The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-18
Condition Of the cotton Crop.

w ASHISGT0S, September lI.-Ine SlatlStl-
clan Of the Department Of Agriculture, Dir.
Dodge, has returned from Europe, and after
careful revision OF the monthly returns
gives the following rs the present status Of
the cotton crop: The indicated increase OF
area is 4 little over ten Per cent. The condi-
ton OF the crop is higher than in September
Of last year in Arkansas. the same in Ten
nessec. and lower in each of the other cotton
States. Worms have been more abundant,
yet their rayaScS have been disastrous, or
sweeping. in few cases. The season has
been remarkable for its rainfall, tending to
further depreciation of the crop, otherwise
the conditions have been quito favorable.
Fertilizers have stimulated the growth aud
| labor has been Steadier and more reliable.
The averages are as follows: Virginia,
9S: North Carolina. % South Carolina. Sc;
| Georgia, 90; Florida, So Alabama, So;
Mississippi, 81; Louisiana. 81: Texas, 92;
Arkansas. SO; Tennessee, 81 Missouri, SO.
! In September, 1877: Virginia, 81: North
Carolina. 101; South Carolina, 95: Georgia,
Sc Florida, 81; Alabama, IS; Mississippi,
| 90; Louisiana, Sc Texas, 81: Arkansas, 75
! Tennessee, 81.
The cottou.tield> in North CaroiUa gen.
| ernl!y make fine show of vigorous and
| fruitful plants, tie exceptions resulting more
| from the falling Of TO- ms aud bollS in conse-
drence Of too abundant rainfall than from
| the presence Of worms.
| In South Carolina similar damage from
excessive moisture occurs, aud the csterpil.
lars TIN eaten Il partia or total destruction
OF the crop in several counties.
| The crop appears better in Georgia than
| in any other cotton State east Of the Mis-is-
| sippi. though there is some injury from
1 r.,i, nnI th, it.,r
| is present in force in many counties. but
| generally came too late to cause more tilana
| small percentage of loss.
| The injury from worms and tie seasons
viciSsilude> in Florida are somewhat greater,
amounting 70 fifteen per cent. oi depreciation
| in the condition OF the crop.
| The caterpillar appeared in portions Of
| Alabama towards the last Of July, bat its
| rava"cs have not been serious until recently
| in certain counties, having been held i'll
| check to some extent by the use of poisons,
although efforts to comlat the pest have not
| been general.
IN some counties In Mississippi the plant
| is shedding leaves and forms from rains in
others, from drought. Rust has appeared in
some localities, and both caterpilars and bol-
worms arc doing local damage in shortening
the life Of the plant without much injury to
the bottom and middle crops.
The crop of Louisiana lacks uniformity,
Carroll returning 100, Coddo 10, TenS,s
So, and Rapdes SO. In some parishes worms
have been present without doing much DAM
age. while losses have been heavy in others.
There is Il similar range OF condition in
Texas from very good to quite poor, though
the average Is much higher.
Worms have appeared in many parts Of
Arkan$as. with little prospect of damage cx-
cept to the top crop. The average condition
Of the crop is much higher than iii Septem-
Der of last year.
Prospects are also good in Tennessee.
Several counties in Missouri make returns
of cotton which have never before made
mention of that crop.
New ORLEANS, Sepiembcr 1.-THE Cotton
Exchange Committee Oh Information and
Statistics, under date of 18Th instant, mikes
tlre followir" report, condensed from lCiit rs
received from August 3lst TO September
l2th:
In answer to our interrosatories seht out
durin. the month OF August. Mississippi
sends ftty-fn,lr answers from th.rlE-ninc
counties. Reports are very conflicting III re-
card 10 the weather, some complaining OF
TOO much. some Of too little. rain. ,atcr-
|
where appeared, and while they have done
but little damage on some plantations, on
others ;Lcy have cut short the prospects
very considerably. Great ictrS are cx-
pressed that the top crop will be entirely
lostaes pecially where the plant is backward.
| tompluiuts OF rot and rust are likewise Sc
rious. and viii materially decrease the re-
suits in many counties, while in oil;e.s no
damage from these sources is reported.
Picking commenced September lst. but will
not bc general before tue middle OF the
month. Oar answers lead Us TO believe
that under the most favorable circumstances,
late frost, etc, the yield will hardly compare
with last years, and that, with unSeasona-
bic weather and further dcpredatiuns from
worms, etc., the rsult will be materially
curtaied
In L1,9siana, from two plrisheS we re-
ceived thirty answers. thirteen OF whch re-
port TOO much rain aud nine dry aud fayora-
ble weather. Catcrpilars, which are reported
in great numbers throughout the State, have
already done considerable damage and still
continue their deyaStations. Rot and rust
have also injured crops to some extent, espe-
cay in those parishes reporting rainy
weather. Picking has generally commenced.
!, ONLY one parish, that of Union, reports =
greater yield than last year, while the
balance report = shorter crop.
Teras.-Firty letters have been received
from forty.cight counties. The general
character of the weather has been favorable
since lat report, most complaints being from
} the counties bordering Oh the Gulf. We
have much complaint of damage by army
and bol-wornl>, but little from rot or rust.
Picking reported fully three weeks later
| ~ mud mt n aptal IN hpUin
GENERALLY before September II. With frost
a, the usual time the yield will probably be
a. great or greater than last season.
: arkansas. counties send twen-
ty-pine answers. The weather bas been Gry
and warm, which caused the crops 10 mature
r-.pidly, though some few complaints are
made on upjands that the dry weather
caused shedding. Very little or 10 damage
was done by worms, rust, or rot. PichiDg
will be generally commenced between the
18th and 2Jti instants. Six counties report
an average increase over last years crop OF
III Der cent five counties report the same
WELD: and eight counties report an average
decrease from last years crop Of 10 per
, cent. making the general average about the
:, same IL last year.
Tgaaessee.- .-Thirty.oue letters have been
received from twcnty-tour counties. The
weather In this State was generally warm
and dry, and its effects are represented as
I rather favorable. No WORMS. rust, or rot
are complained of, the only cause of d!ssatIs'
= faction being the shedding OF sround-boils
II and forms, reducing prospects for the top
It crop. Picking has commenced and VIII be
e general about the Goth instart. The }ieio
will be about equal 10 that OF last year "ith
frost at the usual time.
From Alabama we received tairtyeisg;lhs
: answers from twenty-six countries. Ire