Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-14
THE COTTON CROP.

A good deal of interest is now beginning to be
manifested as to the extent of the cotton crop, and
Judging from the reports coming from different por-
tops of the South, it cannot fail to be short one
A Georgia contemporary says:
The present crop cannot exceed three millions Of
bales There is failure of the crop in Georgia and
Aabama--the two States which produce the largest
! cotton crops in the Union. Texas and Arkansas
| crops may be good, but they cannot make up the
deficiency in those two great cotton States as
compared with them, their production of cotton is
| small
! The same paper advises the planters to hold on
to their cotton. English and Northern Manufac-
turers compelled 10 have it, and will send agents
with gold from Liverpool and New York, to the
planters doors to buy it, if they do not take panic
and force their cotton on the market. 1t further
says, if Northern orders do not come in soon for
the crop let neighborhoods combine and ship direct
from Charleston and Savannah to Liverpool. They
thus save the expense of a shipment through
New York get q to l0d 10 to 20 cents for their
cotton, and return, in specie, in 30 days. When
this can be done, without risk, we cannot under
stand why Southern planters should submit to a
ruinous loss on cotton.
Another Georgia contemporary says:
The cotton crop has suffered severely in the last
few weeks from the long and continued drought.
The late hollis win be diminutive, aud the cotton of
inferior grade from the forcing process brought
to bear upon it by the hot dry weather. The plan
ters now universally cOncede very short crop
throughout this whole section.
Upon the same subject the Tallahassa, Florida,
| Sentinel says:
We regret to learn, return, that the cotton
crop in this portion Of Florida is not so promising
as it was when we left home early in August At
that time we we're disposed to brag on the Florida
crops. We had right to do so, but the crop has
been cut short here by dry weather. Our planters
we learn, would generally be very willing to com
promise with two-thirds of a crop.
A friend writing to the editor of this paper from
Raymond, Miss, says: "Our cotton crops are now
nearly all open on thin land and are turning off
quite light l have been planting cotton in this
State nearly thirty years. and from all can Judge
our crop will be less than an average crop. The
weather is very dry and the boil worm has done
much damage to the crops, and now the dry weather
has caused the small DOLLS and forms to fall off, and
feel pretty that the cotton crop of this State
viii be less than last year. especially if we have an
early frost, for crops in North Mississippi just
beginning open, and suppose in your State they
are in ike condition. Mississippi may make as
much cotton last year, but the opinion of those
informed think differently"
What effect will the monet airy panic have upon
the price of cotton! This is the next question Of
interest We believe that as in all other monetary
panics, we may be sympathetcaIy effected for
short period; but, with proper caution, that can be
only of limited duration, and may for a time affect
the price of great staples because of the diff
Guilty Of making negotiations. And even against
this we may protec, ourselves to a very great ex-
tent by holding back the cotton for brief period
till the necessary arrangements be made for its
purchase. The planters therefore, have this matter
Ia their own hands and should control it. 1t is now
believed that the crop cannot be large aad that Eu-
rope will require it all rapidly aud even more
rapidly than she get it. The prospect is there
FORE that prices Will rule high. 1t is, therefore, a
matter of the highest consideration, that the plan
tiers should continue to protect themselves and the
whole South against the consequences of forcing
their staple rapidly upon the market and thereby
depressing the price.