The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-07
TEE COTTON CROP.
Some Improvement in all But Two Of
the States.

drought previously prevailed, except in
Tennessee and Arkansas, where it con-
tinues dry, and with generally dry
weather where heretofore there has
been an eZc'ss Of precipitation, there
has been decided improvement in the
condition of cotton during the past
week. Picking has begun in Texas,
and bolls are beginning to open in GER
tain localities throughout the Atlantic
States. As compared with reports Of
previous years, there is less shedding
chan usual, but the plants are smaller.
Over the central portion Of the belt
the cotton crop is exceptionally prom
i:ing. If cotton continues to improve.
during the critical month Of August,
or even holds its present condition, the
yield will be equal to OF above the
average, over the whole belt.
In North Carolina, very favorable
weather conditions prevailed generally
throughout the State. The influence Of
the hot, dry weather was Immediately
apparent in the improved condition Of
cotton, especially where it had received
coed cultivation; laying By cotton is
under way. Ia some places cotton has
too much weed, in orthers 1t is very
small, and generally It is not fIuiting
very rapidly; in soma northern ccuaties
it is only Just beginning to bloom, the
bolls do not seem to be maturing very
well; com slaiats Of lios on cotton are
very few.
In S,uth Carolina, cotton improved
steadily throughout the State, and in
most places is fruiting well, especially
on stiff, clayey or red Ia. ds, while on
shi.e OF sandy lands the i'm proVemsnt
is less pronounced. Most cotton re
msius small and late. bu4 is green aad
growing. Some fields ars still grassy.
Lice are reported from a few localities,
but have done no great damage. Cater
pillars infest cotton in D aogebars
county. Open bolls are reported from
Hampton c,unty. ses Island is in good
condition, with the exception Of blight
in spots. Laying By cotton is nearing
completion.
In Geargis, the weather Of the past
week vas generally favorable to grow
ing crops, although partial drought pre-
vslls over limited areas in the southern
portions Of the State. In the msj ,rity
Of the counties the rainfall was suf
Gcieot for present needs. Reports on
the cotton crop are Of more encoursg
ing character than for some time past.
In few southern sections the crop is
suffering for moisture and is scalded,
pilved, aod blooming at the top from
the fleets Of the drought. Elsewhere
the . ants have taken on vigorous
growth and are fruitipg and boiling
hsavily. Some bolls aie opening in
early fields.
In Florida. rainfall has been gener
ally lccsl over norther snd central
portions. The distribution was more
general in the northern and over por.
tions Of the western district. In Sec
tions Of Suwaree county DO rain he's
fallen during the last four weeks: ad.
i,ining sessions report ample precipita-
;ion. Cotton advanced during the week,
although there is conplairt of rust and
shedding where precipitation was ez.
cessivs. 1t is being we'll cultivated.
In Alabama, conditions were gsuer-
ally favorable, except in norshero
counties where hot and dry weather pre-
vailed; in middle and southern counties
showers fell on several days, be:ns
copious in some places, and rather ex
cesives in extreme southwestern coun-
ties, particularly 50 at Mobile. 4 gen
eral rain would be beneficial. Cotton
ia clean and generally healthy, aud,
while small, is now making good
growth and fruiting satisfactorily &;
there are a few scattered reports Of
rust, mostly in southern counties; some
option continues to die from black
root" or root rot" in southeast por-
tions Of the State, bus damage from
the causes is or a local nature as yet.
In Mississippi, except in the northern
portion Of the State, the week was
quite favorable for all crops. Where
goods rains have fallen cotton has made
8 very rapid growth and is fruiting
we'll. A little shedding isrep ,rted from
some sections. In the northern counties
lowland cotton is deiug fairly we'll, but
on uplands it continues to show the
ill effects Of dry weather by blooming
to the top.
In Louisians, plentiful showers and
sessons5le temperatures have prevailed
generally throughout the State during
the week just ended. In many places,
especially in the southern parishes,
more rain fell than was needed, and
more, in fact, than is good for the
staple crops where the land is not we'll
drained. Cotton is reported doing we'll
in all sections, except in few in
stances whers the rainfall was. ezces
sive. Old cotton shows singns Of se.
ond growth, which it is. thought will
cause some shedding, but the increased
sizs OF the stalk, it is anticipated, will
compensate for any loss from that
cause. Young cotton is making good
aud rspid growth and fruiting nicely.
In Tennessee, the disastrous Drought
which was prevailing over the greater
portion Of the State at the last report
has continued during the past week
with Increased intensity, except in two
or three counties in the eastern por-
ton, where good local rains brought re
lief. Generally, however, conditions are
fast approaching the serious stsge-and
this is especially true as to the western
division, and portions Of the middle
division-where the later crops that
have, up to the last week, been holding
up fairly we'll, are now beginning to
show signs of rapid deterioration, and
unless relief comes very soon they will
prove entire failures. Cotton, which
has stood the drought fairly we'll, AID
although small, has bsen fruitiDg salts
fac;osily, is now beginning to shed its
forms.
In Texas, tbs vesther conditions dur