' 18 
comparisons of ultimate results. In some cases the greenness of the 
plant in December is cited as a cause of diminished yield by the sudden 
loss of long-delayed fruitage by violent storms. These facts make it 
difficult to estimate the extent of the depreciation from unfavorable 
weather. Three per cent. ought not to be unreasonable, and this would 
leave 4,100,000 bales; if four per cent., 4,055,000 bales; if only two, 
4,143,000. 
The November returns, as before stated, giving an aggregate of local 
estimates, are each year somewhat lower than the teachings of the returns 
of condition. They are about twelve per cent. greater in 1874 than in 
1875, and if we reduce this increase one-half in view of the difference 
in the weather, and the yield of lint not taken into consideration on 
the first of November, and add 6 per cent. to the crop of last year, we 
have 4,063,000 bales. This is in harmony with the result deduced from 
' the returns of condition above. ‘ 
It is our aim to give as accurately as possible the history of the crop, 
and not to make bets on the actual result, or attempt to fix to a bale the 
amount to be ginned and sold, as a small portion of the crop is still 
liable to various contingencies before marketing. But it is proper to 
give an idea of the substantial purport and meaning of our returns; and 
we have uo hesitation in interpreting them to mean a crop of about 
4,100,000 bales, with small probability that it will either exceed or fall 
short of that amount more than fifty thousand bales. If it should vary 
by wider figures, we must acknowledge that by so much have our 
returns failed to fathom the inscrutable. 
We make somewhat copious extracts from the notes accompanying 
Ape returns, to give all the light possible upon the later aspects of 
the crop: 
NORTH CAROLINA.— Pitt: While the acreage this year was 100, the ‘‘ final estimate of 
the quantity to be expected will not exceed 663.” Wilson: Owing to a small increase in 
acreage the crop is about 2 per cent. larger than last year; yet the yield is not so good, the 
staple being a little inferior. Ten thousand bales is the estimate for this year’s crop in this 
county. Edgecombe: All lint made since the August rains is; as a rule, inferior. Bruns- 
wick : On account of late spring and very early fall, also of the very dry months of July, 
August, and September, there are now a great many half-matured, open bolls on the stalks. 
Beaufort : The season has been very wet, particularly duriug November. The last picking has 
fallen very much short of what was anticipated. These who secured an early stand have 
made fair crops, but those who were late—and their number is unusually large—have made 
only two-thirds of a fair or average crop. I am now of opinion that the acreage was a little 
larger than first reported, and that the crop of this year will be only about 8 per cent. short 
of that of 1874. Hertford: The lint is shorter than last year’s; its quality is considered 
not so good. Duplin: Cotton on stiff lands has made an average crop; on sandy lands, 
searcely half a crop. One-half the lands planted in cotton are fine sand-lands. Nearly all 
cotton has been sold, and over one-half the farmers still in debt for making it. Monroe: 
The cotton-crop is at least one-third short of last year, and the yield on an average is 1 
pound of lint to 34 pounds of seed-cotton. Union: The heavy frost has decreased the 
average in this county at least 15 per cent. Mecklenburgh: The frost has injured our crop 
about 10 per cent. This year’s crop is about three-fourths of. that of 1874. Over one-half 
of the crop in this county has been sold. Nash; The droughts of June and July retarded 
the growth of the plant, espegially in the stiff lands ; they were also injured by the frost. The 
indications now are that there will be a reduction in the acreage in the coming season of at 
least 23 per cent. Pasquotank: The frosts came earlier this season than usual, and a large 
part of the cotton was ruined. Greene: There never were so few pounds of lint to 100 pounds 
of seed-cotton. The seeds are extra large; three of this year’s crop are equal in size to 
four of last. This is the case throughout the county. Cumberland: Owing to floods of 
rain in August, crops are short, of inferior quality, but nearly all saved by December ]. 
Alexander: The fall being very favorable for gathering cotton, the quality and quantity of 
the lint is better than last year. Pamlico: It is not an exaggeration to report that this is 
decidedly the worst cotton-year ever known, both as to quantity and quality of the crop. 
Wayne: I think the quality of this year’s crop equal to that of last. Gaston: The crop is 
short of last year’s. October frost caused a backwardness in the crop that few were pre- 
pared for. The early picking-season was delightful, insuring a large per cent. of strictly 
fine cotton. The quantity of stained or frosted cotton is deuble what it was last year. Ran 
