318 
COTTON. 
The total area in cotton in 1872, as estimated by this Department 
from the most accurate information attainable, was 8,500,000 acres. 
The returns for this year indicated an increase of about 12 per cent. 
The breadth planted was quite enough to tax to the utmost all available 
labor under the most favorable circumstances. But throughout the 
cotton States, for a period varying from twenty-five to thirty-five days, 
according to locality, and ending between the 20th and 30th of June, 
the weather was wet beyond precedent. Furthermore, for reasons re- 
ported in June, the crop was generally from two to four weeks late. 
The large area planted, the lateness of the crop, and the almost incessant 
rains, for weeks preventing work and stimulating the growth of grass 
and weeds, have combined to produce a demand for labor which it is 
impossible to meet. A few reporters complain of the unreliability or the 
laziness of the freedmen, but the majority of those which refer to the 
subject give them credit for doing better this season than heretofore, and 
place the difficulty on the ground of a demand for work which the 
laborers in this section, even with their best efforts, are too few to meet. 
In consequence of this excess of rain and lack of labor, weeds and grass 
have been overshadowing the cotton-plant in every State and in almost 
every county reported. The area that for this reason has been either 
abandoned outright or plowed up and planted in corn will probably 
nearly equal the excess over last year’s acreage. The reports, with few 
exceptions, are despondent in tone and picture a somewhat gloomy 
prospect. But they doubtless are not fully exempt from the common 
tendency toexaggerate the bad effects upon crops of unpropitious weather 
prevailing in the present, and to underrate the future chances of re- 
cuperation from those effects. It would be safe to make some grains of 
allowance for this—transferring them from the discouraging to the 
hopeful side of the harvest-prospect. The last days of June were gener- 
ally favorable, and the condition was, in many locations, already begin- 
ing to assume a more promising aspect. Cotton-worms, caterpillars, 
and lice had appeared in small numbers at several points, but as yet 
had not done serious damage. The average condition for all the cotton 
States, (not counting Virginia,) as made up from all the counties re- 
ported, was 89.5. Ten counties reporting from Virginia make the 
average condition 108, 2 being placed at 100, 6 above, and 2 below. 
Princess Anne, 150; Sussex, 120, in which “ the condition as compared 
with last year is owing in great measure to the more general use of the 
best fer‘ilizers.”. In Southampton, 110, “ cotton seems to have absorbed 
all farming interest, even at the expense of grain.” In Prince George, 
90, “the cold, wet May retarded cotton-planting; much planted early 
had to be replanted; now a fair stand, but the plants small.” 
In North Carolina, 43 counties make the average condition 91; 14 are 
placed at 100, 7 above, and 22 below. The extremes are Polk, 125, and 
Montgomery, 25. Harnett and Cumberland report 70; Onslow, Surry, 
Greene, Pasquotank, and New Hanover, 75. The difficulties which most 
of the counties have to contend with are briefly stated in the report 
from Chowan: “ Looking bad ; cool weather, heavy rains, and a scarcity 
of labor have caused large fields to be abandoned. Too much planted; 
labor cannot be had; $1.50 and $2 per day have been paid for farm- 
hands.” Franklin is either more industrious or better supplied with 
labor than the average, for it reports, “‘ generally clean and well culti- 
vated.” Other extracts follow: 
