The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-18
THE DAMAGE To COTTON.
THE SEPTEMBER REPORT OF THE
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
Detailed Exhibit of the Injury by Cat
erpillar and Drought In the Several
Cotton States.

WASHINGTON u. w., september II.
The September report of the statistics Of the
department of agriculture indicates a decline
in the cotton crop prospect during the past
month in consequence of the presence OF the
cotton caterpillar in portions Of Georgia, Florl,
da, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and d
drought of moderate severity In Texas, Arkan-
sas and Tennessee. The condition of the crop.
as shown by the average Of returns received, Is
as follows: Virginia 81, North Carolina lol,
South Carolina s5, Georgia sc, Florida. 90,
Alabama SO, Mississippi 90, Louisiana So,
Texas "a, Arkansas 70, Tennessee 90. Thus
the prospect throughout the entire Cotton
States, which favored q yield five per cent.
larger than an average product, promises at
the present time about ten per cent. less than
an averag.. The Increase of acreage over
last year and the unfavorable character of
the season of 1871, still point TO a material In
crease In the total crop ofl872, while the poe
slble extension of Insect ravages or the early
occurrence of frost may modify the present
expectation.
The only counties reporting cotton In Vlr
ginia are Northampton, Southampton, King
and Queen, Chesterfield, Greenvllle and Pat
rick, and the average Of condition has de-
cllned from lO1 in August to 81 In September.
Returns from thirty-eight counties tn North
Carolina average 101 in September, against
81 in August. Mecklenburg holds its August
estimate OF 125, and Iidgecomb has advanced
from rs to 100. Twelve reports are below 100.
No material loss from insects Is reported.
The average of condition In South Carolina
has fallen from SO in August to s5 IN sepLem-
Der. Darlington, Barnwell. Edgeheid and
fairfield Counties, which together produced
90, 900 bales of cotton OF the crop of 1863,
average sc, Darlington and Fairfield standing
better than In August. LRichland, reporting
100 In August, has been visited by the cater
pillar and reduces the estimate to 80.
In August only twelve counties of Georgia
of sixty reported returned coalition less than
100, and the general average was 104. In
September tits placed at SO. Insect ravages
are becoming serious 10 several counties, es-
pecially Lee. Twiggs, spauldlng, schley, Bald
win and Marion.
The decline during the past month In Florl-
da has been from 96 to 80. The caterpillar ap.
peared In suwannee as early as July 18th, and
dIgesled Of leaves whole fields before August
10th. Leon, jefferson, Madison, Gadsden
and Taylor have also been visited.
Only four counties In Alabama made returns
Fellow 100 In August, the general average
being lO7. Two-thirds Of the present returns
are below 100, thereby W counties averag'
ing ss. OF the prominent counties all show q
| decline-Russell frorl l02 to 81 and Marenge
from 80 to 10. Montgomery indicates an ad
vance from los to llo. Two-thirds of the re
turns include q reference to insect ravages. =
The general average Of Mississippi returns
has fallen since the August report from liz h
| 30. Warren has declined from ITO to l07
Madison irom. los to II, Kinds from 100 to 90
Three. fourths OF the returns are Delow"lo
Insect depredatlons are serious 10 many
| counties.
The average for Louisiana was lol In Au-
gust, In September SO. In Caddo, the decline
is from 80 to So; from 100 to rs in Concordia'
| from IS to 80 in Claiborne; while in Madison
a prominent parish, m advance from l2o te
100 is reported. The caterpillar has been de-
struclive In Iangipahoa, Red River, st. Ian
| dry and Concordia.
Drought has shorter ned the Texas crop, ano
| reduced the average Of the returns Of condi
| ton from lO3 to "a. Few reports of the pres
| ence OF insects are received.
The average of Arkansas returns has beer
| decreased from Sc to 7s, mainly by dry
| weather.
In Tennessee, drought has also been ipjuri
GUS, reducing the average from l04 to 81
The worms and the young hollis OF the TOT
crop are rapidly falling OF, threatening 6
material reduction OF the crop.