126 



27tli of August as its date of coiumcncemeiit, wbicli is later than usual 

 for the Soutli western States. But in the uext tier of States in the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley, in which the coinmeucemeut (the average for all coun- 

 ties) is usually deferred to September, the usual date is anticipated six 

 days in each, though Tennessee was still eight days behind Mississippi, 

 and Arkansas fourteen days. The cotton counties of Tennessee being 

 almost confined to the Tennessee Valley and the area lying between the 

 Tennessee and the Mississippi, the date is made earlier than the aver- 

 age for Arkansas, though the bulk of the Arkansas product is made 

 from counties which would average as early a date of picking as those 

 of Tennessee. Pulaski County, Arkansas, returns a comparison with 

 several recent years, w'hich is as ibllows : 



Picking commenced. 

 Date of killiug frost. 



Sept. 10 

 Oct. 23 



Aug. 23 

 Nov. 24 



Sept. 1 Aug. 25 

 Nov. 11 Nov. 17 



The recurrence of killing frosts appears to have been later in Arkansas 

 than usual, as late in Xorth Carolina, varying little from usual average 

 dates in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, 

 and decidedly earlier in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. On the whole, 

 the average date api)ears to be somewhat earlier for the entire crop, but 

 the fine weather for ripening and picking in November and December 

 far more than counterbalanced this small disadvantage, and added a 

 material amount to the aggregate of cotton to be gathered. 



This is given as approximate data on these subjects. It would take 

 very careful and long continued observation and record in all of the 

 counties to establish true averages ; and the local variation is so wide, 

 and the change from one year to another is so great, that successive 

 periods of definite length, as quinquennial or decennial, might never be 

 found to agree very closely with each other. 



The following extracts, giving the pith of some of the most noticeable 

 explanations concerning the qualitj^ of fiber and causes of injury, will 

 illustrate the general tenor of the returns upon these points. 



NoHTH CAROLINA. — Hamett : Not as good as averag^e on account of rains. Greene : 

 As good as I ever saw it. Very little yellow cotton, and the yield of lint in seed- 

 cotton never better. Montgomery : Fiber a little less than an average. Damage caused 

 by much rain during the maturing season, and on account of rust the lower grade 

 worth nothing. Beaufort : Pronounced above an average. Amount of inferior grades 

 smaller than usual. On account of caterpillar, and other causes, there is no top-crop, 

 hence nearly all the bolls were fwlly matured before opening; also, more manure was 

 used and better cultivation than usual. Pamlico: About 100. Xo injury; 20 jier 

 cent., low middling; 60, good ordinary; 20, ordinary. Lincoln: 100. Opened early 

 and almost all at once, and not much rain, so that there is very little difference in the 

 grades. Franklin : Better than an average. Polk : Cotton opened better than usual, 

 and there is less yellow this season. Gaston : Character of fiber good, and the per cent, 

 of yield from seed large. Only injury is from frost, which, on account of lateness of 

 crop, will be considerable. Bertie: About an average and none injured, except 

 the very late. It runs low midling and good ordinary, about equally divided. 

 Mecldenhurgh : Better than the average; less stained than for ten years. A large 

 proportion is low middling. Davidson: Quality below average. Cause of injury 

 lateness of fruitage, the longer warmer days being necessary ; abundant rains, causing 

 a too rapid and large growth of weeds at the expense of fruit. At least one-third of 

 crop injured. Pasquotank: Fiber is of average quality. New Hanover : Appears to be 

 lighter, compared with the average of former crops. The cause must be rust and cat- 

 erpillar. Stanhj : Longer and finer in every variety cultivated. Wind and rain, by 

 throwing out and soiling, have injured the first opening to a small extent; but the 

 late opeuiug bolls, yielding the lowest grade, have not suffered much. Gates : About 

 an average. Injured by caterpillar and early frost. At least one-third ordinary. 



