The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-27
THE CROPS OF THE COUNTRY.
A New York journal, generally we'll posted,
as the following about the crops:

Ne" IorK journal, generally Weil posted,
has the following about the crops:
The late crops of the season are now mostly
housed. AS was feared, the carly frosts in the
Northwest, reaching southwark to embrace one
third OF the State of Illinois, did considerable
damage to the corn crop. Accounts from the
section thus affected report much soft and i'm
ever, the crop is above the average annual yield
though not SO very large as was expected it
would be three months ago
The potato crop is large; but unfortunately
the tubers are Infected with rot, so much SO that
dealers refuse to buy in large quantities, and
prices consequently low
The apple crop is fair in the Western States,
and the fruit Is Of excellent quality. In the
Middle and Eastern States, the yield is light.
The Hop crop has been over-estinated. 1t
will not, as has been supposed, be unusually
large, but will barely exceed the average harvest
The New York market has never hitherto,
been so completely overrun with cattle, hogs
and sheep. They poured in upon US from
all parts of the West, where the supply seems to
be inexhaustible; and both growers and dealers
are anxious to sell at present prices, which are
gradually settling to a lower basis
The quantity of butter made this Fall is
truly enormous, and vast supply is held by
both dairymen and dealers, who have overheld
themselves, and will now be compelled to reduce
their stock at lowest figures, as the supply is
quite too large to maintain present prices. The
accumulation Of cheese even exceeds that Of
butter, aud must, for the same causes, experience
decline in price. Wool is in good supply
The shearing was larger than usual, and of fair
quality. The army demand having ceased, the
market is inactive, and has already experienced
marked decline.
The cotton crop is coming in slowly and with
great irregularity. After overcoming the effects
of defective Seed early frost, flood and drouth,
the planter found relief in proptious summer;
in the early autumn the cotton fields, from Texas
to Virginia, promised an abundant yield of fine
staple. Much of the cotton was late for the
season, but the stalks were vi gorous and O. lux
urant growth, and, with favorable fall would
have produced up to the full average yield per
acre. In ordinary seasons, with good seed and
fair spring and summer weather, the cotton
plant will attain degree Of maturity by the 1st
Of September that places it beyond serious
damage by the army worm, which usually ap-
pears in the Valley Of the Mississippi about the
second week in September The stalk, being
then we'll boiled, may be defoliated by the worm
without having its product of fiber materially
diminished. This year, however, the crop was
lulIy tHlte WEEKS late III arriving at maturity.
The army worm made its appearance in the
lower portion of Texas about the lst of Septem-
ber. A week later, it appeared in great num-
bers 10 Louisiana and Mississippi, and, before
the middle Of the month, had crossed Alabama
into Georgia. Fields that had been planted
with good seed and were well cultivated, suf:
fered but slight damage; but all late cotton ia
the low lands of the G Gulf States was fearfuly
destroyed. Lands that on the first of the
month promised bale Of 400 pounds to the
acre. Oh the Goth of the same month presented
a most barren prospect; on some, half bale to
the acre; Cd some quarter; on some nothing
will be gathered.
Middle and Northern Texas escaped with but
slight injury; Arkansas, Northern Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia and the country lying north
of, this line, were not infected by the insect
From the Iazoo Valley we have most doleful
accounts Of the condition Of affairs both corn
and cotton are reported to have failed The re-
ports Of severe drouth and of early frosts seems
to be nothing more than tricks Of trade, and are
untrustworthy. We are safe, therefore, in count
ing on fair average crop for the area planted
in those regions and visited by the ''army worm"
These, however. are not the best cotton lands,
and hence the aggregate yield will fall short of
our former estimates While $500, 600 bales
would have been gathered under favorable cir
cumstanees, it is now doubtful whether the crop
will reach 100000 bales.