Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-25
THE COTTON CROP OF 1898.


+ THE COTTON CROP or 1898.
There is up 10 the present tim. so many
varied and contradictory reports and cons
fliciing opinions in regard 10 tie amount
ofthe present crop Of cotton, that it would
seem to be important 10 arrive at some
correct data upon this interesting subject.
There are so many obstacles il the way
of arriving at any thing like certain inior.
nation in regard TO the exact amount,
that we rake the estimate of the editor
of the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin,
as The most accurate which we have seen;
which says the sources from which the
information has been derived, was pfinciA
pally intellectual planters, whose accounts
are confirmed substantially b. persons
who have lately travelled through the cot
ton districts, and who from their long cono
nexion with the trade in this article, are
qualified to give an opiaion.
The crop of Mississippi, is now nearly all
gathered, and from conversation with
many planters, from various sections OF
the State, who have packed their entire
crop. we can very confidently assure our
readers taat tie crop of this State will
not amount to. one half of last years crop.
We extract from the Btliettin, the fol-
lowing estimate and comments.
eIn Virginia and Moth Carolina, The
complaints are late spnng 'sbad stand
long drought, and consequent want oil
nourishment to the farms, with early ifostS
Estimated crop, at the most liberal caicu-
lation. bales 10000
In South Carolina AMI Georgia,
there has not been the usual silmu'
lus to extend cultivation, and the
same complaints as aboEe have pre-
vailed, from seas boardto mountain
the bolls proving few and subject
to a disease toforeunknown.-
Crop confidently stated not 10 ex'
ceed 100000
In Florida, the unsettled
state of the country arising from
the INDIAN war, confined with the
Of provision, mas prevented
TIE increased cultivation of cotton
and though some Of the causes
which have been so fatal TO the
crop in other States have been felt
there, they assumed mild form,
and havenet been very detrimental
TO the crop. We shall not be very
far from the truth in estimating il At 90, 900
la South Alabama, though there
has been a greatly extended cults
'ation, yet the yield in proportion
10 the labor expended has been very
short, and will be somewhat below
last years-probably not lar from 275 600 /
lnthe lower Valley of the Mis-
sissppi the spring was unparalleled
late, and the drought so great that
the ground could not be brought
INTO a fit state for planting until
the season was far advanced
These obstacles 10 seasonable plan
ting, produced "A weak and unheaI-
thy plant, which never obtained
good s!and,n and was subject to
the disease above mentioned. The
crop, therefore, cannot be safely
above 100000 I
Tennessee and Alabama being
rather beyond the latitudinai limit
tor the successful cultivation Of the
gossypiam, suffered more severely
from The early frost than the more
Southern States, and as the land
planted IN This region was much
ess han formerly, owing to the
nlserabiy low returns of last year,
he crop cannot be put down at
more than $4,000
Total number of bales for the
'eason 1885. and Q, 1885 900
This il 4 serious deficiency, bui it win
'e difficult matter to know that We are
q errnr. 10 INV nnnsidnra bic nytnnt W.