The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-05-21
SOUTH CAROLINA CROPS
early Planted Vegetables Coming In
Rap'd!y..Gensral Review

The week ending a. M, Monday,
May 11th, had mean temperature OF
about 65 degrees, which is between
and degrees below normal. The tenn
perature for the season since ApSh lst
to date has been below normal. There
were few comparatively warm days
carly in the week, followed by steady
low temperatures and fresh easterly
winds. that had detrimental effect
on crop growth, and made termination
slow. This condition prevailed over
the whole State. There was an excess
of cloudiness that had harmful ten
dency.
The rainfall at the close Of the pre-
vious week and the beginning Of this
one, covered practically the entire
State. but with small localities where
It was light, or absent, and with hail
over a wide extent OF country reaching
from Anderson county along the Sa-
yannah river to Barnwell, and with
the western limits on line from Lex
ington to Lancaster, thence extending
eastward almost to the coast, and into
the extreme northeastern countries.
The hail was heaviest, and most de-
structive, in portions Of Edgeheld,
Florence, Darlington, Lancaster, Ches-
terfield and Marlboro counties, al
though quite heavy in fewother coun-
ties. In the counties named, whole
fields of tobacco and cotton were de-
stroyed, as well as much fruit, neces-
stating extensive replanting of the two
first named crops. Rainy conditions
prevailed over the eastern countries on
the Sth and 9th, with heavy rainfall
along the coast where it was most
needed, but none over the western
counties on these dates, where the need
of rain is indicated to soften clay lands
that have become hard and break up
cloddy under the plow.
Corn planting is finished. except on
bottom lands, and much is up to fairly
good stands. but is growing slowly,
and looks sickly. BIRDS and worms con-
tinue damaging especially on bottom
lands, and a great deal OF replanting is
being done. Much corn has received
Its first, and some its second cultiva-
ton.
There is an improvement in the stand
Of cotton, as late paintings are coming
up better than early ones; much OF the
latter have been replanted and this Is
now coming up TO fairly good stands.
Planting is nearing completion. Some
fields have been chopped. Cotton is
growing slowly and looks sickiy, from
the effects Of the easterly, cool winds.
Tobacco has fair stands, but con-
tinues small. Transplanting is finished,
and replanting generally finished.
While oats continue poor, and will not
make even fair crop. there is a gen.
eral Improvement in condition, espe-
cially where the rainfall was heaviest.
Oats are in full head, and ripening in
the eastern counties, but the heads are
not filling well. Wheat continues poor,
owing to rust and hessian flies. Some
fields of grain have been plowed under
and planted to other crops. Fruit con-
tinues promising, although there are
numerous reports OF dropping. The
commercial crop of peaches will be an
average one, from present indications.
Rice is doing poorly. Melons need
warmer weather. Upland pastures are
failing in the western counties. Gar
dens are doing we'll Truckers are ship
Ping beans, white potatoes and large
quantities of berries. The western
counties need rain, and the whole State
warmer weather.. W. Bauer, Sec
tion Director.