The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-05
WEATHER AND CROPS.
DIRECTOR BAUER'S WEEKLY StJMMA.
RYoF CONDITIONS.

Generally Reported-Westher Favorable
for Farm Work, but too Cool and DRY
for Growing Crops,
The following is the weekly bulletin
of the condition of the weather and
crops in this State issued last week by
Observer Bauer of the State Bureau:
TEMPERATURE.
The temperature averaged degrees
per day below the normal. The days
were sufficiently warm, but the nights
were COOL The maximum tempera-
ture was SO on the 24th at Gillison.s
Vile, and the minimum % on the 21st
at Saluds, and 80 at Florencs and
Santuc. The mean for the State being
the average of 53 stations, was 60 and
the normal approximately s..
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 3 degrees per
day COOLER than usual.
RAINFALL.
No rain fell in any portion of the
State during the entire week.
All correspondents report the need
of rain, In the western portions OF
the State. to soften the baked soil 20
that plowing, preparation for planting
may be finished, this work being now.
largely suspended, and to aid recently
planted corn and cotton to germinate.
In the eastern portions rain is need
ed for growing crops generally, but
more particularly for transplanting
tobacco; to bring up late planted corn
and cotton; for the trucking interests.
and gardens and for oats, which are
beginning to head.
Stands Of late planted corn and cots
ton very irregular, owing to the lack
of moisture.
Normal rainfall for the week 0.a0s
of an inch.
SUNSHINE AND WINDS.
1t was practically a cloudless week.
The estimated percentage of possible
sunshine ranged from 80 to 100 and
averaged "a per cent. The normal ID
about 6S per cent.
The winds of the week were high
northeasterly-becoming variable. s
FROST.
Frost was reported on the 18th, Goth
and 21st, quite general over the entire,
State on the last date, but injurio1s
over the northeastern counties only,
where considerable corn, young cot
ton, tobacco in beds, peaches and gar
dens were partially destroyed. lce'
formed in Chesterfield, Marlboro, Ma
rion and Horny counties on the morn.
ing 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 favora-
BILE for farm work, but too cool and
dry for growing crops and for break.
ing up bottom lands or clay soils gen.
orally. ,....-.5.s.f q.
Corn planting is about completed
over the eastern and central portions;
about half finished over the remainder
of the State. It is coming up very
well in places, in others very poorly.
Stands are consequently very irregua
Lar even in the same counties. Wormss
and crows damaged stands seriously.
from Hampton and Beaufort north
ward, necessitating replandng IN
many places. Frost cut corn to the
ground in Horny and Marion, but re-
ports state that it is 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, plant
ing practically completed. Slow ger.
mination and growth owing to cool
nights and want of moisture. Stands
very uneven. Rsplanting necessary
over northeastern counties, where
many fields were destroyed by frost.
Rain and warm nights would prove
beneficial. Sea Island cotton pracd-
cally all planted and good stands
have been secured.
Some tobacco has been transplanted
but rain is needed to push this work
on large scale. Uncovered beds In
jured 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. Ratn
would benefit it.
Oats stand in need of moisture gen
orally, and are beginning to turn yell:
low for the want of it, in the more
easterly counties where it is begin.
ming to head. In Chesterfield some
fields apparently injured by frost.
Peaches are not as much injured as
earlier reports indicated. Some local,
tiles, in same section, reporting 9 fair
''set'' and others that all are killed.
Apples promise well, a few reports
only indicate any injury to them.
Plums, cherries and apricots plentiful
Dewberries ripening in Barnwelt
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 standstin for want of rain.
Sweet potatoes in beds not growing
well generally. Irish potatoes coming
up and doing well.
The national bulletin of April 19
reports the condition of corn and cot