484 



a week's coutinuance of fine weather would increase tbe local yield sev- 

 eral hundred bales. 



There is much inequality in the progress of packing. In some coun- 

 ties of Georgia and Alabama the harvest is nearly over. In Mississippi, 

 the work has been delayed by political difficulties and by sickness. In 

 AVashington County, two-thirds of the crop was ungathered, and it was 

 feared that Christmas would find one-fourth still in the fields. 



Fine weather has been the rule, with a few exceptions ; but in 

 Louisiana much- fiber has been lost or stained by storms. The effect of 

 the great September storm in Southern Texas proves less disastrous 

 than was at first represented. 



The amonnt of lint in comparison with weight of seed-cotton is quite 

 variable, ranging from 25 to 33 per cent., but, so far as reported, appears 

 to be less than in 1874. 



The State percentages, representing the aggregate quantity as com- 

 pared with last year, are as follows : Xorth Carolina, 1)1 ; South Caro- 

 lina, 76', Georgia, 74; Florida, 90; Alabama, 102; Mississippi, 111; 

 Louisiana, 100; Texas, 114; Arkansas, 135; Tennessee, 116. 



From a review of the monthly returns of correspondents, it appears 

 that the area in cotton was increased about 2 per cent. The plant 

 obtained rather a fairer start than usual, though germination was 

 delayed on the Atlantic coast region. The June returns averaged, in 

 condition, a small percentage under the standard of good development; 

 in July, improvement was indicated in every State except Texas, where 

 'drought and insects were locally injurious, and the average condition 

 of the entire area was very near the standard, or 100; in August, the 

 effect of drought, particularly in South Carolina, Georgia, and Louis- 

 iana, was manifest in a small reduction of their percentages, yet the 

 general average for this month was fully as high as that of June ; and 

 in August and September the blighting of drought was followed by 

 excessive rains, causing injury by floods, by the shedding of bolls, by 

 rust, and other abnormal conditions, reducing the general percentage, 

 month by mouth, from August to October. The following comprises the 

 tabulated statement of the season from June to November inclusive : 



The percentages of the several monthly returns of the present year, 

 up to the last report of " condition," in October, were higher than in the 

 previous year, and naturally indicative of a larger crop. A possible 

 modification of this increase— scarcely a total destruction of it— might 

 arise in case of an early frost and bad weather for opening and picking, 

 or both circumstances combined. 



