The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-05-05


CALCULATION AS TO THE Next CoTToN CRoP-A
many articles appearing in the newspapers giving ex-
aggeraive of the prospects the growing
ton CROP which he justly observes are calculated to do
the country great injury. An over estimate be says,
induces advances and expenditures which cannot be-
met with the proceeds Of the crop. These
estimates induce merchants to buy goods-basng their
estimate of trade upon the false accounts of the
crop and in country like ours where every interest
is dependent upon the planter ncaeulable injury is
done. We give below his reasons for not believing
chat the cotton crop Of 1859 will be large that of
1863 Although written for the locality of Alabama,
we think much of it will apply well to this:
1st. The season has been most unfavorable. The
spring has retarded the plowing and preparations
of the lands, and in instances prevented it alto
gether until lately The same cause has prevented
the number of acres being planted as in 1858.
The heavy powing caused by continuous rains, has
greatly fatgued and worried the stock. The imper-
feet plowng, given much of time, has tendency to
dwarf the cotton plant and make the crop grassy.
2d. The labor is much less in numbers and effect
iveness than last year. Experience teaches u.s. that
every year takes from the number and efficiency of the
hands. The women have almost entirely left the
fields. Many hands who saved money from last years
crop, this year spending it in the enjoyment cf
ease OF the others who saved money, somo have
gone to farming to themselves. Now, these negroes
while valuable members Of society, in their sphere,
do rot produce much cotton as when they worked
with the large planter. They produce more corn moro
peas, potatoes, and less cotton than formerly
1t is true that they make much money and good
support, as those who plant cotton but they
make less cotton We may safely assume that for
every hand who goes to himself that his productions
Of cotton is lessened one-haf Take the Number of
those who have "gone to themselves" and those who
are playing gentlemen" and We find quite deduc
ton from the force of 1868. Again. the natural de-
crease made by deaths must be considered The young
men and youths, who suddenly became masters Of
themselves, died away in large numbers from mpru-
dence and want, after the surrender For instance
those the camp Just the rver and again, wo
all know how fatal the small p3x was to the negro III
the year 1866 Disease and waut have taken away the
generation which should ELL the places of the old and
those who die. The increase does not keep pace with
the decrease.
Sd. The seed are very bad this year. Some singu-
lar fatality to have attended the efforts of all
who tried to seed. Few planters have enough
seed, some have only half enough. Tie delay and
trouble 10 getting seed has put back planting in some
Instances at least two weeks. The same cause the
rotenness of seed will bad stands" re plant
ing and late crops The worms will gets fair showing.
We are not alarmiss We believe that we will have
moderate crops. But we do not desire to have tie
first of our crop Especially when that crop is sma)
sell for two three cents pound below what it would
really bring, if it not for the Misrepresentation
of reckless scrbblers. moderate crop of cotton and
good yield of cereals will pay much better than
large crop of cotton, half of which must go to foreign
markets to buy the necessaries Of life.