Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-07
THE PROSPECTIVE COTTON
General Statements Untrue-- H ardIy
Half Crop Can be Gathered.

tHt a. N-----------------------
General Statements Untrue III ardIy
Half Crop Can be Gathered.
What the motives Of writers in the city
papers are in bolstering up the prospee-
tive yield of the present cotton crop,
would be hard. no doubt, for even them
to define. Ignorance, it is true, 10 no
direct crime, provided means of informa-
ton are withheld or impossible Of attain
ment but then q becoming modesty
should restrain opinions on important
OF, vital questions touching the material
interests of others. If the writer's in q
newspaper should not fully comprehend
a matter Of direct Importance to the agri.
cultural interests of the surrounding
country from sheer want Of acquaint-
ance or familiarity with the true condi-
ton Of things, it seems to us but reason
able that they should either accurately
inform themselves on everything per-
tanning to the subject matter of which
they attempt to enlighien the public, or
keep silent altogether. Nothing, per-
haps. is more supremacy disgusting to
the long-experienced and thoroughly
posted planter, than to see scribblers
in the daily press continually parading
their suggestions as what they should do,
what character Of crops they should
plant, and how they should demean
themselves toward the labor which they
employ and pay for. But what is worse,
perhaps than even this arrogation Of
knowledge on the part of advisers that
no more know of what they are writing
than Feejse Islander knows Of the En-
glish Constitution, is the daily predic-
tions concerning the abundant yield Of
the present cotton crop. We can hardly
pick up a paper published in Southern
cities that does not contain the most fat
tering accounts Of the forthcoming cot
ton supply. Now all such speculations
are the merest nonsensical bosh, and, to
say the least oft, are absolutely iDjuri-
GUS to the planting interests upon which
all business directly depends for support.
1.-THE crops are splendid" ETC., stares US
in the face almost every day, when just
the reverse ia true. The crops of either
corn or cotton are not splendid, and we
will venture the assertion that no intelli-
gent planter has ever said so. OH
The continual earnings of newspapers
on the subject are calculated to work
serious injury to producers, as such re-
ports will lower prices and destroy adj
vantages to which farmers are justly en-
titled. Both the cotton and corn crops
are short throughout the South, and any
attempt to disguise the fact can only be
fruitful of evil to those least deserving of
it. There has been no year, perhaps, in
the recollection of the Oldest planter,
when crops were so likely to prove de,
csptive as they are this season. That the
drouth has cut it of to half yield in the
uplands, no one at all familiar with the
subject will deny. Ga the other hand, 10
some places the bottom crop looks well
enough ; but what are the facts devolved
now concerning Its statusand prospects :
One-third of the cotton-at least of the
cotton on the hills and in the low lands
died out before the warm sunshine came
to warm it into vigorous growth. The
other twc-thirds lived only to show o
sickly existence for at least six weeks af-
ter the usual tiMe for cotton to take q
start at that season. What is the re-
sult2 Farmers tell US that the bottom
crop, in all places where the weed is in
anywey luxpriant, is now rotting and
falling of in consequence OF the shade
produced by the still growing leaves.
The middle crop promises all, and will do
we'll if the worm let it alone, but little
confidence can be placed in the top crop,
as it is too late to come to maturity.
There can be little hope that any mate
rial portion of it will ripen before the Oc-
tober frosta set 10, az it ie fully six weeks
behind the accustomed maturity of the
top crop at this season. River planters,
therefore, put confidence only in the
middle crop, which is still in
grest danger from the ravages Of the boil
worm. The weed on the upands is re-
markably small, and has not the capaci-
ty to hold more than half what is usual
on those lands. The rust has made its !
appearance, end is now blighting and
sweeping away fully one-third of what |
not three weeks ago was almost certainly
calculated upon. These are lamenteble
but memorable facts, and will, at the close
of the seasan,he fully comprehended and
appreciated. Manufacturers and dealers
who base their operations upon the ex-
pectation Of an unusually large cotton
crop this season will be wofully mistaken,
and spectators will make them pay well
for thsir credulity before another crop is
raised. We were reared 10 tho heart Of
the cotton region, and have been
amongst planters lately and have
seen for ourselves, aud therefore we
feel more competent to judge than
those vino have probably never seen