The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-22
Weekly Crop Bulletin.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Sept. 81. 1897
TEMPERATURE.

on the 10th, with maximums of be.
tween 80 aud 100 on several days in
succession over large portion of the
State. The maximum reported was
l01 at Hodges on the 10th and the
mioimum SO on the 18th at Santcc and
on tse 18th at Walballa. The week.
/ y mean temperature averaged 78.for tbe
State and the normal for the same
period is approximately "A
RAINFALL.
Over the greater portion Of t0e
State 10 rain fell. There we're scat
3tered and generally light showers on
the 18th end 18th over the State gen.
erally but they we're extremely local 10
their character. and except in few
instances, did 90 appreciable good in
relieving the severe drought that nov
prevails Twensy-four places reported
some rain, but only Eve measurements
exceeded half an inch. ssith maxi
mum fall of 2 40 at Gillisonville.
The average of all measurements was
0.27 and the normal for the week is
about ] Is.
The sunshine vas slightly in excess
Of the normal, but varied greatly in
different portions Of the State.
Hail fell in Richlaod aud Newberry
counties, and local wind storms we're
reported from q number Of places but
20 material Injury to crops resulted.
GENERAL STATEMENT.
The continued absence of rain has
resalted 10 drought, and all grow
ing crops suffered severely. The dry,
sunsbiuy weather was very favorable
for harvesting. AM, gathering matured
crops. bu. prevented fall plowiog
except in the truck raising dis
triots where much ground was prepared
for winter vegetables.
Pastures failed rapidly and streams
are very low and in many localities
good stock water is scarce.
Tie bos, generally dry weather
ioaused cotton to open very fast. some
prematurely. and two-tbieds Of all cot
ton is now open with about half of the
crop picked. This applies to the whole
state; in the eastern counties The pro
portion open and picked is somewhat
greater. Full reports from every coun-
ty indicate that there mas been.a steajy
declioe 10 condition since the FIRST Of
this month, and that during the past,
week the decline was due to excessive
heat and drought, which caused the
plant to shed young. immature 6olls.
The reports also indicate that there
will be practically no top crop That
is to say, that cotton has either stopped
taking on fruit since the middle of
August, Oh that where it did fruit the
bolls and squares dropped off.
No blooms were seen during the
week except ou moiss bottom lands.
Over about ooe-third Of the State the
estimated yield of lint per acre will
equal an average, ADD over two-'hirds
it will fall shcrt, SO that ulakiog due
allowance for the increased acreage,
correspondents estimate hat the yield
will be smaller than last year. aud.
generally. ;he wcrst reports come from
the loca!i,ies Of usually hea7iess pro-
ducticn. In places where the plant is
still green, rust is very prevalent. bu.
many fields preseu; the appearance OF
having bsen killed by frost.
Sea islacd cotton picking progress
log rapidly; The crop. auch OF which
;snos yet nalured, is looki'.g remark
ably foe. notwithstanding the existing
moderate drought w1ese this crop is
cultivated
Except over the extreme northwes.
tern counties where corn was planted
late. it was not adversely affected by
the lack Of rain and hot weather.
The corn crop is now entirely safe
and much of it has been gathered
Correspondents generally speak of
of it as fair crop, in places, large
one
The weather continued favorable