The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-04-10
WEATHER AND CROPS.
Departments First Bulletin fof
Present Season.

The weather cOnQltlOn during moIcn
were variable, as characteristic OF the
month, both as to temperature ana
rainfall, although the mean OF the
former and the average Of the latter
were both about normal. The coolest
day was the 18th, on which date
freezing temperature with thin ice
and a ground freeze occurred over the
whole State. but fortunately Vege'
tation was backward and many fruit
buds had scarcely begun to swell,
thus minimizing the damage from the
cold weather. The closing week was
quite warm and favorable for work
wit hthe exception Of a heavy rain
storm that swept over the State on
the 29th that delayed farmwork for
a few days. This storm was followed
by high, drying winds that dried the
surface ground quickly and made 1t
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 re-
lieved by a heavy rainfall on the
15-16th.
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 sea-
son. Slow progress was made over
the western counties, where Where
farm work is backward and the sea-
son very late. Here some corn lands
have been prepared and little corn
has been planted, but planting has
not become general. Over the eastern
and central counties, upland corn
planting is well underway, and some
early planted Is up. The ground ~
too cold, however, for favorable
termination.
Usually cotton planting is well un-
derway over the southeastern coun-
ties by the first of April, but this
year cotton planting during March
has been confined to the extreme
southeastern portion, principally to
Beaufort county where about one
fourth the contemplated acreage has
been planted, mostly of the sea-island
variety. Lands have been largely pre-.
pared and are awaiting suitable plant
ing weather over the eastern and cen.
trail counties, where by April 10th it
is expected the work will become
general. In the western counties, the
preparation of cotton lands is back
ward and planting will be late, al
though during the latter portion of
March the work Of preparation aG.
vanced rapidly, but planting will be
delayed until the ground becomes
warm enough for the favorable ger
mination of seed.
Tobacco plans, in beds, are small
for the season, but they are plentiful
and healthy.
Rice lands are being prepared as
rapidly as practicable, but fIeshets
in the rivers have delayed the work
in the Georgetown districts, where
none has been planted. In Colleton
county planting is well advanced be-
ing about half planted.
The copious rainfall over the coast
truck regions made the early vese'
table crop very promising, although
the freeze Of the 18th did consider.
able damage to strawberries in bloom.
white potatoes. cucumbers. musk.
melons, snap beans, squash and
beets, all of which were hurt and some
killed. Truck seeding was about fin.
ished by the close Of the month and
peas were in full bloom, while aspara.
gus, cabbage and lettuce are being
shipped.
About two-thirds of the fall sown
oats were winterkilled during last
December, and January sowings did
not come up well, but that portion OF
the crop that escaped winterkillins
looks we'll Much of the land upon
which early oats was killed was re.
sown during February and March with
fair results. The scarcity of seed oats
on the farms. and it's high price, pre-.
vented the full acreage of that winter.
killed from being resown. Oats on
sandy lands suffered the greatest
damage.
Wheat was not materially hurt by
winterkilling and although small and
with thin or scattered stands, looks
fairly promising. In places it is IN
tested by a small fly supposed to be
the hessian fly. Rye and barley are in
about the same condition as wheat,
that Is to say, small and late.