Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-09-07
The Sugar Crops i'm Louisiana.

LOWE g. PArTrsoN, Commission Merchants,
New Orleans, for a copy Of the Annual State
ment of the New Orleans Price Current from
which we extract the following interesting ar.
ticle relative to the Sugar Crops of Louisiana
to which we invite the particular attention Of
Planters and others whose interests are con-
nected with the subject:
In our last annual report, having no strictly
accurate data for our guidance, we were com.
PEELED to avail ourselves of popular estimate for
the extent of the crop, which placed it at 220,-
900 hogsheads, though it probably exceeded
| this amount. At the same time, in remarking
! upon the prospects of the then growing crop
viz-that which has just beendisposed Olive
stated that there was~a strong probability of
its being at least fully equal in amount to the
estimate Of the one preceding it. In this We
have been sustained by the result, which has
been arrived at with much labor and expense
by Nj. P. A. Champomier, and doubtless with
as much accuracy, as such a difficult matter is
susceptible of. According to Mr.. C's state
ments, which is published in pamphlet form; the
total crop, including 1928 hogsheads cistern
bottoms. sums up 247,923 hogsheads; estin,a-
ted to be equal to 269, 100000 pounds. This
would show the largest crop ever produced in
the State, and it would probably have been
somewhat larger, and Of better average quail
ity, had the cutting and grinding been more
generally delayed, as there was no killing frost,
and those crops gathered latest gave the best
product. Besides this the loss by oyeraows
and crevasses is estimated at about $4,000
hogsheads. The estimated stock on hand at
the close of last year was 5000 1'ogsheads, and
this quantity being added to the crop. as above
stated, makes a supply in round numbers, OF
253, 600 hogsheads. This, as nearly as can be
ascertained, has been disposed of as follows:
shipments out of the State, by sea, including
those from Attakapas, $4,000 hogsheads; ta-
ken for refining in the City and State, includ-
ing cistern bottoms, $4,000: stock now on
hand in the State, estimated 1000 hogsheads;
leaving as the quantity taken for the West
$4,000 hogsheads. The shipments to the
Atlantic ports have been just about the sane as
last year, or equal to about 10000 hogsheads.
The first receipt of the new crop was on the
18th October, when fourteen hogsheads came
to hand from Point Coupe, it proved to be of
good color and grain, and altogether of an UNI
usually good quality for the first parcel Of the
season. One hogshead was promptly sold on
arrival, at St cents per h., and an offer OF ST
cents was refused for the remainder. The first
arrival of the previous year was on the 9Th De-
tober, but being made from unripe cane the
quality was unmerehantab'e, and it was until
the 10th October that any sales were noticed,
the price being 4a4a cents per 10. The first
of fourteen ~hogsheads, above noticed,
was Immediately followed, by other parcels,
and the market gradually gave way, reaching
4a44 cents for Fair at the close Of October.
From this time to the middle of December the
receipts at the levee were ample, considerably
exceeding those of the previous year, but a very
fair demand, both for the North and the West,
kept prices quite steady, the range for that Pc
Rod being between 81 and d cents for Fair.
In January, under an accumulation Of stock,
the rates for Fair were depressed to 31a35 cents,
but this was for a few days only, and up to the
the first May the prevailing rates for Fair were
3aa4 cents. About the LIST May, the accounts
from the North being favorable, and freight be-
ing depressed to a merely nominal rate, while
the same time the stock was much re-
duced, and mostly in second hands, buyers for
the Atlantic markets came forward, and their
operations had an Immediate influence on pri-
ces which commenced an upward movement,
and which have since continued gradually to
with the exception of a slight reaction
in June) up to the present time, the closing
quotations being as follows-Ordinary to Com
44a54, Fair to fully Fair 54a6, Prime to
Choice 64a64 cents per ID. The sales on PLAN
tations have ranged from 81 to ST cents, per
h., though only one very choice crop, sold in
the latter part of May, commanded the highest
The principal sales were at 3aa4 cents
for fair to prime crops. The quantity received
the Ievee for sale has been 1892 hogsheads
against 1852 hogsheads last year, and the
stock now on hand in the State il estimated to
be about 1000 hogsheads.
In respect to the growing crop, to which, in
years, we have been accustomed to make
some brief reference, we have TO remark that.
in common with all other crops, its early pro-
gress was retarded by an unusually unprepiti-
Spring, and in the 6rst part Of the season
it gave to the planter no very fattering pro-
For some three months past, however,
the weather has been of remarkably favorable
for promoting the growth of the
cane, and the prospects now are that with as
a fall as was experienced last year,
no intermediate disaster, the crop of the present
season is likely to equal, If it does not exceed,
that which Immediately proceeded it. 1t is true
have been losses to a considerable extent
from oyerfows and cresasses, but these are
likely to be in a material degree compensated
by extended cultivation and The better promise
Of the crop generally. The following table ex-
hibits the annual product Of tie State for ase-
ries of years, and a reference to il will show that
the cane culture is, subject TO re,na kabte fuc-
t~uations, according to the character of the sea-
son.
Of Is49, 2l7 .923 hhds., Crops Of 1889. I15ooo hhds.
-" lS4S, $4,000 - 1858, rocco "
I" 1871, 10000 " j" 1887, $1,000 /"
" le46, 10000 " "a 1886, 10000 /"
1875, $3.50 ~" " 1885. $4,000 Is
" 1874, 100000 I" " 1884. 100000 /"
. lS43, 100000 q " ls33, 1900 "
I" ls42, 100000 " " 1859; 10000 "
!" le4l, $4,000 " " 1888, 5000 g
1910, $1,000 "@ " 1876, 5000 "