Wilmington journal., 1866-10-11
,nder all the disadvantages of disorganized

ations, buildings in many cases destroyed,
fences gone fields grown up with weeds
and grass, neither stock nor farming uten-
sis, provisions or forage on them-every-
thing to be supplied; good fresh cotton seed
difficult to obtain, and selling high, which
caused large quantities of old seed to be
thrown on the market that we're unsound or
had lost their vitality by age. The freed
men refused to contract till February and
March the consequences were that pre-
parations for planting commenced very
late blowing was badly done, owing to the
condition of the land, and the young, un-
broken mules, which were generally used.
A very large portion of the crop was plant
ed on four burrows thrown together hasti-
ly, leaving the middles unbroken. The
winter months were unusually wet, but
from the 1st of April till the 1st of June, it
rained almost necessarily, making it impos-
sible to use the plow or hoe to advantage
on the fields that had been planted. A
large portion of the crop was planted in
May and June, from one to two months Ia
ter than the usual time for planting. The
early cotton on the 1st OF June was smoth-
cred with grass and weeds, the plants stun
led and unhealthy. The ground which had
been plowed was packed and close, but q
large portion remained unbroken cultiva-
tion was tedious and imperfect. AS soon
as the ground died after this long rainy
spell, it became 50 hard that neither plow
nor hoe would penetrate it, except where it
had been recently worked. The drouth
which commenced about the 1st of June,
continued till the Goth of August.
The cotton plant grows in a good season
from eight to ten inches high by 1st of
June ; from four to six feet high by 1st of
August, with branches three feet long, all
loaded with bolls, blossoms and squares or
| buds. 1t requires some rain while it is
making stalk and fruiting. This year it
had none-but growing in hard ground,
without moisture, it did not reach half the
usual size, and could not have the usual
crop on it. In August the army worm made
its appearance in a very large district of
country, and stripped the cotton of its leaves.
[ will remark here, that in good season
when the cotton has been planted at the
proper time, the we'll cultivated, with lux
uriant growth, the army or cotton worm
does not reduce the crop more than one
quarter About the Goth of August the
rains commenced again, and continued al
most till the Goth of September, and were
very general throughout the South. The
large number of bo]ls which had come to
maturity were prevented from opening and
rotted. Cotton hanging out of the bolls,
Or much of it, dropped on the ground and
was lost, and that remaining sprouted the
seed, thus giving the finishing blow to the
| planter prospect.
| THE ADVANTAGE OF PLANTING NEXT YEAR
Owing to the disasters of this year few
planters will clear expenses, and but few
will be able to plant next year without the
aid of borrowed capital. Many will be lis
couraged and will quit and, altogether,
the present prospect is, that less land will
quence will be, labor will be cheaper and
more abundant, plantations being in better
repair and better condition for cultivation,
with the freedmen generally on them, and
| stock Injured to work, with farming imple-
ments ready for use, preparations for plant
ing can be commenced the first of January
or sooner, and everything can be put in
good order for making full crop. Such
season as the past, planters of fifty years
experience never saw before, and it is not
likely to be followed by another very soon.
The freedmen have worked better this year
than was expected, and it is to be hoped
they will improve as they learn to appreciate
their obligations as hired laborers. The
price of cotton will be higher owing to the
failure of this crop, and the world will attrib-
ute our failure to the free labor and the army
worm, and it will be as hard to convince it
next year that we will make q large crop
as it was this that we would make a small
one.
WHITE LABOR CAN PRODUCE COTTON-ITs PRO
FITS TO FAMILIES E1l1GRAT1NG TO THE'coT-
TON STATES.
After an experience of thirty years as a
cotton planter and abundant opportunities
for observing white labor cultivating cot
ton, feel no hesitation in saying that
white labor can produce cotton and enjoy
good health, and can by judicious course
make 1t r1munerative while undergoing ac-
chmation.
While persons emigrating to the South,
by observing the following rules, can make
Il half crop the first year without much risk
| of sickness
In the months Of April and May, the
Summer months, and September and Octo-
ber, they should go to their work before
sunrise, taking before going out a cup of
coffee or tea, or light breakfast remain in
the field till 10 o'clock ; lay up from 10 to
4, and work the balance of the day. This
would give about seven hours per day for
work, in which they could cultivate five
acres of cotton and three of corn to the
hand, beside raising vegetables, poultry
and stock.
| The outfit required for family of seven,
say husband and wife and five children be-
tween the ages Of 10 and 20 years, would
be as follows
Two medium sized mules cost about $500
One two-horsc wagon and harness. ........ 125
Two ploWes and gear. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 25
~ 49, ''' - ''' ''' ''' 80. '''.',.. .
Two axes. ................
| One hundred and twenty bushels corn for
bread and forage. ge.................. 100
Bacon or pork Observation-Disclosures. 110
Two barrels of flour. Observation-Disclosures. 20
incidental expenses. .......... ........... 100
l;ent of forty acres Of upland 81 so per
acre. ............... 60
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1880
PRODUCTION.
twenty-five of cotton, (lilI land)
IL! bales, at 30 cents-wOrth. 81 $50
Fifteen acres Ct corn, % bushels per acre
-375 bushels Value of the crop $2l25
Profits first year. ar....................... 49,. $1.245
would advise emigrants to 20 in com
panies. There are plantations of from 500
to LOCO acres of cleared land, with good
gins and house room for as many person as
can cultivate them. They can be hired or
purchased at low prices. Stock of all kinds
can be raised at small expense. The pas
turage is good generally nine months of
the year, and even in the Winter months