The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-15
Z. s. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.
Climate and Crop Bulletin of
the Weather Bureau, South
Carolina Section.
For the Week Ending Monday.
June l3, 1898.
COLUMBIA. S c , June IA

The temperature during the week co:
tinued above the normal with maxi
NUNS early in the week ranging be
tween 70 aod SO degrees; there was q
steady rise 10 temperature during the
week With maximums of 100 to l02
degrees quite general over the western
aud central counties on the 10th and
tho 11th. There were few oompsr.
atively cool nights for the season early
in ths week With ! minimum of 55
degrees at San.uc on the 7tb, and at
Spencer on the 9Th. The mean for
the week was 81 degrees and the por-
nal for the same period is about II.
There vas an entire absence Of rain
during the week over the greater por-
tioo of the state. Ga the l2.h aud
18th thunder showere occurred over the
central aod western countries. but at .
few places only Was the rainfall oopious
enough to be of msterial relief from the
prevailing severe and distressing
drought
Some additional measurements we're
received of the rainfall Of June 4, on
which date Walhslla, had 100 inch,
Barksdsle 25, Loogshore l.26. and q
number Of other places bad amounts
either. too small to measure or less than
one tenth of an inoh. The normal
rainfsll for the current week is o.
inch. the State average is about .0l.
The deficiency 10 rainfall sioce Jan.
oary Let smouots TO somewhst over so
Der ceos. of the normal for the State.
10 Charleston the actual deficiency for the
above period is Is 56 inches 10 the
former locality the drought has about
reached the stage Of water famine;
cattle are dying for waot of va'er as
springs. brooks and streams are dry
while the tides have salted the rivers
for miles inland.
Streams all over the State are either
dry OF. their water gathered 10 a,agnant
pcoIs. Few ponds in the lower Coun-
ties but what have dried up aod 6sh are
dying BY the thousands.
The drought is. however, not coofo-
ed 10 the lower Coun.ies bat includes the
entire State, and is especially severe in
Auderson. Abbevills and portions Of
contiguous or nearby Couuties where
correspondents report either 90 rain or
less than beneficial amounts for periods
of from 20 to so days, while during
this time the temperature has been sb.
normally high. With but little oloud'-
nees. While most OF the staple crops
have q. yet suffered no irreparable i"-
jury. eootiuus,iou of the dry weatbe:
for week or two longer would in6lct
severe damage to all crops aud especially
on corn
The sunshine vas practically uuio
terrupted duriog the week at many
places. With 40 average estimated per-
ceotage Of 81 Of tho possible. for the
State.
The winds we're ligh. eas,erly during
the 6est of the week changing 10 light
aud dry westerly aud southerly during
the latter portion
A severe wiod 90 the 18th in Spartan.
burg County. damaged wheat. oats. fruit
trees. and building, severely.
The continued drought has affected
all crops adversely and injured some
seriously. especially e.rly. or March
pl.used corn which is uov 10 silk aud
sas.e!. bus pustiog on very email. i'm.
ua'ure, sorubby ears Many places
continue to report bad stands Of corn
due partly to the ravsges of worms aod
partly to poor eermioation owing to
lack of moisture. The condition Of
coro 10 general, is variable it is green
and healthy 10 places while elsewhere
il is yellow and sickly, but suall ever.
where
There remains considerable land, To-
tended for cora. yet to plant. estimated
at 20 per oeos in Ssluia County, aod
consisting generally Of bottom lsud
that early became too dry and hard to