The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-27
, rrrER FROM PETERSBURG.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, May p, 1861

PETERSBURG, May %, iso'.
The weekly arrivals per railroad, a. s, m,,.
. tho statements of planters Iu -,
H., Tho cron of cotton has been hea'is ~
,,nanoht 70 market. Thus far, the ays'e-
p'."s ~ bales since the ISL oi SeP
e go "a %. O64-less by from s,ooo 10
'e nno - VAS calculated on at the oes'n-
e,ooo . &c Tho season. The product was
s."S less cut short very much by inc
sroncbt Of last summer, but 'he ln'l
nbants here have had to contend wiz l.'"'
,,orrets. which are making every ehort 10
Ter, norton of wha. used 10 oe con
.sara5 our natural trade 10 their own
sanast Norfolk and Wilmington are
~ s,.o,,;ng every nerve to attract 10
. Dosm the valuable staples OF North
cSnal;na We have been accustomed 10
rocard the Petersburg merchants ~ among
tbe most cnterprising and sagacions IN wv
whole South, and hitherto they nave ''i-
umphed over all rivalry; but crippiea aS
they now are, and with new competitors
:" the field, il is feared that it Will Dc a
a;Ascult matter TO restore the city 10 i's
former prosperity. ,;.;r
Notwithstanding the steady decline IN
.,o nr;ce of cotton, it is believed that
80 luz breadth OF land will be planted this
- ,bon the last. Bat the season has
Soan extremely unfavorable. In the early
s.oses Of lis growth, no plant Is more SEN
S;.iro IN atmospherical changes: and the
>nis NO, weather has retarded the germi-
s,o.;or NJ the seed, or if they have germi-
rated. has given the young plants slckiy
onnearepce. They are unable TO contend
m;ib such difficulties. In the mean time
tbe season is rapidly passing by when they
should by undergoing the process OIL 'hil-
ming and the first wedding.
Some time ago it was Thought that pant
ers would curtail their crops OF TOBACCO
and concentrate their labor more on COT
ton. But the continually advancing price
of the one and the downward tendency OF
the other is believed TO have altered their
intentions. Everything in the way OF TO-
bacco of fair grade is selling at high rates.
II II had all been we'll cured and handed,
the supply of good might have nearly
eoualled the demand, but an unusually
large proportion of the crop Is near!
worthless for any purpose of profit. Never
perhaps. was crop brought to market IN
such wretched condition. The high prices,
therefore, are very much OF delusioH'
since they are only paid for part alto
gether disproportionate to the whole'
Surely our Virginia planters must have
lost their cunning in the culture ana
management of this, our popular STAPLE.
If they had given their attention TO one
third of the crop, aiming at the highest
grade. they would have realized much
better returns than they can now hope to
obtain. With guano at $50 or $50 ton,
and all other expenses increased in like
ratio, there can be absolutely no profit IN
the culture of tobacco except in the pro-
ductiou of superior article. 1t is to be
hoped that planters will open their eyes to
this fact, and limit their efforts TO such an
area of ground as they can be sure TO cul-
tivate and manage in the most sklltul
manner.
The following statement of prices for to-
bacco of the various grades during the
past week will illustrate what has been
said Poor to common Tugs, $3.50 to "a ;
good Tugs, $3.50 to S.; poor to middllng
Leaf, s. to $40: fair to good, $3.50 to SIS !:
yellow wrappers, common, SIS TO SO fair
10 good, $50 10 $50 tine, $50 10 So. The
breaks and the sale OF loose parcels have
been heavy.
In the cotton market there has been but
little animation. In the early part of the
week sales were made at % !, TO 24c. but
since then there has been less tirmness,
the sales OF yesterday being at p to 23c.
The feeling is somewhat better to-day, and
it is thought that on Monday an advance
OF one cent may be realized. S.