The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-02
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.


able, as is characteristic of the month,
both as to temperature and rainfall,
although the mean of the former and
the average of the latter were both
about normal. The coolest Gay was
the 18th, on which date freezing tenn
perature, with thin ice and ground
freeze, occurred over the whole State,
but fortunately vegetation was back
ward and many fruit buds had scarce
II begun to swell, this minimizing
the damage from the cold weather.
The closing week was quite warm and
favorable for work, with the exception
OF heavy rain storm that swept over
the State on the 29th, that delayed
farm work for few days. This storm
was followed by high, drying winds
that dried the surface ground quickly
and made it again tillable by the close
of the month. Previous to this storm,
the rainfall had been generally light
and evenly distributed throughout the
month. The drought over the south
eastern counties was practically reliev-
ed by a heavy rainfall on the l5-16th.
Preparation of lands, and spring
planting, are about as late as they
were last year, which is to say, about
ten days later than the average
season. Slow progress was made over
the western counties, where farm work
is backward, and the season very late.
Here some corn lands have been pre-
pared and little corn has been plant
ed, but planting has not become gene
raj. Over the eastern and central
counties, upland corn planting is we'll
under way, and some early planted is
up. The ground is too cold, however,
for favorable termination.
Usually cotton planting is well under
way over the southeastern counties by
the first of April, but this year cotton
planting during March has been con-
fined to the extreme southeastern por-
tion, principally to Beaufort County,
where about one-fourth the contem-
plated acreage has been planted, most
ly OF the sea-island variety. Lands
have been largely prepared and are
awaiting suitable planting weather,
over the eastern and central counties,
where by April 10Th it is expected the
work will become general. In the
western counties, the preparation OF
cotton lands is backward, and plant
ing will be late, although during the
latter portion of March the work Of
preparation advanced rapidly, but
planting will be delayed until the
ground becomes warm enough for the
favorable termination Of seed.
Tobacco plants, in beds are small
for the season, but they are plentiful
and healthy.
Rice lands are being prepared as
rapidly as practicable, but freshets in
the rivers have delayed the work in
the Georgetown districts, where none
has been planted. In Colleton County
planting is we'll advanced, being
about half finished.
Tie copious rainfall over the coast
truck regions made the early vegetable
crop very promising, although the
freeze of the 10Th did considerable
damage to strawberries in bloom,
white potatoes, cucumbers, musk
melons, snapbeans, squash and beets,
all of which were hurt and some kill
ed. Truck seeding was about finished
by the close of the month, and peas
were in full bloom, while asparagus,
cabbage and lettuce are being shipped.
About two-thirds of the fall sown
oats we're winter killed during last
December, and January sowings did
not come. up well, but that portion OF
the crop that escaped Wlnter RllunS
locks we'll. Much OF the land upon
which early oats were killed was
resown during February and March
with fair results. The scarcity of seed
oats on the farms, and It's high price,.
prevented the full acreage of that that
was winter killed from being resown.
Oats On sandy lands suffered the great
est damage.
Wheat was not materially hurt by
winter killing, and although small and
with thin or scattered stands, looks
fairly promising. In places it is IN
tested by small Ay, supposed to be
the hessian Fly. Rye and barley are
in about the same condition as wheat,
that is TO say, small and late.
1t is the opinion of most OF the cor
respondents, that the freeze of the 18th
did not injure the fruit prospects to
any considerable extent, as but few
peach trees and some pear trees were