440 



of last year. These aA'cra^i;es, a»]Jiisted witli regard to the relative pro- 

 duction of the counties reported, give the following results for each 

 State: North Carolina, 80 percent.; South Carolina, 08 ; Georgia, G7; 

 Florida, 58; Alabama, 73; Mississippi, 72; Louisiana, 05; Texas, G8; 

 Arkansas, 85 ; Tennessee, 00. A few counties in Virginia, Kentucky, 

 and Missouri make rei)orts of much the same tenor as the returns from 

 North Carolina and Tennessee. 



The quality of the liber is reported good in all sections. A very small 

 proportion of discolored or trashy cotton has been gathered. Some 

 attention has been paid to improvemciit in quality by the use of the 

 Peeler and other imi)roved varieties. 



Many correspondents note the superiority in yield and comparative 

 exemption from disease under careful culture and judicious fertilization. 



The cotton returns received in December are similar in tenor to the 

 November reports, fully sustaining the nroderate promise of improve- 

 ment upon the somewhat gloomy views presented in October. Yet the 

 change in condition is not so marked as to modify materially the pros- 

 ])ect foreshadowed in the monthly reports for July and September, except 

 that the growing season has been from 7 to 10 days longer than the av- 

 erage of seasons, increasing the crop prospect at least 200,000 bales. The 

 latest returns would indicate an estimate almost identical with that of the 

 September report, for a favoring autumn, which "could scarcely bring 

 a crop exceeding three and one-third millions of bales." Frosts have 

 been delayed till late in November, in some localities till the 20th, and the 

 weather has been generally favorable for picking without waste or dis- 

 coloring of fiber. A fair rendering of the recent local estimates, which 

 have been unusually numerous and comxMete, gives a total aggregate of 

 0,400,000 bales as the present expectation of the cotton yiehl of 187]. 



Smry County, Va. — Siiiall acnnig*-. Ked rust and cdoI weatlier h;i\t: causi-d the bolls 

 to iall off. 



I'rtnce Geovf/e County, Va. — The aiva in cotton in this county has been extended this 

 year. The first plantinjr was mneh injured by heavy rains early in Jlay and much 

 had to be replanted, but the favorable season later, with the increased acreage, will 

 bring the i)roduct fully up to that of last year. The staple is very good. 



rnquimans County, iS'. C. — .Short of exiiectations; drought caused shedding and 

 rnst. The latter is our greatest drawback. An application of 30 to 40 bushels of good 

 wood-ashes, ajiplied in tlie bottom of tlie furrow at tlie time of planting, comes nearer 

 to a specific than anything else I have tried. 



Beaufort County, X. C. — rickingout better than expected. The .season has been- very 

 favoraljle, anil most of tin; cro]) has been ginned and sent to market. I increase my 

 estimate 10 p<T cent, on 'the October re]»ort, attributable to the favorable weather. 

 Good farmers Av ill average uOO to 400 ])ounds of Hut per acre ; general average, 200 

 pounds. 



Bertie County, X. C. — Product 25 per cent, less than last year; 200 pounds of lint 

 to the acre ; quality fine. 



lUrtford County, X. C. — Crop not so heavy as last year, but the staide i.s better and 

 saved in fine condition. Increa.sed interest has been taken in testing improved varie- 

 ties. The Peeler and the Dickson Prolific take the lead in productiveness and staple. 

 Improved plows have enabled farmers to cultivate this crop with much more ease than 

 formerly, and tlie general spirit of improvement is greater. Many farmei-s in this 

 county will produce 1,000 pounds seed-cottou per acre. 



rut County, X.C. — A great falling off from the product anticipated early in the season, 

 yet we have made an average crop. 



Lenoir County, X. C. — Much better than was expected in July and August. 



Franllin County, X. C. — Favorable fall for cotton, and the j'ield will exceed tlie an- 

 ticipations of two months ago. 



Craven County, X. C. — Better in (iuantity and quality thau was anticipated when 

 October report Avas made. 



Sampson County, X. C. — Mostly picked out. Crop will not vary u)uch from three- 

 fourths of an average. The fall .season has been favoi'able. 



Xeiilerry County, S. C. — The crop has not improve*! with the fall season. The fruit is 

 too late to mature. Vei-y little over half crop. 



