The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-08-17
fHS oOrroS CRof.
IN. o. Pissyuns. aug. Ill


Yesterday the Agricultural Depart.
ment II WAshingti,n issusd ITS August
report on the condition OF the cotton
crop, and Il proved r\most important
influence In the cotton market, causing
an advance Of 20 points In prices,
equivalent to 81 per bale. The re-
port was complete surprise to the
speculative element Of the trade, and
demonstrated the fact that for once,
at least, no underground information
had emansted from Warrington iu ad-
vance Of the regular date for the pub.
licstion OF the figures. The trade bad
generally looked for slight improve
ment to be shown by the percentage
OF condition furnished by the Agri-
cultural Department; whereas the re-
port shows q very serious deteriora-
tiou In the condition of the crop, the
percentage being 77s, as compared
with s2.S last month and sl.S last
year.
! This average, the Agricultural De-
,,srtment says, 10 the lowest for Au-
z. 1si on record, beng 5 points lower
ihlu tho average reported In Angus
1882. The lowering Of the percentage
Of 60. 1dition is said to be due TO ex.
ccssive' moisture. The report also
states tltAt there Is much complaint of
grsss, an . q little OF rust, blight, worms
and Insect enemies OF the cotton plant
The rea1 'ers OF the Picayune will re-
call that dul ing oil the month Of July
there was constant succession of
bad weather r,,portG Excessive rains
were reported from Texas and many
parts Of the Miss issippl valley, but few
portions Of the c,Tton belt having no
cause of complaint to mention. Dee
plie the efforts made 10 belittle these
private reports, thur influence on
prices was marked, ~ their constant
rei,eratiou has shaken the confidence
even OF bear operations. The weekly
weather reportsof the Government, the
recent weekly reports Of the New
York Chronicle, and reliable private
advices, have oil pointed TO tho ex-
istence Of just such conditions a. the
Agricultural Departments report OF
yesterday would appear 10 outline.
Did the Agricultural Departments
report con trsdict the private sdvices
received, or strongly differ with the
prevailing col ,timent among conserva-
tive business men, there might be
some good reas ON for questioning Ito
accuracy bnt there 10 no getting
around tie fact that lie findings are
fully oorroborated by outside testi-
mony Of reliable cl aracter.
The constant rcpo. 'is which arc be-
Ing received OF the enormous size OF
the corn crop produceL' In the South
this year confirm the sriy accounts
OF reduced cotton screslye, o. II 10
evident that the largely Increased
Ees planted In corn must rave been
at the expense of cotton. Moreover
the very small receipts Of new cotton
10 date, as compared with iormer
years, confirm the reports Of the rack.
ward and generally poor condition OF
the cotton crop.
With respect to consumption, II may
DO safely stated that 1t Is eminentl5'
satisfactory among the American mills,
both North and South. About the
only unsatisfactory reports which have
been received for some time past have
emansted from Manchester but as
the recent statement Of the British
Board OF Trade shows q large export
Of cotton cloth aud yarns dsring July,
1t ls evident that the dullnes reported
In Lancashire is more imaginary than
real.