storms bare vrrougbt injury at one point, and dronglit has been notice- 

 ably severe in a ueigli boring conuty; an average bealtbfuhie.ss and 

 groVtb are reported at one point, near to wliicb comparative desobition 

 appears to reign. One liebl or district may bave a deep and well-prepared 

 soil, witb clean alter-cnlture, and be able to defy ordinary drongbt ; 

 anotber is thin .and poor, imperfectly cultivated, and overgrown MMtb 

 neglected grass or weeds, promising comparative failure. Fully five- 

 sixtbs of tbe returns represent "condition below 100." 



The following extracts from correspoudence — representing a very 

 small proportion of tbe returns used in tbe tabular statement, and in- 

 cluding tbose most unfavorable — illustrate tbese difierences: 



Meclclenlurgli County, K. C. — In some sections of the county no rain since tlie 12th of 

 May. One farmer, w ho raised 20 bales last year, planted more acres this year and -will 

 not pick over tvyo bales. Several others, in the neighborhood will do no better. The 

 plants are 10 to 24 inches liigh. The bolls and forms fall oft' from extreme dry weather. 

 One of our best farmers last year averaged 800 pounds of seed-cotton per acre on one 

 of his fields. He used 200 po^uuds of IVIapes' superphosphate to the acre. This year lie 

 used tlie same amount, and the same field will average 175 to 200 pounds with favora- 

 ble fall. Up to July 1 we never had a better prospect. I think we cannot i)ossibly 

 rai.se half a crop in the county. Farmers all discouraged. 



Bladen County. X. C. — The average condition has deteriorated 40 per cent, since July 

 1, and the crop promises a worse showing two or three weeks hence. Thfe drought, 

 extending iiom the last of June to the middle of A-ugust, stopped the growth ; the 

 cold snap of July 17 started the rust, and the cold spell of August 16 to 25, and the 

 steady sliowers with no sunshine, increased it, and it has now run over nearly all the 

 cotton ; the leaves are off, the stalks are dead or dying, and the immature bolls are 

 rapidly opening. The prospect now is for about half the crop expected .Inly 1. 



Greene County, N. C. — Eust .since last report, and in some portions of the county the 

 crop is almost a total faibire. Two-thirds of a crop is all that can be expected, with 

 the prospect of not doing as well as that. Since the unusually cool weather of July 

 the plant has done next to nothing ; all the forms and many of the b(dls that liave 

 come since August 1 have dropped. The picking season will end thirty days earlier 

 than last yeai\ « 



Duplin County, X. C— Knst appeared the first week in August, and rapidly spread 

 over the entire crop, stopping growth, and causing the squares to fall oft". Very little 

 cotton has been made since August 15, and but for the unusually favorable spring and 

 early summer, not one-half an average crop would have been made. 



lYanMin County, X. C— The yield will probably be not much over half as large as 

 last year. Severe drought. 



Gaston County, N. C.—Cnt short at a critical age, and will not recover. Estimate, 

 seven-tenths. 



Samjyison County, X. C. — The cro]i did not suffer much until three weeks ago, when 

 rust set in and lias very much injured the crop. The estimate is four-fifths of un aver- 

 age product, and some think this too high. 



Jiertie County, X. C— Rust has damaged cotton, and the dry weather of last month 

 has caused it to shed its forms and small bolls. 



Moore County, X. C. — Small growth and not well boiled. 



Anson Count)/, X. C. — Not over two-fifths of a crop. Drought. 



Chowan County, X. C— Badly injured by rust in some localities, audits general spread 

 is apprehended, in which e^•ent the crop will be very short. 



Beaufort Counti/. X. C— Rust more general than for mauy'years ; many fields ruined. 

 All the middle and top forms and most of the leaves have dropped otf. With 20 per 

 cent, reduction of acreage and the condition hardly up to average, the crop will be 

 reduced to 80 per cent, of that of last year. 



Echjeeomhe County, X. C— Sad change iu the prospect since the last report. "The 

 plant did not seein to be very iujinionsly aft'ected by the cold of July; it remained 

 green and shed no more than "usual. The stalks and limbs, not the roots, turned a 

 deep red, however, and the plant ceased to grow. A blight, similar to black rust, has 

 appeared all over the county, and the crop is very seriously damaged. Fall picking 

 will be at least ten davs earlier than usual. 



Gates County, X. C— Good growth, but the cold and wet have caused rust. 



Perquimans County, X. C. — About two-thirds of last year's crop. 



Martin County, X. C— At least 33 per cent, below au average, and 50 per cent, short 

 of the prospect six weeks ago. 



Stanly County, X. C. — Hardly h.alf a crop. 



Craven County, X. C— Injured by rust to the extent of 15 per cent. 



