The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-20
Climate ahd Crop Condition.
o. S. Department of Agricul'
ture, South Carolina
Section.

ber IL, 1S99, averaged sHgGtiY ooo'e'
than usual, although the temperature
departures were small. A maximum
temperature of 90 degrees occurred at
ST. Matthews aud Yemassee, and a
minimum of SIS at Greenville and
Spencer.
There we're light to quite heavy
showers on the 10Th and lltb, over the
western and northern portions of the
State after which the week was dry
aud cool, afording ideal weather for
gathering crops, and for preparing
lands and sowing rye. oats aed wheat.
The indications are that larger acre.
age than usual Of wheat will be planted
this fall.
The heavy rains were OF great
beoe6t to growing crops, and only
slightly damaging to open cotton and
to bottom land corn.
Cotton continues to open rapidly, and
faster thar it can be picked. although
the sweather was extremely favorable.
Fully half of the crop has been PICKED,
and iu many places unopened be'ls are
scarce. Tie yields are light except IL
sections, notably Hampton County,
where there is the largest yield 10
years. Late cotton continues to grow,
bloom and fruit, nevertheless there will
be top crop in spots only. A slight
Improvement is reported iu sea-island
cotton, which is opening rather slowly.
Late corn continues to grow nicely,
aud unless there comes &C early frost,
will be fair good crop. Fodder pull
ing is about finished over the western
counties, and it has been saved In
excellent condition.
Early rice harvest is about finished
With good 7leld OF ane quality. Late
rice is ripening. and being cut and
stacked. There is sone improvement
20 be noted in upland rice.
Peas, turDips. sugar cane and sweet
potatoes have made great improvement
and with few exceptions are DOW very
promising.
Fail truck is about all planted, but
there is need of raio to gerninase the
seeds and to support the young plants
Hayipg is under way with general
ly good yields Of both grass and pea
vines.
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS RE
Observation-Disclosures An ldeal
week for harvesting; the bulk OF
early rice has been harvested. and
quality above the average; late rice
still on the fields; sea island cotton
picking has been heavy. the staple
looks well, and is up to good aver
age in fneness truck farmers busy
planting last of fall snapbeans, having
been delayed by a scarcity OF green
beans f; white potatoes stands poor
some few planted this week; small
garden seeds have come poorly; tur
nips poor staud.-L sahlnann
Darlington-society Hill: Weather
favorable for picking cotton. which
is we'll advanced out come probably
two thirds of an average crop; rain
on 9th very beneficial to late corn
sweet potatoes and sugar cane ; sor
gbum being harvested, yield talr =
Maj J J Lucas
Florence-Lynch !: Heavy fall o
rain on 1llh. since which time ths
weather has been very pleasant
there is not more than half yield IL
any crop; cotton is being harvested
very rapidly. and there is no 'stf
fruit ;" picking will soon be hu'sh
ed e J Smith.
orapgeburg = orangeburg Tn'
weather has been favorable for gath
ering ali crops cotton picking pro
crossing rapidly, and with goof
weather will soon be picked out
cotton crop very short peas, po'a
toes, sugar cane and rice gro"ln'
| fneiv -Jno. S. Rowe.