392 



and in all Western States north of the Ohio River, the depreciation rang- 

 ing from 15 to 44 per cent. The crop has been an average one in West 

 Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Some reduction in quan- 

 tity is experienced on the Pacific coast. 



Tlie sweet potato crop is comparatively a large one. 



Sorghum. — While the acreage of sorghum is not very large, the crop 

 is in superior condition, and promises a yield of sirup of fine quality. 



Cotton. — The increase in breadth of cottpn was estimated in July at 12 

 percent., viz., N^orth Carolina, 8 ; South Carolina, 5 ; Georgia, 7 ; Florida, 7 ; 

 Alabama, 13; Mississippi, 12 ; Louisiana, 20; Texas, 25; Arkansas, 10; 

 Tennessee 5. The appearance of the crop on the first of October was 

 reported as follows : Below an average in condition — Mississippi, 1 per 

 cent.; Alabama, 4 ; Louisiana, 8 ; Georgia, 1 ; Tennessee, 3. Abov-e an 

 average — Texas, 5 per cent. ; Arkansas, 5 ; Florida, 2 ; South Carolina, 4 ; 

 North Carolina, 7. Combining the elements of acreage planted and 

 condition on the first of October, the natural expectation, other circum- 

 stances being equal, would lead to a comparison with last year, as fol- 

 lows : North Carolina, 15 per cent, increase ; South Carolina, 9 ; Geor- 

 gia, 5 ; Florida, 9 ; Alabama, 8 ; Mississippi, 10 ; Louisiana, 10 ; Texas, 

 30; Arkansas, 15; Tennessee, 1. This would giv^e a crop exceeding 

 three and a half millions of bales. But the indications of the season 

 thus far, reports since October first, and the probabilities of a favor- 

 able autumn for maturing and picking the "top crop "do not prognosti- 

 cate a return of the remarkably favorable experience of the past season. 

 In 18G9 the discouragements and drawbacks appeared with the plant in 

 spring, and gradually disappeared, the season culminating in almost 

 unexampled favor, with exemption from destroying frosts, blighting 

 rains, insects, and disease. The present crox), vigorous in early growth, 

 " running to weed" rather than boll, then burned with drought in Au- 

 gust, and subsequently flooded with rain in September, has endured 

 vicissitudes unfavorable to continued fruitfulness, as a general shedding 

 of forms and occasional rotting of bolls attest. The boll worm and army 

 worm have been at work in places, and rust is more or less prevalent in 

 all the cotton States. The opening of the later bolls is unusually well 

 advanced in most places, and the last picking promises to be light. 

 These indications, instead of pointing to an increase of a third of a mil- 

 lion bales, render it probable that the present crop will be no larger than 

 the last, and if the remainder of the season should be very uni)ropitious 

 a reduction of a quarter of a million bales might result. Another 

 month or two will determine whether the present crop shall be limited to 

 three millions of bales, or rise to three and a half millions. 



As predicted early in the season, the promise of an average crop 

 upon the present area in cultivation has reduced the price to fifteen 

 cents per pound, or to the very verge of profitable cultivation ; and cor- 

 respondents are already reporting the ruin of planters who grow cotton 

 exclusively and buy all agricultnral supplies. 



Sugar cane. — A large increase in the product of cane sugar is regarded 

 as certain. For several years a considerable part of the crop has been 

 used as "plant cane" for extending the area of cane culture. This ex- 

 tension is beginning to enlarge production materially, and will aid, in 

 connection with the fine condition of the growing i)lant, to swell the sugar 

 yield of the present year. The average condition of this crop in Louisiana 

 is placed at eleven-tenths, or 10 per cent, above a medium. In Texas the 

 prospect is equally favorable, and generally favorable returns come from 

 the limited sugar area of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. 

 In Brooks County, Georgia, in Liberty County, Florida, and in Eapides 



