The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-18
A Revolution on the Sea Islands.

During the spring and early summer the
prospect for an unusually large crop OF up
land and sea island cotton was remarkably
bright. The area of land under cultivation
had been largely increased; fertilizers were
used more generously than ever before; the
long dry season encouraged the hope that
the caterpillar, if it came, would be power
less for harm. The worm, as usual, made
its appearance, and swept over the cotton
region; the destruction being sufficient to
dampen the spirits Of the planters and drive
many of them to despair. The upland cot
ton was injured by the drought more than by
the caterpillar; but on the coast and on the
islands the ravages of the insect, although
not so disastrous as in 1867 and 1865, have
tempted the planters to abandon altogether
the cultivation Of long staple cotton. They
hoped to make crop this year which should
compensate them for three years OF ruinous
failure. With the seasons no fault could
be found. The stands Of the growing plant
were as fue as could be desired With all
this intheir favor, the planters will only make
one halfor q third OF crop. The calculation
now is that the caterpillar will show itself
every year, the injury which it does being de-
termined by the character OF the weather ana
the early or late maturity OF the plants.
Experience shows that short crop OF sea
islands does not cause an advance in quota
tions equivalent to the decreased produc-
ton: and most planters know to their cost
that it is often difficult to sell the long cot
ton at full rates, and that a forced sale in
wolves heavy loss. Taking into account
the certainty Of the caterpillar, the uncer-
tainty of the yield, the unsatisfactory price,
and the difficulty Of making prompt sales,
the sea island planters have sound reasons
for giving up, in general, the growth OF long
cotton = .s.-.., f-
Intimate as is the connection between this
city and the sea island cotton region OF
South Carolina, the course Of events has
been watched with anxious care, and it has
seen with deep regret that the inexorable
logic OF events would lead to the relinquish-
ment OF pursuit which, in better times, had
made the planters wealthy and Charleston
prosperous. There was no immediate rem
edy. The ramie, the olive, and the tropical
fruit, the orange grove and the sheep farm,
could not soon replace the fieecy staple Of
the coast. But practical planters have still
one arrow in their quiver, and we learn that
many OF the most valuablecoast and sea
island plantations will next season be devo-
hrnr- -kiilI 1,f mp
land cotton.
The planters who are the prime movers
in this revolution believe that they can make
the cultivation of upland cotton exceedingly
profitable In the first place it natures
more rapidly than the sea island. This will
lessen the danger OF injury by the caterpil-
lar On plantation on one Of the islands
q field Of long cotton was planted on April
18th, and field Of upland two weeks later.
Both fields acere "eaten our By the caterpil-
lar. One bale to the acre has already been
picked from the field Of upland cotton. The
long cotton will not yield more than fifty
pounds to the acre. Taking the price of
the uplands at twenty-five cents and Of the
sea islands at seventy-fve cents, the short
cotton will return at least 500 an acre, and
the long cotton only s37 so an acre. The
gain here is in the great rapidity with which
the short cotton reaches maturity in the rich
lands Of the coast. Omitting the caterpillar
altogether, the comparisons is nearly as fa-
vorable OF long cotton the average yield
is about one hundred pounds to the acre,
and Of short cotton, on the sea islands, the
yield is expected to be six hundred pounds
to the acre. At the prices before mentioned,
the long cotton would produce in money
S75 an acre, and the short cotton $3.50 an
acre. There is also the additional advan
tage that acih the same labor one third more
short cotton than long cotton can be thor
oughly cultivated. This alone will make an
important difference in favor of short cotton.
In turning their attention to upland cot
ton the old planters count on making more
money to the acre than by continuing the
growth of sea islands. They will be able to
bring in their staple about September l. and
will take the very cream Of the prices. Be
sides this, they will have the certainty of
selling their cotton at any moment. By
dropping quarter or half cent they can
always find q purchaser, whatever the state
Of the market.
This is, we believe, O moderate statement
Of what is expected to be accomplished by
the change Of cultivation in the long cotton
region. The planters who have taken the
initiative are men of means and large expe-
rience, and they will give the new staple
thorough and searching trial. They have
figures and estimates on their side, and if
they succeed, will have solved one OF the
most difficult problems Of the day. Should
theory and practice be found to agree, the
sea coast and sea islands may again roll in
wealth; and in their riches, as of old,
Charleston will undoubtedly share.
The M1fIa