The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-09-27
rs STILL a pROBLEMl.
An Unusual Baokwardness in the
Cotton Crop.

growing and maturing cotton that
ususally OCCURS during tho last days Of
August, and accounts for the wide
sproad prevalence Of rust and shod-
ding. OF itsolf it doos not mark any
unusual deterioration, but occurring SO
lato in the season, it docs indicate an
unusual baokwardnoss Of tho Drop, that
makes the yiold moro problomatioal
than generally ia tho case in tho middle
OF September, ard moro dependent on
an carly or late frost whothor tho crop
will bo of a record breaking size or
moroly full ono.
West Of. the Mississippi, il Sc oms, tho
reports indicate loss undor last yoar's
yiold ovon with tho increased acreage,
whito to tho eastward thoro will be a
largo oxcess ovor laet year. Since the
reports woro received upon which the
State summaries are based, heeyy
rairs havo occurred over the castorn
and oontral portions Of the bolt that
lowered tho quantity of open cotton in
tho bolls, but did no other material
damage soxoopt on bottom lands that
wero 6sShfowtd. Picking has beon re-
tarded by thoso rains and cotton which
was opening fast will for awhile ma.
turo slowly, thus keoping hack tho
market supply for awhile. Tho oondi-
tion Of tho crop has boon summarized
for tho different S!atos as follows:
In North Carolina tho condition Of
cotton, Ga reported by tho department.
of agriculture, is tho lowest through
out the cotton bolt, oxoopt in Toxss
| q r Nhr hn,, 4
0aunot further benefit tho plants in this
State, except that showers would so.
cure better maturity of tho uppor bols.
Cotton is opening vory rapidly and
picking has become general the results
of tho fr.t picking indicate q shorter
crop cvon than anticipated; cotton gins
arc in operation and some now bslos
havc been sold. Damage by shedding
and rust has somewhat diminished
during tho past wcok.
!a So&tt; Carolina cotton opunodd fist,
except along tho northern border ooun-
tios, and somo opanod promaturely
owing to rust that has increased rapid
| ly. Tao hot wosthcr induced shedding,
and etoppod growth Of young cotton.
The crop is reported in less favorable
condition than it was fow weeks ago,
and il not az heavily fruited rs it prom
isod to DO. Boil worms havo appeared
In many sootions and hayo oaused much
4 injury. Soa island cotton improved
during tho week Picking has made
fair progress, although little has as yot
boen ginned,
| In Georgia with tho exception Of
scattered showers dry weather pro,
vailed during tho greater portion Of the
week rendering tho conditions favor.
| ablo for picking cotton and saving hay.
The dry woSthor caused cotton to open
worry rapidly and did somn damage to
late growing crops, but in most in
stances tho temporary setbaoks seem
to havo boon overcome by reasonable
showers later in tho week.
There is still complaint of rusting
and sht dding Of cotton in many coun-
ties and it is tho universal opinion that
tho bottom crop will bo>somowhat be-
low last year while the top crop is in
many aootions almost an entire failure.
In somo counties coneidorable cotton
has boon ginnod and marketed.
In Alabama: Cotton continues to
open freely, with picking boing rapidly
pushed; many complaints Of rust, rot,
and shedding arc recsived' with q gen.
oral admission that rust has damaged
tho staple very oonsidcrably, SO that
tho yield will bo very light; thoro seems
to be but slight prospects for top
crop.
In Mississippi: Cotton is opening
very fast, and at many places over half
Of it is open. Picking WAS progressing
very nicely until about Wednesday,
einoe then very little has beon gathered
on account of tho unfayorable weather.
The excessive rains and continued
damp weather during last half of tho
Weok havo damaged tho crop consider
ably. 1t 10 shedding over tho greater
portion of the State; whilo in many
delta and northern counties 1t is rot
ting and beginning to sprout from the
open hollis.
In Louisiana: Tho carly part Of the
Weok was generally favorable for cot
ton picking, exoept III como northern
parishes whore the woathor was show
cry. General showers throughout tho
State at the close of the woek mate rial.
ly intorfored with out. door work. Plck-
ing WAS rushed when the wcathor WAS
favorable and is we'll advanced in many
Localities. There arc complaints from
somo Of tho southern parishes that
bollg arc rotting as result Of continu.
ous vet woather and in aome instan ss
tho quality of tho staple has boon ro-
duosd. Rust and shedding sre report
cd from eoyoral parishes. Reports from
UonooIdia atate that lato cotton will be
fair orcp if frost holds off sufii oiently
long. Tho yiold Of cotton is generally
below tho average.
1 In Tonnossee: SiLco tho August
rains, cotton has boon making abnormsl
ptalk growth to tho great dotriment of
fruitago, besides, tho yield has beon
much logsenod by shedding forms and
rust.
| In Texas: Although considerable
damage, tho results OF heavy rains, oo-
curreo in maDy looalltios OF tho State,
tho woathor during tho week 40 q wholo
vas moro tapofablo than otherwise 10
tho iarming interests of the State. Ths
drOuth Whlca haD prevailed for 10 long
over tho central, southern and toalh
western poftions has bson thoroughly
broken, and excepting fow looantlcs
tho moisture has boon amplo Tor tho
imMoGisto needs Of all crops. larm
work WAS greatly retarded during tho
week, cotton picking especially having
been interrupted by the prevailing wol
e 1 w NuE