The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-09-04
THE COTTON
CROP SHORT.
HEAVY DECREASE REPORTED
TiROUGnOUT THE SOUTH.
Commissioners OF Agriculture or State
Officials Report u Largely In
creased Acreage, But Nota
Corresponding Yield.

prominent authority has furnished soms
figures that may DO relied upon; This years
South Carolina cotton acreage is placed at
o?.23O, as against 1,777,O2S in 1894, and
l,iS5.O27 last year. Tho production in bales
In 1S4-95 was 73S, $40, and the condition OF
tho crop on August 1st. was .95: tho produce
tion for the season of 1896 -96 was GSS, ,956,
and the condition of the crop on August 1st
was 81. The condition Of the present crop
on August 1st. was .Ss. with every prospect
OF being much lower on September 1st The
acreage for this ycnr Is very large, but tho
condition two weeks ago was only 81, which
would Indicate, allowing good margin. n
crop OF 19l ,1O5 bales. The condition has
fallen off 10 points since August lst and
stands mt .7S now. This would Indicate a
crop of T0l ,720 baies. which is slightly larger
thnn last years production, hnt not rs large
rs that OF the preceding year. So general
and extended is the injury done by the heat
and want of rain that only sea island cotton
escaped, and that is ripcning prcmuturc!y.
GEORGIA.
IL. Il. NrSbitt, commissioner or arrirul-
tur", reports condition of Georgia cotton
crop: The early planted cotton (about
half tho crop started Of well, has crop which
has maturcd. anu IL now being picked. Tho
balance of crop, however, camc up late on
account of tho unusually dry April aud May.
This late cotton made rapid growth, ana up
to August l looked very promnsng, but
without any matuied bolls. Excessively hot
and dry weather of past three weeks has
ruined this cotton, causing shedding of
leaves, forms and young bolls, and leaving
only few half grown bolls on stalks. Rains
now can do this cotton but little good unless
there should he unusually late fall, when
possibly little top crop might be made On
lSt OF August crop promised splendidly all
over Georgia. now shall be agr6eably sur
priscd IL the State makes over 20 per cent. OF
n crop. In my whole experience 7 don't
think have ever seen so great n falling OH
in SO short period Of time" ''
FLORIDA.
l.. II. Wombwcll, commissioner of agricult-
urc, reports the condition OF tho Florida cot
ton crop: Tho acreage planted OF cotton
this season exceeded thht OF last year by
about 30 per cont: about onc-half of tho crop
was planted just before, and during the first
part of the spring drought; the remainder
was planted at the close of the dry weather
and was late, therefore. in coming up; tho
hrst planted made poor stand on account
OF the drought, and tho last planting on ac-
count OF the excessive rains. followed by OK
treme high temperature, rusted, and shed
both leaves and fruit badly in many locali-
ties. The combined adverse inflentes have
brought about change in conditions that
will In all probability reduce the yield enough
to completely offset the expected gains by
increased acreage. Both varieties of cotton
have lost considerably during the past two
weeks and the percentage Of Condition,
stands: Upland cotton 7S, sea island 80, aver
age age condition Of the cotton crop Of all varie
LOUISIANA. "".,''.
Tho following Is the statement of tho con-
dition OF cotton in Louisiana, as made by J.
i. Lee, commissioner Of agriculture for Louis
lana: "The cotton crop throughout the State
has been cut short the past four or I've weeks
from 10 to 80 per cent. The uplands or.hiil
sections Of the State. embracing the parishes
OF Union, Clairborne, Webster, Bienville,
Jackson, Caldwell, Winn, Grant, Lincoln
Western Catahoula. Western Ouachita. part
OF Morehouse, 3osslor, Natchitoches. Sa.
bine, DeSoto and Caddo, are short from 10 to
S0 per cent. 1t Is in these parishes that the
drought with the excessive hot weather Of
the past five weeks existed and almost COM
plete failure is the result in parishes named
above. The alluvial district excepting Rich
land, East and West Carroll, where the
drought has also been severe, is probably
named (alluviaD are short 35 to As per cent.
Rapides Is from 10 to rs per cent short. as Is
also Caddo, Bossier. st. Landry, Point Cou-
pee and West Feiciana and East Feliciana
90 per cent. East Baton Rouge Is 10 per cent
short. Estimating last years crop at 100, tho
total crop for the State this cary is not over
30 10 20 per cent.
TENNESSEE.
Tho State commissioner of agriculture has
not heard from more than One-half OF his
agents and correspondents in the ninety-six
counties with regard to the crop status for
the month az August. An estimate based
upon tho returns from these counties pnd
casual information from the other Eiuccstho
crop at about 80 per GENT. Of the average
The ELECTS of tho prO;ractch heat and
drought are painfully apparent in the dam
age To tn" corn and cotton crops, and it is
not unlikely that 30 per cent il too high an
estimate Tor these staples. Later returns,
however, may materially atrr these figures.
MOTH CAROLINA. -
From information received from different
portions OF tho STAT, Of North Carolina Coy
ernor Carr feels satisfied that the cotton crop
for this year has been injured 10 Jcr cent on
account oi the excessive dryness and intense
lcat.
MISSISSIPPI
The Southern Associated Press representa-
i've has interviewed farmers from nine coun-
les i'll Central Mississippi lis to crop c6ndi-
ions. Cotton * declared from 25 to 50 Dor
cent. short ofthe nvcrag" yield. Early planted
.orn good. but May corn sorry Cane pota-
! .o"S and rice promise fair yield everywhere.
PASTURES dried up.