Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-28
Prosnects Of the Coming Cotton Crop.

Prospects Of the Coming Cotton Crop.
Advices from the overlooked regions OF
the Mississippi bottom state that it is
matter of reasonable certainty that the
coming cotton crop in that region will
be heavily reduced. Various estimates,
deemed perfectly reliable, agree that the
planted area in the Mississippi valley
will be 90 per cent. less than last year,
and we read that nearly the entire coun-
try between Memphis and Vicksburg is
under water now, while anticipated Gre
vases will most probably inundate
large and productive region between
Vicksburg and the mouth of red River.
What the extent Of this inundation may
be or how widespread its effects will
prove cannot, as yet, be accurately esti-
mated, but it is conceded that serious
disaster and great reduction of the crops
in the overhowed region must necessa-
rily result.
Neither is the immediate effect of this
overflow the only matter to be consid-
cred in calculating its effect upon the
coming crop. The New Orleans papers
state that it has been time and again
verified by experience that nothing is so
improbable as that cotton can be made
on the Mississippi bottoms from plant
ing after an overflow unless the seed can
be put in the ground during the first
week in April, and this can hardly be
expected this year, since such is the
magnitude Of the present food that the
waters cannot subside by that time. Nor
is the likelihood that the crop in the Mis-
sissippi valley will be, in this
way, set back to an unnatural and
unfavorable time the only draw
back to a yield; but the New
Orleans Times Democrat states that the
retirement of the water is nearly always
followed by the appearance of myriads
Of ''grass worms" which prey upon
vegetation, especially upon young cotton
and pea vines, which contain a marked
infusion of saccharine. In the alluvial
lands of the Mississippi valley the adj
vent of these worms is almost invariable,
and for several years past, as regularly
as the water receded and crops were put
in upon the overlooked lands, the young
growth has been entirely consumed, not
only once, but twice, and sometimes
thrice. 1t says: 1--WE know of nothing
so difficult or so improbable as the making
of cotton upon lands which have been
under water during the months of March
and April. Whatever theorists and
Missionaries may say, agriculture, under
such circumstances, is very much like
investing in a lottery ticket"
Itmay be regarded, therefore, as settled
that the yield of cotton in the Missis-
sippi valley next year will be materially
reduced, and that means a great deal
The section embraced by that valley is
the finest for cotton in the whole coun-
try. Along what is known as the Deer
Creek region, of Washington county,
Mississippi, the best cotton and more to
the acre is grown than in any other por
ton of the cotton belt, while through
out the river bottoms generally good or
bad yield always exerts a manifest in
fiuence upon the out-turn Of the crop,
and a failure there means a general
shOrtness of the crop at large
But there is another reason why
a short crop may reasonably be an
ticipated this year. The experience
through which our farmers are now
passing is causing them to realize more
sensibly than ever the danger of trust
ing to the all cotton policy, and the i'm
pOrtance OF devoting more time and at
tentiOn to raising farm supplies at home.
Hence it is believed that the cotton
acreage in other regions than the Missis-
sippi valley will be reduced, and that the
crop for 1882 will be even smaller than
that of the year just past.
When all these reasonab BILE matters are
considered in connection with the con-
ceded fact that the entire short crop of
this year added to the considerable sur
plus lett over from last year will not be
more than sufficient for the wants of the
world, it seems quite certain that prices
of the great Southern staple must rule
high for some time to come. 1t is true
there will be seasons of depression, since
spectators can still get up CORNERS"
and manipulate the market without re-
gard to the laws of supply and demand
or anything else. Still, after all, it is
supply and demand which in the end
must decide values, and so planters who
still hold their cotton, and are able to
hold it, need not, We think, feel uneasy
over a declining market.