The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-07
THE COTTON PROSPECT.
The Probsl1e Crop in Ahbeville-Condi-
Estimates. 90
CoKEsBuRY, October 6.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
have recently had an opportunity Of inter-
rogating many of the most intelligent planters
of Abbeville concerning their cotton crops,
and herewith give you the result Of my inqui-
ries.s Two planters thought their immediate
sections would make two-thirds of the crop
planted for; an occasional planter hoped his sec
ton would make halfcrop, but vast MAORI
ty of them felt sure they would not reach one
half of what they hoped for at planting time.
Without the privilege of consulting official
United States reports, (Which, if Commissioner
Sparnck quotes correctly must be utterly
worthless.) l suppose an dnte-beIllm crop for
this county must have been 10000 bales. This
year, with smaller area and deficient labor, a
good crop would have been probably $4,000
bales My own Judgment is, not more than
two-ffths of that amount can possibly be made,
or 6OOO bales If these 5000 bales are rushed
upon the market they will not command half
million of dollars; whereas, if withheld till
next spring they will most certainly sell for
half as much more. But unfortunately most of
the planters are compelled to sell. The accep-
tances alone for commercial fertilizers, now
due, will doubtless reach 100000; as much
more will be expended before next spring for
bread and meat, and perhaps another 100000
for other necessaries of life.
Viewing this subject practically, Mr. Editor,
l receive no reply but echo to my inquiry,
where is our evidence of prosperity? If the
balance of the South were like this county, it
appears to me we would be verging upon a
vast bankruptcy, rather than beginning an era
of prosperity. Last spring you gave your read
ers an interesting account Of the cotton crop
of South Carolina in proSpectu, an epitome of
which would now even be read with interest.
Can you not induce similar reports from the
same correspondents as to the results of their
years labors? We all know that the cotton
crop of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama
cannot be much more than half crop. If the
correspondents Of Northern papers are to be
credited, West Tennessee, North Mississippi
and Arkansas have within the past two months,
by drought first and then by boil worm, lost
half of their anticipated crops. If these be
facts, where are the 2,75O, 900 bales to be
grown, that are so authoritatively pronounced
to be the cotton crop Of 1869
The larger half Of the cotton crop of this
State is to-day out Of the field, and the fall
opens beautifully for harvesting the corn
crop. If our planters are as provident as they
should be, they will Immediately set to work
seeding down largely increased area Of all
the small grains. An acre of land TO each
work animal, highly naan,ued and sown in
barley in October, will furnish more than half
feed by lst April; and oats sown now may be
harvested in May. By these means thousands
of dollars can be saved the State, which will
otherwise be expended for imported corn.
Will not our planters take heed to the signs OF
the times? Very respectfully,
D. WYATT AIKEN.
1.-THE cotton crop OF 4Abbeville District In 1860,
according to the United States census. was
2l,977 bales.-ED NFws.]