The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-10
COTToN'S CONDITION.
Monthly Report Of the Department OF
Agriculture.

A8ElCullurS-
WASHINGTON, May 9.-Ths cotton re-
port OF the department of agriculture for
May relates to the progress of planting.
The proportion of the proposed breadth
already planted on May 1 was 77.5 per
cent, which is less than the average of a
series OF years. Many correspondents re-
port planting one to two weeks late
especially in North Carolina and
tennessee, where fully one third
OF the area is yet TO be seeded. North of
the Gulf states, from Georgia west to Texas,
the state averages vary oaly ? per cent. or
3 per cent. The figures are as follows;
Virginia 40 per cent, North Carolina 6S,
South Carolina rs. Georgia so, Florida 90,
Alabama 80, Mississippi a., Louisiana rs,
Texas 10, Arkansas &c, Tennessee Il. |he
delay is due in all sections of the
cotton belt to the excessive rainfall
IN February and March, which made
early blowing impracticable, and to the
very general deficiency in April rendering
the soil dry and cloddy, hindering germna-
ton. The seed beds, as q rule. have been
impertectly prepared, and are in relatively
poor condition, The reports intimate, as G
result OF the unfav0rable spring, that a re-
ductlon in the acreage may be expected.
Ihls may depend somewhat on the oppor-
tunity for completing the area during this
month, and the prospective profits of a
large breadth of cotton.
WINTER GRAIN.
The condition Of winter grain on May
Is reported by the statisticiau of the depart
ment of agriculture as follows: Wheat 81. 9.
rye97.2, barley 96.2. This is an advance in
wheat of one point during April and of
quite as much in rye. A gain in wheat is
reported in New York, in some of the south
ern states, IN Michigan, and a slight i'm
provement in Illinois, Missouri and some
other states. The uniformity OF condition
is somewhat remarkable, no state average
being lower than 90. The condition OF
moving lands is also high, the average being
", ranging from 80 to 100. The average for
spring pasture is 80, ranging from so to lOO
except drop in Utah to SO. and in New
Mexico to 81. The eastern slope of the
Rocky mountains comes within four or five
points of full condition and the Pacific
coast is near the maximum.
FLOWING RETARDED.
The progress of spring blowing has been
greatly retarded by an excess of moisture
IN the central and southern belts. The
proportion planted is reported at 6S.S per
cent. The average of several previous
years has been II per cent. The eastern
states report favorable conditions for spring
work, and fair progress to date. In all the
southern states it has been by heavy rains
and later by drought which has rendered
blowing difficult and imperfect. In tHe Ohio
valley the excess of moisture delayed plow-
ing through March, and interfered with its
progress in some PLACES during the first two
weeks of April. Work has progressed
rapidly since, and termination has gener-
ally been prompt, In the northwes5 the
season has been favorable, spring work is
well advanced, and spring grain is coming
up and growing finely.
EXPECTS OF THE FROST.
An investigation has been made of the
effects of the frost on May and 6. Tel
egrams have been received from the state
agents, showing that very general damage
has resulted TO Strawberries and early vege-
tables; some injury to grapes and cherries,
and peaches to some extent. In the east
and north it was too early to iniure apples
and pears; in the Ohio valley it is thought
it may cause dropping Of growing fruit. The
fruit belt OF Western Michigan is said to have
received little injury though the damage
has been serious especially to fruits and
vegetables in other parts of Michigan.
Nearly all unite in saying that no injury to
the growing crops has occurred. A brisk
wind and dry air favored New Jersey
orchards, and the loss Of peaches and apples
will not be so serious as was feared. The
Maryland agent reports q loss of strawber-
ries and early vegetables, but no injury to
grain, and none to apples, peaches or plums
is mentioned. The damage to the peach
belt is apparently not SO serious as was first
reported.