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all has been unprecedentedly good for picking cotton, and the crop on the bottoms is the best 
Iever saw. But the hands are slow in picking, and,asthe rains are now set in, about one- 
twertieth of the crop will waste on the ground. Jefferson: This fall has been unusually 
good for picking cotton, which is nearly all gathered. Lint much stronger and heavier than 
last year. Prairie: Until within the last ten days, we have had the best of weather for gath- 
ering and putting in our crops. Bradley: Cotton better matured than last year, hence bet- 
ter quality; weather remarkably fine; no killing frost yet; cotton still opening. Monroe : 
The unusual heavy rains for the last ten days have injured the cotton now in the field at 
least 15 per cent.; weather still unsettled. Franklin: Number of pounds of lint to 100 
pounds seed-cotton averages 323. About 30 pounds was last year’s average; quality much 
better this year; at least 90 per cent. already gathered. I am confident 5,000 bales will be 
made in this county. Compared with previous crops, I estimate this year’s at 100 per cent. 
full. The season has been favorable for gathering, and labor abundant, hence cottouis 
gathered in good condition. Yell: The season for picking has been the best fo r yearsand 
still continues good. ‘The crop gathered so far is as good as can be, and the staple fine. 
Fulton: We have had remarkably favorable weather for gathering the crop, but sickness 
has caused a greater orless hinderance. Crittenden: The price paid per hundred for picking 
cotton is from $1 to $1.25, and yet there are thousands of laborers around Memphis, Tenn., that 
cannot be induced to work ; hence we will be late in getting in our crop ; loss considerable 
from inclement weather. Dallas: Cotton-fiber is stronger than I have seen it for ten years. 
An unusually large per cent. has been gathered free from dirt and sand. Crop nearly all 
housed. The answer (175 per cent.) to the question, ‘‘ What per cent. of the actual crop of 
1874 will be gathered in your county in 1875?” may appear too large, but I believe the 
cotton and corn crops are nearly twice last year’s. Montgomery: In comparing this crop 
with that of last year we make a very good showing, as last year everything suffered from 
drought. The quality this year is better, because the dry fall permitted the fiber to be picked 
in a pure white, unstained condition. Cotton matured and opened exceptionally early, 
without becoming stained or frost-bitten. Crawford: There is now more unpicked cotton 
than there was at this time last year, which is owing to the fact that up to about three weeks 
ago very little wheat was sown, but since this time wheat has been put in to the neglect of 
cotton. As the weather has been dry and favorable fer picking, the cotton is cleaner, seed 
is lighter, and, on the whole, lint is considerably better than last year. 
TENNESSEE.— Maury : This county usualiy makes from 18,600 to 20,000 bales of cotton ; 
this year the yield will not exceed 5,000 bales. Dyer: In consequence of wet weather and 
frost, which damaged the cotton-crop very materially, the yield of this connty will not ex- 
ceed last year’s. ‘The crop is about half an average good crop. Weakley: Our cotton-crop 
was very badly damaged by frost, and recent rains have beaten out many of the bottom 
bolls into the ground, thus soiling aud staining a heavy percentage of the crop. Giles: I 
am a native Tennesseean, fifty-five years old, but never have seen such a complete failure 
of the cotton-crop. It required eight or ten of the best acres to makea bale. Putnam; The 
cotion-crop for this year seems to be unnatural. The bush runs up hard and spindling ; 
bolls are small and hard, and until very recently failed to open. The reason I assign 
for this is incessant rains and cloudiness for nearly two months, June and July; hence 
the quality is inferior. McNairy: I have been running a gin for ten years, during 
which time no year produced as little lint to the 100 pounds seed cotton as the 
present has. All ginners I have seen say the same. Causes of this are, excessive 
yains while the plant was growing and maturing, and heavy, cloudy weather for two-thirds 
of the time since the gathering season has set in, One-fourth of the crop lies ungathered 
on the ground, beaten down by heavy rains and winds. Fayette: The yield of lint, in pro- 
portion to seed, is much better than usual. Drought cut off all late bolls. What cotton we 
have opened and matured early. The drying-influence of the atmosphere lessened the 
weight of the seed, and made the quality better. November 4 a severe and destructive 
wind and rain storm visited us, followed by almost continued unfavorable weather to the 
present time, so much so as greatly to reduce the average of the crop. The remaining 
portion of our crop will be less in quantity and worse in quality than any former reports 
have indicated. Tipton: The cottou-crop in my county this year (acreage 10 per cent. 
less) is at least 25 per cent. larger than last year. Allowing 3} pounds of seed-cotton to one 
of lint, 100 pounds of seed-cotton will make 203 pounds lint. Last year the yield was 25} 
pounds, reckoning 34 pounds of seed-cotton to one of lint. Quality is better. The low 
price of cotton makes laborers indifferent. Picking is backward, and recent heavy rains 
have done serious damage. Hardeman: In this county, owing to a very dry summer apd 
fall, last year’s crcp opened three weeks earlier tnan the present one, and was all gathered 
by the lst of December. This year the summer and fali have had regular rains, and more 
sickness prevailed among the operatives in August, September, and October than has been 
known here for a quarter of a century. After consultation, we conclude that the present 
crop is not more than 20 per cent. over that of 1874. If we continue to have rain and such 
general unfavorable weather as now, we shall not gather more than last year. Prices low, 
and the country will experience continued ‘‘ haré times.” 
