The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-25
Reports on the Present Condition of the Cot
ton Crop.
WASHINGTON, September II.

The statistician of the Department of Agri-
culture, Mr.. Dodge, has returned from Europe,
and after careful revision of the monthly re-
turns, gives the following as the present status
of the cotton crop:
The indicated increase of area IS a little over
ten per cent. The condition of the crop IS
higher than in September of last year in Ark
ansas, the same in Tennessee, and lower IN
each of the other cotton States. Worms have
been more abundant, yet their ravages have
been disastrous or sweeping in few cases: me
season has been remarkable for its rainfall,
tending to further depreciation of the crop.
Otherwise. the conditions have been quite IA
vorable. Fertilizers have stimulated grown,
and labor has been steadier and more reliable.
The averages are as follows: Virginia, SO /;
North Carolina, 95 South Carolina, Sc; Geor-
gia, 90; Florida, IS ; Alabama, 85; Mississip-
pi, 50; Louisiana, so; Texas, 90; Arkansas,
95; Tennessee, go; Missouri, sc. In Septem-
tember, 1S72-Virginia, 81; North Carolina,
1Ol; South Carolina 95; Georgia, So; Florida,
92; Alabama, So; Mississippi, 904 Louisiana,
&c.. Texas, 81; Arkansas, 79; Tennessee, 92;
Cotton fields in North Carolina generally
make a fine show of vigorous and fruitful
plants the exceptions resulting more from the
falling of forms and bolls, in consequence OF
too abundant rainfall, than from the presence
of worms. In South Carolina, similar damages
from excessive moisture occurred, and the cat
erpillars threaten partial or total destruction
of the crop in several Counties. The crop ap-
State East of the Mississippi, though there is
some injury from rust and heavy rains, and the
caterpillar is present in force in many Coun-
ties, but generally came too late to cause more
than small per centage of the loss. The in
Jury from worms and the season vicissitudes in
Florida are somewhat greater, amounting to
fifteen per cent of depreciation in the condl-
tion Of the crop. =,
The caterpillar appeared in portions OF Ala
bama towards the last of July, but its rayages
have not been serious until recently, in certain
Counties; having been held in check to some
extent by the use of poisons, although efforts
to combat the pest have not been general. In
some Counties in Mississippi, the plant is she'd:
ing leaves and forms from rains; in others,
from drought; rust has appeared in some local.
tiles, and both caterpillars and boil worms are
both doing local damage in shortening the LIE
of the plant, without much injury to the bot
tom and middle crops. The crop OF LOUISIANA
Caddo 40; Tensas IS and Rapides 33. In the
same parishes, worms have been present, with
out doing much damage, while the losses have
been heavy in Others There is a 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 Ark
ansas, with little prospect of damage, except to
the top crop. The average condition of the
crop is much higher than in September OF last
year. The prospects are also good in Tennes-
see Several Counties in Missouri make re-
turns of cotton, which have never before made
mentigs of the crop; . o-.,,-o e.+ ~
The Cotton Excha'er. Committee on lnior-
nation and Statistics, under date OF the 10th
instant, make the following report condensed
from letters received from August 81 to Sep
tember -:
In answer to our interrogatories sent out du-
RUG the month of August, Mississippi sends
ffty-four answers, from thirty-nine Counties.
The reports are very conflicting in regard to
the weather-some complaining OF too much
and some of too little rain. The caterplllars
and boil worms have nearly everywhere ap'
peared, and while they have done but little
damage OH some plantations, on others they
have cut short the prospects very considerably:
Great fear is expressed that the top crop Will
be entirely lost, especially where the plant is
backward. Complaints of rot and rust are
likewise serious. The yield will hardly COM
pare with last years, and with uncertain wealth
er and further depredations from worms, the
result will be materially contracted.
In Louisiana, we received thirty answers,
shirteen of which report too much rain, and
nine dry and more favorable weather. The
caterpillars, which are reported in great num-
bers throughout the State, have already done
considerable damage, and still continue their
leyastations. Rot and rust have also injured
the crop to some extent especially in those
parishes reporting rainy weather. Picking has
generally commenced and one parish reports
a greater yield than last year, while the balance
report shorter crops.
Fifty letters have been received from forty
eight Counties in Texas. The general charac-
ter of the weather has been favorable since
last report. Most of the complaints are from
the Counties bordering on the Gulf. We have
much complaint of damage by army or boil
worms, but little from rot or rust.
Thirty one letters have been received from
tWenty.four Counties in Tennessee. The wealth
er in this State was generally warm and dry,
and its effects are represented as rather taVora-
BILE. No worms, rust or rot are complained OF.
The only cause of dissatisfaction is the she'd
ding on the ground of bolls and forms, redu-
cling the prospects for the top crop. Picking
has commenced, and will be general about the
goth instant. The yield will be about equal to
that of last year. The majority OF our cores
nopdents seem inclined to think favorably of
the yield, although our reports are rathePcon-
| ticting. ,.
We have ffty-two letters from forty Counties
in North Carolina All but three complain of
excessive rains, causing the plant to shed bad
ly; no complaints of worms, but considerable
damage from rust. Picking will be general by
the 25th instant. With frost at the usual time,
the Weld will be somewhat less than last
From South Carolina, seven Counties send
in twenty-one letters. The weather, since our
last report, has been exceeding y wet, and COM
naints are universal of shedding and rust
having injured the plant materially. Worms,
also, are reported in most cases heard from,
but without doing much serious injury so far.
Picking has generally begun, and will be under
| full headwaY at the date on which we write