The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-06-02
WEEkLX CROP BULLETIN.
Showers Reported But Rain Needed
throughout The State.

ollOWlnS IS SectlOn DlTeCtOr DaueI :
weekly crop report for week ending
Monday, ED:
Showers occurred on the 18th, 18th
and 23d, being widely scattered and
generally light on the first two dates.
On the ED good rains fell in LexinG-
ton, Gree nwood and Greenville coun-
ties and light showers near the coast.
Some rain was re .orted from twenty
five places, but only nine reported
measurements of 0.2j or more, with q
maximum fail of I. 81 at Batesburg. The
average for the State is 0. Il Of an inch
and the normal for the same period Is
approximately 0.SS.
With few and limited exceptions rain
is urgently needed over the entire
State Grain crops are threatened Sc
rious injury by confirmation of the
dry weather until they rl?en.
Minor field crops and gardens all
need rain to start them growing, and
even corn, and to less extent cotton,
need rain.
In the Southeastern and South Cen
trail counties all crops are parched,
wells are going dry and streams are at
an extremely low stage. The drought
extends along the coast to Horny, while
IN Berkeley, Darlington and Marlboro
counties frequent and beneficial
showers occurred during the week.
There was about so per cent Of the
possible bright sunshine, the lowest
percentage reported was so; the highest
100.
The winds were generally light
southwesterly, dry and parching and
together with the bright sunshine and
high temperature caused the surface OF
the ground to become very dry.
The high temperature and bright,
warm sunshine had decidedly favor
able influence on the staple field crops,
causing general improvement in con-
dition.
Where showers occurred the improve
ment was particularly marked, although
as has been stated, the need of rain is
general and urgent over the entire State,
as the partial showers covered campara-
lively small areas.
Corn has made slow growth but i'm
provement is noted in the general ap-
pearance as to color and stand although
the latter was damaged by cut worms
on bottom lands, bud worms which are
more numerous than for many years in
York county, and wire worms particu-
larly damaging in Chesterfield county.
Owing to the dry condition of the soil
late planting is not coming up well, and
much bottom land yet to plant, await
ing rains to put the ground In condi-
ton for planting. Corn is everywhere
small for the season, but the fields are
we'll cultivated. Rain is badly needed
fer corn.
Cotton has stopped dying except in a
few localities and shows improvement
during the week in color, stand and
growth, although in the last respect
the plant is not up to its usual size at
this season. Stands, also, are gener-
ally below an average, with, however,
exceptionally even and full stands
noted in many localities Late plant
Ing and replanted cotton coming up
slowly owing to lack of moisture and
crusted soil particularly on red lands
and stiff, heavy soils. A few reports
received of cotton fields having been
plowed up and planted to corn. Chop
ping to stands has been completed in
few localities only, but made rapid
progress, and was general in all por-
tions of the State being generally from
half to three fourths finished. Fields
are generally clean and we'll cultivated
although with grass noted in kershaw,
Edgetield and on new ground prlncl-
pally in Barnwell. a-Island cotton
in a bad way for want of rain.
Tobacco is growing nicely and where
showers occurred in the tobacco dis
trict, q marked improvement in growth
was noted. Over portions of this dis
trict more rain would be Of benefit.
Rice is growing we'll and, with the
exception of some fields being grassy,
is in very satisfactory condition.
Upland rice is, however, not doing so
we'll and stands in urgent need OF rain.
Wheat continues promising, but
would be helped by rain. Rust on
blades exists quite extensively, but to
no harmful degree. Wheat is beginning
to ripen and harvest will begin about
the first of June.
The second week of oats harvest has
passed and yields continue up to, or
above, an average. 1t is feared that the
drv weather has injured oats in the
west central counties, anu tnat cou-
tinuation of the absence of rain until
harvest time will materially affect the
yield. ~.
Late and spring sown oats will in
many places be complete failures and
they deteriorated everywhere during
the week.
Sweet potato draws are generally
plentiful with some reports to the con-
trary, but owing to the dry weather
but few draws have as vet been set,
and where it was done the sets were
wilted and killed.
Irish potatoes need rain nrgently IN
the eastern and southern counties and
would be greatly benefited elsewhere:
Where they have been dug the yield
was small, except that in Barnwell
county fair yields are the rule. Colo
RADIO beetles have appeared in large and
destructive numbers in Newberry,
Laurens and York counties.
There is On improvement noted IN
melons, very marked in few localities,
Int stands ura far from satisfactory,