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killing-frost the result would have. been a large increase of the yield, but the reverse has 
been the case. The entire month of November has been damp and murky, and there has 
been no frost sufficient to check vegetation. Jackson: The progress of the crop was unpro- 
pitious from the start for a successful yield. At times during its growth appearances indi- 
cated a good crop, but disasters have made it poorer than any crop ever before. The full 
development of the boll is dependent upon the cultivation and regularity of the seasons. 
This year it was defective from irregularity in growth and progress to maturity, consequently 
the staple was irregular in length of fiber, and the yield a very poor crop in quality. The 
seeds were not full, coming out of the gin with defective lint adhering to them. Product: 
33 to 35 pounds lint to 100 pounds seed-cotton ; a little better last year. The crop of 1874 
was 80 per cent.; that of 1875, 64 per cent. The top-crop, expected to be made and gathered, 
has been destroyed by wet weather and other causes. 
ALABAMA.— Dale; Much more cotton gathered than was expected, even on the Ist of 
November. No frost yet to kill cotton, December 8. Bullock: The fall has been unu- 
sually mild, and favorable for gathering the crop. Hule: The crop is the best since 1870, 
but we have had an unfavorable fall for picking ; owing to heavy rains the qualityis in the 
main bad; last year very good. Lauderdale: The crop is the shortest since 1866; the 
weather has been so wet that the crop could not be gathered in time, hence the quality is 
very inferior. Very little of the crop will class above good ordinary. Jefferson: For the 
last four weeks, up to December 11, we have had damp weather, but no hard rains. Had 
the weather been dry and favorable the cotton would all have been gathered. Shelby: The 
crop at first was superior in quality to that of 1874, but the exeessive rains and winds of 
September have stained the fiber, and have done other material injury. Colbert: Our cot- 
ton-crop this year is not so goodin quality as last year’s ; much of it will not open on ac- 
count of injury from frost. When the frost came (no sooner than usual) the cotton was full 
of sap, and growing. Montgomery: Drought has cut off the cottou-crop about 25 per cert. 
Late winter ; no frost to kill cotton yet. The weed is still blooming and opening. Frank- 
lin: Farmers have been unusually slow this year in gathering cotton. It is owing to the 
almost incessant rainy weather since August. Cotton is ruining our country; there is no 
“money init here. Butler: We have had no killing-frost yet, and cotton is still blooming. 
In some places there are many grown bolls on the stalks, but very few will open. It re- 
quires warm, dry weather to make cotton open so late. This year 100 pounds of seed-cot- 
ton will only make 29 pounds of liut; last year 33 pounds; quality inferior. Henry: 
July drought nearly killed our.cotton. The rains of August brought on, in appearance, a 
very fine top-crop. It has been very slow to open, and is very light when gathered. Clarke : 
The cotton-crop on the uplands is very short this year, on account of along drought. The 
low lands, where they have been too weit for years past, have made fine crops; in some in- 
stances a bale of 500 pounds to the acre. In many upland fields there is a second growth, 
though little can be expected from this. Calhoun: The yield of lint isnot quite so good as 
last year. Wet weather during the last month (November) has damaged the quality. 
Greene: The weather was unusually bad in November. Wind and rain threw much of the 
cotton on the ground. Limestone: This portion of North Alabama has made the lightest 
cotton-crop known for years, if ever before. I think this county will not average more 
than a bale for every 10 acres. Some of my correspondents say a bale to 15 acres, others a 
bale to 6 or 7. The average of lint to 100 pounds seed-cotton is about 30 pounds; last year 
32 pounds. 
MIssIssipp!.—Smith: The cotton in the fields will be worse than that already gathered. 
Continued wet weather (warm rains) has materially injured the cotton still in the fields. The 
seeds are sprouting. The yield will be less than last year and the quality inferior. Wilkinson : 
Continued cloudy, damp, foggy weather for five weeks, with frequent rains, has destroyed 
much cotton, greatly reducing the November estimate and seriously injuring the quality. 
Lincoln : There is much damaged cotton, caused by rains during the month of November. 
The latter part of November was particularly unfavorable for gathering cotton: that gath- 
ered since the 15th is in a very dirty and trashy condition. Kemper: I have remarked a 
falling off in the quantity of lint this year, greater than I have ever noticed before, and from 
that alone infer that there will be a greater reduction in the crop than was anticipated. Noz- 
ubee: For the last four or five weeks the weather has been very wet. Much cotton has been 
gathered and housed damp. In the black lands a great amount of cotton is yet in the fields, 
and, if the rain continues. half will be lost. ‘The crop, if gathered, will be 5 or 10 per cent. 
better than last year. Choctuw: Not more than 80 per cent. gathered, in consequence of 
continued wet weather for three weeks. Cotton at present in the fields is injured; in low 
lands, almost ruined. Lowndes: Continued wet weather since the 10th of September has 
very much retarded the gathering of the cotton-crop, and has injured the quality. Pike: 
The cotton-crop is nearly gathered in this county. Owing to heavy rains picking has been 
stopped, and what is yet to be gathered will.be very much damaged. Nobody holds back 
this cotton from the market. Amite: This season has been unusually wet for gathering. 
The crop of 175 wil] fall short of what was expected in July and August. Excessive 
rains caused great losses along the streams. Neshoba : The quality is inferior, owing to much 
rain-fall during the last six weeks. Rankin: Rainy, damp weather has hindered picking 
and caused some rot. Weather growing worse, and threatening to be disastrous to cotton 
