Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-14
C0TT0N'S HEAVY YIELD.
A MILLION BALES INCREASE
OVER LAST YEARS CROP.

A MILLION BALES INCREASE
OVER LAST YEARS CROP.
Bradstreet's Review OF the SeasOn-The
Ups and Downs of the CrOp-Its Con-
ditiOp and Movement in November
Comparisons Between Last Years
Yield and the Estimated Yield of This
Year.
The total acreage Of cotton in the Uni
ted States reported to BrddStreet'S during
the present year was 17,920,914 acres as
against 17,0S1,500 acres in 1884. The
greatest indicated increase was toward
the southwest in Texas, and in conse-
quence OF the absence OF the
usual overfows in the Mis-
sissippi Valley a good increase in
Mississippi and Louisiana. During plant
ing time the weather was generally fav-
orable, with the exception Of Texas, in
which State heavy rains were reported
which caused serious overfiows. Some
complaint OF injury from grass also came
from the Atlantic States. BY June 10,
however, the trouble had been practically
overcome, and the condition of the plant
throughout the South on the above date
was very satisfactory.
In June there was some damage by
worms in the western part of the cotton
belt. In July it was stated the general
condition of the crop had been consider
ably advanced by the very good growing
weather. Some slight complaint OF dam
age by shedding, due to dry weather, came
from Georgia and Alabama. About the
middle of August it was ascertained that
decline in the condition of the crop had
occurred, due chiefly to extreme dry
weather, extending to other States.
The August report gave more detail re-
specting the change in prospects which
had occurred. 1t was shown by this re-
port that the plant had deteriorated from
the good condition attending 1t up to
Aug. 1. Some damage from rains came
upon the plant after period of dry
weather was reported from Georgia, Ala
bama and Florida, but the chief COM
plant was from dry weather in the Caro-
llnas. the valley of the Mississippi and
the southwest. General crop conditions,
however, ranged at fair. The inquiries
made in September with a view of
ascertaining if any improvement had
occurred during that month were an
swered in general in the negative. The
Carolinas still reported the drouth as pre-
valling, while in Georgia, Alabama, Mis-
slsslppl, and Louisiana frequent rains had
occasioned considerable complaint of
shedding and rust, and in the lOwlands of
Mississippi rot was reported. Texas and
Arkansas, owing to seasonable rains,
showed a marked improvement in cOndi-
ton. Worms were reported in Georgia,
Alabama, Florida, and Texas, but the
damage was rather less than was feared.
The report indicated, further, that the
July trGiting was, on the whole, good,
but that of August was almost a failure,
owing to shedding.
The preliminary top-crop estimates
showed poor prospect, and indeed the
chances of one being gathered were placed
at bad, while the prospects of a good av-
erage crop being gathered were still plac-
ed at fair. The October report which
followed indicated that the weather for
picking was fair during September. A
decrease from the prospective yield was
reported in the Atlantic States. especially
in Alabama. which suffered from rain to
some extent. In Mississippi and Tennes-
see the crop about held its own, while in
Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas distinct
gain was reported. In the early part of the
picking season the crop movement was
fairly active, but toward the beginning
and middle of November planters mani
tested tendency to hold the crop for bet
ter prices. The tOp-crOp prospects given
as bad in the September report were
stated to have gained but little during
OCIOueF, ana Ine PROBABILITY OF any con-
siderable crop being gathered was stated
to be slight. About 20 per cent. of the
! crop was reported picked by Nov. 1.
The conditions governing the crop
during November were rather dis
| similar in two great sections OF the coun-
| try. The States of Mississippi and Ten
nessee, and all the States further west, re-
| port picking weather good, while in the
| Atlantic States and Alabama the report
was not quite so favorable. The reports
/ of Novembe Der show that the trouble from
| low grades, previously reported, is Sc
rious, and the crop on that account will
| be a less remuneratiYe one than that Of
| last year in the matter Of grades. The
| crop movement, which was quite free in
| the earlier part of the season, according
| to our correspondents, showed a certain
| increase Of sluggishness as the picking
season advanced, due, measurably, to the
| low prices offered for the crop.
The table below gives the cotton crop
/ OF 1884 by States, and the total yield of
| 1885, as Indicated in the reports to Brad
| streets, together with additional details
/ from the November report: