The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-20

mary CT tfc HeFO IS Asce 20 EeaC;l ia:
tors by the Lccsl ob,er,e-a a. arc
EIsewhsre.
The following is the first of tn.
weekly bulletins OF the weather bu
/! reau for the crop season Of 1898. I
was issued on the 18Th instant arc
deals with the recent frost:
The weather during February va:
steadily cool and dry, the rainfall
amounting to ouly "a per cent. of thf
normal for the State. The actua
rainfall averaged 5.46 inches less :har
| the normal during January and Feb
ruary, and the deficiency wss further
ipcrea. ed, in places only, during
March, bat has been considera oly re-
duced by the generous rainfall ot
April up to uate, which has brought
the total amount since March Isl
about sq1al 10 the normal for this
pe:ipd.
These conditions were favorable for
the preDaf a:ion of LANDS during FEB
ruary aud March, which work pro
gressed rapidly and IS now about ten
| days in advance of It's usual stage for
this date, with fields practically all
ready Tor corn and cotton. Even bot
tom lands that are usually too wet to
be plowed until May have been in
good condition for working. Plant
ing Of the s aple crops was IN advar ce
OF the season up to the beginning of
April, since then the cool we a her and
heavy rains have retarded this work,
especially ever the western portions
OF the State, where the ground was
frozen hard on two mornings.
Tne temperature for the week aver
aged s degrees per day below the nor
nal, with mean Of 50 for the State.
The range OF temperature was be
tween SO on the b at White Hall an
25 on the 7th at Central
Ice formed on the 7Lh as far east as
Hampton county, while IN the more
westerly portions the ground was
frczen. Thin ice was noted on the
S!h in the western counties.
Frost occurred on four mornings,
but that on the Tn was general and
| damaging over the entire State, Sc
we're enough along the coast to mate,
rally iDjlre arden truck, corn snd
| cotton that was up. but not hurtiD 2
jruit. Throughout the central coun
ties fruit escap ped unnurt except over
limited areas where peaches and
uns were badly damaged Through
| out the northern and extreme western
border counties, where the tempera
ture fell to from 8 to degrees below
freezing, it appears to be the excep
ticnal localities where peaches and
plums escaped Grapes, apples, pears
| and the several varieties OF wild fruits
ard berries appear to be unhurt; wheat
| and oats only slightly hurt in few
localities; corn. beans, tomatoes, and
melons, where up, considerably in
jured.
The rainfall was copius over the
greater portion OF the State during
The week, and very evenly distributed
ranging in amounts from @ SIS inch to
2.63 inches.
The average of all reports is II
while the State normal for the same
period is approximately 070. Sun
days rainfall does not show in the
ab We averge except from two stations.
There is now plenty Of moisture in
the ground for the present needs Of
growing crops, and in places over the
west central portions Of the State
farm work is delayed by the wet con,
ditior OF the soil.
There was less than normal
amount OF sunshine during the week,
and winds were cold northerly OF
northeaster]y.
CROPS.
Vegetation OF all kinds made but
little if any growth during the weel
| as the tenn perature fell below the &C
tive growing point, each night, over
a large portion of the tate.
Owing to the favorable weather
during March farm work is well ad.
Vanced and corn has been planted in
portions of the State, being practically
finished for early corn over the more
| east=rly portions
Mucn that was up was injured by
frost, The damage was especially Sc
we're in Horny county.
The usual amount OF replanting is
| necessary on account Of crows and
cut worms, the later giving nj I
trouble il places during the cuol
weather. Corn tnat had been recent.
ly cultivated was badly hurt by the
frost, while fields near by that had not
been worked were untouched.
Cotton planting has made consider
able progress over the eastern coun
ties, while little has been planted
over the western portions on in the ex
treme northeast. but the preparation
of lands is well advanced and Indicates
that sbou. the same AREA Will be put IN
cotton as last year. As but little
cotton was up, the damage by frost
was slight. Sea island cotton is up IN
many PLACES ana looking well.
Rice planting IS well advanced, IN
usually SO IN tne lower rice districts,
while Ia the GeorgetoWo tair pro- ogress
has Oeel made.
Tobacco plants are plentiful and
large for the season; very little trans.
planning has been done yet, owing 10
tne cool weather.
Oals are looking vary promising,
except III portions of the southeastern
cuuntles, Hnere it was too dry during
the winter. Frost apparently did not
hurt much, if at all, simply checked
It's rapid growth. The same is true Of
wheat, although wheat in places turn
ed sIlg ghtIy yeIow. As neither Wheat
nor oais had begun TO :" lint" at the
tlme the most severe frJst occurred,
they will not be materially hurt by the
freeze.
Melons, where up, we're badly frost
I'd and garden truck il general suffer
ed more or less In all portions OF the
STATE, even ID the coast truck d!stric:s,
where frosts il April are very rare.
Pasturage started TO grow very well
IL Marcn, but IaIterly mas been rather