The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-03-07
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Cotton Crop of 1859.

The cotton crop of 1888-99 may fall
short of 100000 bales. If it comes
within 100000 bales of this amount it
will do so in the face of the general
impression at the South, as shown by
the replies to Bradstreets inquiries.
As usual at this time of the year we
have endeavored to obtain facts re-
garding the probable yield of this sta
pie crop. The report contains the sub
stance of the replies of 1886 corre-
spondents in 654 out of 657 cotton-pro-
dueing counties of the United States.
As regards area covered and replies
received, it is the most comprehensive
cotton report ever made by Brad
streets.
The total yield by States is based
upon the estimates of production made
by our correspondents, no provisions
or allowances being made for error or
underestimate on the part of the cor
respondents. Readers of Bradstreet's
will understand, therefore, that the
figures given are those of the 1926 cor
respondents of this journal.
Unlike the 1887 crop, that of 1SS7-89
is late, and unlike the preceding crop
the present crop has suffered from too
much moisture. The plant did not get
such good start this year as it did in
1887, and the picking season has not
been nearly so long or favorable as
that of 1887 These and other condi-
tions must be recognized in considering
the cotton crop, as must also the in
crease in acreage this year, which
amounted to 409,00 acres, or per
cent.
The returns by States show the wide
spread prevalence of unfavorable
weather conditions throughout the
picking season. Damp, stormy wealth
err arrested the growth and interfered
with the picking This is in sharp
| contrast with last fall, when practical
| ly the whole crop was saved in excel
ent condition. Nearly half the replies
| to the question as to weather report
bad, whereas in 1887 81 per
cent of the replies received re-
orted good weather. The absence of
good reports is especially noticeable in
the Atlantic and Eastern Gulf States
and the Mississippi valley. In Arkan-
sas and Tennessee weather conditions
| have not reached fair, and Texas and
possibly Western Louisiana alone note
the prevalence of fair to good weather.
The effects of this and some damage
from frost have influenced the replies
to the top-crop question. Fully one
half of the top-crop replies note either
a very small out-turn or none at all.
Nearly two-thirds of the replies to the
question as to the influence of Novem-
Der weather were 10 the effect that the
crop had been reduced by it. In 1887
25 per cent of the replies as to the top
crop reported a good crop gathered,
whereas this year only Is per cent
of the total number of replies (more
than double last years totally report
good top crop. A year ago
the unfavorable replies constituted
one-third of the whole. This year
they are, as above stated. about one
half. Killing frosts the first week in
November are reported to have been
general in many sections. They be-
came general in Texas by November
10. The progress of harvesting, in
terefered with by bad weather, was
slower than in 1887, with the result
that the proportion unpicked on
November 80 average date of replies)
was IS or IA per cent. throughout the
belt
The quality of the crop has suffered.
Forty-fve per cent. of the replies to
questions as to quality report it lower
than last year, and 25 per cent. of the
replies report the quality equal to last
year. The favorable replies come chiefly
from the States where good weather
was reported. About 55 per cent. OF
the replies received report the crop
movement this year to be as rapid,
if not more so. than in 1887.
The financial condition of the planter
seems hardly SO favorable as last year.
Thirty per cent. of the replies report
it less favorable than last year, while
in 1887 the like percentage was but 20.
AS to the yield of the crop as a
whole, 1,435 out of 1922 replies lover
"a per cent? report a probable de-
cline in yield. In 1887 only AZ per cent.
of the total number of replies report
cd decline. Our correspondents
placethe yield of cotton by States as
follows:
3 q :