60 EEPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



sippi and Southwest Alabama, whence it divides, running with 56 inches 

 northeastward to Florence, Alabama, and northwestward up the Eed 

 Eiver to the lower part of Arkansas. 



The annual precipitation over the rest of the cotton States is between 

 44 and 56 inches, with the following exceptions: 



(1.) In Texas the rainfall is much less, varying between 28 and 44 

 inches in the cotton-producing portion of the State, and falling as low 

 as 20 inches or less towards the west. The Indian Territory presents 

 nearly the same characters. 



(2.) Through Western I^orth Carolina and East Tennessee, and extend- 

 ing down through Georgia and Southeastern Alabama into Florida, 

 there is an area in which the precipitation is between 40 and 44 inches. 

 A narrow strip along the coasts of IsTorth and South Carolina exhibits 

 similar conditions. 



(3.) In the extreme south of Florida (outside of the cotton region) 

 there is a rainfall of 56 to 60 inches. 



Of great importance to the growth of the cotton plant is the distri- 

 bution of the rainfaU over the dilierent seasons ; and we find the maxi 

 mum of precipitation during the months of June, July, and August, oi 

 18 inches and above, (1) in the delta region of the Mississippi, and ex- 

 tending in a narrow band up the Mobile Eiver, into the fork of the Tom- 

 bigbee and Alabama Eivers -, and in a second narrow band northwest- 

 ward almost to Little Eock, Ark. (2) Eastern South Carolina and 

 Georgia, and the whole of the peninsula of Florida, show similar condi- 

 tions, the summer rainfall in Southwestern Florida reaching 2S inches. 



The rest of the cotton-producing area has a summer precipitation 

 varying between 10 and 18 inches, excepting parts of Texas and the 

 Indian Territory, where it is less. 



As regards the winter rainfall, we find, as in summer, the densest 

 area about the Mississippi delta, 12 to 18 inches, whence it spreads north- 

 ward in three bands — one through Central Alabama and Georgia and 

 along the eastern slope of the Appalachian chain; the second, passing 

 through IN'orthwest Alabama and Northeast Mississippi, crosses Central 

 Tennessee and Kentucky in the direction of Cincinnati ; the third passes 

 up the Mississippi Eiver, mainly to the west of that stream, to the lati- 

 tude of Cairo. 



A second area, of above 12 inches, is seen in Texas, passing through 

 Indianola and Austin, and a third in Middle Florida, east of Appa- 

 lachee Bay. 



The rest of the cotton-producing area has a winter rainfall varying 

 between 8 and 12 inches, excepting the western part of Arkansas, most 

 of the Indian Territory, a good part of Texas, and a portion of the eastern 

 part of the Florida peninsula. 



It is impossible to trace any very close relation between the rainfall 

 and the percentage of area planted in cotton, but it may be noted that 



