The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-13
CONDITION OF CROPS.
Wnat the Observers Al Ger the State
Saws Of Tham.

Owing to the anScHcr ii beneficial
rains over Il large pnrtI"m oi tI" STATE.
crop conditions have become variable.
although there is rs Yet mo serious M
pairmcut Of the staple crops. with III"
exception Of early corn. but minor crGp>
are not doing well generally. Hi2e.
tobacco and cotton maze satisfactory
growth and are Very promising,
Old corn. which is in silks and taS-
sells. is not doing well over the greater
portion Of the State In the soHtii.
eastern counties i; is So fur matnrtd
that it has practically done ali II %Il'
do. and is po"r crop. Elsewhere 1t *
in Il critical Sta@e. but would be great
iy improved by rain Where there is
plenty Of moisture in the ground. corn
looks very promising. Laying by Is
nearly finished and this work is bcln%
hurried 10 completion. Fields have
gcncrclly been cultivated since the
rains of june. and ;,rc free from @r;'ss
and weeds. The hot sun caused corn
to wilt badly during the day. and IN
localities it is firing Corn planted
on StubbIe lands is not terminating
well. and some has been destroyed.
owing to lack Of moisture and the cX-
extreme heat.
The condition Of cotton is generally
very fine. although the plant Is making
but slow growth. On sandy lands 1t
has attained fair size. but on red
lands it varies in size although gcncr-
ally small. owing to slow gcrminatlon,
some having but recently come up.
Lice almost destroyed some fields IN
| Florence and Sumter counties. and dld
much damage in Chesterfield and Or
angcburg: they arc fast disappearing in
the eastern counties. but have made
their appearance in large quantities IN
Pickcns and other western counties.
Reports from al! portions Of the State
indicate that cotton plants are full OF
squares. are blooming profusely, and
in the more southe .ly counties are put
ting on bolls very iast
Sea island cotton is small. but look
ing well. and shows a great improve
ment on its condition of the previous
week.
The tobacco crop is developing into
very fine one. except in few limited
localities where lack of moisture dur
ing the latter part of May and the first
half of June caused permanent injury.
Cutting and curing is well under way
and will become general during the
current week.
Rice is now looking we'll, but needs
water in some localities, although gen
orally enough fresh water is now avail
able for flooding the fields.
Much stubble lands is yet to plant to
peas, the ground being too dry and
hard to plough; termination Of peas
planted during the past two weeks is
slow, and consequently stands are gen.
orally poor.
Wheat thrashing continues, resulting
in the best yield for yoars in many
counties. Oats are all housed.
\ few native melons are on the mar
ket. but they are generally smaller than
usual With a few limited exceptions,
all reports indicate poor melon crop:
muskmelons are comparatively a failure.
Reports as to cane vary greatly, and
this crop is not in a satisfactory coHdl-
tion generally.
Haying has begun along coast mead
ows.
Sweet potatoes have not all been set
yet, and this crop stands in great need
of rain.
Peaches appear to be quite plentiful,
of fairly good quality. although some
what undersized. Apples are dropping
badly. Grapes doing well. Blackberries
are abundant, but small and bitter.
Pastures afford fair grazing in places,
but many report pastures again scant.
Gardens arc not doing well.
The truck season is practically past,
and reports agree that it was 4 poor one
for most vegetables.
\ correspondent notes that cotton
lice and cut worms have been unusually
active this year. as well as persisting
unusually late.