The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-10-05
CLIMATE AND CROPS.
South Carolina Has Some Crop
Growing the Year Round.
INSPECTOR BAUER's REPORT
Much Valuable information Fur
nished as to the Conditions
in This State During
Each Month.

ne following IS the climate ano crop
review for the season of 1898 issued
from the South Carolina section Of the
United States weather and crop service
Thursday
There is no month of the year but
what, in portions of the State, some
crop is either growing or coming to ma
turity. During January, February and
generally the greater portion of March
the active growth of crops is confined
to the immediate coast from Charleston
to the mouth of the Savannah river,
where winter vegetables, planted In
the previous autumn, receive cultiva-
ton and make more or less growth.
The earliest are marketed in the latter
portion of January, and throughout
February and March. The list Of veg
etables increase in variety as the sea-
son advances and the area Of produc-
ton extends farther into the interior,
although confined to the eastermost
counties until after March.
The winter season of 1898 was mild
and dry. The average temperature for
January was 49 degrees, which was an
average Of 3 degrees per day in excess
of the normal Along the coast the
temperature fell below freezing (32) on
two days only. while the average mini
mum was above the active growing
temperature. The rainfall, however,
in the trucking districts. amounted to
fraction of an inch only, and the de-
iciency seriously affected the growing
truck crops. Frost did no injury The
average rainfall for the State was l.SO
inch, which was 26O below the nor
NAL.
February was cool month through
out the State, with an average tempera-
ture of A degrees which was 6 degrees
per day below the normal. The mini
mum fell to, or below, freezing on an
average of 16 days for the State, and 5
days in the truck raising districts,
where also. the average minimum was
below the active growing temperature
with frequent light frosts. The rainfall
was again deficient. The average was
only 0.Sl inch, which was $50 below
the normal. Less than one-fourth Of
an inch fell in the truck region. These
conditions of temperature and rainfall:
while generally favorable for farming
interests, were damaging to the truck
ing interests. and resulted in the latest
and smallest yield in many years, caus-
ing general loss to the truck growers.
The cool weather throughout the State
retarded the growth Of winter wheat
and oats, and other small grains, and
checked the budding of fruit trees and
aided materially in making the grain
crops the finest in many years, and an
unusually large peach crop. The dry
condition Of the ground permitted more
than the usual amount of ploughing
and preparation of fields for the usual
spring planting. In the extreme south
eastern counties some corn was planted
during the latter portion of the month.
March was warm, dry month. The
mean temperature was SO degrees,
which was degrees per day above the
normal. The extremes recorded were
maximum of go and minimum Of p
degrees, the latter on the first Of the
month. Heavy killing frosts we're re-
ported from the 1st to the 9Th, after
which warm growing weather prevailed,
except over the extreme western coun-
ties, where the average night tempera-
lures we're below the active growing
points until the latter portion of the
month.
The rainfall averaged .2.99 inches.
which was 1.47 below the normal, but
was uneyenly distributed, having been
heavy in the upper Savannah valley
and at few other points, and very de-
fcient near the coast, where the
drought conditions were intensified, to
the further injury Of the truck crops
which were slowly coming to maturity,
and shipments Of strawberries, peas,
beans and Irish potatoes were begun.
The prevailing high temperature
caused rapid growth Of vegetation.
The freedom Of the soil from excessive
moisture enabled early and thorough
preparation of lands for the usual
spring crops. Fruit trees Of all vsrie-
ties blossomed during the month.
Wheat, oats and barley grew luxuriant-
ly. Lands were prepared for corn, and
much was planted. Some cotton and
rice were planted Farm work made
rapid progress.
April was cooler than usual, with
mean temperature Of IS degrees,
which was 5 degrees per day below the
natural. The extremes of temperature
were maximum of 92 degrees and a
minimum Of % degrees. Frequent light
frosts occurred up to the 2oth, none of
which, although heavy in appearance,
did any damage except ts retard the
growth Of young corn and cotton.
The rainfall averaged sos inches,
which was 1.91 inches in excess Of the
normal, and was evenly distributed,
with an average of eight days without
rain. The rainfall was beneficial il
supplying, to a large extent. the pre-
vious deficiency, thus putting the
ground into excellent condition for
planting, although termination and
growth Of the staple crops were slow
owing to the prevailing low tempera-
ture.
Corn planting made considerable pro-
gress during the month, and the bulk
Of the cotton crop was also planted,
there remaining but little of either
crop to plant by the end Of the month,
except over the western counties.
where the farm work was delayed, and
was frequently interrupted by heavy
rains. Minor crops were largely all
planted and in the main did well.
Many peaches, plums, cherries and
apricots were killed in the western
counties by the frost Of the 9TH, but
elsewhere throughout the State the
prospects for a large fruit crop were
fo.o,1