The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-25
AGRICULTURAL.
The Condition Of the Cotton, Sugar, Rice
and Corn Crops in the State.

and Corn Crops in the State.
We have endeavored during the past three
months to give condensed report Of the
condition Of the crops In the States OF Lou
isiana, Texas and Mississippi, at the end OF
each month, and to show their relative posi-
ton as compared to that in corresponding
dates last year. The reports 80 far published
have been based upon information gathered
by the agents and correspondents Of the
DEMOCRAT In various portions Of the States
and news directly obtained from the
farmers and planters Of many different par
iehes and counties, as well as from their cor
with their merchants In this
city.
The accuracy OF the DEMOCRATS state
ments concerning the condition Of the crops
for the months OF April and May has not
been questioned though they have not de-
picted the present agricultural prospects in
as glowing light as some of our readers
would wish, nor have we overdrawn the
gloomy outlook which is promised for one Of
the leading agricultural Industries of Louisi-
ana.
In the month of April, as we have shown,
Lne planning anu geTmlnaGlnR season was an
unfavorable onef for nearly all of our Southern
crops. Unseasonably cold weather kept them
back or prevented them from sprouting, while
agricultural operations were impeded by ex-
tremely partial floods or drouths In the diff
ferent sections of the Southwest.
In May the commencement OF the work OF
cultivation was attended by favorable
weather. Cotton received the benefits OF a
long spell of dry weather, which at that
period Of the plants growth is needed.
ever, broken by q general rainfall at the
Of Texas and North Louisiana, while it sert-
ously affected the rice crop Of South
Louisiana, which was already greatly suffer
ing for want Of water from the unprecedent-
edIy early fall of the river and bayous. The
dry weather in May was considered favorable
for the cane crop. During its prevalence cul-
tivation was well advanced; the cane fields
were cleaned and put in fine condition and a
much better stand OF stubble than was expec-
ted was brought out by frequent digging and
cultivation. The rains which fell during the
end Of May came just when they were needed.
They Stacked up the soil, dissolved the artifi-
eial fertilizers which had been applied to the
crop and stimulated it to new and rapid
growth, which promised soon to retrieve its
backWardness and bring 1t up to the size Of a
fair average season. During the month of
June the finishing work OF cultivation has been
applied to large part of the cane crop as well
as to portion OF the early cotton, while the
equally important work OF wedding and
grassing the rice fields, which have been
flooded by irrigating machinery, has been ac-
complished.
promising condition than was expected or
hoped for q month ago. According to all
accounts the slight decrease In acreage, re-
ported some time since In the crop, has not
been made up. The estimates place this de-
ficiency, however, st less than 5 per cent
n
not expected to fall below that Of last year.
Information gathered from all sections of the
State reports cultivation forward, stand good,
size up to the average and labor satisfactory.
though there appears to be considerable ap-
prehension felt that the emigration mania
might reappear next fall and greatly inter-
fere with the picking operations. Up to date
no reports have been received by us from any
portion Of the State concerning the appear
ance OF the army worm.
The cane crop has apparently advanced
more rapidly In growth and relative position
than any other crop In the three States.
Stubble and succors continued coming out
until the end of May. A fine stand came out
in many places where not even fair stand
was expected. The crop, fguratively speak
ing, recovered much OF its lost ground, the
plant cane and stubble have both grown very
rapidly, and, to use planting term, the crop
so far advanced and will certainly not yield
SO much as the same crop last year. Many
Improvements In sugar machinery will be
made all over the sugar region this year.
There are now more than ten vacuum pans in
course OF erection and as many more being
contracted for. A leading foundry in New Or
leans is now manufacturing q sugar mill
which, when finished, will be the largest In
Louisiana, and one Of the largest In the
world.
There will be a large increase in the amount
Of the clarified grades of sugar manufac-
tured In the State this year.
The prospect for the rice crop is scarcely
better than it was month ago. The hoped
for June rise did not come. Instead Of a rise
there was a further decline In the river.
Where irrigating machinery was not supplied
many crops have been entirely abandoned,
and many more will prove to be complete fail
ures. Considerably more than $10O, 600 worth
of such machinery was erected to save crops
ali the crop instead Of less than half, as they
have been doing formerly. The failure of the
usual summer rains which commence about
this season, and fr their place an unusually
dry spell OF weather has further injured the
crop. The water and weather have all been
against it, and the outlook for the rice crop
may be considered as gloomy as it was one
month ago. The estimates OF the present
crop, on which the work Of harvesting will
be commenced during the latter part of next
month, place it at from 40 to 60 per cent OF
the amount of rice produced In the State last
year. The opinion OF the majority OF those
interested In the matter incline more toward
the lower figure.
The corn crop all over the State is re-
ported as suffering very severely from the
unusual summer drouth.
In confined localities it Is reported as
good, but planters in many parishes, having
abandoned all hopes Of Its ever recovering
from the effects Of the dry weather ard bear
| ing Well-filled ears, have CONNIE nced to cut
the stalks down and cure them for fodder for
stock While they have some nutrlment 10
them. The partial failure OF this crop will be
more severely felt this year, as there had
been new impetus given to stock raising IN
be extremely profitable where a good corn
crop can be raised, it will be scarcely remune-
ratiye were the stock-raisers compelled tc
purchase Western corn. However, an exten.
sive planting Of peas and other forage crops
could even now be made to supply tine def.
cheney In the corn cop, and would afsorC
ample food for stock all winter.
This year June has been a favorable month
for the cotton and cane crops of the State
and extremely unfayorabie to corn ant
| rice.