The morning news., 1897-08-31
A LOSS OF TEN PER CENT.
CONDITION OF THE SEA ISLAND
COTTON CROP.

Great Falling on Since the Issue Oi
.he Last CircuISr-RGst and Cnta-
piIIers at MOrk-A Number of Let
ters From various Growers In
Georgia and FIoridR showing the
Condition of the Crop at Present
Gainesville, Fla, Aug. 3O.-Since the pub
llcation of the annual report of Fl. i. Dut-
ton g. Co, giving prospectus of the gen
eral condition of the cotton crop many
changes have occurred, and from the
many letters received by that firm i'm re-
ply to circular letter, II would seem that
the crop is 10 per cent. below that Of pre-
Vious report, rain rust. caterpillar and
other drawbacks having greatly reduced
the prospect for a yield This relates TO
Georgia and Florida. Below is given some
Of the most important letters showing ap-
palling reductions in the yield as a result
Of conditions named:
The correspondent of Pelham, Ga,
writes: "The sea island crop in this sec
ton will be about 40 per cent. OF last
years crop, provided we have favorable
seasons from now on. The farmers in this
ItBlOn iphA iiiViit9 III tlidhNik nfd AHihHu
cotton last season. and the result was that
more than half of them discontinued MAX
Ing OF H. The rains have done consider
able damage. causing the stalk 10 go 10
weed and the fruit 20 drop Off while the
lower bols, a great many of them. have
rotted from the effects of continued rains.
When one takes hold of a stalk and
shakes IL, not only forms and blooms drop
ar na urprpd alan "a
half-groWn bolls. How far a late fail can
compensate for this damage no one can
tell The receipts In this section last year
were about 500 bales, and this year we
can't estimate on more than 1000. The
conditions prevailing here are the same in
Thomas. Miller, Decatur, Baker, Colquitt
DOugherty and Worth counties, where
there was something like 5000 bales mar
keted last year"
In the Valdosta section conditions are
referred to as follows:
The rain and hot sun has played havoc
with sea island cotton all through this
section The crop with no more rain Will
be- at least 33 1-3 per cent. of from what
prospect was one month ago. We notice
some fields dead from rust. Crop being lat
er than usual great may will not get near
a fun bottom crop. There rs no chance for
the crops 10 come out any now even with
good weather. What cotton Is areen has
shcd badly. tiad no ram since -, nut IN
dications are FOE rain to-day"
The Madison, Fla, correspondent says.
'"rhe weather here for the past two weeks
has not been favorable aud We are begin
ming 20 hear complaints from the farmers
Of shedding boil worm, etc. From the
present outlook We should say the crop in
this vicinity will not be 80 large as last
season. probably 10 per cent. less"
Tho crop around Jasper rs somewhat
more favorable a. Will be seen by the fol-
lowing:
Dear sirs: Replying 10 yours Of the
Both would state on last sunday (22nd
instJ I visited and Inspected 1000 acres Or
cotton. which was an average land Of the
county. ! never saw better prospect Tor
cotton. We have no cotton caterpillar We
have no cotton boil worm We have no cot.
ton blight We have the usual amount OF
rust. ana dead cotton on the very wet
lands. Ninety-fve per cent. OF our cotton
~ growing and blooming beautifully m
the weather should Boz fairly good from
nOw out ! confidently calculate on nn ln-
creased amount in our county from 10 30
% per cent over last season"
Lave oak, wa. District Weather has
been uniaYorahle Tor cotton f0i iho past
cen daBF BLIGHT iH boa many noidr and
cotton on uld lands show huf frw blooms
so ratrruiliars 80 boil worms Wll br
more cotton made % our accfion from 6