The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-05-06
CLIMATE AND CROP REPORT.
Four Frosts and Ice Twice Hctards
and Injuries Crops of All Kinds.

ana Injuries Crops of All Kinds.
Following is Section Director Bauer's
weekly crop and climate bulletin is
sued last week:
The wec!, ending s a. m, April 25.
had mean temperature of 81 de-
greeS, which is nearly o degrees be-
low normal, due 10 extremely low
temperatures al the beginning of the
week with gradually increasing
warmth to about normal at its close.
Frost occurred on the 10th. DIST, 22d
and 23d, generally light, but heavy to
killing i'll the northern sections, where
Vegetation was not sufficiently ad-
vanced to suffer much injury. The
frost OF the 22d WIS quite general and
covered the State nearly to the coast.
Ice was observed on the 10Th ana 2Oth.
and on the latter date the ground was
frozen in York county. This temper
ature was unfavorable for gcrmination
and growth, but did little damage
otherwise.
There was very light precipitation
in nearly all parts, but beneficial
amounts in only few. The precipi-
tatiOn on the 20th was in the form Of
rain, sleet and snow in the western
counties. The ground is very dry,
and has insufficient moisture for uhe
termination Of recently planted seeds,
and for the growth Of grain crops. and
for plowing in many places.
Planting operations made rapid pro-
gresS, and are nearing completion in
% a.IS
the preparation Of landS is rendered
largely impracticable by the drought,
except on light sandy soils. Some
bottom lands are being prepared for
corn. The season is about 10 days
late in the western counties.
Corn planting is progressing Slowly
in the west, although uplands are
nearly finished. In the eastern parts.
all but bottom lands have been plant
ed, and considerable repanting has
been done. Stands are from fair to
good, but are being broken by birds
and worms. The cool weather is in
imical to the growth Of corn, and has
caused some to turn yellow Cultiva-
ton is active in many places
Cotton planting is nearly finished in
the eastern parts, and about half fin
iShed i'm the western ones Germina-
tion is slow and poor, and only small
part OF the crop is up to poor stands,
Some that was up was killed by frost,
and is being replantcd Seed for re-
planting is scarce. In the western
paris only a small portion is up. Sea-
| island cotton is not doing well, owing
to the prevailing low temperature.
Tobacco transplanting is well adj
vanced towards completion in Marl-
boro and Marion counties, and made
good progress in other sections, with
the plants fine and plentiful
Most Of the early rice crop has been
planted. Much is up TO good stands,
but the cool weather has stopped its
growth and made it turn yellow.
Wheat continues to improve slowly,
except in sandy lands where il is not
stooling well. The condition Of cats
is variable, but they are very promis-
ing on moist lands and generally poor
on sandy lands, where rain is needed.
Both grains need rain. Melon seeds
are terminating poorly and some are
rotting in The ground. Peaches ap.
pear 10 be safe on high grounds, but
are badly damaged by frost in low
places. Other fruits are more prom
ising. The weather was too dry ant
cool for truck, although shipments
continue heavy. Gardens are gener
ally poor