Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-28

Il
The New York Chronicle of this week has
an elaborate review OF cotton crop matters
as they stand, and floods, cold weather, and
local storms have given to the subject more
interest than is usually felt as early in the
season as the present. A comparison OF
| figures shows that the failure last season was
not due to drouth alone, for the dryness, with
exceptions, was little more severe than in
some seasons that have been abundant, but
also to the unprecedented high temperature
that accompanied it; the whole prolonged
over a considerable section from May to Oc-
tober. AS bearing upon the question Of
acreage this year, there is to be noted a pre-
vailing tendency TO an increased cultivation
of food products. An increase of grain does
not necessarily imply decrease of cotton,
as new acres are added to the cultivation
every year. The present spring, however,
corn planting has to some extent been forced
through crippled means, late getting in of
crops where floods prevailed, and failure Of
cotton to terminate where cold interfered
with growth. In North Carolina up
to this time we ind that plant
ing began early but proceeded slow, from
cold weather; seed ali in from May 10th to
May 25th; temperature low, and plants
came up but poorly; weather dry enough to
allow keeping clean of weeds. Since June
lat weather more favorable; plant now max
ing good progress. In the more favored sec
tons acreage unchanged; throughout the
State, from cold, decreased acreage of five
per cent. decrease of commercial fertilizers OF
twenty per cent, but large increase of home
msrures. In South Carolina seed was put
in earlier than usual, came up exceedingly
we'll. In May, from cold. the plant devel-
oped but poorly; fields kept in good condi-
tioD; the change to warmer weather caused
the development to become rapid; stand
good, but backward, yet, with favorable
weather, promising. Acreage three per cent.
decrease. Fertilizers in less request; use of
domestic manure largely increased. In
Georgia planted same time as previous year;
came up fair to very we'll. During Nav
weather too cold for rapid growth, but good
Tor chopping out aud cleaning. June, wealth
er more forcing. Stand now fairly favorable
but backward, though without any fult
good weather will not cure. Acreage
decreased five per cent, probably still less
than that. A decided falling off of
fertilizers, reported from twenty-five to
thirty three per cent; large gain in home
made fertilizers In Florida: Seed put in
about the same time as last year; in May in
some sections; cool weather delayed growth,
but the plant developed we'll; field clean and
we'll worked; acreage fal en- off one per cent
In Alabama: Season opened about the usual
time; seed was put in at same date as last
year and came up well; May generally too
a
clear of weeds; since June weather favora-
BILE and growth rapid; the stand now good
and promising; acreage three per cent. be-
low last year; fertilizers in less dem and; use
Of them decreased. Mississippi, where free
from food, had a more favorable early spring
than last year; where flooded planting was
delayed, but no material loss of acreage on
that account; seed generally came up we'll,
but growth was slow, delayed in the northern
sections by cold; the fields well worked; the
recent forcing weather has given the plant a
good start; stand and condition now, though
late in some sections, promise well, and the
plant is making rapid progress; acreage
two per cent. less; fertilizers where used show
no material decrease. In Louisiana, where
not delayed by flood, the start was satisfactory;
seed generally came up well; in May weather
too cold; warm since then and few COM
plants now; stand at present good to very
vigorous and healthy, and the fields clear.
Acreage little changed, may average two per
cent decrease. In Texas the season 80 far
very favorable; too dry at one time, then
satisfactory rains and rapid advance of
plant; stand good; condition very promis-
ing, fields well-cultivated and clean. A de-
cided increase of new land under cultivation,
more 40 than last year; acreage increased
ten per cent. probably more Arkansas
the plant has not a favorable start; farm
work opened early and seed came up well;
later weather became cold and stanted the
plant, often killed it out, and repIanting be-
came necessary; floods delayed work in sec
tons. June LIST crop though less advanced
than last year is -thoroughly well worked,
and fields unusually clean, so that everything
was ready for the present forcing weather
stand fair to good but ten days late, condi-
lion promising; acreage decreased five per
cent. In Tennessee where free of flood the
start was early, by one or two weeks ahead
of last year, then weather turned cold,
seed did not come up well and unu-
susl replanting was required; still the
fields were kept clean aud we'll
worked; siuce weather became warmer the
progress has been satisfactory; staud small
but good and prospect promising; acreage
six per cent. decrease. In general the condi-
lions we're at first favorable TO an early start
but May was cold everywhere, and ArksBs Is
mad an excess OF rain; the fields are COM
monty clean and we'll worked. In conclu-
sion, we find tendency against increase of
cotton acreage; farmers started the year poor,
with pressing need for supplies. The season
opened early, allowing plenty of time to put
in seed and keep fields clean. The total de-
crease of acreage is really very small, aver
aging 1.55 per cent On June LIST crop was
a late one, in warmer latitudes the delay
less felt, there is greater than usual differ
snce between the approach toward maturity of
the Southern and the Northerh sections.
Last years crop was backward until the end
of May, when very hot, dry weather forced it
forward to premature ripening. The culti-
vstion has been thorough, less harm than
usual from weeds and grass, pi ant therefore
in good condition for growth with sppropri-
ate temperature, which is a favorable fes-
ture; if with the cold, frequent rains had
favored the growth of grass, the situation
might be critical. The present condition,
therefore, the Ckroaicle thinks, is good; North
Carolina is least promising, small portions OF
Arkansas, and Tennessee, and second flooded
districts come next; in spite of backward
ness the general outlook is encouraging for a
decided hope of a fruitful year.