The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-05
REPORTS FROM THE SEVERAL
STATES THAT COMPRISE THE
COTTON BELT.
A DECREASED ACREAGE AND
POOR CONDITION
Combine to Make up Very Small Crop.
Most of the States Report Excessive
Rains-Boll Worms Have Also
Done Some Damage.
(By private wire to Cothran & Coz

SpeSIah IepoItS lIoln CoululSS1Ouer OF aS-
riculture of different States, of which we
give synopsis from each State:
Alabama-There has been marked de-
cline in the condition of cotton crop within
the last few weeks, produced by the
almost daily rainfall in cotton belt of this
State. This department sent out 500 let
tiers of inquiry as to condition and acreage
and just received 230 replies from the
different counties, aggregating the fol-
lowing results: Condition of cotton II
IA, or % "a per cent decrease under that
of 1894; acreage of cotton, 81 IL, or Ia 1-2
per cent decrease from last season. The
low condition of cotton, and taking into
consideration the decrease in acreage, at
present makes the prospective crop aver
age only about Go per cent of the crop of
1894, making it as near as cam be esti-
mated, 30 per cent short of the yield of
last year.
Arkansas-The acreage in cotton is 10
per cent less in Arkansas, compared with
last season. The decrease in yield is 30
per cent ON account of excessive rams
i'm July and August. Besides, the boil
worms have appeared and are doing great
damage.
Florida-The most reliable information
obtained from all portions of the State
down to the present date places crop con-
planted in cotton is 30 per cent less than
last year. In some counties it was great
er than that, but i'm such instances sea
island cotton was planted in place of the
upland cotton.
Georgia-As regards cotton, the acreage
is from Is to 20 per cent less than last
year, with q failing off of 100000 tons i'm
commercial fertilizers. From the cold,
late spring the crop was PLANTED from lO
days to two weeks later than usual. The
stand was good throughout the State, and
condition and prospect fairly good up to
the LIST. Since that date excessive rains
have wrought decided change for the
worse i'm condition and prospects. The
sandy gray lands have developed rust and
can make no top crop. The sea islands
have made an excessive weed with no
corresponding increase of hollis, shedding,
meanwhile, everything but the bo.ls made
in July. A typical stalk of cotton now
has a few hollis near the ground and at
long intervals up the stalk and out
branches, practically bare of bols, and
then blooms near the top and at ends OF
limbs. Under these conditions the pros
poets for this crop are very poor; indeed.
In my Judgment, this crop for this year
will not exceed, if it reaches, two-thirds
of last years crop.
Louisiana-The acreage of yield is es-
timated at 20 per cent below last year.
The cause assigned for so great a reduc-
ton is the low price. Farmers We're ad-
yised to reduce their cotton acreage in the
hopes of bringing up the price. The con-
dition of the grown crop is now fully 3
per cent below that of 1898, which rs re-
membered as being the lowest of amy con-
dition for a number of years. The causes
for this low condition are excessive and
very heavy beating rains, also worms,
caterpfllars, rust blight and other insect
pests. The quality of the crop harvested
during the rainy weather will he very iow'
iMississippi-Planti ting for the past sea-
son began about March / throughout the
greater portion of the State and pro-
crossed slowly during the first SIX weeks,
oIfter which seasonable, warm and dry
weather favored field work and "a rigid
growth of vegetation. The entire growing
season has been Variable in regard to
growth and ultimate harvest of cotton,
which has now begun, the season or nrst
bales from all districts having become
general. Commencing with the planting
season in April, cotton, Through a reduced
acreage, generally gave good promise OF
making a good crop, since by the close of
Anril the piant had come to good stands
i'm the southern and middle portions, OF
the State, and planting was being pushed
forward RAPIDLY. There was too much
rain during a greater part of the season,
more particularly in the southen nall OF
Mississippi and with some cool Weatner
caused lice and retardation OF held WORK
and growth of the plant. When not
weather set in and the fields were cleaned,
cotton gave a sudden shoot forward, put
too much to weed, and not showing Such
q general good fruitage as would nave
been the case had a greater part OF the
earlier growing season proved more hiis-
picious by more hot weather and less ram
fall. During the past month there mas
been a general increase of worms OF Earl-
Gus kinds and the crop has suffered III
consequence. e .o
North CarolinaZThis summary of the
condition of crop in North Carolina is
complied from the LATEST data sent IN by
1000 correspondents for THE month OF Au-
pust and shows an Improvement over
last month. Climatic conditions since the
:TnIy report have been in the main entirely
favorable and this fact has renewed 10
some extent apprehensions on the part Oh
some farmers. Cotton stands at "A aver
age condition. This low. average OF COL,
dition forces the conviction that the crop |
will be very short and also short IN the |
number of acres seeded. The crop IS from |
10 days to two weeks late, and WIN an
early frost the prospects would De cut
short even more. :.
South Carolina-Of the staple crops III
South Carolina, cotton, corn and rice, tne |
condition of corn is the best. The acreage |
this year is probably about 20 per cent
greater and the crop will probably be % |
per cent greater.
Tennessee seasons have prevailed |
the season since June 16, eX.
cent in a few localities. -Four weeks
drouth has reduced the condition of late |
corn and cotton. The reports from our
CORPS of correspondents from every cotton
growing county indicate a decrease in
acreage planted of % per cent, as com
pared with last year. The condition has
declined 4.3 per cent since July ~. Inns
was caused from excessive moisture dur
ing the latter part of June and the hrst
and sappy growth, developing considerable
rust, with abnormal plant growth without
fruit. The excessively wet soil prevented
proper cultivation, fields becoming quite
ordinary crop from present planting.
ing has almost destroyed the bottom crop,
and the top crop is shedding badly; In
some localities hardly a one-half yield can
be expected. About one-third of the coun-
ties which grow cotton are principally con-
tiguous to the Mississippi river. Only one
has three acres TO each inhabitant,
four have two to each inhabitant. The
value of the crop in 1S94-5 was estimated
at 60 470 600 With q dpcreaS Sod acreage