The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-07-24
THE COTTON CROP.
The 0ensrAl Outlook Not So
Encouraging.
CONDITIONS MUCH VARIED.
In Some Sections II Was TIC ,
Dry; In Others Too Wst
for the Crop TO
Flourish,

The report on cotton covering the
rast week are not Of an encouraging
nature, although they are moro ia
clined, to anticipate than to chronicle
positive injury. The extremely high
temperature that prevailed over the
central and western portions of the
belt, in connection with a continued
absence of rain where it is most needed
checked the growth Of tho plants aud
induced some shedding of leaves and
fruit. In few sections excessive pre-
cipitstion caused too much weed, while
in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
and portions Of Mississippi slight but
general improvement in cond ition, both
as to growth and fruitage, is noted.
Picking has begun in Texas but will
not be general for some time. General
rains over the belt would quickly
change the present gloomy outlook into
a brilliant prospect for big crop.
In North Carolina, in many western
and northern counties, crops made
favorable progress, but in the cast and
south too much rain iuterfered again
with farm work, but has started grass
to growing rapidly in most all crops.
Bottom lands are in very bad condi-
tlon, and hardly any results are expect
ed from them. The weather has been
a little cool for cotton, and the
rainy, damp conditions since the 18th
is causing il to develop too much weed.
In South Carolina cotton improved
with cultivation, and although still
very small, looks healthy and is fruit
ing better than last week Most of the
fields have been cleaned of grass, and
the plants are growing slowly. In
places cotton continues to have q yell
low color, and there are reports Of
shedding leaves and squyres. Sea
island is thriving, but the plants are
dwarfed, and blight is present in spots.
In Georgia, except over limited
areas, the week passed with little or no
rainfall, attended by high temperature.
tion of ciOps, they are detrimental to
corn and cotton, and tho later crops are
badly In need OF moisture. A hot wind
on the 125h parohed vegetation to
considerable extent.
In Florida the week has been favor
able over the greater portion of the
State, and general improvement is
noticed in cotton over the western dis
trict, where the staple has been we'll
cultivated and is now fruiting moro
freely. There is much grass to con-
tend with in northern and central cis.
tricts, and where some fields have been
abandoned.
In Alabama practically no rain WAS
received, except insufficient showers in
extreme eastern and southwestern
counties, and the drought is becoming
serious In its effects. Gotten ia hold.
ing up fairly well though it would be
benefited by rain; it is still small, but
clean, we'll formed and fruiting fairly
satisfactorily.
In Mississippi the week was intensely
hot with high per cent of sunshine.
The mean temperature ranging from 1
to 8 degrees above normal and the
maximum reached 100 degrees or moro
In all parts Of the State. Except a very
few light scattered showers Ia some
of the southern counties, no rain fell
during the week. Many correspondents
report no rainfall of any consequence
since Juno 9th. Cotton is being laid by
aud on bottom lands continues to do
we'll, while on uplands the growth of
the plant has been retarded by dry
weather and 1t is blooming to the top.
On the whole. the staple is withstand
ing the drought remarkably we'll.
In Loulsians, over that portion Of the
State lying south of a line drawn
through Avoyells, Rlpides and Vernon
parishes, refreshing and beneficial
showers were frequent during the first
days of the week, and lighter, local
showers occurred at scattered pisces
north of that tier of parishes.
Cotton IS doing we'll wherever rain
has fallen and has stood the drought
we'll wherever grown, but is very small
and In many places has stopped grow
ing for the want of moisture and is
truiting at the top at a height of II to
IL inches, where ordinarily at this sea.
son of the year its height is two 10 four
feet.
In Tennessee generally hot. dry
weather, and high percentage of sun
shine prevailed during the week with
damaging effect on growing CROPS. In
a few sections were local rains fell
mostly In the northeastern portion of
the eastern division and the eastern
portion of the middle division-crops
are, as rule, in good condition, but
elsewhere, especially in the central
and western portions Of the western
division, the drought is getting to be
very serious on all growing crops,
especially early upland corn, which is
rapidly failing. Cotton has made fair
progress toward fruiting until the last
few days, and 1T is now beginning to
show the effect Of the extremely dry
weather.
In Texas marked deficiency in rain
fall for the State is again noted. While
showers, and in few instances heavy
rains, occurred on the 10Th llth and
18th over the southwestern portion and
along the Gulf coSst, there were only
q fow localities where tho doughty con
dItiOns were relieved Over the north
era, central, western, Acd, notably,
over the northeastern sections, the
drought is practically unbrokon. the
few scattered showers that fell over
these districts did little more than
dSmpen the ground and wore of no beno
fit to vegetation. In some localities il
has been seven weeks since rain fell,
and In great many sections the drought
has remained unbroken for over
month Stock water is failing fast
aDd the ranges are dry aud bare;
wells and small water COURSES are drying
up, and in many places where crops are
irrigated this work has been abandoned
on accoust Of insufficient water supply.