The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-16
Prospect OF the Cotton Crop.

From the New Orleans Crescent September o.
AS we have commenced the new cotton year,
and the subject of its prospects and probable yield
must be deeply, intere sting one both TO our plant
ers and commercial friends, il may not be amiss at
this time to lake review of the crop from the time
OF planting to the present, and 10 endeavor, as fair
ly possible, to forth what appears to be the
prospects ahead. To do this as disinterestedlysas
possible, to make use of only known facts, and 10
avail ourselves of such information and opinions as
are reliable, genuine and experienced, is our true
object; consequently we hope TO steer as clear OF
error as possible, and TO present the matter in
brief and truthful form.
To detail the various in ures during the planting
time, the very cold and unreasonable weather, the
bad stands, and in word, the very disastrous con-
dilen OF the plant up 10 the LIST of July, would be
only repeating facts well known 10 all, and reite-
rated by every circular and statement, public and
private, just issued as usual at the commencement
OF this month, by both editors and factors.
That the plant was in most precarious and dis
astrous state up TO the LIST July, Is fact which
none dispute--the weed in a most backward and
sickly condition, and but few inches above the
ground; in fact, more decidedly adverse prospect
could not be presented
We now come to July, and admit that the wea.
Their during the month was quite beneficial, and
repaired, in part the injuries previously sustained,
but by no means 10 the extent represented in
deed, the stands were so bad, and the weed so
small and dwarfish besides, so UGH cotton was
poughed up and abandoned in jane, that no wea-
ther could be of essential service IN a very large
portion Of the country, although the cessation Of
the bad weather of June, and the favorable change
in July, by contrast, had evidently carried many
too far IN their estimate of improvement in the
condition and prospects Of the crop.
As TO August, whether, upon the whole, the crop
has been more benefited or injured, would seem
to be doubtful question. First, the extreme heat
and drought during the month of August causing
an immense shedding of forms and young bolls,
and stuntDg the growth throughout large ma
Jory Of the cotton region; then, the injury by the
boil worm, particularly in the most productive part
MlsslssIDDl lazOO "A
reB, Holmes and Rankin counties, and throughout
Middle Mississippi and lastly, the very destruc-
tive storm of the oath August, which appears to
have gone through the whole of Georgia and Flo
rida, the most of South Carolina and South Ala
bama, doing immense damage to the cotton, not
only destroying the open cotton, the young and
even sizeable hollis and forms throughout that
large productive region, but putting back,
at this essential and critical tine, what
ought 10 be their best picking season, least two
weeks. Now, calculate the loss of two
weeks picking throughout the whole of Geor-
gia, South Carolina, South Alabama, and Flo
rida, and the loss by destruction of open cotton
bolls and forms, and what has this boosted
hne weather done in maturing the crop? Here we
are, a week in September, and no general picking,
even In our most southern cotton region, and we
are barely commencing the very latest picking
son on record. We have received less new cot
ton, up TO this time, than any previous season
NOT one eighth OF what was received last year up
to this time-and certainly our accounts from the
whole cotton region, during the past two weeks,
are far from favorable; indeed, the lower growth
OF the cotton stalk is almost destroyed, and the
yield from this part Of the growth must be very
light, so that the principal reliance of the planter
must be on his middle and top growth-the latter
always, according TO former experience in late
planted cotton, yielding very poorly, and pretty
much the whole crop Is late and unseasonabiy
planted. -.'.-..-
Taking the above into serious consideration, is
IL too much TO say that the prospect of yield de-
cidedly worse, this first week in September, than
that al the corresponding period of last year
Without dealing in figures, or attempting estimates,
We leave our readers 10 Judge.
We say nothing Of the recent reports Of the ca
terpiller in Opeiousas and Rspdes, though the
Gather for the last three weeks has been favor
able 10 their generation. A few days will deter
mine that question.