The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-21
FIRST CROP REPORT.
Vegetation Of All Kinds Made Little
Growth During the Week.

vegetation OF All KINDS Maue Llttis
Growth During the Week.
The following is the first of the
weekly bulletins of the weather bureau
for the crop season of 1898:
U. S. Department of Agriculture;
South Carolina Section, Climate and
Crop Service, Weather Bureau,
Weekly Crop Bulletin.
Columbia, S. c., April 12, 1898.
The weather during February was
steadily cool and dry, the rainfall
amounting to only "A per cent. OF the
normal for the State. The actual rain
fall averaged 5. 46 inches less than the
normal during January and February,
and the deficiency was further increas-
ed, in places only, during March. but
has been considerably reduced by the
generous rainfall OF April up to date,
which has brought the total amount
since March 1st about equal to
the normal for this period.
These conditions were favorable for
the preparation OF lands during Febru-
ary and March, which work progressed
rapidly and is now abont ten days IN
advance of it's usual stage for this
date, with fields practically all ready
for corn and cotton. Even bottom lands
that are usually too wet to be plowed
until about May have been in good
condition for working. Planting OF the
staple crops was in advance Of the sea-
son up to the beginning of April, since
then the cool weather and heavy rains
have retarded this work, especially
over the western portions of the State,
where tho ground was frozen hard on
two mornings.
Vegetation of all kinds made but lit
tie if any growth during the week as
the temperature fell below the active
growing point, each night, over large
portion of the State.
Owing to the favorable weather dur
ing March farm work is we'll advanced
and corn has bean planted in portions
of the State, being practically finished
for early corn over the more easterly
portions.
Much that was up was injured by
frost. the damage was especially severe
in Horny county.
The usual amount OF replantins is
necessary on account of crows and cut
worms, the latter giving much trouble
in places during the cool weather. Corn
that had been recently 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 counties,
while little has been planted over the
western portions or in the extreme
northeast, but the preparation OF lands
is we'll advanced and indicates that about
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 and
looking we'll.
Rice planting is we'll advanced, un-
usually so in the lower rice districts,
while in the Georgetown fair progress
has been made.
Tobacco plants are plentiful and large
for the season; very little transplanting
has been done yet, owing to the cool
weather.
Oats are looking very promising. e1-
cept in portions of the south eastern
counties, where it was so dry during
the winter. Frost apparently did not
hurt much, if at all, simply checked its
rapid growth. The same is true of
wheat. although wheat in places
turned slightly yellow. As neith5t
wheat nor oats had begun to '.joint"
at the time the most severe frost oc-
Cured, they will not be materially
hurt by the freeze.
Melons where up were badly frosted,
and garden truck in general suffered
more or less in all portions of the State.
even in the coast truck districts, where
frosts in April are very rare. Pastur-
age started to grow very we'll in March,
but latterly has been rather scant.
Gardens very backward generally,
although instances are reported of re-
markably early maturity. Large ship
ments are being made from the Char
lesion district of strawberries, beans,
peas and potatoes. J. W.BAUER,
Sec. Dir, Columbia, s. c.