The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-06-16
5. C. CROP BULLETIN.
Rainfall Light. Crops Not Generally
Satisfactory,
Columbia, S. c., June :, 1898.

Six laces reported measurements OF
0. 50 inch, or more, with maximum
fall of 1Ol inches at Gillisonville; 2S
places reported amounts less than
.. % inch; the average of all reports
was 0. "A inch and the normal for the
same period is approximately liz
inches.
The continued absence of general,
heavy rain will soon entail suffering.
Small streams are dried up in Barn
well, and all streams are getting very
low; wells are failing and in many
instances have been sunk from 10 to 10
feet deeper to get water. The drought
has in places existed for from 30 to 40
days with high temperature prevail
ing, and generally bright sunshine and
dessicating winds.
Since January lst, 1898, only about
so per cent of the normal amount OF
rain has fallen in the State while in
places the percentage is much less.
There was an abundance of bright
sunshine estimated at 81 per cent of
the possible.
There was wind-storm in Green
vile, and one in Orangeburg during
the week, doing slight damage to fruit
trees in each instance.
Hail-storms occurred in Hampton on
May 3lst and in Georgetown June I'd,
doing some damage over their respec-
tive paths of progress.
The crop situation is but little
changed since last report. except that
the need of rain is greater. Farm work
made rapid advance except where the
ground is too hard and dry to plow.
Fields are easily kept from grass, and
are exceptionally we'll cultivated, with
the crops and grcundi in the best condi-
tion to be benefited by the rain when it
comes.
The condition of the corn crop is not
perfectly satisfactory; stands are not
perfect and on bottom lands still being
damaged by worms. Corn has good
color but is small. The heat causes it
to wilt during the day. On many bot
toms the stand is poor as there is not
enough moisture to germinate all the
seed. Laying by of corn has begun in
the eastern counties although corn has
made slow growth generally. 1t is
now in that stage, in the eastern coun.
ties. where it must have rain to make
proper growth.
There was slight improvement in
the condition of cotton over the entire
State, during the week. Where the.
stand have heretofore been defective,
no improvement in that respect is to be
noted, but cotton made some growth
and is in healthy condition generally,
the exception being that lice are ap-
parently damaging the plant in Barn
we'll, Aiken, Orangeburg, and to less
extent in a few other counties. In
Greenwood it is deteriorating for want
OF rain. 1t is below average growth.
Some patching being done to better
stands which average considerably be-
low perfect.
Cotton has generally received its
second plowing and is chopped to
stands, except in the extreme western
counties. In many Localities cotton is
in fine condition. Fields are clean and
we'll cultivated. Cotton is putting on
squares in the southeastern counties.
On the same date in 1897, squares were
general over the eastern half ..of the
State.
Sea Island cotton is not doing we'll
for lack of moisture.
The weather has been all that could
be desired for harvesting oats. Nearly
all early oats have been cut and housed
in excellent condition. Yields were
generally above an average. but in q
few places were poor on account OF
drought. Spring sown oats are very
poor-in most places will be complete
failures.
The weather favored wheat harvest
ing, which made rapid progress. and
will be generally complete during the
current week. In most places the
yield is above an average, in some the
best yield for years, while in portions
of Oconee and Spartanburg the yield
falls below last years.
Melons are improving and are now
doing finely. In portions of Florence,
musk melons are q failure.
Tobacco is in good condition general.
ly. but needs rain badly except where
showers fell during the week. Worms
less numerous than last week.
Rice doing finely and growing well.
Planters on the Cooper river are an
noyed by salty water owing to low stage
of water in the river.
slips; few have as yet been transplant.
ed. Some being set and watered by
hand. Sets drying up in beds.
Irish potatoes are very poor, and in
most places failure, the drought hav.
ing ruined them.
Apples are dropping badly; there will
be none at all in portions OF Florence.
Peaches late in ripening and are small
in Edgefjeld; they are ripening in the
southeastern counties. Grapes doing
we'll. Pear trees dying from blight in
Sumter.
Blackberries plentiful and promising
in places, while elsewhere the berries
are drying on the vines. Plums plenti-
full.
Peas are being extensively planted on
stubble lands and in corn fields. The
acreage of peas will apparently be
larger than usual. Too dry to plant
peas over large areas.
Sugar cane Is generally doing well,