Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-11-06
Cotton Crop Of 1856.
Perry, Ga, Sept. 80, 1856.
Editors Georgian 8. Journal:

Inc COTTON crop oil
he commercial year, which closed
IN the 3lst ul:imo, is estimated at
,,527,843 bales; the bale weighing,
according to the Liverpool Standard,
395 pounds. This perhaps, is the
argest crop ever sent to market;
The nearest approach to it, at least
within the past few years, is the crop
Of 1851, which amounted to $685.
B82 bales, leaving in favor of the
crop of 1856, over that of 1852,
264,963 bales. The crops of the
past four years are stated thus
lS52-3.262,S82; that of 1853
2,930,027; that of l854-2,847,. |
$50; that of1855--3,527,84 bales. |
making in the aggregate 1865
O9S bales; dividing this aggregate
by 4 would give as an average crop
S,l42.023 bales By this estimate
the crop of 1856 exceeded an aver
age by 365, 1882 bales.
The average crop being 3,l42.023
bales, according to the foregoing ba-
sis of calculation, the question is,
how will the crop of 1856 compare
with that average? am aware
that any answer that can be made
to this question at this time. must
be more or less conjeotural; notwith.
standing certain facts may he co.,
lecte1 which will sender an answer
reasonable and reliable, generally
My answer to the above inquiry is
possibly two thirds l2,0946S2
bales,) certainly not more. Less,
you will perceive, than the crop of
1855, by, l,433,l6S bales.s This is a
large deficiency,so large that but few
(buyers of cotton or sellers of bag
ging) if any, will be disposed to adj
nit it; however that may be, | think
the causes that will be assigned for
the deficiency will show that it is
not unreasonabiy large.
The first cause to which / shall
refer was the unfavorableness Of the
spring. The past winter was one Of
unusual severity and duration; con-
sequently the spring was late, and
the planting slow and Backward
The cotton plant, when young,is very
tender; nothing is more injurious to
it at that period than raw, unsettled
weather, such as We had last spring.
Such weather stunts the plant; con.
sequently, much time, favorable sea-
sons and careful culture are required
in order to get the plant in thrift
ty condition. This difficulty is not
unsurmountable. If an unfavorable
spring is followed bya favorable sum-
mer, it may be overcome altogether;
but should thesummer be nnfayorable,
as the past was, as veil as the spring,
the difficulty alluded to becomes.
permanent. The truth of this state
ment Is seen in the fact. that weed
which ordinarily would average four,
will not DOW average more than two
feet in height.
The principal cause, however, Of
the great deficiency Of the present
crop, was the long and severe drouth.
The most favorable season for the
growth Of the cotton plant is warm
weather, with frequent showers and
sunshine--the cotton is sun plant
The drought commenced early in the
season, with the exception of few
favored localities. The month of
August is generally regarded as the
best in the growing season. It is
certain that if a good crop is not Sc
cured by the last of that month, (un-
der favorable circumstances few
days later) it will not be realized at
all. Now, according to the best in
formation ] can get. and the closest
examination | can make, there is 20
fruit-or very little. if, any--that
appeared after the 10th of August;
SO that frost, which ordinarily is al
matter of anxiety with the farmer at
this season of the year, is now mat
ter of but little concern, for there is
very little fruit to mature--which
little, perhaps, will not be affected
by the frost.
The drought (which still contin-
nes) caused the bolls TO open prema-
turely. ! observed open bolls as
early as the twelfth of July, and they
opened very rapidly. On the thir-
tieth Of August there commenced a
very severe storm Of wind and rain,
which continued for some twenty. four
hours, sweeping over nearly the en-
tire cotton region. There was as
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