The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-29
COTTON BADLY INJURED.
TaEDAMAGE BY RAINS ONs-TENTH
TO ONE-s1xrR OF THE CROP.


The Greatest Damage in Middle and
Lower Georgia, Lower South Caro-
hua, Upper F.or.d', aud ia Alabama
and Mississippi-Ths Sea Island Crop
to be Light on Account of the r aims.
Factors Receiving Disc ouraglng Rs
ports from All Over Georgia.
The continued heavy rains are watched
with apprehension by all who are interested
In cotton, planters and middlsmen alike.
1t is generally conceded now that the rains
will have the effect of greatly reducing the
yield throughout the whole cotton region
east OF the Mississippi. West Of the Missis-
sippi the rains have not been so disastrous.
The cotton factors are receiving frequent
reports of the damage to the crop. The
Carolinas. particularly lower South
Carolina, middle and lower Georgia, upper
Florida and the greater portion of Alabama
and Mississippi are suffering from the
heavy and continued rains. Ii was not
thought until within the last day or two
that the crop in the sections affected would
be greatly diminished by the rain if the
rains did not continue.
CAN STAND A GOOD DEAL.
1t is well known by all who have any
acquaintance with cotton that the plant can
stand great deal OF rain at almost any
season after il gets start, hut it can aud
sometimes does get too much rain, and this
Is tho case just now. Over inches of rain
have fallen at Savannah in the last two
weeks, the greater part of it within the last
few days, and the same conditions have pre-
vailed all along the South Atlantic coast and
for into the interior.
Reports received by the MORNING NEWS
this morning show that immense damage
has been done TO the crop In a number of
counties, especially in Southwest Georgia,
and there are great many counties SINH
larly affected that have not reported.
THE ESTIMATED DECREASE.
The decrease In the yield caused by the
rains is estimated at from one tenth to one
sixth. The rains in the Savannah river
valley, in lower South Carolina, in Middle
Georgia around Milledgeville aud in South
west Georgia around Valdosta have been
very disastrous.
A MORNING NEWS reporter talked with
several Of the largest cotton handlers on
the Bay yesterday and got their opinions
as to tle effect OF the rains upon the crop.
They say that the effects of the rain will be
felt in several ways. 1t throws back the
season, alresdy late, because it puts an
entire stop to cotton picking, almost pre-
vents ginning, the condition of the roads
prevents the farmers hauling what cotton
they have on hand to town, and the same
thing with regard 10 the railroads prevents
them from handling what cotton is deliv-
cred to them. combining to delay the re-
celpts at the ports.
THE BOLLS BEATEN OUT.
The fields have been reported as white
with open cotton from a large portion of
the cotton territory. The heavy rains beat
the open cotton out of the bolls and into
the ground which, if not a total loss, is
greatly deprecated in value. The ten
dencY OF the heavy rains is to iniure the
grade Of the cotton as much as to
decrease the yield and the farmer
loses, even more oaAY the first than the
last Tbs rains will cause q quantity of low
grade cottop Z be put upon the market at
a low price. They are also retarding the
openinR, OF cotton. Altogether the pros.
pect FOR the farmer - not bright one.
rca7- 4oFEAR BCATERPILLARs.
Theirs is little fear Of caterpillars, how>
eyer, and it is even said that their appear.
ance after the rains would be beneficial, as
they would eat of the surplus leaf and
| foliage and allow the sun to reach the bolis
cansins them co fiaeHte more rapidly.
The7 prospects for SEQ island cotton are
said TO- bsl very pooT. On account of the
low puiGe feceivBf last year much of the
land planted in sea- isands has been put in
| other crops and 6he acreage is greatly re-
duced Reports say that the crop is in
poor condition p tt laHd thai the yield will be
APPEARANCES indicate that the rains are
oea,ing en1 bat there will now be let up
in tho dqRnpogr. IN cry little rain was re-
ported Yesterday except from the Charleston
and Savannah districts.