MONTHLY REPORT. 



REPORT OF CROP-RETURNS. 



COTTON. 



Our October returns show a slight improvement in the condition of 

 the cotton-crop during September, but a marked decline since August 1. 



The averages of the whole country for the past three months were as 

 follows : August 92, September TOi, October 72. These reports date 

 from the first of each month. During September Xorth Carolina, South 

 Carolina, and Alabama showed a decline; Mississippi and Louisiana 

 remained stationary ; Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennes- 

 see raised their averages. 



September is generally the trying month upon this crop, witnessing 

 its greatest reduction of condition. In 1873 the figures fell from 89 

 to 78i. This year the crisis came in August, the prevailing causes of 

 decline being different from those of the last few years. Insect injuries, 

 usually a prominent complaint among planters, are seldom heard of 

 this year ; the conditions of growth so unfavorable to the crop were like- 

 wise destructive of its insect enemies. But any lack of mischievous 

 agency of this kind was more than compensated by the drought, extreme 

 heat, hot withering winds, cool nights, and excessive rains which pre- 

 vailed in different portions of the cotton area. 



In regard to the ultimate yield of the cotton-crop we may, if we think 

 best, amuse ourselves with a variety of speculations. The chronic anxiety 

 to discount the future and appropriate its assets to present profit has 

 become a serious public evil, leading as it does to reckless theorizing. 

 The continuance of a specific class of conditions of growth is assumed 

 without any apparent suspicion that Providence may possibly have some 

 other puriiose than the production of a cotton or a corn crop. Notwith- 

 standing the known instability of these conditions, impatient statistics 

 would figure up assured results. A fall favorable for the opening and 

 picking of cotton would add a million of bales to the aggregate yield, 

 even if the condition of the crop was very unsatisfactory. On the other 

 hand, a very promising condition might be counterbalanced by early 

 frosts, or by a bad x)icking season. Who is to forecast these elements of 

 production ? 



If the cotton-crop could weather opposing influences, so as to main- 

 tain its average summer vitality during its whole season of growth, its 

 annual yield would be immensely greater than it is. What is actually 

 gathered is the residuum after depletion by various destructive influ- 

 ences, which, as above stated, generally operate most seriously in Sep- 

 tember. The following figures show the condition of the crop as aver- 

 age<l from the October returns of the last four years : 



