The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-03
DAILY DEMOCRAT.
NEW ORLEANS, AUGUST 3, 1870.
CROPS TN LOUISIANA.

DROPS LIN IUUlolANh.
The weather during the month OF July may
be said to have been altogether unfavorable
Tor nearlyaIl Of The crop interests OF the State
The long drouth which existed part Ct May
and was partially broken by Q sllght rainfall
toward the end Of June, continued with more
or less severity for three weeks In July
About the twentieth Of the month II was
however, broken, and the planters Of the
State have been benefited by an abundance OF
rain. This, however, came too late to save
some Of the crops, though 1t has already
shown It's good effects on others.
The cotton crop throughout the State was
beginning to suffer evil effects from the
droEth toward the end OF July. The weather
In the beginning Of the month was favorable
for the finishing of the work of cultivation on
the late cotton. From the information re-
ceived It seems that the work Of cultivation
was done better and the fields put n finer
order this season than has been the case for
many years. In local cases a scarcity OF
labor was complained Of, though generally
there was sufIiciency Of labor 70 cultivate
the crop, while the work performed was con
Bidered more than usually satisfactory. The
size OF the plant throughout the State, accord
ing TO inf0rmants from every section, was, up
TO the middle of the past month. nearly up 70
the average though In different localities II
was dwarfed and stunted by protracted dry
weather. The general condition was cOnsd-
cred fully up to Q good average, ana Jar
Weld and full crop expected till about the
middle OF the past month. The appearance
or the cotton worm In n few isolated fields
In different portions Of the State about the
first of July awakened serious apprehen-
sion among the planters lest q large Dor
ton Of their crops should be lost by the
ranges of these dreaded pests of the cotton
fields. En- many other places where they were
not seen at the time Of their first appearance
In the State they were noticed about the mid
die Of July. The third generation of this In
sect Is that which Is particularly dreaded by
the planters as being destructive to the fields
The second generation OF the cotton worm,
going through the metamorphosts OF chrysal-
lis, moth, egg and ful-grown caterpillar, APP
pears three weeks after the first Is seen, and
the third generation six weeks. According
to this calculation the latter part of August
would be the time for the full development OF
the army Of insect ravagers, II no steps are
taken to destroy them should rainy and hu-
mid weather continue. The injury they are
likely to do the crop cannot be calculated. 1t
Is to be hoped that they may be destroyed be-
fore they have an opportunity to accomplish
much of their destructive work Ia the cotton
fields.
Had the worms not appeared In the cotton
region 1t Is safe to say that the crop of the
State would have been considerably larger
than 1t was last year. They have appeared,
and no safe estimate of the yield can be made.
The sugar crop has advanced In growth
and general condition very rapidly during
the latter half Of July. The cultivation Of the
crop was generally finished during the first
half Of the month. The dry weather then
prevailing, while not 50 favorable for growth,
was extremely favorable for the finishing
work on the crop and destroying the grass In
the cane fields, a most desirable object. The
fields generally are In an unusually clean
condition, and there is nothing but cane on
the land to monopolize the nutriment Of the
soil. Thus with the present rainy season,
the cane Ia nearly all the sugar region has
grown vigorously and advanced to a condi-
ton In size above the average Of fields usually
at this time OF the year, though two months
ago In size 1t was considerably behind the
season. The crop is still, however, consid-
cred inferior to that Of last year at q
corresponding date, though in few
localities 1t is fully up to 1t in
every respect. The crop OF last year
yielded about two hundred and fifty million
pounds Of sugar. The highest estimates "a
tim fol fyva -Huo mill
pounds, and the lowest fifty million pounds
below this. The greatest factor now in the
calculation OF probable yield will be the time
of the arrival of the fall or winter freezes
With such a season for harvesting as 1875 rs
the State will certainly make splendid
sugar crop; or, with such rolling season as
1s777S, it might make a very ordinary one
The only safe time to calculate the yield OF
sugar crop In this State is when the cane is
all ground and the returns are all In" For
instance, variation OF five degrees Of a Fab
renheit thermometer about the middle of No
vember might indicate loss to Louisiana OF
fifty million pounds OF sugar. The risks Of
the harvesting are taken into consideration
by our planters, and their work done accord
lngly. A very large amount Of new, improved
udCHluStS 10 III RioCtSS Vi uiduuldCplle tild
erection In the State. A much larger proper
lion of the higher grades Of sugar will be |
manufactured than has been heretofore made. |
and the profits Of enterprisng planters will |
BE- increased accordingly.
The rice crop has gained little over Its rela-
tive position two months and one month ago. |
The most sanguine estimates place the yield !
OIL the State at about one-half crop. In local |
instances, where an ample supply of water
has been obtained by irrigating machinery of
proper capacity, full and even fine crops will |
oe made. In the parish Of IberyIlle planter
mas raised water over twenty feet from the
surface Of the river to food his fields This
work was done properly, and he has made a
fine crop by using comparatively powerful
machinery. Many other large planters
throughout the rice region have saved and I
made full cropS by listnp similar sta.n,