The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-24
eotton Report Not Encouraging.
Conditions We're Much yaried---In
Some Sections it Was Too Dry;
In Others Too Wet For the
Crop to Flourish.

nature, although they are more 4UclIn-
ed to anticipate than to chronicle posi-
tive injury. The extremely high tenn
peratare that prevailed over the cen
traI and western portions of the belt,
in connection with a continued alb
.sence of rain where it is most needed
checked the growth of the plants and
induced some shedding Of leaves and
fruit. In few sections excessive pre-
.eipitation caused too much weed, while
IN South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
and portions of Mississippi slight but
general improvement in condition,
both as to growth and fruitage, IS no
ted. Picking has begun IN Texas but
will not be general for some time.
In Mississippi the week was intense
sively hot with high per cent, OF sun
shine. The mean Temperature rang
ING from to degees above normal
and the maximum reached 100 degrees
or more. in all parts of the State. Ex-
-cept a very few light, scattered show
ers in some of the southern counties,
no rain fell during the week. Many
correspondents report. no rainfall OF
any consequence since June 9Th. Cot
ton is being laid by and on bottom
lands continues to do, wells, 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 withstanding the drought
remarkably we'll.
In Louisiana, over that portion OF
the State lying south Of line drawn
5hrough A7oyells, Rapides and Vernon
parishes, refreshing and beneficial
showers were frequent during the hrst
davs of the week, and lighter, local
showers occurred at scattered places
north of that tier of parishes.
Cotton is doing well wherever rain
has fallen and has stood the drought
well wherever grown. but IS very
small and in many places has stopped
growing for the want of moisture and
IS fruiting at the top at height OF L
TO l8 inches, where ordinarily at this
season of the year its height is TWO to
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 where local rains fell
mostly in the northwestern portion OF
the eastern division and the eastern
portion of the middle division-crops
are, as "a rule, in good condition, but
elsewhere, especially in the central and
western portions Of the western dlyls-
ION, the drought is geatting to be very
serious on all growing crops, especl al
N early upland ocrn, which is rapidly
falling. Cotton has made fair prog
ress toward fruiting until the last
few days, and it is now beginning to
show the effect of the extremely dry
weather.
In Texas a marked deficiency in
rainfall for the State is again noted.
While showers, and in few instances
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 ia
vorable progress, but in the east and
south too much rain interfered again
with farm work. but has started grass
to growing rapidly in most all crops.
Bottom lands are in very bad condl-
tion, and hardly any results are ex-
pectedafrom them. The weather has
been little cool for cotton, and the
rainy, damp conditions since the 18th
is causing it to develop too much
weed.
In sSouth 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 a
yellow color. and there are reports Of
shedding leaves, and squares. Sea-isl-
and is thriving, but the plants are
dwar:ed, and blight is present in
spots.
In Georgia, except over limited
areas. the week passed with little OF
no rainfall, attended by high tempera-
Eure. While such conditions favored
cultivation of crops, they are detEi-
mental to corn and cotton, and the
later crops are badly in need of mois
Eure A hot wind on the 18th parched
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
district. where the staple has been
well cultivated and is now fruiting
more freely. There is much grass to
contend with in northern and central
districts, and where some fields have
been abandoned.
In Alabama practically no rain vas
received, except insufficient showers
In extreme eastern ard southwestern
cUunties, and the drought is becoming
serious in its effects. Cotton is hold
ing I'D fairly we'll, though it would be
benefited by rain: it is still small,
..8gt clean, we'll formed and fruiting
6Gy9y satisfactorily.
heegg nsins, occurred on the 10th, 11th
and 18th eoger the southwestern por
zs;:ep and .aEsng, the Gulf coast, there
were onES a few localities where the
droughty conditions were relieved.
Over the northern, central, western.
and, notably, over the northeastern
sections the drought is practically
unbroken; the few scattered showers
that,its 'Syver <hese districts did little