The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-11
CEREAL And COTTON CROPS.
Interesting Review By the Department Of
Agriculture.
UPON NTHE WHOLE A FAVORABLE OUTLOOK
The Squadron OF Evolution Certainly to De
Disbanded- Reports OF Riots in China.
Capital News.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Sept l0--The stats
tician Of the Department of Agriculture re-
ports the September general average of cereal
crops az follows. Corn, 9l.l. wheat. g6.8;
rye, 95.1: oats 9O.7; barley 9f.3; buckwheat,
966. A small advance is noted in all.
buckwheat alone excepted. The average for
potatoes s 9i8; for tobacco, s7.i. Condition
Of corn is twenty-one points higher than in
September of last year, and has been exceeded
only three times in the past ten years. State
averages are generally high; the lowest are
those Of Michigan and Wisconsln. Minnesota
aud North Dakota coming next, while South
Dakota. Nebraska and Kansas make figures
under the .general average. In tho East
ern and Middle States the crop IS
well grown. generally yielding well, but lit
tie late and recent cool nights prevent rapid
advancement, yet frost has as yet done no
damage. The crop Il in fine condition in the
Southern States. It is not SO much injured
by heavy rains as cotton. In some bottom
lands water has caused material injury. while
on uplands the crop is remarkably good. IL
was somewhat late. but Is now generally be-
yOnd the reach OF frost A hne yield has been
made west of the Mississippi though
in western Texas little reduced by
drought 10 is a crop decidedly above
the medium throughout the South.
Many correspondents refer TO 1t a. the
best in years The general heat has
been only exceeded twice since lS7y-in 1892
and 1884. State averages are quite uniform,
but ten falling below % and three below 30,
the lowest being 50 for South Carolina and 81
for North Carolina. The figures for tho pfin-
cipal growing States are as follows: Ohio,
g: Michigan. 90: Indiana. l0O Illinois, l0O
Wisconsin, go Minnesota 100: Iowa, %, Mis-
souri, "a: Kansas 80. Nebraska g3: North
Dal~r So 4. Agrffl Lr,fQ ttI Vol 80
Oregon, 81; Washington, %. East Of the
mOuntans-New y Nork. 80; Pennsylvania. gJ
Maryland. 97 Virginia, 90.
gtIn Southwest Texas 81. In the Middle
States wheat was generally well filed, har-
vested IN good condition, yielding well. IN
few counties in Pennsylvania and IN parts of
MARYLAND and Virginia there has been some
injury in the shock. The Texas crop was I'M
usually fine. harvested in May and June and
is now mostly marketed. In one county
a yield Of twenty to twenty-three bushels
per acre is reported, and in another
eighteen bushels. A reporter IN Ken
tucky claims for wheat "One of
these exceptionally fine crops that occur
only at long intervals" Others mako less
sanguine statements. With variable returns
III Ohio and Michigan the quantity, quality,
ana condition Is very favorable. In Indiana
and Illinois, Missouri and Kansas the spring
Yields are better than was e1pected-with
III one instance ''thirty-eight bushels per
acre" in another estimated average weights
of sixty 10 sixty-two pounds 10 the bushel III
most favored localities.
REyIEw OF COTTON.
The September report of the Department Of
Agriculture makes a reduction in the condi-
tion of cotton during the past month OF SIX
pOnts-from So 9 10 S27. August IA the criti-
cal period IN the growth Of the cotton plant.
and sixteen times in twenty years has deterlO-
ration been indicated by returns Of SeDtem-
ber LIST. In four exceptional years August
averages were relatively low and a decline
had occurred during the previous month.
The cause Of the present reduction
on the Atlantic coast has been the
the plant and q diminishing tendency %
fr1ltage. From Alabama westward drought
was the main factor Of loss assisted by the
boil worm and caterpillar. The condition
is lowest in Arkansas, louisiana and Iennes-
see In few counties Ct Texas heavy rain
fall in the morning, followed by hot sunshine
in the afternoon caused a serious shedding
of forms.
The most serious complaints arc of the
shedding Of the fruit and leaves, rottlng Of
bolls sprouting of seed IN bolls, rust stain
ing of the open cotton, except in q few
localities where cotton worms are unusually
destructive. In the area affected by
the drought rust and shedding also occur.
Sudden extremes Of temperature, cool
nights followed by hot days. have been
productive of similar indications Of
deterioration. Any cause reducing vitality
and threatening decay produces these fre-
ouently indicated diseases and conditions.
The relative degree of loss from these causes
is Indicated by State averages Of condition.
which are as follows: Virginia. Is. a loss of
points; North Carolina, 79, gain of points;
South Carolina, 81. loss OF points: Geor-
gia, %, loss of points; Florida, SO, a loss
Of points Alabama. 49, r loss of points;
Mississippi g. a loss OF 10 points Louisiana.
So a loss OF points; Texas. 81, a loss of 10
points Arkansas, So a loss of points; Ten
nessee, 81. gain of ? points.