State journal & flag., 1846-03-20
VOLUME B.
Culture of Cotton and Corn.

in concert themselves which will natural
 y lead to the inquiry, how that concert of action is to be effected In our happy land, il cannot be effected like the concert in Egypt, where the Pacha sends forth his Imperial mandate, which must be obeyed. But 1t is 10 be presumed that cotton plan- ters, like other men, are actualed by ln;er- est, and if it can be clearly demonstrated that it is 10 their interest, to produce more Corn, and less Cotton, they will surely dc so.
 By reference 10 the New Orleans Price Current, of the 24th of December, 1645, Indian corn is there quoted al from 5 10 60 cents per bushel-which will make an average of 56 IA cents per bushel. By reference to the Price Current, of the 3d of January, ls46, sales of white-corn were effected al from 57 10 5 cents; and prime yellow at 62 and 63 cents per bushel and on the 10 of January, ls46, from 52 10 56 cents per bushel.
 During the last Spring, and early part of the Summer, corn sold, throughout the State of Mississippi, and South Alabaina, at from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel -making an average of 75cts. per bushel.
 And bacon sold, during the summer, throughout the State of Mississippi, and in Alabama, at from 6to 12cts. per pound --making ah average of 10 cts.
 have recently travelled through DOT tion of this Slate-sav some twelve or thlt- teen counes-and from observation, and the best information, obtained from mem- bers of the legislature, and other gentlemen C.. al,nosI rf f,r fb., fato isI now worth from 50to 75 cents per bushrl; and l have good reason 10 believe it will be higher during the Spring and early part of the Summer ID this State and South Ala bamq, and will command toerable high price throughout the cotton region. And, as every thing has relative value, when we take into consideration the difference in In Dor ofculivating and housing inc two crops. it must be conceded that cotton is as well worth 10 l-2 cents per pounJ, as corn Is 50 1 cents per bushel and that cotton Is as well 1 worth l6 3.4 cents per pound as corn is so l cents per bushel-as per table hereunto an- nexed.*
 During my peregrinatons, inquired of many planters with regard 10 their cotton and corn crops, and was informed that the | cotton crops. with few exceptions, varied | from three to fifteen hundred pounds of seed. cotton per acre-making an average of nine hundred pounds per acre. And the planters, with few exceptions, plant, and cul- tvate, from to 1 acres-making an av craze of 12 acres-and in the aggre- gate, 7,650 pounds of seed.cotton to each laborer, which will yield about thirty per cent. of ginned-cotton, amounting 10 2,295 pounds of gnned. cotton to the hand, or laborer; and was informed. that the yield of corn, varied from len to fifty bushels per acre-making an average of 30 bus hels per acre.
 There is every variety of land in the State of Mississippi and South Alabama, consequently some soils will red dhire much more labor in their cultivation than others. It is, however, the opinion of many planters, that it is as easy to cultivate 9 acres of land in corn, (the average crop) as i, Is to cultivate ? acres in cotton, and six, or seven acres il corn, to each laborer.
 Suppose i, will require the product of six or seven acres of land to each laborer, for the support of plantations, (accordipg to quality,) leaves the product of 16 acres o corn to the hand--amounting to 450 bush. els 10 the hand-for sale against the pro. dubt of 8 l-2 acres of cotton-making in the aggregate 2,295 pounds of ginned.cot,on to each hand.
 The l6 acres of corn, can he gathered, and housed in l6 or Is dry days; when it will require, on an average. 60 or 70 days to pick, and ho s, the product of the l-2 acres of cotton to the hand, exclusive of gathering the corn for the support ofplanta> lions, ginning and baling the cotton &c. The expense of plantations, in either case. Twill be about inc same, with the exception of bagging,
 Thus you will perceive, that lhe 4sO bushels of corn, at 50 cents per bushel, will amount to $40: when the 2,295 pounds of cotton, at. 10 9 cents per pound, will only amount 10 $40 97.l00-and at lhc present average price, in New Orleans, only Sl5i 35.100. And 75 cents per pushel, for corn, will be equal to l5 l.2 cents per pound for cotton.
 In North Ala,ama, where corn is little lower. the average cotton crop is estimated al $50 to GOO pounds Of seed cotton, or from lo5 10 l90 pounds of gnned cotton, to the acre; consequently, corn is as much higher, in proportion to he price of cotton, as il is in Mississippi, and South Alabama, and throughou. the cotton region.
 It will not be expediert to abandon the culture of cotton, in the cotton region of the United States, for the reason, that if the southern planters turn their attention to the cultivation of corn, to the exclusion of cot ton, it will glut ihe market with corn, and cause deficiency in the cotton crop, that cannot be supplied from any other part of the world.
 But, if cotton planters will produce an abundant supply of provison-produce com enough to keep every thing fat and sleek about them, and produce just enough cotton to supply the demand-they will get remu. neraling prices for their cotton every year; and by producing their provision, will cur- tail expenses, and leave tine surplus provision of the northern States To supply the antilles and the starving population of Europe provided the European governments will admit it duty-iree, or at a moderate duty.
 do not write unadvisedly. I have al home tbe imports, stock, consumption. and nrices ofcotton in Enoan l. for many vears