The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-28
The GROWING CROPS.
Condition and Outlook as Seen
Through Official Glasses.

Columbia, May 28.-The following
is the weekly weather crop bulletin,
issued May q, by the South Carolina
section Of the climate and crop service,
weather bureau, United States Depart
ment of Agricluure-J. ". Bauer,
section director:
The average temperature for the week
ending Monday, May 26th, was Is de-
grees, which is about 2 degrees above
normal. The week had maximum
of SO degrees at Blackville, and min
imum of IS degrees at Bowman, King
stree, st. George and Seivern on the
23d. The sunshine was below normal
early in the week, with an average
amount during the latter part.
The rainfall was generally light, and
poorly distributed, with, however,
heavy showers at places, notably, Spar
tanburg had 1.15 inches, Kingstree
Lo4 and st. Matthews 1.35. No other
points had over an inch, and most
places had less than 0.25, except that
the thunder storms on the 10Th in
creased the amounts over the eastern
and central counties, which will ap-
pear in next weeks bulletin. The
need of rain is almost general, but is
greatest along the coast from Horny to
Beaufort, and in the west central
counties, especially Chester, Lexing-
ton, Aiken, Edgefeld and Saluda.
The ground was too wet for cult
vation, early in the week, in Green
vile and Marion Counties, otherwise
farm work was not interrupted and
made rapid progress, and fields are
well cultivaed, and free from grass
and weeds, except in Marion and
Oconee Counties, where some fields OF
corn and cotton are grassy. In the
dry counties, named above, some bot
tom lands are too dry and hard to
plow, and in those localities much
corn remains implanted.
The condition of corn is very salts
factory, and it is said by some to be
the best in many years. Cutworms
have continued to damage stands, es-
pecially on bottom lands, while in
Rampon County wireworms are doing
it great injury. In Lexington corn is
turning yellow for want of rain, but
generally it has good color, is growing
we'll, and looks promising. In Flor
ence County, cutworms caused some
fields to be plowed up and replanted,
but there has been less replanting
necessary than usual.
Cotton has generally good stands,
vigorous stalks, healthy color, and
has received proper cultivation, over
the whole State, with few exceptions.
At few points it has sbeen too dry
for late cotton to come up we'll.
Chopping is we'll advanced everywhere,
and at many places has been finished.
Lice have made their appearance at a
few additional points. There is some
complaint Of the nights having been too
cool for cotton during a portion of the
week.
Tobacco has irregular stands, and
worms have appeared in few locali-
ties. Rice is doing we'll and has re-
cieved its second flooding. Some is still
being planted, and preparation Of lands
is underway for June paintings.
Wheat is.in full head. and in places
| is ripening. It's condition remains
poor, although somewhat improved
during the week, with here and there
very good fields Rust has appeared
in Fairfield County. The straw is
short, but the heads seem to be we'll
developed, while the stands are thin.
Oats are ripening generally, and are
poor, though slightly improved where
rains occurred. Harvest is advancing
slowly westward.
Peaches, pears and apples are still
dropping. Watermelons are not prom
ising. Gardens only fair. Heavy
shipments of beans, potatoes and other
vegetables being made from the truck
raising sections. The general outlook
is very promising for the staple crops,
and generally so for the minor ones.