The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-28

cotton growing counties OF the State,
showing the present condition OF the
crop. These reports conarm the previ-
Gus estimates of the reduction In acre.
age and show the crop to be now AT a
most critical stage; most of the reports
state that the weed is very good. but
mat the plant has not put on fruit as il
should to produce a good crop; others
state that shedding is now going on and
that the lower bolls--from which the
sun is excluded by the heavy foliage
are rotting and falling from the sAlk.
Ihis great growth of wood is due to the
neavy and continuous rains which pre-
vaiied over Central and South Texas
during July and August. which caused
the plant to put its energy into produc-
Ing weed instead OF bolls. The rains
appear to have ceased now and the
weather is OF the sort that is calculated
TO produce large fruitage but the
iollage being so dense the plant can not
receive the full benefit of the sun and
the number OF bolls likely to mature is
very problematical, The chances are
that il the hot weather continues there
VIII be a comparatively good crop-that
Is. crop which will be good for The
acreage planted and worked--and ~ this
be the case the next ten DAYS should
show material Improvement over the
conditions which are shown BY the re-
port Just completed. It is not too late
for the plant to produce well, and tho
probabilities are that it will do so. even
though the bottom bolls do not mature.
II the rains should again set in there
would be small show for a crop of even
average size; and If there should be an
earlysfrost there will be material cur
tailment OF the production with the best
growing weather for the remainder OF
the season.
The shedding reported is a natural
and to-be -expected result OF the change
from an overabundance of rain to a
scalding heat; but the rottng of bolls
/ is grayer matter, as the plant is like
ly to be affected to the extent of not
putting out fruit to replace that which
has rotted. Hot winds are reported
from the northern part of the State, and
they are reported to be causing much
shedding.
Reports from Victoria. Fayette and
one or two other counties stated that
the farmers will welcome the army and
leaf worms as they will probably cut
away much OF the heavy foliage and per-
NIT the whole plant to get the benefit
OF the sun. The fact that the plant Is
heavily laden with branches and leaves
will also have the effect OF making pick
Ing tedious and slow. which will further
delay the marketing of the crop.
The crop has reganed none OF the lost
time, and is still three to four week:
late over the State as a whole. South
Texas being more affected than other
sections in this particular. as the rains
have there continued for longer time.
There are numerous reports of boil
weevil. and from Hunt. Waller, Fayette
and Washington counties in particular
the reports state that the damage don
is great. Other insects are also reported
as doing damage IN the cotton fields II
different sections of the State, and The
correspondent at Denton. Denton coun
ty. gives very gloomy account of the
ravages OF the boil worm. The grass
hoppers appear to have lefb North Texa
with the wheat crop. as no further dam
age by them is reported
Most of the counties reporting goot
condition are small producers, and az
not Offset the damage reported from III,
counties which produce a large amour
OF cotton; the big" and the little
! counties are noted below in the sum
} mary of counties. Where there are n
marks the county produces an amour
of cotton varying between the little
and big counties.
SUMMARY BY COUNTIES.
ANDERSON not fruiting prop
/ erly. and is shedding; insects are dom
damage.
| AUSTIN.-Too much rain: fine wee
but small fruitage; insects reported.
: BASTRoP.-Small lruitage on goo,
t weed an improvement is noted in pas
5 few days.
ElEE.-Crop is doing well.
, BELL (big).-Boll worms doing dam
. age; poor fruitage; farmers are "tof
}. ping in order TO let the lower plan
I have the beneft of the sun; an improy
. aent over the last report. which W.
= very bad.
9 BEXAR Qittle).-Crop doing we'll.
BORDEN Qittle).-Flne crop,
$ BOSQUE.-Crop doing fairly wei
/ though fruitage is not as good as
: should be; insects are doing damage.
: Notwithstanding reported, thouJ
8 crop is in fine condition otherwise.
A BRAZoRIA.--Crop is very short; plal
is not fruitlng and is shedding what
I had; insects are also doing considereb
r damage.
/, BRAZoS.-Fine crop as rule, thoue
A Il has only begun to put on bolls fro
a which the cotton will be picked.
a BJRL ESOA- is good. thong
n short and later than ordinarily.
iBURNET. Fine crop.
CAIIDWELL.-Damage being done
=, holl weeyil. and the plant is sparse
% fruited: an Improvement Is expected
ire weeyll can DO overcome.
~ CALHOUN tlitile).-Plant is not frui
j. ins. , 49, a.. ..,n
IS we'll.
y