The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-18

feel considerable apprehension for the future.
Rep.--Oan any accurate estimate OF the result
Of this years cotton planting be made at this
time, Mr.. Yates2
Mr. Yates--No sirl no sirl II can't be done.
No one can possibly say now, what the crop will
be, for there are too many contingencies in tho
fu ure. 1t can't be done.
Rep.-And these contingencies are2
Mr.. Yates--Well, frat, we know the worm may
destroy It., and besides this there are many ther
things that may ipiure IL. Suppose heavy rains
aet In after I'LL dancer from the worms has gone
that would affect 1t, as you know, OF course, and
then early frosts and all that. The crop Ism /
safe until IL 10 shipped.
Rep.--Has here been any noticeable difference
In the labor OF this year ovsr tho Inst two
Mr.. Yates--No, sir. / believe, SO far as have
heard, the hands have worked fully MS well as
during last year. No complaints have been made
on that score.
Rep.-5peaking about the worm, to come back
10 that absorbing topic, whom will the crisis have
been passed2
Mr.. Yates--Let mo see. As far as the worm Ia
concerned, the crisis will be over by the middle
Of September On the 9th or 10th OF September
tho second crop OF worms come, and about twonsy
days aftsrward the third crop, and they do tho
damage. The third crop is what Is feared most.
Rep.--Aro the reports from Mississippi and
Arkansas on the average like those we get from
the different sections Of Louisiana
MIR. Yates-No, sir, not exactly. From all OF
our correspondents In Mississippi they have an
excellent crop there and no worms. They will
do finely in that state 80 far ~ have heard, and
in Arkansas likewi.e think the report OF the
great damage by the overflow Of that riveris very
considerably overestimated and exaggerated
Let mo show you letter from Oamden, Ark.
[showing letter1 You see prospects were never
better and the cotton looks well It's true, one
thing Arkansas has TO contend with, and that's
On early frost. That may cut The crop of that
State off as IL did last year; there's no telling
about frosts, but now II promises well.
Rep.-Mr. Yates, taking everything into CON-
sideration, what do you suppose would be q fair
estimate Of the yield this aeason--that is Of
course, at very rough guess?
Mr.. Yates--I should say, II was giving care
ful guess at IL, from what have learned, that 1t
will be about 45000 900 bales--that is, you UNDER
stand, IL no serious casualty occurs. That's big
crop, very big crop, you must know. II the
worms commence their rayages no one can even
approximate what II will be.
Reptile present condition OF the cotton Ia
the fields, to the stalk, IL promising, 1t ii not
MIR. Yates Yes, | think 30. You must take
into consideration in judging OF this that the
WbSu uUW rs TAIN, WUlGD 10 very mHCU hEDluht
the worm; the stalk is large, and this will proba-
bly, delay the opening OF the bolls, by the shade
given by the leaves This will delay the ripeping
process % 1t has, for now cotton is nearly ten
days late as compared with last year.
Rep--So when you have escaped these worms
you seem to think the worst evil, the other exi-
gencies are not 80 serious, even !. tho crop Is q
little late2
Mr.. Yates-There are many serious contingsn.
ces, as have said, that may still occur TO affect
AI. 4. ,un1
through the worms, then come the fall storms,
aud then the risks in picking. You have read
how this has beep o year OF cyclones and heavy
gales, and, according to Tice, if he is any au-
thority, we are going to have bad fall, Pm
AFRAID.
Rep.-From the present outlook, isn't every
thing most promlsing-that is, take everything
as 1t is?
Mr.. Yates.--I never saw the time during my
experience when In July the prospects were not
the very best This year these prospects keep
better little later perhaps and that possibly
may be suspicious, bat we can't tell. / remem-
ber there's Mr. Jones, the well known broker
you know him--well he says that the. cotton crop
never looked better than it did in 1s46, and tho
first worm was seen on the 10Th OF August, and
yet 1t out the crop short over one million bales
These things are very uncertain.
r. T. BUcKNER.
After wishing Mr.. Yates good morning the re-
porter next visited the Office Of Mr.. h. T. Buck
ner, on Union street, between Carondelet and
Baronne. Mr.. Buckner. who is vel. known
and prominent cotton merchant here, after the
usu IL salutations invited the reporter to o seat
and the latter opened.
Rep.-Mr. Buckner, dropped around for the
purpose OF learning something about the coming
cotton crop, as the DEMOCRAT wants to know all
that can be known on the ru' i3ct for publication
Gould you give me your estimate OF the crop?
Mr.. B.-I don't know that it is exactly right
and proper now that an estimate should be put
upon the crop to be brought in. 1 don't see what
good it will do and it may do much harm, and
don't think the DEMOCRAT will help us any by pub
lsulng it, for now ii is more than uncertain what
say about the crop, for really no one can tell.
I'd rather not express any opinion on this subject,
for high estimate might be cut down one-half
by worms.
Rep.-It is not so much, sir, for your estimate
az to the number Of bales to be produced that
called as it was to get your estimate as to the
condition OF the present crop and theprospecis
90 from the present outlook?
Mr. B.-Ah! IL that is it can tell y0u. From
what learn through my correspondence there
never was so many reports about the prevalency
of worms since 1872 all along up the river. and
it's nothing but worms, worms. My reports
show that they are in many parishes, but as yet
they have done no damage.
Rep.-Have you heard anything about the
cotton plants wedding up, as they call it-that IL,
producing more woody matter auO leaves IMAM
usual, MIR. Buckner,
Mr.. B.-I can't say thst I have heard Of the
plants wedding much. II there was much weed
ing however. that would affect the yield very
much. You must know the cotton plant is q sun
plant; it does not want much water for it's
nourishmsnt, but it requires sun. II it weeded,
this would shade it and delay the ripening of the
Dolls, and hence delay the crop.
Rep.-Wonld not this 'weeding up" and the
shade serve to prevent the worms from attacking
the plant?
Mr.. B.-Oh, no; not at all. Cotton worms don't
eat cotton in the sun. It's on such days as to-
day, cloudy and damp or on rainy days, when
they commit the most havoc. When the cotton
runs to weed the worms attack it most.
Rep.-So your correspondents have said moth
ing about the cotton running to weed?
Mr.. B.-Nothing; we haven't received anything
about it.
Rep.-What do they say about the promise in
Mi slssippi? Will the yield be good there?
Mr.. BIN Washington county, from whence
have just received a letter, the prospects are
good.
In Louisiana. here's letter from Delhi in Rich
land, and it says no worms as yet here.
In Madison parish worms have appeared, bnt