SUMMARY OF LOSSES. 69 



one-fourth, to get a proper average. This gives 438,700 bales as the en- 

 tire crop of the State, and the total average loss for all counties is placed 

 at 20 per cent., a noticeable increase over those States lying to the east- 

 ward, or 89,740 bales, worth $4,487,000. 



The height of cotton-worin devastation culminates in Texas, 28 per 

 cent, representing the loss for the whole State. In 18 counties, growing 

 about two fifths of the cotton produced, the percentage of loss is 35 per 

 cent., or more than a third, with 20 per cent, for the remaining two-thirds. 

 Cotton production has increased to a still greater extent here than in other 

 States since 1869, and one-half must be added to the census figures which 

 gives, in round numbers, 525,000 bales as a fair average for 14 years, and 

 28 per cent, places the loss for the State at 198,125 bales. Texas then suf- 

 fers in a fear of greatest injury, a loss of at least 25,000 bales more than 

 any other single State ; and the sum total foots up $7,406,000. 



Florida must take the lowest rank in the amount of cotton produced, 

 yet her percentage of destruction by worms must be rated between that 

 of Louisiana and Texas, or at 24 per cent. Out of an annual production 

 (average) of 49,739 bales, the devastation amounts to 12,000 bales, re- 

 ducing the money value of the crop $600,000. 



In the northern tier of cotton States the losses are small. In North 

 Carolina it is a question if the injury is not more than compensated in 

 the benefit derived from the stripping of the leaves where the vegetation 

 is rank and the plants are unable to mature the bolls. As all the evi- 

 dence is on the side of benefit we shall leave the State out of the calcu- 

 lation, as the injury can be but a trifle at the most. 



In South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas the losses are small from 

 the attacks of cotton -worms, although there are other causes that some- 

 times operate unfavorably against the crops. After a careful considera- 

 tion of the damage in these States, the percentages are set down as fol- 

 lows : South Carolina, 5 per cent., or 11,225 bales out of a crop of 224,500 

 bales ; loss, $560,000. Tennessee, 5 per cent., or 8,365 bales out of a 

 crop of 147,300 ; loss, $418,000. Arkansas, 8 per cent,, or 27,760 bales 

 out of a crop of 347,000 ; loss, $1,380,000. 



SUMMARY. 



Any causes tending to retard the growth of the cotton plants only 

 make the destruction of a larger percentage of the crop more certain in 

 unfavorable cotton- worm years. On the contrary, upon those planta- 

 tions where an early stand is secured, and everything is pushed from 

 the start, with exemption from other causes of injury, only a small pro- 

 portion of the crop is destroyed. 



Locality, too, has much to do with increasing the percentages of loss. 

 In localities of heaviest production, where the plantations are large and 

 are near together, should the season be a little earlier, the losses are 

 almost double those in more isolated regions, and even in the same coun- 

 ties location has much to do with raising or lowering the percentages. 



