Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-08
COTTON.
The Close OF The Cotton Yenr-PrOs-
poets Of Prices for the Rev Crop.
The United States Economist of the

1he Close OF Ihe Cotton Yenr-Pr0s.
poets Of Prices for the Rev Crop.
The United States Economist of the
4th inst. discusses the cotton question
from New York stand point as follows:
The close of the cotton year, on Sep.
TENDER l, leaves the question of the
probable yield of the staple during the
year ending on that date unusually uns
certain. There are the most conflicting
views of the product Of the new crop,
and it is not probable that anything def
mite can be known for several weeks to
come. This uncertainty arises from the
unexpected occurrence of the drought,
and the difficulty of obtaining reliable
returns from the widely extended area
of cultivation. In some localities the
effects of the dry weather on the crop
have been most disastrous, while in
other places the consequences have been
mitigated. As a general rule, the crop
has escaped serious damage in low lands,
and III the vicinity ofwater courses; but
in high land the injury has been severe.
For instance, we hear that the crop will
be good in the Sea Islands and in
Louisiana, while in the midland counties
of South Carolina, in central and north.
ern Georgia, Tennessee, and in some
portions of Alabama and Mississippi, the
yield will fall considerably below the
average acreage under cultivation. In
these places the staple has suffered from
rust and premature shedding, caused By
the want Of water: In many favored
localities, however, the crop was suffi-
GENTLY advanced before the occurrence
o. the drought to prevent any injurious
results.
But, in spite of every drawback, we
come TO The conclusion, after careful |
comparison and collation. Of the most re-
liable data obtainable from public |
and private sources of information, that |
the marketable crop for the year just
closed will reach 100000 bales. At |
one time we were justified in antici- |
pating crop of 100000 bales in excess
of this estimate; but the unexpected cons
tingency Of prolonged dry weather, at
the most critical point in the crop, COM
pels the adoption Of the lower estimate.
In some quarters crop of 100000 |
bales is now looked upon as out Of the |
question. But in support of the more
favorable view, the conditions affecting
the cultivation of the new crop should be
allowed due weight. In the first place,
the quantity of land planted this year is
largely in excess of any year since the
famous crop of 1S60.6l. This excess
may be safely estimated as equal to the
production, in case of favorable weather,
Of nearly 100000 bales in excess of
last years crop. We hear comparatively
little Of damages by caterpillars. Then,
again, it is to be remembered that this
year improved methods of cultivation, an
extensive and scientific system of natural
and artificial manuring, and improved
have been brought into requi.
sition, almost for the first time. More
actual reproductive capital has been APP
piled tC the cultivation Of the staple than
ever before. The Southern people
strained every nerve to produce the larg-
est possible supply Of cotton, and the re-
suit will be q crop which in money
not in quantity-will exceed
that Of all former years.
This discrepancy between the value Of
the new crop and its actual yield consti>
tutes one Of the most important CONNER
sial problems Of the day. Taking into
view the known facts respecting the
worlds supply Of, and demand for, cotton,
there is not only no reason to believe
that there will be any important reduce
ton of present quotations, but there is a
strong probability Of a still further ad-
vance. The increasing steadiness of the
cotton market, at a period when the adj
vent of the new crop usually causes a
decline, is indicative of an opinion on the
part Of the trade in Europe and America
that the product Of the crop in all cOun-
tries during the cotton year ending Sep
tember /, 1869, will fall below the deS
mand. This view is sufficiently deduct
bic from the returns Of the stock on hand |
in this country and in England at the
close Of August last, as compared with
periods in previous years.
The following are the returns OF cotton
to the latest dates, in the va
riOus shipping ports in the