The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-04
i. S. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.
Climate and Crop Bulletin OF
the Weather Bureau, South
Carolina Section.
For the Week Ending Monday
May 2, 1893.
COLUMBIA, S G May 3.

warmth ou. by toe middle of tne week
the temperature fell to aluost freezing
over central counties Ice was, in
deed, reported, fron varions points
and as far southwark as Hampton and
Barnwel counties, with heavy white
frost on the morning Of April 28;h
over the state generally, including the
vicinity of Charleston. On that morn
ing the temperature was as lo~. or low
er, than the previous records Of the
weather bureau, extending over Pc
riod of eleveo years, chow for the third
decade Of April.
The cold weather did oot last long,
aud the week ended with temperatures
considerably above the normal.
The average OF 4S places reporting
mean temperature was So for the week,
while the normal for the same period is
approximately 68. The temperature
ranged betaeen minimum of "a on
the 28th at Saotuc aud Little Mouu-
taio, and a maximum Of 80 on May
lst at Batesburg.
The cold. heavy rain Of April 26-
9th vas general over the state, and
"a places accompanied by high wiods,
sleet, and hail. 10 the Southeastern
portions of the state the rain was need
ed, and in the vicinity of Charleston
more would prove beneficial. but gcDer-
ally this rain fell on an already saturated
soil, causing minor creeks and branch
es to overflow, and in Edgedeld county
damaging lands, Wasting them. Con-
sidering the area by and topograpb-
ical diversity OF the state, the rainfall
vas remarkable for It's even dissribu-
tion: -Four places only, out Of Al, re-
ported amoants of less than enc lsch ;
13 of from / to Q inches. 19 Of from 2
to 8 inches; and IL With three inches
o: more. The following excessive
measurements were reported, Mont
Glare 4 0v; Oskland 5.25; Alcolu
so; Shiloh 5 25 inches; The aver
age for the State was g 81 aud the nor
NAL for the same period is approximately
07e.
The sunshine averaged "a per cent
of tie possible. The prevailing winds
were from NV to NE generally cold,
and at times high aud we're au import
ant factor in making the weather unfav.
orable on crops.
Ali correspondents. without ezcer-
tion, charaosize the past week as hsv-
ing been uofavorable 90 the growth Of
crops, By reason of too much rain OF
TOO low temperatures or both as we'll
as the bad effects Of high winds in
places.
Little progress vas made iu planting
corn, and termination Of recently plant
ed corn is slow Il is coming up to
irregular stands, although some sec
tions report fair stands Much replaos.
ing is necessary, and worms are dam
aging corn badly in places The cool
weather caused it to look yellow and
checked its growth. Early coro is re-
ceiviog it's second cultivation. Some
bottom lands have been planted but the
recent rains made them too wet and
stopped planting operations on them.
The recent frost did not kill any cord.
Wet aud oold weather have bad 8
bad effect on cotton which everywhere
bas stopped growing. Some cotton was
killed by the frost, although such dam
age was con6ned to limited areas. bat
the frost efectually checked its growth
everywhere and gave it setback.
Seed recently planted are slow 10 com
ing up aud much repIantiug is neces-
sary Some fields where the cotton
failed to come up. or was killed by
frost, are being planted to CORD. Little
progress was made in planting and over
the western and northwestern counties
much laud already prepared, remains
to be planted to cotton
Rice seeding is practically completed
for early planting, but the cool weather
injured ths stand and vitality OF the
planss which made 20 growth during