The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-24
Climate and Crop Con-
dition.
u. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, South Carolina
Section.
COLUMBIA, S. C , May 1e, 1899

aged nearly s degrees warmer than
usual, with an absolute range of tenn
perature between a maximum of SO
and minimum of ~ degrees.
The rainfall for the week came in
the form of scattered showers on the
18Th, with no rain over large por-
ton of the State. and generally very
light except in portions of York
County, where a heavy shower oc-
cured. Showery conditions prevail
ed at the close Of the week over the
entire State, with heavy rains in some
Of the western counties, that will
partially relieve the existing drought.
The dry weather was favorable for
cultivation, and crops are generally
free from grass and weeds In places
the ground is too hard to work
Late planted corn is coming up
slowly, stands are irregular, aud
damaged in localities by worms;
bottom lands are being planted where
the soil is fit to plow.
Cotton that is up has not been burt
by the drought, bat late planted
cotton is not coming up well con.
siderable remains to be planted as
soon as the lands can be prepared
Stands are generally fell and healthy
but small. Sea island cotton is in
very good condition
Y heat is heading low and ripeniDg
prematurely in places, the yield will
be bot but half an average crop
Oats have been severely damaged
by the lack of moisture when head.
ing, and spring sown oats are report.
ed partial OF complete failure !; fall
sown oats will also make poor crop.
Harvesting has begun.
Tobacco needs rain both to main
tain stands and to finish transplant
ing; bugs and grasshoppers have
injured the plants in number Of
counties
Rice is generally doing well, and
preparations are we'll advanced for
late or June paintings.
Few sweet potato slips have been
set out Irish potatoes need rain,
aud Colorado beetles are very de.
structive. Cane and melons are do
ing well Pastures and gardens are
falling Fruit continues to drop,
with indications of light crop ex.
cep. for apples. Truck needs rain,
although shipments of seasouable
vegetables are heavy.
Extracts FROM CORRESPONDENTS RE.
PORTS.
Clarendon-Pinewood : No rain this
week. very dry, bus cotton looks we'll.
and being brought TO 3 stand oats are
needing raia very much, spring plant
fng 3 failure corn looks well bottom
lands being planted --R s DesGbamps.
Darlingtoa-Darliugson ALL crops
except cotton need rain :; tobacco plants
dying for want Of moisture, and unless
rsio cones soon stands wil! be broken !;
small grain not Going veil. needs mcis-
sure groand that was cot well broken
is getting too hard to work,-E r
McIver.
FIorence-Jefriss Creek TIE past
week has been fair md dry. aud farmers
made considerable progress in working
their crops, which are clean of grass
and weeds; stand Of cotton good corn
fairly coed /; early cats and vhea, are
excellent aud will sooo be ready to
harvest IL s Bigbau.
Georgeson-Waserly Mills: Weath
er good for crops and work ; boe;og Of
early rice nearly completed. stands
fair /; week very warm ireshss has
passed out Of river corn doing we'll ;
too dry for oats. which viii! be light
crop-Ralph Nesbis.
Ossogeburg-BovmaD: The drought
continues, but crops are doing as we'll
as can be expected !; some cotton DOT
up. seeds caonos germioate /; sprlog
oats complete failure ; fail sown will
make lissle over bali a crop DO potato
1oo6o call