The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-04-17
INITIAL CROP REPORT.
Section director Bauer Makes His
First Announcements.

Section Director Bauer issued his
first crop report Thursday 1T is us
follows:
The week ending s Il. m. Monday
April q, averaged about . degrees per
day cooler than usual, due to low tenn
peraturcs at its beginning and again
at It's close, while during the middle
Of the week few days had about nor
NAL temperatures. There was slightly
more than the usual amount Of cloudi-
ness. The winds were light until the
aight OF the 3d-4th when castcrly
gales prevailed. Frost occurred on
the morning Of the 5th, light in places
and generally heavy TO killing especial
ly over the western counties. The re-
sulting damage to fruit, tobacco,
grain, gardens, truck, and tender veec-
tation generally cannot now be ac-
curately determined, but was not
serious as far as known.
Heavy rains on the Doth Of March
rendered the ground unfit for plowing.
and farm work was further delayed Ey
rain on the night Of the 3rd, that
caused the preparation Of lands TO he
suspended for the remainder Of the
week
The weather conditions since early
in March have been favorable for the
rapid growth Of vegetation, owing Lu
that month having been unusually
warm, in fact the warmcSt March of
record, but it was also unusually wet,
and had an exceedingly small prcccnt-
age Of sunshine and light winds.
'Tlf Sc latter conditions caused lands
to dry out slowly, SO that plowing and
preparation OF lands i'm general were
delayed, making the ScaSun to date, Il
late one, except over the uplands OF
the eastern counties where the con
ditions were more favorab ablc, and where
planting operations arc almost as lar
advanced rs usual. Rice is an cXccp-
tion, as tho low lying lands have been
continuously too wet to work.
In the eastern counties corn plant
ing Is well under way, in places near
ing completion, and some corn is IN
to stands. Some cotton has been
planted, but this work is not general.
Tobacco plants in beds are ready to
transplant, and some have been set
out The acreage devoted to tobacco
is being increased, and the territory
extended we'll into the central and
western counties.
TO the westward Of Il north aud
south line through the middle Of the
State little planting has been done,
and preparation Of lands scarcely be-
gun, owing to the wet condition ul
the soil Labor is scarce in some
sections
The oat crop suffered severe injury
| from grain louise that infeSts fields
in the eastern. central and few west.
crn counties. The plants turn red
and soon wither where infested by the
louise. The wheat crop looks fairly
promising.
The fruit prospects arc good, with
The exception Of regions In the central
Savannah valley, where nearly all
peaches are killed, and the crop will
be Il small one at hest. The truck
season is about two weeks earlier that
usual, and heavy shipments of straw.
berries, asparagus, peas, cabbage
lettuce and bccts are being made, bu,
the recent cool weather affected ten
der vegetables unfavorably, ncccsSitat-
ing much rcplaiiling. With the cX
ccption that the soil contains plenty
Of moisture, the conditions at the
opening OF the crop season arc not
entirely favorable