333 



of fertilizers. Georgia is employing fertilizers more extensively in this 

 culture than any other State. 



The tlecline during the past month in Florida has been from 9G to 

 92. The caterpillar appeared in Suwannee as early as July 15, and 

 divested of leaves whole fields before August 15. Leon, Jefferson, 

 Madison, Gadsden, and Taylor have also been visited. Floods have 

 swept a large area of bottom-lauds, and heavy rains elsewhere have 

 caused leaves and forms to fall. 



Only four counties in Alabama made returns below 100 in August, 

 the general average being 107; two-thirds of the present returns are 

 below 100, thirty-two counties averaging 88. Of the prominent coun- 

 ties, Uale shows a decline from 110 to 67, Eussell from 103 to 97, and 

 Marengo from 90 to 70. Montgomery indicates an advance from 105 to 

 110. Two-thirds of the returns include a reference to insect ravages. 



The general average of Mississippi returns has fallen since the Au- 

 gust report from 112 to 90, Warren has declined from 110 to 108, Madi- 

 son from 105 to 77, Hinds from 100 to 60. Three-fourths of the returns 

 are below 100. Insect depredations are serious in many counties. 



The average for Louisiana was 101 in August ; in September 86. In 

 Caddo the decline is from 90 to 50, from 100 to 75 in Concordia, from 

 95 to 80 in Claiborne ; while in Madison, a prominent parish, an ad- 

 vance from 120 to 140 is reported. The caterpillar has been destructive 

 in Tangipahoa, Marion, Eed River, Saint Landry, and Concordia. In 

 some counties persistent and comparatively successful efforts were made 

 to destroy the early brood of caterpillars ; in Wilkinson large numbers 

 ■were killed, and in Warren both the caterpillar and boll-worm were held 

 in check by the vigilance and industry of i^lanters. 



Drought has shortened the Texas crop, and reduced the average of 

 the returns of condition from 103 to 94. Few reports of the presence 

 of insects are received. 



The average of Arkansas returns has been decreased from 9G to 78, 

 mainly by dry weather. 



In Tennessee, drought has also been injurious, reducing the average 

 from 104 to 92. The forms and young bolls of the top crop are rapidly 

 falling off, threatening a material reduction of the crop. 



In presenting- the following extracts from notes accompanying the 

 September returns, it should be remembered that the tables present in 

 compact form the spirit and substance of all the returns received, while 

 the extracts are necessarily desultory and exceptional : 



North Carolixa. — Crop lius rapidly improved within thirty days: just commenced 

 opening, and promises a good yield. Mecklenburgh : Best crop since the war ; a little 

 rust ; too much rain ; very heavilj'^ boiled. Onslow : Never finer in growth, though in- 

 jured by late rains, causing it to shed forms. Pasquotanlc : Poorer than ever known. 

 Sampson: Very seriously affected by rust. Bertie: Below average; three weeks 

 ago it was 15 per cent, above ; rust has proved very destructive ; prospect a third less 

 than it was two weeks ago. 



South Carolina. — York : Growth remarkably rapid, on some farms too rapid, caus- 

 ing the casting of fruit to a considerable extent. The stock is unusually well grown 

 and filled. Two weeks ago the crop promised 25 per cent, above average, but continu- 

 ous rains during the latter half of August have caused some rot as well as shedding of 

 young fruit. Clarendon : Poorer than for forty-seven years; fine up to July 15, when 

 hot drought set in, cutting down the jirospect to two-thirds of an average; fruit has 

 fallen to a great extent ; only July cotton left ; rust has become general. Marion : 

 Early cotton damaged by drought ; late cotton by rust. Eichland : Much injured by 

 rust, and in some localities by caterpillars destroying the whole August crop. 



Georgia. — Glasscock : Great falling oif in cotton; rust and rain have shortened it a 

 half from what was expected a month ago ; caterpillars and boll- worms on some 

 farms. Marion : almost every field suffering from some disaster — caterjiillar, boll-worm, 

 or rust— and, in some cascs,'all three. Late cotton has no matured fruit, but a rank 



