Huntsville gazette. [volume] (Huntsville, Ala.) 1879-1894, 1891-09-19
THE COTTON STATUS.

The Results of Thorough Inspection of
the Cotton Fields of the South Sum-
marized-Former UnfavorabIe Reports
Concerning the Ravages of Bad Weather,
Worms and Rust Confirmed.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. Ia The Globe
Democrat, as result of very thor
ough personal inspection of plantations
by its correspondents throughout the
cotton region, publishes an exhaustive
report, of which the following is sum
mary:
The reports from the cotton districts this
week show very little change in the condi-
tion of the staple. but they confirm the un-
favorable reports received last week. They
show that the cold weather in the middle
states, the drought in Texas and the rains
in the southeast did fully as much damage
as was estimated seven days ago, and
in some localities the injury to the
plant is shown to have been greater than
was then indicated. The reports this week,
too, are more reliable, because they are
largely based upon personal inspection by
correspondents, who were Instructed to go
out and examine the plantations ana to as
certain for themselves as nearly as possible
the exact condition of the crop. Their in
yestigations show that the damage result
ing from unfayorable weather, worms and
iust mas iCQuCcu INC pEOspCCts VI august
from 20 per cent in some sections to so per
cent. in others, AND that the prospect for
top crop is poor. AtL
The drought in Texas continues unbroken,
except in few localities in the northwest
ern and central parts of the state, and the
plant necessarily suffers in consequence.
Some points still report the indications good
for yield equal to that Of last year but the
majority state that the yield Will fall short.
The average estimate for this years crop in
Texas Is about one-third of a bale to the
acre. In Arkansas, while the days
have been somewhat warmer, the
nights, particularly in the northern
part OF the state, have been too cool The
damage by the late unfavorabIe weather
is variously estimated, but nearly all unto
in saying that it has been serious. From
three points. however, come reports that
may be considered fairly favorable. In Mis-
sissippi the cotton continues to shed and
rust, and worms are still doing some injury
to the plant Correspondents make the
estimates of damage about the same as
last week. Perhaps little greater.
There is no important change In the outlook
either way in Louisiana. The prospects
for either a middle 4 top crop are
poor. In Alabama and Georgia it rained
oil day Thursday. In the former state this,
1t is believed, will help the young cotton in
the bottoms to some extent. On the upands
in the southern part of the state the young
cotton is all burned out. In Georgia the
rain, it is stated will be very damaging, as
is will stain the cotton and retard the pick
Ing. The crop in North Carolina and the
northern portion of South Carolina has
been somewhat improved by good weather,
but in the southern part of the latter state
the plant is said to be damaged from 30 to 90
per cent
The Georgia Cotton Harvest.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept 13.-Rain fell
all day Friday. Its effect can not be
other than very damaging. While the
pickers' strike is doubtful, talk of it
has demoralized labor. The negroes
are excited and are holding meetings to
such an extent that in Lee and Burke
counties the piclcers have put in only
about half time. There are many COM
plants of damage by rust and caterpil-
lars But the cotton coming into mar
ret thus far is much superior to the
average of last years crop. George w.
Truitt, one of the largest planters in
the state, estimates the shortage at 33 M
per cent.
The cotton piclzers' strike proves to
be myth in Georgia. All the negroes
are at work excepting in such portions
of the state where it is raining. Re-
ports received by the Atlanta Demo-
crat from Texas and all portions of
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana and Tennessee are to the samo
effect.