Be) 8°, 
September Ist the planter is more fortunate than usual and the decline 
less than the accustomed ratio. It is possible for a crop to improve in 
condition in August, but the reverse is oftener the case. , 
In North Carolina the decline has been from 96 to 93, caused by excess- 
ive moisture and rust; in South Carolina, from 97 to 91, from blight 
caused by great extremes of heat and moisture; in Georgia, from 104 
to 90, by drought mainly, and in less degree by rust and caterpillars; 
in Florida, from 89 to 83, by worms and rust; in Alabama, from 103 to 
83, from causes similar to those operating in Georgia, with greater 
prominence of the caterpillar; in Mississippi, from 92 to 87, mainly from 
too much rain, with some injury from the boll-worm and caterpillar; in 
Texas, from 106 to 87, from various causes operating either together or 
separately in the different sections, as drought, rains, rust, boll-worm, 
and caterpillar. In Tennessee and Arkansas the decline is scarcely per- 
ceptible, amounting to but 1 per cent., and in Louisiana there is a gain 
of 1 per cent. 
For the last five years, the September averages have been as follows: 
| | | | . 
States. } 1876.) 1875. 1874. | 1873. | 1872. | 1871.3 1870. 
MMMM HEGI Ate ot tee ene te cnt ai Seen ccceen mae | 93! 90 7 
eG aElitin £ ASI sted Sis AS SSE. CR ee } 91 86 | 
TELNAES SE PR ire = Ga i estes ee ts aera ee SOY 276 77 
SPOR SIR pede on nore sonoma stent wepeee eh raeee see ee 83 75 7 
USO UST Ea eee Bite Seles Begs Ri Roe Se eet ar SS SE 83 | a7 81 | 
INEISAINSI PL ose cee ae sence os eso aises wee teen eaten: ann ene a= | Ot) 8 74 | 
Mim assianiyy. fo ses sok ek. Pesan. SEG SC ee | 90] 8&8 62 
Diyas OS See: Se ean ec eee oe 3 ee cy Hee Shs Ue 87) 94 65 
PANN RGATIRHS fo oo cect uie co oe eerie dso acine ianen ae eran oe 97; 99 47 
PINCHED ee nee octet ns fen cats sohec notes ee ena sees } 119] 96 52 
AG ORAPG-penee hon dma t we sa aemne ue etee eae e tea | 92.3 | 88.3 | 70. 4 
The following extracts from September returns are given as indices of 
local peculiarities of the crop-history: 
VIRGINIA.—Sussex: Very fine prospect. 
Norra Caroitma.—TVilson: Fine rains to August 10 greatly improved the crop, but 
the rust afterward showed itself generally, reducing its promise. Onslow: Too much 
weed, and less heavily bolled than last year; will open later. Union : Opening very 
fully; best crop since the war. Orange: Rather too much rain. Jones: Excessive 
rain caused shedding on light, weak soils; opening fast, and will be speedily gathered. 
Greene: Cold weather in July caused general rust in August, shortening the crop 25 
per cent. by shedding. Columbus; Season favorable; no worms or rust. Cumberland : 
August rains cut down the crop to an average one; some rust. Chowan: Injured by 
rust. Beaufort: A very large crop cut down to average by excessive rains. Jredell: 
Greatly improved by August rains. Nash: Rusted considerably on light highlands ; 
doing well on stiff soils. Wayne: Shortened 25 percent. by rust. Mecklenburgh: August 
crop very good; weed not large, but bolls heavy and blooms abundant and full; no 
insects. Pamlico: Injured by rains in August. Perquimons: Shortened by excessive 
rains; shedding forms and bolls. Gaston: Started late, but doing well. Edgecombe: 
From very good to very bad; three or four days earlier than last year. Carteret: Fair 
prospect. Camden: Good crop. Hertford: Shortened at least a third in the upper 
townships by rains falling for fifteen days. Wake: The great injury inflicted by the 
rains of July was aggravated by the drought of August ; opening rapidly. 
Sourn Caroiia.—Edgefield: Extreme heat and drought following copious rains cut 
cotton from 120 to 80; injury especially apparent on highly-manured crops. Newberry : 
Many blooms failed to perfect forms on account of excessive rain, yet the yield is 
promising and of good quality. Darlington: Extreme heat and drought following 
excessive rains have made the cotton to scald and shed ; crop still large, but not in pro- 
portion to the weed. Barnwell: Shortened by drought. Horry: Yield less than last 
year. Chester: Seriously injured by drought and rust within the last fifteen days. 
Beaufort: Caterpillars have appeared in sea-island cotton on the mainland, but not in 
great numbers. Clarendon: Injured by heavy rains. Williamsburgh : Injured by rust 
in consequence of excessive rains ; ba§ shed badly in many places; yield still promises 
