Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26
THE PROSPECTIVE COTTON CROP.


the Department of Agriculture at Washing.
ton, indicates decline in the cotton crop
prospect during the past month, in conse-
quence of the presence of the cotton caterpil-
lar, in portions of Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana, and Of drought of
moderate severity in Texas, Arkansas and
Tennessee.
The condition of the crop as shown by the
average of returns received, is as follows
Virginia, 81; North Carolina, 95; Georgia,
96; Florida, 80; Alabama, SS; Mississippi,
90; Louisiana, SO; Texas, "a; Arkansas, 78
Tennessee, 92 Thus the prospect throughout
the entire cotton area which favored yield
of five per cent. larger than an average pro-
duct, promises at the present time about ten
per cent. less than an average The increase
Of acreage over last year, and the untavora,
BILE character of the season of 1871, still point
to a material increase in the crop Of 1872,
while the possible extension of insect ravages
or the early occurrence Of frost, may modify
the present expectation.
The only counties reporting cotton in Vir-
ginia are Northampton, Southampton, King
and Queen, Chesterfield, Greenville, and Pat
rick, and in these the average Of condition has
declined from 101 in August to 81 in Sep
tember.
Returns from 50 counties in North Caroli-
ma average 101 in September against 81 in
August. Mecklenburg holds its August esti:
mate of 125, and Edgecombe has advanced
from rs to 100. Twelve reports are below
1OO No material loss from insects is reported.
The average of condition in South Carolina
has fallen from SO in August to 50 in Septem-
Der. Darlington, Barnwell, Edgefeld and
Fairfield counties, which together produced
10000 bales of the crop Of 1869, average 96,
Darlington and Fairfield standing better than
in August. Richland reporting 100 in Au-
gust has been visited by the caterpillar,
which has reduced the average to 80.
In August only twelve counties in Georgia
out of sixty in reporting, returned condition
less than 100, and the general average was
1O4; in September it is placed at 96. The
insect ravages are becoming serious in several
counties, especially in Lee, Twiggs, Spaul-
ding, Schley, Baldwin and Marion counties.
The decline during the past month in Flor
ida has been from 96 to go. The caterpillar
appeared in Seewannee as early as July 10,
and divested whole fields before August 15.
Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Gadsden and Tay.
lor counties have also been visited.
Only four counties in Alabama made re.
turns below 100 in August, the general aver
age being 1O7. Two-thirds of the present re-
turns are below 100. Thirty-two counties
average SS. Of the prominent counties the
whole shows decline from 40 to 81; Rus
sell from 103 to 81, and Marengo from 80 to
70. Montgomery indicates an advance from
1O5 to 10. Two-thirds fthq returns include
reference to insect ravages.
The general average Of Mississippi returns
has fallen since the August report from liz
to 80. Warrenton has declined from 110 to
1O7. Madison from 105 to II. Kinds from
100 to 60. Three.fourths Of the returns are
below 100. Insect depredations are serious
in many counties.
The average for Louisiana was lOl in Au.
gust in September SO. In Caddo the de-
cline is from 80 to 30; from 100 to u in
Concordia from 95 to 80 in Claiborne, while
in Madison, prominent parish, an advance
from 12O to 14O is reported. The caterpillar
has been destructive in Tangipahoa, Marion,
Red River, St. Landry and Concordia.
Drouth has shortened the Texas crop, and
reduced the average Of the returns of condi'
tion from 1O3 to go. Few reports Of the
presence of insects are received.
In Tennessee drought has also been inju-
rious, reducing the average from 104 to 92
The forms and young bolls Of the top crop are
rapidly falling off, threatening material re-
| duction of the crop.