New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-04
The Cotton Crop.
Cheering Reports from Tennessee, Nosth
Georgia, and North Alabama.


A. the promise of the growing cotton crop
is a matter of great interest TO the planters
throughout the entire country, and to those
whose business has TO do with the staple, as
well rs to all classes of the Southern people,
we have taken pains to get accurate inforna-
ton concerning the crop in Tennessee.
Though Tennessee is not strictly one of the
cotton-grOwing States, her yield is of con-
siderable importance in the estimate of the
general production of the United States.
To begin with the western division of the
State, Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, Upton,
and Lauderdale counties are represented as
having fiourishing crop, and the percentage
of acreage is at least an eighth greater than
that of last year. The same favorable ac-
count comes from that entire section.
In Weakley county the stalk is in fine,
healthy condition, and there is an estimated
increase in acreage of fifteen per cent. In
Obion the promise was never better. The
same account comes from Carroll and Benton
as to the condition of the CROP and there is
perhaps about the same increase of the
amount planted. In Haywood, one Of the
most fertile counties in the State, and a great
cotton-yielding county the prospect is excel
lent, and the acreage has been increased, as
| compared with last year, about fifteen per
cent. Gibson makes fine showing, and. to
| i
general increase in the acreage planted may
be safely put down as not less than fifteen
per cent, while the condition of the growing
| plant is everything that could be desired.
In surveying the crop of Middle Tennessee,
| pretty much the same encouraging features
are met with. Williamson has increased the
| acreage, and promises an abundant yield.
Some of the farmers in that county are slight
| ~ in the grass, but not to a very damaging
| yfant Int,n ton = . Al
north of Columbia, but taking the county at
large, there is fine crop growing. The es-
timated increase in the number of acres
planted in Williamson, Maury, and Marshall,
| is very nearly twenty-five per cent. Giles
has a slightly increased acreage, though a
large crop was planted last year. In Giles,
Lincoln, Franklin, as well as from Wayne,
Hardin, and McNairy, the condition of the
crop is represented as hattering to the farmer.
Rutherford has increased its acreage, and
| thus far promises an increase in yield above
| that of last year.
The labor supply has been regular and
reliable for the most part, so far as we can
learn, over the entire State. 1t may safely
be said that, taking the average of the entire
! State, the increase in the acreage of this
years cotton crop, as compared with that of
last year, will not fall short of twelve per
cent, and our information would lead us to
| think that it is even greater, while every
county in the State reports that the prospect
is, unusually favorable.
As the trade of Nashville is largely inter-
ested in the cotton crop of North Georgia,
and even more so in that of North Alabama,
we have made careful inquiry, and obtain the
most encouraging accounts from those sec
tons. North Georgia has as fine a promise
| as has ever been known. That in the fertile
counties of Madison. Morgan, Limestone,
Lawrence, Colbert, Franklin, and Lauder
dale, in North Alabama, along the Tennes-
see river, is everything that could be desired.
There has been full acreage put in, and the
season has been exceedingly favorable all
along the river.
In considering the facts herein stated,
there are certain contingencies that must by
no means be overlooked There are more
than two months yet to elapse before the
cotton crop can be beyond danger. A dry
spell in the latter part of July or during the
month of August might ruin the plant with
rust or stunt its growth, while the worm may
come and blast the boil A wet fall would
do incalculable damage. The season from
this time forward is fully as important as that
which has elapsed. 1t is even more import
ant. Every one familiar with cotton-growing
knows that there are a number of contingent
cies, any one of which might yet come up to
lessen the prospective yield very materi-
! ally.--NGsiriUe BmRer.