The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-18
CROP PROSPECTS.

u
degree of certainty on the probabilities
of the extent of the crops for the pres
ent year. We think that we are are
safe in saying that the Louisiana plan
ters and farmers will reap remunera-
tive harvests at the end of the year.
Though during considerable portion
of the year the weather has been unfa-
vorable, and the crops necessarily
backward, on the whole we have little
reason to complain on that score. On
an average the weather has been as
propitious as we could hope for. If
favorable for the remainder of the sea-
son all should be abundantly satisfied
with it.
The early wet and subsequent dry
weather injured the corn very serious
~ ard will reduce the amount raised
somewhat below the average CROP
Still, we nope the planters will nuke
enough to render them independent of
a foreign supply.
Sugar is doing well everywhere
With good grinding season next Fall
the sugar planters will make great
deal of money. A larger area was
planted in cane this season than the
last, the high price of sugar holding
forth bright prospects of remuneration.
The continuation of the Cuban troubles
will keep prices up at money-making
| figures.
AS regards our great staple, cotton,
the crop just now is passing through
its crisis. The early wet weather was
unfavorable for planting and though
the season has been a good one until
very recently the crop is some three
weeks later than it should be. The
wet weather for the last few weeks has
been injurious to the growing cotton
and few caterpillars have here and
there appeared. These destructive
insects naturally cause alarm, but we
do not really think that they can do
much damage at this late day. With
warm dry weather they can do none at
all, and with an ordinary season we
believe that our cotton planters will
make as much as they can pick, cater
pillar or no caterpillar. It is estima-
ted that the cotton crop at the South
the present year will exceed two mil
lion bales, or nearly one-half as much
as was ever made in the most prosper.
GUS years before the war. With pres
emit high prices the crop will bring one
third more than was ever realized in
any former year. 1t will thus be seen
that the South is soon to regain its for
mer position as the great producing
section of those articles which consti-
tute the bulk of exports from the Uni
ted States. It cannot be long, there
fore, before the Southern people regain
their former wealth. A few more
years of energy, industry and
economy and the work will have been
accomplished. The labor system is
beginning to settle down to something
like regularity and reliability. The
negroes are fast becoming disabused OF
the pestiferous ideas instilled into their
minds at the close of the war, and are
beginning to understand that more
money is to be made in the field than
in attending political meetings. Sc
far as our observation extends they
have worked admirably this year, and
at its close they. will be amply reward
ed in having money in their pockets to
minister to their daily wants.
With prosperity among our agricul-
turists comes also prosperity in every
other industrial calling. The ner-
chants of New Orleans and the coun-
try towns are all indulging great hopes
of thriving business as soon as the
season shall commence. It is estima-
ted that a million bales of cotton of the
present crop will find its way to the
| ASS" OAiCohS uAAh NOV, oAu tANo CAOiS
will be corresponding increase in the
trade in all the other products. The
grain trade with the West, just inau-
gurated under favorable auspices, is
destined to increase the business o.
New Orleans to an incalculable extent
New Orleans is destined soon to be.
come one of the greatest commercial
ports of the world.
On the whole we have abundant
cause for gratitude to the Giver of al
good for the many blessings he hal
showered upon us the present year.
HEAVY ON HIM.-The Harrison
{Texas) Flag tells the following:
We have friend, formerly foreman
of our Office, who is now on visit t.
that glorious old State Alabama, or
whom we are constrained to tell gooG
joke, from the fact that we enjoy {
good joke, even it be at our own ex.
pense or ono of our friends. The facts
Of the case in question will be suffi
GENTLY enjoyed by our local readerl
without embellishments. This friend O
ours rejoices in beautiful hair, which