Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-15
CROPS IN THE SOUTHwEsT-COT-
TON IN ILLINOIS.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.l
SMITHI.AND, KY, June SIN a business
trip last week over the railroad TO Clarks-
vile, Tenn, down the Cumberland, and up
the lower Ohio rivers, | made inquiries of
farmers and business men about the cOndi-
ton of the crops, which are of so much in
terest, looking forward to the fall trade and
the prosperity of agricultural and CONNER
cial interests. The same report of the wheat
crop which comes from so many other sec
tons of the West comes from these regions
There are occasionally farmers who have
good fields of wheat well on TO harvesting
but there is general complaint Of short and
Indifferent crops and many total failures
The yield will be very light and poor. But
as there is less attention paid to the cultiva-
ton of this cereal here, the failure will not
affect the farming interests very materially.
Corn is not very far advanced, but Is
healthy, and there are no discouraging re-
ports of il of consequence. The yield Of
corn in these sections last season was inl-
mense, and good prices were uniformly real
lied much TO the qualification Of the farmers.
But the two profitable staples of produce
ton of Southwestern Kentucky and Illinois
are getting to be tobacco and cotton. The
late rains have been favorable for tobacco,
and the plants are doing very well, though
it is early TO predict much in reference to
the crop The success of last year in plant
ing cotton has induced largely increased
cultivation this season, and thus far the
fields are doing very we'll and are fairly adj
vanced. The Southern planters have ridi-
culed the feasibility of cultiyating cotton
successfully, with pecnniary profit in Iilt
nois, but the result last year went far tor
ward establishing its practicability as one Of
the standard crops OF the Southern Illinois
and Kentucky farmer. The chief danger 10
it in these high latitudes, is from the early
autumn frosts Last season the late fall
was very favorable and the yield was eI-
cellent The planters were enabled TO have
their plants fully picked, and getting the
staple TO market in good season, realized IS
to 40 cents per pound.
have not the statistics at hand TO give
YOU the number OF bales raised last year, but
il was quite large, and the effect is evident
in the increased price now demanded for
lands, and the revolution il is working in
agricultural pursuits. Experienced farmers
estimate that in these sections cotton at 2Oe
per pound is a more profitable crop than
corn at SOC per bushel, which, having IN
mind that this is one Of the best corn grow
ing regions in the West, illustrates the high
favor cotton cultivation has attained here,
after twoasa-sa,e of practical results.
The yield oflruits ~ III this region will he
very abundant. Tia trees are loaded with
peaches, and berries are in great profusion.
| find that commerce is rapidly getting
back into It's old channels During the war
the immense Yields Of tobacco have passed
over our Northern railroads 10 New York,
ting strongly toward New Orleans and moth.
ing but greatly reduced freight rates will
save the shipments to the railroads. and not
even then, when the direct European tun-
mage shall be more plenty and better estab-
lished at New Orleans. w.