The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-17 00:00:00

THE COTTON CROP.

- -
The state of the cotton crops in America is at present
of vast importance. We extract the following from the
New YOuii Herald as bearing upon the point:—
" We have conversed with au in,telligent merchant who
has just returned from an excursion of some weeks in
the interior of Georgia, and who has made particular in-
triries as to the ex rut of the cotton crop, as also the
probable injury which it has sus!ained by the caterpillar
and bore worm. From ad that he could learn, Georgia
will be materially injured, while the greater portion of
Alobama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, will be swept of
fully one-half of the estimated product two mcnths since.
It is the general opinion in those sections that in no event
can the crop roach two millions, while the most intelli-
gent men with whom our informant conversed estimate
it at eighteen or nineteen hundred thousand bales.
We learn also that the crop in this state will not
probably much exceed that of last year. The caterpillar
and worm have appeared on several plantations in the
upper districts."
Extract of a letter to the editors of the Charleston
Courier :

" DECATUR (De Kalb Co., Gee.), SEPT. 22.—Seeing
a great deal in your paper recently concerning the par-
tial loss and backwardness of our cotton crop, I embrace
this opportunity of stating that such is the case with us.
Our cotton is at least four weeks later than it was the
last season. To speak in general terms, we have not
more than two-thirds of a stand, and comparatively but
a light crop of bolls. Even should the fall prove pro-
pitious, we shall not make more than a half crop."
Extract of a letter received in Charleston:—
" PINEvILLE, SEPT. 16, 1846.-1 am sorry to say
that, within a few days the caterpillar has spread over,
more or less, every plantation in this region, and are
progressing pretty much as described from the island
and main. They commenced on my place on Sunday,
and sweep all the leaves and small pods and buds of the
cotton. Confined at present to the luxuriant bottom and
tender plants, I have no doubt the injury will be con-
siderable; how great, however, I cannot conjecture.
They have commenced late, and most of the cotton being
considerably matured, may be beyond injury from them.
I am anxious to see whether, having destroyed the bolls,
they will advance for subsistence upon the more matured
plants of the high land. From what I have already seen
I can easily conceive the total destruction which would
follow their progress over fields a month younger than
over them at this time. If they can destroy pods halt
grown, as the accounts from below seem to testify, our
loss may be very severe. Previous to this visitation of
the barbarians, our crops were better than ordinary, in
fact, than they had been for seven years past."
During our recent visit to the Belle Cheney Springs, in
travelling through an extensive cotton-grov.ing section of
the parish of St. Landry, we had an opportunity of satis-
fying ourself by personal observation, that the accounts
we have received from the country relative to the
destruction of the cotton crop by the caterpillars and in-
clement season, has been anything but exaggerated. In
all the cotton fields we passed on our route, we have not
seen one that indicated from its appearance a yield of
one-third of an ordinary crop ; and we may safely ven-
ture to assert that nine out of twelve of the fields we
passed will not produce the seed to replant them next
year. There will certainly not be a fourth of a crop
raised in St. Landry. What few bolls the worms left on
the stocks, and have since opened, have been beaten out
by the heavy rain, and the cotton lies rotting on the
ground. We have never seen so gloomy a prospect for
a crop of cotton.

'ALKIRK OCTOBER TRYST.
MONDAY, OCT. 12.-The third and last for the
season of these extensive annual markets com-
menced to-day, as usual, on the Muir of Stenhouse,
and opened, at an early hour, with the sale of sheep.
The stock was considered to be about one-third
more than that shown in September, and in con-
siderably better condition, the weather since then having
been very favourable for grazing and driving. In conse-
quence of the unpropitious state of the weather in the
morning and early part of the forenoon, the lots
were shown rather to a disadvantage ; but, notwith-
standing, from the great influx of dealers, every
description met with a ready sale ; and not a
single lot remained unsold after mid-day. The
demand was so very great, that a number of
south country dealers went into the counties of Perth
and Stirling at the latter end of last week to meet the
drovers, and after having made extensive purchases,
stood the market to-day, and added very considerably to
their former purchases. There appeared to be a par-
ticularly great demand for white-faced ewes for crossing.
The advance on particular kinds was great, and we
were credibly informed by extensive dealers from the
north and south that the following statement may be
relied on as correct :-Black-faced wedders from 5 to
6 per cent, above last market, and about 7}
per cent. above the corresponding market of last year.
Upon black-faced ewes the advance was considerable,
this description of stock having been sold at a very low
figure last year, in consequence of which they experi-
enced a rise of from 20 to 25 per cent. above last market.
In reference to the white-faced stock, Cheviot wedders
advanced about 7i per cent. above last month, and about
10 per cent. above last year; ewes of the same descrip-
tion about 15 per cent. above September prices, and about
20 per cent. above the prices obtained at the October
market of last year.
The principal reason assigned for this extraordinary
demand is the abundance of foggage, and other keep in
the south, not a single beast being allowed to cross the
border before being picked up. It may be justly ob-
served, that for many years past such a market has not
been experienced at Falkirk.
As a proof of the abundant supply of labouring work
in the country, we may mention that drivers for the
south were so scarce that 4s. per day were refused, and,
in some instances, ss. obtained for that description of
labour, with a month or five weeks' engagement.
In the early part of the afternoon a considerable num-
ber of black cattle appeared on the ground, and a few
sales were effected; and it is generally supposed that the
business of to-morrow will be as briskly got through as
that of to-day. •
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13.-This day's proceedings
commenced with the sale of cattle, and our antici-
pations of yesterday have been realised. The stock
that appeared on the ground was about half
more than last market, and had it not been for sales
effected yesterday in the parks, it would have
been considerably larger. The stock was in excellent
condition, and the distance of time between the present
and last market gave the dealers
sofrtohmoselnfavretrhneerss-shire
andrhe es
e inert i
ye g
d ast
a go good
ruoornorth,
an additional
of bringing their stock for-
wardn as their nearer neighbours.
en seven and ten this morning
p appearance, every one Tnntshb o opportunityd
very neighbouring
oobndtwitanimatedeo
county,
appa-
rently anxious to buy; so much so, that two parties
were occasionally observed bidding for the same lot.
After that time, and up to one o'clock, a backwardness
was observable, when again a movement took place; and
within less than two hours upwards of 10,000 left the
ground.
We have been informed, by respectable individuals who
have stood the market for upwards of forty years, that for
the last thirty years they never saw such a clearance
effected on the first day of the market ; for when we left
the ground, it was generally believed there would be no
market to-morrow. No doubt the principal cause of
the demand is the excellence and abundant quantity of
foggage in the south. The advance upon 71. beasts was
about 10s. a head higher than last market, and lower
priced cattle up in proportion ; and about 1/. per head
higher ithan the corresponding market of last year.
The Aberdeen, Angus, Fife, and other heavy driving
cattle, experienced a similar advance. In short, even the
six quarter Highland queys also brought their advance.
There was a very fair share of fat, which met with a
favourable sale, at an advance of about 3d. per Dutch
stone.
The following are a few of the prices of the lots that
came under our observation :-Mr. Archibald Cameron,
of Glenshalloch, Lochaber, sold 40 three-year-old heifers,
from the Isle of Skye, for 71. a head ; a lot of 60 three•
year olds at 51. 12s. 6d.; 110 two-year-old heifers at Si.;
50 two-year-old heifers at 51. ss. ; 40 two-year-old ditto,
41.; 70 two-year-old slots at 4/.; 60 six-quarters at 3/.;
and 48 of the same age and seine description of stock at
31. 10s. A lot of 20 superior dun-coloured stots were sold
to a gentleman in Dumfries-shire, at 101. A lot of 50 good
two-year-old West Highlanders were purchased by Mr.
Nixon, cif Carlisle, for 111. 10s. A lot of 96 three-year-old
Angus-s hire stots brought Si. A lot of 100 West High-
landers, two-and-a-half years old, fetched 71. Mr.
George Campbell, salesman, Edinburgh, bought thirty-
three palled cattle, three-year-olds, for 12/ 10s. This
was allowed to be as good a lot of this kind as was in
the market at the price. A score of Aberdeenshire
stots, the ee-yrs-olds, were purchased for 11/. los. 6d.
A lot of twenty three-yrs-olds brought 13/. ;
and a lc.t of two and three-year-old Aberdeenshires
brought 121. 7s. 6d. A lot of 50 two-year-old West
Highland era brought 71. a head by a Dumfries dealer.
Mr. Kennedy, of Tomatin, Inverness-shire, sold his
lot of tht ee-year-old queys to Mr. M'Coll, Cumber-
land, at 74'. Bs.; also his two-year-old queys at 51. 7s.
A good lot of fat was purchased by Mrs.
Watson, of Glasgow at 22/. a bead ; Messrs
M`Phan send M'Cullock,, from near Inverness, sold iio
three-year-old queys for 61. 12s.Ailot of Skyetof
stots, grazeld near Inverness, sold 81. 5. A lot
20 two-yea r-old heifers were bought, on Monday after-
noon, by a Northumberland dealer, for 51. 7s. 6d. ; this
lot is *lent t 2s. 6d. a head above last market, and the
purchaser was offered a profit to-day, but preferred
taking then: south. Another lot of the same kind was
purchased b y the same gentleman to-day, although not
ato 3dl.
so good, for the same money ; he also purchased another
lot of 50 six- -quarter olds, from Inverness, at 5/., a good
quality. A lot of yearling stets were also purchased by
the same
wa s des
gc lei,od a
COUNTRY Cows.-The show of this description of
stock
the quality of rather a superior
kind. Th.e demand app eared to be more particularly
for queys„ and at an advance on the sales that
were effe cte d of about 10 per cent. above last
market. .A. very beautiful pair of milkers were
disposed t)f so high as 141. a piece, going to the
neighbourh nod of Bathgate ; a rather inferior pair was
purchased ty a person in Clackmannanshire fur 131. a
head,

number,ii°RsE wl Iltus"nie:eTr.
of stock up of tan average was good. It was generally
allowed the ,t the show of draught horses, for quality and
surpassed—The of this description
on the Muir of Sten-
house. C( xich horses and others of a similar stamp
were also ve 7 1, numerous, and the principal part'of them
were also Lr-i 313. There were also a number of very in-
ferior anirn•al 3. A very superior pair of draught horses
were sold b.
y the Messrs. Watters, dealers, Stirling-
shire, for 7i 3/. ; and a Glasgow dealer sold another
very good p iir for 65/. Various other sales were
effected of ti is kind from 121. to 201., according to
quality. The sales effected in the coach horses generally
ran from 25/.. to 30/. ; and some good animals brought
as high as 351. A number of inferior animals changed i
hands at &pro. 4 ;1. to 121,—EdinLurgh Witness,