Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-09-19
HEADQUARTERS.
STATISTICS OF THE COTTON
CROP.
IMP DRTANT INTERNAL REV.
ENUE DECISIONS.

WAsnNGToS, Sept. Night.-The
Statistician Of the Department of
Agriculture, Mr.. Dodge, has returned
from Europe and, after IL careful re-
vision of tho monthly returns, gives
the following as the present status of
the cotton crop: The indicated in
crease of area is little over 10 per
cent. The condition OF the crop Is
higher than in September of last year
in Arkansas, the same in Tennessee,
and lower in each of the other cotton
States. Worms have been more album
daut, yet their ravagcs have been dis
astrous or sweeping i'll few cases. The
season has been remarkable for its
rainfall, tending to further deprecia-
ton of the crop otherwise the cOndi-
tions have been quite favorable Fer
tiIizers have stimulated growth. and
labor has been steadier and more reli-
able. The averages are as follows
Virginia, 90; North Carolina, 95;
South Carolina, Sc; Georgia, 90;
Florida, 50; Alabama, So; Mississippi,
80 Louisiana, so; Texas, 80 Arkan-
sas, 93 Tennessee, %; Missouri, SO.
In September, 1872, Virginia 81;
North Carolina, 101 South Carolina,
95; Georgia, 90; Florida, 90 4; Ala
bana, So Mississippi, 90; Louisiana,
Sc Texas, "a; Arkansas, 7S; Ten
| nessee, 90. The cotton fields III North
Carolina generally make fine show of
vigorous and fruitful plants, the ex-
ceptions resulting more from the fall
| ing of forms and bolls, in conse-
quence Of too abundant rainfalls, than
| from the presence of worms In
South Carolina similar damage from
excessive moisture occurs, and the
| Io1
destruction of the crop i'll several
counties. The crop appears better in
Georgia than i'll any other cotton
State East of Mississippi, though
there is some injury from rnst and
heavy rains, and the caterpillar is
present i'll force in many counties, but
generally came too late to cause more
than small percentage of loss. The
| injury from worms and the seasons
vicissitudes in Florida, were greater,
amounting to 10 per cent. .of de-
| probation in the condition of the crop.
| Caterpillars appeared in portions of
Louisiana the latter part of July, but
their ravages had not been serious I'M
| til recently, in certain counties having
been held in check to some extent by
| the use of pOlsons, although efforts
to combat the pest have not been gen.
| eral III 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 caterpillars and boil worms
are doing local damage in shortening
the life Of the plant, without doing
much injury to the bottom and middle
crops The crop of Louisiana lacks
uniformity. Carroll returning 100 and
! Caddo 40, Tensas So and Rapides 80.
In some parishes worms have been
| present without doing much damage,
while losses have been heavyin others.
! There is a similar range of condition
| in Texas-from very good to quite
! poor-though the average is much
t higher. Worms have appeared in ma
ny parts of Arkansas, with little pros
| pect of damage except to the top crop.
The average condition of the crop is
much higher than i'll September of last
| year. Prospects are also good in Ten
nessee. Several counties in Missouri
make returns of cotton which have
never before made mention of that
crop.
| The Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue calls attention to the act of Con-
gress of December oath, 1872, requir-
ing every person liable to special tax
| to exhibit conspicuously in their place
of business the stamp donating the
payment of such tax, and directs that
! persons engaged in selling tobacco or
| cigars on railroad trains be required
to have their tax stamp properly framed
| SO that it may be hung up in con-
| spicuous place i'll the car where such
sales are authorized to be made at re-
| tail.
The Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue decides that planters engaged in
making crops on shares are not liable
to pay a special tax as dealers of
manufactured tobacco furnished in
supplies to hands employed on such
tobacco to be paid for out of the crop
produced. The Commissioner says
that the law Goes not impose this tax
upon every person who shall sell or
offer for sale as in the case of liquor
dealers, but upon every person whose
business it is to sell or offer for sale
manufactured tobacco, and he does
not think that furnishing hands with
tobacco, to be paid for as stated, con-
stltutes such Il business as the law con-
templates.