The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-10
THE COTTON SUPPLY.
From the N. Y. Bulletin, August IL

from the N. Y. Bulletin, August IL
At present, there are too many elements OF
uncertainty surrounding the question, 10 ad.
NIT of anything like definite estimate OF Inc
out-lurn oil the new cotton crop. Some ma
terial lacts affecting the problem are, how
ever, ascertained beyond reasonable question,
upon which we may base certain supposlllons
at least. 1t is conceded, on all sides, that the
area planted Is equal to that OF 1870, when we
had crop of 4, 350, 900 bales. is also allowed
tnat the crop was planted under generally
favorable conditions, and that fertilizers were
freely used 10 preparing the ground. Althougn,
10 April and May, the growth OF the plant was
delayed by drought, yet subsequent rams @ anu
a genial temperature invigorated the crop,
and at the middle of June It's condition, tax
ing the whole area, stood at fair aver
aye. At the middle OF July, notWithstand-
ing variable weather, the condition OF the
crop showed an Improvement. According 70
the reports of the department OF agriculture
which, under the new management, are much
more deserving OF confidence than formerly
the averages OF condition In the several STATES
Zoo being adopted as the standard Of geod,)
was as follows Virginia. Sc; North Carolina,
81; South Carolina, 81; Georgia, l0l; Florida,
lU2; Alabama, LOG; Mississippi, lO9; LOUISIANA,
lO3; Texas, los; Arkansas, 95; Tennessee, lO4;
which, taking into consideration tne reiaGIve Ioe
standing of the States as to production, gives
q general average OF 103-a very gratifying
showing. The commissioner of agriculture In
hjs last report says: '.As whole, the July re-
turns of the present year present higher
average of condition than those of any pre-
yIous reports except those of 1865"
Since the 18th OF July, there have been COM
plaiots from some sections of too much wet;
and In some localities the worm has made It's
appearance. But there appears to be no rea-
son for concluding that either of these acci-
dents has reduced the condition of the crop,
as whole, below the high average at which
1t stood three weeks ago; and this conclusion
agrees with the last report OF the commits
sioner on statistics and Information OF the
New Orleans Cotton Exchange, dated August
lst. That report also bears satisfactory testi-
mony as to the condition Of labor In every
State excepting, perhaps, Arkansas matter
very essentially affecting the prospects Oh the
crop.
In comparing the present crop with that
OF 1901, we have this certain eiement
In the comparison, that the area planted was
In both years about the same; but the con-
dition OF the crop, at this date In the two
wears, must be regarded as somewhat
matter of opinion. The abundant crop OF
TWO years ago was the result not only OF a
large acreage, but also of conditions Affect
ing the yield exceptionally favorable;
whether those conditions are this year equally
favorable is matter we do not undertake
To decide for our readers, although 1t may
be said that the tenor of reports Is such that
8 sanguine estimator might be easily ex-
cused for taking the affirmative side OF that
question.
The New Orleans Exchange report, above
alluded to, estimates that picking will this
year be begun few days earlier than last;
and, this being the case, We are now but
two or three weeks from the commence
ment of the gathering OF the crop, and the
risks of injury are narrowed down 10 that
limit.
I These are the main facts affecting the pros
ipect OF the yield. What conclusion 90 they
lead to? Do they warrant, on the assumption
that the weather continues favorable and
there is no further Injury from worms, the ex-
pectation OF crop equal to that OF ls7O-7l-
4, $50, 600 bales? Or, II both these conditions
should prove unfavorable, what is the lowest
yield that may be expected As our readers
would perhaps prefer their own answers to
these questions to any that we might give, we
leave Them to make their own estimates In
the premises, and direct their attention to
another fact of great Importance In connec-
ton with the prospects Of the supply Of Amerl-
can cotton. The supply of cotton "ln sight,"
on August 2, 1872 and 1870, is thus stated by
the Chronicle, whose high authority on cotton
information we have much pleasure In ac-
knowledging: -