevailed during the
early portions of the week, and which
dried and crusted the ground. a
warm, soaking rain would prove
highly beneficial to all crops. Rain
fall deficiency for the week 0.7s.
SUNSHINE.
The average of 67 estimated reports
of sunshine was 80 per cent. OF tbs
possible. The normal during thesame
period is approximately 60 per cent
CROPS.
Correspondents reports nearly All
refer to the past week as an unfayora-
bic one on staple crops owing to the
want of moisture, cool nights, and the
prevalence of destructive insec6 o.
pecially WORMS, chinch bugs, Colora,
do beetles and grass hoppera, the lat,
ter least destructive. Crows also
damaged corn.
The condition of corn is not satiMac.3
tory in regard to stand or color. The
late planting not coming up vel,
and much of that that is up Is OF poor
color and small size, ascribed TO the
prevailing cool nights. A great del
of corn yet to plant, and to replAnt
made necessary by the ravages Of the]
worms which are reported unpsuAIl5l
destructive over the entire Stata, e.
pecially on bottom lands. Corn is IA
better condition in the eastern co1nE1
ties where it has received its first Work
ing generally, than in the Western
portions where much of that planhd
is not yet up.
The condition of cotton has improv-
ed but little in the most favored SEQ:
tions, and in many places has deteri0-
rated. The cool weather caused the
plant to look sickly and on certain
lands to die out. Much of that plant
ed before the rains of the previous
week will, in the western counties.
have to be replanted which is now be-
ing done. First planting practically
finished. Chopping to stands con,
fined to eastern and central counties.
Stands irregular, but on the whole not
satisfactory. Sea Island cotton ~!
planted; stands fair, though damaged
some by cut worms.
Tobacco transplanting is nearly ali
finished. The plants are doing Meli
in most districts but would be eAted
by greater warmth and more NOR
ture.
All early rice is planted and
doing we'll in the Georgetown distEict
but less favorable reports are recetvnd
from other districts; yet on the who's
it's condition is up to seasonal aver
age. >,
Wheat heading short but continued
promising. Oats improved since the
rains but need more moisture - sthey
are now Gin the milk" SpringfaoWn
oats are poor everywhere.
Melons are backward and much o.
the seed have not terminated. bor
ghum cane growing well generally.
Peaches are reported dropping had5
Iy over in the Southern counties, but
doing we'll elsewhere. Trees, Rs
rule, not overloaded, but with . iat
"set." Applesand pears still regarded
promising.
Gardens growing well in some local
tiles and failing in others. Mors
moisture would prove beneficial.
Truck products doing well e4cep
Irish potatoes, Of which there ls Pros
pect of q short crop. Sweet Potas
draws coming up slowly and MOI
much setting out has yet been dome.
Pastures becoming scant in mani
places, necessitating feeding OF stocl
with dry forage.
From the national bulletin OF MAY
3: =,
Cotton has been unfavorably af
fected by cool weather over the cen3
tral and eastern portions OF the cotton
bait, and has also suffered conadera
bly from insects, and much replant
ing will be necessary. In Texas tna
greater part of the week was too COO
for termination and growth, but th4
stand is poorer than heretofore mp
posed"
The Cotton Crop of 1886.
The statements furnished the De
uartment of Agriculture by all thj
railway and water transportatioi|
companies show that from Septembe5
1, 1896, to February 1, 1897, the tota