Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-19
THE CoTTOS PROSPECTS, OF THE
R0I7CH.


The Mobile Advertiser and Register Of the
18th says:
We have been shown letters from Wash
ington, Greene, Perry, Dallas, Loundes,
Choctaw and Macon counties, in this State,
of most discouraging character as TO the
prospects Of the cotton planted this season.
The large quantity Of defective seed planted,
together with the heavy and incessant rains
and cold nights, following severe hail
storm which swept over parts of the State
some time since, have damaged TO cotton a
very serious extent, and in many cases the
seed replanted has not come up at all, but
rotted in the ground. Through our ex-
changes we find similar complaints from
the best lands in Mississippi, and parts Of
Louisiana and Georgia The reports from
Texas are Of more favorable character
One gentleman writes from the interior Of
the State to a merchant in this city: AT
the commencement of the season had high
hopes Of making more cotton this year than
any wear since | commenced planting, but
have lost heart, and if ! make fourth Of a
crop will be more than satisfied My
neighbors are in the same condition"
These discouraging reports are probably the
cause of the carelessness of factors-which
we notice in our New Orleans, Charleston
and Savannah exchanges, and also here
about selling their good tables, except at full
rates, and in many cases beyond the ideas
Of buyers. In ordinary gears, at this early
date in the season, it would be difficult to
predict what the crop would be, but where
the damage has been so general as it seems
to be this year, and the resources in seed,
material and labor are SO deficient, we do
not hesitate TO give 1t as pretty generally
expressed opinion, that the yield IN at least
Alabama and Mississippi will fall below the
outside estimates from one-half to three
quarters.
The following is an extract from
very intelligent gentleman residing near
Yicksburg Mississippi, who enjoys the
amplest facilities for obtaining correct in
formation on the subject of which he writes.
Those interested in the cotton crop may rely
upon his statements:
81 have never seen crops look finer where
the seed were good But much old seed was
planted and has failed 10 come up. Mr.
E has for example, plowed up and
replanted three hundred acres. He has not
yet finished, and many are in his fix. 1t is
now raining very hard, and has been doing
so ever since last night; and have little
doubt that the West is encountering the same
trouble With us the high water is a terri
BILE danger and curse. The South is almost
entirely overflowed, and the rivers high and
rising, and food from the North coming
down on the top of all, increased and sus-
tanned by heavy and disastrous rains Tie
crops are SO late that weeds, grass and cotton
must all come up together, and the planter,
stinted in labor, and injured by grass and
weeds, must fail
The present overflow cannot now possibly
run off in time to plant the inundated lands
in cotton, and our only dependence will be
in corn. 1t is rare occurrence that cotton
planted later than the present period of the
year yields more than half crop, and the
overflow will be upon us for weeks to come.
During an experience of over thirty years
in the South, / have never known so large
an amount of water to fall in the month Of
April as has fallen in the month just passed.
Such is also the experience of all | have
conversed with. May NOW just commenced)
is bountifully supplying us with the music
of FALLEN waters" and if she continues the
strain, Southern people will dance from
another cause than joy. | only hope that
rain will cease and give those not overhowed
a last chance to clean their cotton.
OF one thing, however, you may feel as
sured, to wit: That water, in its various
phases, has as surely settled the cotton ques-
ton, as the SHOWS of Russia settled the in
vasion of Napoleon. The crop is forced to
be short.
Labor, in its present meager quantity, has
been concentrated in the rich valleys Of the
Mississippi and her tributaries, a large ex-
tent of which has not been prepared for cul-
tivation. OF that portion which has been
prepared, very large portion is now under
water and cannot be rendered available this
season. Besides all this, | fear the crab
grass, which, when thoroughly set around
the plant, cannot be displaced without des-
troyingit, and, as you know that cotton can
not be worked when the earth is wet, ! fear
that such will be the case.
mention nothing of worms, rust, lice,
army caterpillar, and other enemies to whose
attacks cotton is subject. The latter inhic-
ton We may, however, hope to escape, as
the plant NOW up is very vigorous and