Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-16
CROPS, FREEDMEN AND NORTH
ERN LsESSEES.

From the n. o. Pieayune, l2th.l
We are already in the receipt Of inlorma-
ton as TO the incoming crop, as asked for by
rs yesterday, which is interesting, instruc-
tive and useful to buyer, manufacturer, con-
sumer, seller and planter.
A commercial gentleman, who has been
spending some time in Alabama, and parti-
cularly in Mareago, Perry and Dallas coun-
ties, examining the country, and looking
into the prospects, and who has Just returned
SAYS that until within week past the pros
pect was good for fair crop; but that the
great enemy of the plant, the army worm,
has come in, and that all that is Of Young
growth, will soon be destroyed, leaving the
bare stalk, and with only the matured or
nearly matured bolls alone 70 furnish the
market He thinks the yield Of cotton will
be very small. There is comparatively lit
tie corn planted, as the land in cultivation
was mostly leased by other than the owners,
and the former looked only to raising a cot
ton crop He does not think that the les
sees will try il again, but will return
whence they came.
We have also before ms letter from
Natchez, relative 10 crops in that neighbor-
hood. 1t is dated the Sth inst, and says
"the worms have reappeared in the last few
DAYS in infinite numbers, and on many PLAN
tations have completely stripped the cotton
Of all its leaves and young bolls We have
no doubt that this will be universally the
case in a few days. In most cases the cotton
is Young and backward, in which case it will
be almost an entire failure"
Another letter of the 9th, also kindly
placed before us is from planter at Med
way, Tensas parish. He says to his factor !:
" am sorry 10 say the worms are out again
twentv-fold what they were a few weeks ago
and have spread all over my cotton, and
do not believe there viii be leaf on the
place in three days more. The worms are
an every place in this neighborhood, and
many viii not make enough 30 pay for the
rent of the land, and there is no corn raised
in the neighborhood. ] am the only one
who has raised corn. ! do not see how the
people are 10 get along, for ! do not believe
that / will make one cent Of money unless
cotton gets 10 fifty cents, and my expenses
are comparatively small to those Of many.
| With the present system Of labor this coun-
try will be a wilderness in five years Ra-
ther with the present system of raising cot
ton az a primary crop instead Of provisions,
and then making cotton as much as you can
after full supply Of all other things.
He continues; q do not think many
Northerners win rent again The negroes
are growing Of less account every day, and
the Northemers are changing their wages,
andhire themto pick BY the hundred pounds
! which is causing great dissatisfaction among
the negroes" lie then proceeds 10 speak Of
his wish 20 sell his place Of $40 acres, well
! improved, $50 being cleared, and SAYS; 81
would then buy 200 or 500 acres Of land on
the river somewhere, and make plenty Of
eatables, and 50 or 100 bales of cotton would
/ be the height Of my ambition. do not be-
lieve that labor can be secured another year.
The negroes are expecting 10 get few acres
Of land, build huts on il, and live in idle
ness. have 20 negroes on the place, and
but "a that work. The balance, except
those about the house, are children, and
am supporting them, and don't know how
/ 10 get rid Of them. ] have raised the mo-
theirs Of them, and they do not want 10 leave
me; 50 j have TO support the whole 20 get
what labor have. ! get good work, but
with the disasters 20 cotton from OFeriloWs
worms, etc, cannot make money"