The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-06-19
Acreage in Cotton for 1872.

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We take pleasure in presenting to
onr. readers to-day our annual report
of the extent Of land put into cotton
in the Southern States for 1872. 1t
has been prepared from returns made
20 us by very. careful and Intelligent
correspondents in different portions OF
the South men who have proved by
tho past that they know whereof
they speak. First, wa give the result
Of all the replies 10 OUT letters re-
ceived from each State. and finally o
summary of conclusions drawn from
these details. ...'.'
TEXAS.
Our reports from Texas are very
satisfactory. Tho planting season
wls more favorable there than in any
other State, and the weather since
has been all that. could bc desired,
Consequently the plant is now IN ~
forward and healthy condition. The
average planting is fully equal to the
planting Of 1870.
LOUISIANA. T. ua!-
From Louisjpna our returns show
that the present appearance ot the
plant is favora BILE; it looks strong aud
healthy, though backward, and i'll
Somc sections somewhat uneyrn. Thr
extent of land planted equals 1870:
and the labor supply has increased. i e.
MISSISSIPPI.
Those who planted cotton in this
State the last Of March and early in
April obtained an early AID . good
stand. But those who delayed until
the 10Th or 18th of April and later
lid not secure good stands, owing to
the drought, which asted six weeks,
lhere not being moisture enough to
Spropt the seed During the past two
weeks, however, there have been CO.
pious rains, and the plant is every.
where growing finely. The injury by
The drought consisted simply in; de-
laying the plant and n,ukng The
stands on portions of The late planted
ground somewhat spotted; the latter
defect has not been entirely cured by
the late rains, thoagh the stands are
very ,auch improved. The extent IF
land put into cotton is the same as in
1870. Fertilizers are not used very
extensively in Mississippi, though
there is some increase in their use
over last year.
.... ...., ALABAMA.
Tn consequence Of the heavy, COM
linuous rains and cold in March and
April, planters found great difficulty
in getting their crops in. Some few,
however, succeeded in finishing their
nlanting, but the greater number were
ovcrtallcn by the drought before their
work WAS half completed. We esti-
mate that about two titths Of the acre
age now in cotton was planted before
the drought, and came up quickly and
ovenly. The balance (three-htlhs),
planted during the dry weather, re-
suited in very irregular stands; but
that has now been remediad, as the
late rains have established and per-
ectcd the stands on all the later
planted ground. At present the
plant is backward and small, but
strong aud hca thy, and clear Of weeds.
There is an increase OF land now III
cotton compared with 1871, but less
by about 5 per cent. than planted in
1870. The planters in Alabama have
used fertilizers only to very limited
extent.
In Georgia, owing to a very cold
and wet spring, planters wcrc late in
getting their land prcpared-saJ
about TWO or three weeks later than
usual. The first planting, however,
came up well. and continued to dovol-
op satisfactorily during the drought
which followed. The second plant
ing, which included about one-third
OF The crop, WAS put into the ground
when it had become dry and tue sur
face crustcd under II baking sun. Az
Il result Of this want Of moisture and
of the hard surface, the seeds failed
to germinate ; but the showers Of the
last three weeks have made u material
change for the better, the seed having
<prouted and tho stands at present
being generally good, though on the
|uplands somcwhat irregular and spot
ted. There is more land put down tc
cotton this year than in 1871, but
aJout 3 per cent less than in 1870.
In the use Of fertilizers there is u con-
siderable increase over last year, but
not over three.tourtGs OF tie amount
used in 1870. .';. ''.''. q. '
SOUTH CAROLINA.
In South Curolina after much diff.
Guilty, very fair stand has been Sc
cured. The changes of the season
have correspondent very closely with
tho statement given, al bove for Georgia.
At present tho plant is small, but as
the weather now is very favorable it
is making rapid progress. and gives
promise OF u satisfactory season. I he
acreage in cotton is about equal to
1870, and the same is true OF the fer
lilizrrs used. .s.
TENNESSEE AND ARKANSAS.
In Middle Tennessee there were
very hard rains about planting time,
which intertered with farm work and
washed off to considerable extent
the seed, making replanting in some
,,, ,.,,.n.u.,r1, Th.sp ri,r.II n, 81 Il uf.rs