Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-12
THK Crop PROSPECT.

In response to lnterrogatories
dated and mailed May 25th, by the
committee on statistics and infor-
nation appointed by the Memphis
cotton exchange, West Tennessee
has made forty-three reports /;
North Mississippi %ilty-fve /; Arkan-
sas ffty-seven, and North Alabama
twelve. The latter not being en-
braced in the territory allotted to
this exchange by the national cot
ton exchange, is not included in
TIE aggregates. The report indi-
Gates a decrease since last year in
the cotton area of II per cent, or
2 per cent. less than 1875. The
recent rains have done great dam
age to the wheat crop now being
harvested, as well as to other crops,
and to land, fences and other pro-
perty. The labor system has greatly
improved, and the prospects of the
corn, wheat and grass crops are
hattering. There will also be a
large increase in the quantity of
pork raised. The following are the
aggregates of the reports received:
/. Cotton acreage IS report
increased planting over last year
so decrease ; 67 about the same
II per cent. replanted with corn
average, less acreage, II per cent.
2. Weather-l27 report month
Of April unfayorable throughout on
account of continued hard rains
and low temperature 20 report
about the same as last year 5 more
favorable 113 report May very
unfavorable-the first week on &C
count of rains, balance of month
excessively dry, windy AMI cloudy;
80 report the month about as favor
able as last year.
3. Cotton stands -25 report
stands very fine /; 70 good average;
65 report early planting stands
poor, but late planting good stands.
4. Advancement of crop-9 re.
port crop in advanced condition
compared with 1876; 1873 report
later ; Is report about the same,
averaging nine days later in condi-
ton,
5. Laborers-1S report an in
crease in numbers 20 report a de-
crease /; III report about the same
averaging a decrease of 1-6 per
cent; 81 report the morale of la
borers greatly improved; Sc report
them working well 5 report them
Indifferent. The average indicates
great improvement in the morale
of laborers.
6. Fertilizers = All report no
commercial fertilizers used; Ia gen
eral terms, there is but a slight IN
creased attention to use OF home
produced manures.
Z. Condition of cotton crop-la0
report the crop well cultivated, free
of grass and weeds, 81 Of which re-
yort superior condition; 8 report
crops healthy but grassy; 26, crops
not yet worked, stands very un-
healthy; 1O7 report crops suffering
severely for rain.
s. Miscellaneous - The only
points of information developed
under this head, not deducible from
the foregoing, are that a few report
having just planted; two-thirds
complain that the ground is SO
hard and dry they cannot pillow cot
tot; a few that they have had to
replant their crops; a few report
much of last planting not up; q
very light complaint OF lice and cul
worms, but much less than usual
8. Corn crops = 81 report de
creased acreage; 70, an increase.
So, about the same; average in.
crease planted, 4 per cent. with d
per cent. additional to be planted
in June; III report crop in good
condition; ~ small and unhealthy
10. Grass, oats and millet crop.
"a report increased acreage; IA. a
decrease; 81, about same, averaging
81 per cent. increase, and s peI
cent. better condition than las
year.
IL. Wheat crop-l15 report bet
ter condition than last year; / no
so good; i, about same ayerag
prospective Detter yield OF rs pc
cent. on 9 per cent. increased acre
age.
IL. Hogs-1l1 report increase,
numbers Of hogs; ~, a decrease
Is about same 4 raise none ; ay
erage increase, 16 per cent; 10
report in good condition ; j NO
good; there is a reported loss Of