Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-03-17
COTTON AND GRAINS.
A Summary of the Agricultural
Situation.
The MOnthly Statement of the AgrIcul
tnral Bureau-SOme Interesting
Cotton Figures.

Cotton Figures.
The monthly summary of the Agricul-
tural Bureau has been issued in Wash
ington, and says;
The report of the cotton marketed was
completed for eight States month ago,
but deferred for returns from the Caro-
linas and Texas. The apparent proper
tions forwarded from plantations on the
1st of February were as follows: Vir-
ginia, 90 per cent; North Carolina, "a
South Carolina, 93; Georgia, 94; Florida,
81; Alabama, 92; Mississippi, 90; Lou
isiana, 80, Texas, o.; Arkansas, 90; Ten
nessee, 80; Missouri and Indian Terri
tory, 92 The general average is 90 per
cent. This indicates an increase of or
per cent on the aggregate of county
estimates of the 1st of October, although
the February returns of the estimated
product compared with that of 1886 were
nearly identical with the November re-
turns. This furnishes further illustra
ton of the local tendency to underesti
mate production.
1t was suggested in the November re-
port that it might be assumed that deep
rooted and early and well developed
plants would produce better than six per
cent in their apparent loss of condition,
and that if the outcome should surpass
this first estimate the excess might be
due to this cause. This view was cor
rect. An allowance for the depressing
effect of this in local returns, so stoutly
opposed by spectators, is again proved
to be necessary.
The quality of the fibre is superior, the
condition clean, and the yield of lint a
little above SO per cent. The value of
the seed averages 16 cents per bushel on
the Atlantic coast, Is cents in Mississippi,
IA cents in Tennessee, 13 cents in Lou
isiana and IA cents in Texas.
The average close of picking is as fol.
lows North Carolina, December 10;
South Carolina, December s.; Georgia,
November 90; Florida, December A; Ala
bama, November "a Mississippi, Decem-
Der 2; Louisiana, December 13; Texas,
November 30; Arkansas, November 26 !;
Tennessee, November 81. The date was
later than last year on the Atlantic coast,
Georgia excepted, and earlier In the
more Western States.
ment of Agriculture for March relate to
the distribution and consumption of the
wheat and corn stock in farmers hands,
| the proportion of merchantable corn, and
the average prices respectively Of mer-
chantabfs and understandable. The corn
crop is the smallest since 1884, and the
remainder on farms also the smallest in
seven years. 1t is estimated at $685.
600, 600 bushels, against 603, 900, 900 last
year, and 773, 100000 two years ago.
The proportion is 34.9 pei cent of the
crop, the lowest percentage except in
| 1884, when it was 33, and the stock
SIP, 900, 900 bushels. In recent years the
percentage has ranged from IA to 40
of the annual product.
The proportion of merchantable corn
is S4.4 per cent Of the present average
value of 500 cents per bushel. The
average value of stock remaining is 47.6
cents per bushel, 32 cents higher than
on the first of December. The proper
ton consumed without removal beyond
county lines, which was last March II
per cent, is estimated at 10 per cent for
the present crop, which reduces the quan
| tity transported to 40, 900, 900 bushels,
$4,000, 600 less than last year, while the
amount for consumption is also smaller
by 80. 900, 900 bushels.
The indicated stock of wheat of 1887
in the hands of farmers is 1872, 900, 900
) bushels, against 1879, ,000 900 last year, OF
20 per cent of the crop, against 26.7 per
cent last March.
There has been used in the seeding OF
winter wheat $4,000, 600 bushels, 1877,
600, 900 in eight months, consumption
81, 900, 900 bushels, exported in wheat
and flour, $4,000, 600 visible supply, and
an unusual quantity in minor elevators
and mill stocks in course of distribution
between former stocks and actual con
sumption.