The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-20

THURSDAY ....... FEBRUARY 20. 1868.
Correspondents of the Richmond Dspaosn'
hark ~Y.-Special Remarks Concern
Susr the Management OF TcoaccO
Quotations. 900
prrERspURe, February 10, 1866.
g,ha ,,,.rhet both for cotton and tooacco
hos heen very much excited Wltnin 'ne
past few days. ,.t cotton wa.
,on;nr os hivh as twenty cents. Under
sSs nnrs. nsws tho price Afterwards some
o., reeeded, and on Saturday 1t was from
soant 10 cent and quarter lower. On
Monday. however, the market took turn.
Not only has the loss been'recovered, but,
under the favorable impulse prices, have
continued to advance until to-day it is
worth twenty-five cents, at which actual
sales have been made. Thus in the course
of one week there has been gain Of two
cents. This is exhiliarasing both to plan
tiers and merchants, and fully realizes the
expectation Of those who predicted an ad-
vance when the price was at the lowest
cbb. 1t is unfortunate for the country that
such q large proportion Of the crop should
have been sold when the market was most
depressed, since it makes all the difference
to the planter between q positive loss and
an actual though only moderate proht.
Tne advance in tobacco within the past
week has been fully two dollars per hun
dred and the opinion of intelligent mer-
chants is that prices will be very high in
the spring. when the best descriptions are
brought to market. And in order that
planters may reap the full reward of their
labors, the following remarks are respect
fully but earnestly submitted to their con-
sideration and guidance. In former times
thew might have been deemed unnecessary;
but since the war the management OF this
importapt staple has often been extremely
negligent. In single crop of twenty-five
or thirty hogsheads, or even less, is very
practicable to divide 1t in distinct grades,
and prize it accordingly. But in small
crop this cannot be so readily done.
The consequence is that q hogshead,
mostly of good, may require to be filled
up with hundred or hundred and fifty
pounds Of inferior. When this Is offered
for sale, the price is governed in great
measure by what the inferior portion Is
worth. In cases like this, it is desirable
neighborhood should join together. Or it
may happen that landholder has rented
land to several parties-freedmeh for In
stance. By making large crop $50 to
say) out Of several small ones, the aggre-
gate proceeds would BIO enhanced at least
fifty per cent. Every hogshead might be
made Of the required weight, which is a
matter Of more Importance than is gene
rally considered. And here it may be
stated that hogshead Of shipping tobacco
should weigh as nearly as possible ], 450
pounds, and hogshead of manufacturing
1850 pounds. Particular attention should
also be paid to the condition of the cssk ,
that is, the timber, both for slaves and
heading, ought to be thoroughly seasoned.
A wet or damp head board will affect the
contents to the depth Of six or twelve
inches, producing mould and decay, in
warm weather, in very short time. Per-
haps there is no plant in the world so sus-
ceptible to atmospheric changes as tobacco
in the cured state. All these rules we see
utterly ignored almost every day at the
warehouses, thereby causing an incalcula-
BILE loss, in the aggregate, to planters.
Another precaution to be observed is to
let the tobacco remain hanging in the
barns till the middle of April. In cold
weather it can never be struck down and
placed in bulk with any safety. This can
only be done in mild, settled weather. We
beg the planters strict attention to those
suggestions, the observance Of which will
secure to him the most satisfactory prices
when he brings his crop to market in May
and June.
Hoping these remarks may not be deemed
ill-timed or iDjudicious, we submit the fol-
lowing quotations
Cotton.-Market very active, with sales
of middling at &c, being an advance of
&c. since yesterday, and 1Nc. since
Monday.
Tobacco. Offerings continue light. Com
mon Tugs, IS to Sc; good, Sc to $1,000
good manufacturing leaf, $40 to Sl4; ship
ping, Sl4 to Sl6.5O.
Fzour.-Market steady and unchanged.
Superfine, sl2 to $3.50; extra, Sl3 to
STA; family, sl5 to SIG.
Wheat. Market quiet and prices nomi-
nal, say S2.45 to $3.50 for choice white,
and $3.50 for good red.
Corn.-Stock light and demand good at
$l.05 to $l.l0.
Bacon well supplied. Virginia
hog-round Is to &c.,; western shoulders,
ID to 1876; sides, IA % to l5c.
Butter.-Demand very good during the
past week at 80 to 421ac. for country,
mountain, 80 to 4Oc.; Goshen, As to SOC.
OatS.-Worth 10 to 75c.
Our former tcwnsman, the Hon. Thomas
Gholson, was on the street to-day, looking
remarkably well. After the war was over
he crossed the Atlantic, and went into bu-
siness at Liverpool as cotton factor. Mr..
G. was one Of our most public-spirited
men, and was highly esteemed in this CON-
munity, where he still has hosts of friends.
S.
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE,
February II, 1868.