The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-08
SOUTH CAROLINA CROPS
c.. ditions For Past Week Reported
By the Department.


September %, had mean temperature
of II degrees, which is about 2 de-
grecs below normal. The first part OF
the week was unusually cool, the latter
part warmer than usual. Light frosts
were reported from the upper parts OF
Pickens county. The weather was too
cool for growing crops, but was excel
lent for harvesting operations. The
winds were generally light easterly.
The skies were clear, but with some
cloudiness in the eastern counties du-
ring the middle OF the week. The
strong easterly winds along the coast
caused high tides that flooded some
rice fields.
There was no rain during the week,
and the need Of rain is again urgent
for fall truck, turnips, peas, and for
putting the soil in condition for fall
grain seeding. The absence of rain was
favorable for harvesting operations,
especially for haying, for picking cot
ton, and for gathering corn. The late
corn crop is very poor in the western
counties.
No improvement in cotton is indicat-
ed but rather continued deterioration.
The prospect for top crop is poor.
Rust is still prevalent, and blight on
sea-island and on some upland, but
there is less premature opening, the
cool weather having checked it, and
the cool weather also checked the
growth of young bolls. In places cotton
continues to open rapidly, and picking
keeps pace with the opening general
ly, but in a few counties picking made
slow progress owing to scarcity OF
pickers. In some of the eastern coun-
ties cotton is from half to two-thirds
gathered, while in the western counties
only a small portion Of the crop has
opened. Correspondents are unanimous
in estimating the crop to be a short
one, or below an average one.
Rice harvest made favorable prog
ress, although yields are disappointing.
Some rice was damaged by salt water
in olleton county owing to high tides
flooding the fields. Sweet potatoes are
very promising. Some oats, barely and
rye have been sown. Excellent progress
was made in gathering hay. Minor
crops generally are good, but pastures
and gardens are poor.
The Governments Report.
Washington, Special.-The weather
bureaus weekly summary Of crop con-
ditions says:
"The principal corn States have ex-
perienced weather conditions excep-
tionally favorable for maturing late
corn, and while frosts have been quite
general in the central and eastern por-
tions of the corn belt, no material
damage Is indicated.
with generally seasonable tempera-
lures and practically no rain over
the entire cotton belt, cotton has open
ed rapidly and picking has been active
ly carried on, large part Of the crop
having been gathered. Cool nights and
the general prevalence Of drought in
the central and western districts have
been detrimental, and rust and she'd
ding continue to be extensively report
ed, although rust is somewhat less
prevalent in Georgia. On the whole the
crop has suffered deterioration, espe-
ciaIly in the central and western por-
tions of the belt. Little or no top crop
is promised. In Texas the plant has al
most entirely ceased fruiting and in
some central counties is dying. In
North Carolina the conditions have
favored the maturity Of late cotton.
In South Carolina premature opening
has been checked.