16 
year in one-third of the counties. Fully five-sixths of the counties of 
Mississippi return a smaller yield. Nearly one-half of the returns from 
Louisiana indicate a proportion of lint equal to that of 1874; and in Ar- 
kansas and Texas returns of like character slightly predominate. A 
reduced yield is indicated in Tennessee in more than half the counties. 
It may seem unaccountable that there should be local results so opposite 
in the same latitudes and vicinity, but the facts are equally diverse with 
reference to moisture, sunshine, length and fineness of fiber, and quan- 
tity of crop. An examination of extracts from remarks of correspond- 
ents, which conclude this report, will afford much light upon these local 
differences. 
The reduction of lint in proportion to seed is attributed to various 
causes. Anything preventing the development of the boll will re- 
duce the relative amount of lint, which is last in order of maturation. 
Too much moisture after drought may give a sudden impulse to the 
growth of wood, and perhaps size and numbers in fruiting, but the bolls 
are slow to open and deficient in lint. Drought may so injure the plant 
as to prevent proper development of boll. The use of fertilizers, espe- 
cially the phosphates, tends to increase the weight of seed, as in the 
case of our cereals, and our returns give proof of such result; in one 
county unfertilized fields yielding five pounds of lint more per hundred, 
or 17 per cent. 
Quality.—In nearly three-fourths of the counties of the Carolinas the 
quality is represented as inferior to that of 1874. A few reports make the . 
staple shorter, with quality equal in other respects ; one indicates short- 
ness of fiber, with less yellow cotton. 
Georgia has the same proportion of reports of low quality. The 
counties in which the staple is better are Hart, Early, Liberty, Telfair, 
Dodge, Taliaferro, (decidedly better,) Montgomery, Madison, and 
Lumpkin. Other reports indicate an equality with the previous crop. 
Similar statements come from Florida, some much worse, a few better, 
and some the same as in 1874. 
Coming to Alabama, just half the reports indicate worse quality, some 
making the depreciation as much as 20 per cent.; and of the remainder 
rather more than one-half return better quality, a few of them *“ much 
better,” or ‘decidedly better.” Mississippi, which reports as low a yield 
of lint as Georgia, also returns as much depreciation in quality. Nearly 
all of those returning better quality are upland counties. Injury by 
storms is reported in some cases. 
A larger proportion of returns of good or superior quality come from 
Louisiana, yet they are less than half of the entire number. Very nearly 
half from Tennessee indicate good or better quality, but the average 
indications point to a slight reduction in the quality of the whole crop. 
The only States in which the quality of lint is improved are Arkansas 
and Texas. In the former three-fourths of the returns indicate 
superiority, and in the latter fully four-fifths. In some counties in Texas 
the average quality is a full grade higher than in 1874, and the degree 
, 
of improvement ranges in other counties from 5 to 50 per cent. The 
staple is very generally reported longer and finer. 
Progress of gathering—Another point upon which careful estimate 
was required was the proportion of the crop gathered on the Ist of 
December. The progress of gathering was returned as farthest ad- 
vanced in South Carolina and the latest in Mississippi. The percentage 
gathered is returned as follows: North Carolina, 89; South Carolina, 
95; Florida, 93; Georgia, 92; Alabama, 87; Mississippi,75; Louisiana, 
83; Texas, 94; Arkansas, 76; Tennessee, 73. The average for the crop 
