Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-08
The Cotton Situation,

The Macon Telegraph and Messenger OF
July 6 has the following article:
In relation to the general prospects of
the cotton crop, the New York Financial
Chronicle remarks that it is now certain
that the cotton acreage is ten per cent less
than last year-tbat the weather has been
generally unfavorabls to the young crop,
and, in the Atlantic States, all cotton is
small, and three weeks behind last year.
The excess of wet is not only unfavorable
to the growth of the plant, but endangers
it from the cotton worm, and from mildew
and shedding. Upon these facts the
Chronicle concludes that the crop must, IN
any event, be considerably less than the
crop of last year, but the extent of the de-
crease must depend upon the surroundings
during the month of July. With favorable
weather and late autumn, tie yield may
be larger than the most sanguine planter
dares hope for now. The weather reports
will be watched with increasing interest
during the current month.
According to statement from Mr.. ]. NJ.
Bosrdman published in our last number,
the mean temperature of Macon during the
month Of June just expired was, at
o'clock A. NJ, so; 2 P. NJ, SO 40; and at
6 P. IL, sc $40. The amount of rain
during the month was five and ninety-one
hundredths inches; and there were thirteen
days in the month in which rain fell in
quantities varying from four hundreths to
one and eighly-four hundredths inches.
The aggregate rain fall from LIST January to
LIST July CT the current year was thirty
eight and tifiy-six hundredths inches.
70 comprehend the significance of these
figures, let rs reflect that we have had, ac-
cOrding to this statement, in six months oi
1871, within seven and half inches Of a
full ordinary supply Of rain for a whole
year. A full average supply for this la.i-
tUde would be forty-sjx inches. According
to Prof. Barnwell, of the University of
Georgia, the rain fell for the four seasons
beginning with Autumn, 1868, and ending
with the Summer, 1869, was forty-six in
ches and 735 one thousaDdths. For the
year commencing with Autumn, 1869, and
ending Summer, 1870, it was forty-fve
inches and 394 one thousandths.
The magnitude Of the excess Of rain, as
shown by this statement, throws great
deal Of light on the existing cotton situs-
ton. Cotton is a dry weather plant.
Compared with corn, it requires but little
rain. and the conditions Of nice culture, as
well as health, depend. to a great extent,
Oh a large allowance Of dry weather. In
the absence Of all other facts, this mon
stIous excess of rain must, therefore, es-
tablish very unfavorable condition of the
crop.
We doubt whether any possible meoro-
logical change can redeem this crop so as
TO make it an average one, and we hold
that the crop produced in 1870 was fifteen
to twenty per cent above average. If the
remainder OF the year should be character
ised by a dryness corresponding with the
excessive wet Of the first half of the year,
that would be, for time at least, almost
or quite as Injurious to the crop as the ex-
oessive moisture. The plant Is now too
sappy to meet violent change without
disaster. But if We accept this moderate
hypothesis-that there Is ten per cent less
acreage and that the last crop was fifteen
per cent above average-that would show
three million bale crop for the current
year; which We have no idea will be shown
by facts.