Whilst there is no doubt that the present crop is larger. the bullish reports which were abundant summer on the probable yield and the published estimate of 2,542,887 jPleuls for Hupeh and Hunan, are Vesriain to be again far from reali sation.
With ati China's remarkable _and speedy recuperative powers in many Hines, we cannot expect records in the course of a season or two after a trade, such as this had grown to be, lits fallen to 30 Tow a pitch and with what alli the cotton growing area, on which this Port subsists, has gone through in the past three years of banditry, communism and floods.
Great areas are still denuded of their original population and farmers, in many parts of the two Provinces. are still chary of conditions and of cultivating much more than their absolute necessities.
The present crop also suffered considerable damage and loss during the picking season, September being at normally wet all over the cotton growing area in these provinces.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.