The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-17
A SHORT COTTON CROP.
A UNANIMITY or OPINION ON THIS
POINT UNSURPASSED.
A Very Interesting Report of the Crop
Throughout the Southern Atlantic
States and West.

NEW YORk, Dec. 16.-Bradstreets re-
port on the cotton crop Of 1929 says:
The cotton crop Of 1892 will be short. on
this point there is a unanimity Of opinion
quite unsurpassed. Our advices as to de-
creased cotton acreage. published last
spring. are fully corroborated. The re-
port of Bradstreet's contains the sub
stance Of results from 1855 correspon-
dents in 6u cotton-growing counties. an
average Of nearly three replies to each
county. in all covering about IS per cent
Of the cotton-growing area in the United
States.
Though the weather during the picking
OF this year on the whole was not as
good as last year, 1T still was so favor
able for gathering the crop throughout
large area as 10 be worthy of notice.
The line showing made by the Carolinas,
Georgia and Florida is worthy Of note
In Alabama Mississippi, Louisiana and
Texas the showing in this respect IS good
10 fair. Tennessee enjoyed fair weather
In Arkansas however, complaints of
cold, wet fall are almost universal and
this no doubt, has had an important IN
fuence on the yield. Starting with the
Southern Atlantic States and following
the coast west we find the most favor
able answers to the questions as 10 the
top crop closely agreeing with the re-
ports regarding picking weather The
same is naturally true as 10 the quality
Of the crop. The best reports TO those
questions come from the Carolinas, Geor-
gia and Florida, where the crop
has been gathered in excellent
condition. with the staple white
and clean. though little short In
places and the lint dry and light thus
affecting the weights Of bales, with little
complaint Of frost damage, though the
lateness Of the season naturally affected
unfavordbly the late growth.
From Alabama, Mississippi and the
Southwest there is more talk Of damage
from frost with naturally fewer advice5
as to a good top crop and quality in
Alabama and Mississippi. The showing
made by Arkansas, due TO the late wet
fail and frosts, is poor one.
The question on crop movement brings
out the statement that the crop IS NOV
ing faster than usual. Late advance i'm
prices is said TO be responsible for this.
In this connection the smallness or
stocks of cotton In bales held at smaller
interior points is instanced. There Is
also said TO be a notable absence of piles
Of unginned cotton. in pressing years
frequently mentioned. The replies TO the
question as to the percentage OF the
crop still unpicked shows that there was
on December 9th from per cent re-
naming in the South Atlantic states TO
Z and 8 per cent. in the Mississippi Val
ley and Arkansas. Although great deal
Of cotton had been parted with py plant
ers before the late heavy advance In
price, the financial returns on the present
Cop-the cheapest ever made south
have been encouraging
II is a noteworthy fact that out OF l,toi
replies fewer than per cent. indicate an
increased Weld as ctntrasted with 1884,
the bulk of those being in Texas. Only
3 rer G., Mt. indicate q crop equal 10 thht
of last wear. while no fewer than 81 per
cont. of The replies indicate decreases IN
Weld. Here, again. replies to the queF-
tion as to the prevalence of good weather
or rot during harvest shows some inllu-
cnce. though early Influences opeI"l-u 10
render the decrease widespread.
The decrease I'm acreage planted win
cotton this year is decidedly the most
powerful influence towards reducing the
Weld. This was aided by the latenesS OF
tbe planting season, by excessive rams
I'm June and July in most Of the states
h, ovor0ows in the Mississippi valley
bv damage by worms I'm the lower Mis-
sissippi Valley. and by bad harvesting
weather in Arkansas and Tennessee. The
heaviest percentage Of decrease comes
from Arkansas and Florida the former
decrease i'm acreage being emphasized by
bad weather. while the enlarged area put
into other crops amply explains the lal-
tnr,e decrease. Mississippi. Louisiana
and Tennessee report heavy decreases ]"
vleld also due TO causes already men
toned Alabama's decrease is also large
Ia me Atlantic states this tendency IS
ratber less pronounced The smallest de-
crease is naturally looked for I'm Texas
,,,,, o,,en there the falling off. Judged ly
me correspondents replies. is pronounced.
4 summary Of the returns received mol
cates that the probable total yi-id VIII
-. o,,ooe1 e 400 roo bales.