Year: 1872




We are prepared now to speak Of the
prospect for the cotton crop in the States
of North and South Carolina. For several
weeks past, we have been gathering from
our correspondents information as to the
extent of land planted, the stand of the
plants, and its promise. The result can be
stated in very few words. Tie acreage
put in cotton has been slightly increased
over last year, probably TO the amount Of
ten per cent. We feel sure it will not
reach as high as twelve per cent.


Cotton, which was planted early in
South Carolina, and which had appeared
before the drought Of about three weeks,
has grown off finely and presents good
appearance. That which was planted
about the time the drought set in did not
come up until after the next rains, say four
weeks behind time, but it has come up
very well, and but for the unusually cold
nights would have been only the four
weeks behind, but these have put it back,
or rather retarded its growth, and it is
from four to six weeks behind time now.
Though so very late and so very small it
looks well, and is about drought to a
| stand.''


In some sections in North Carolina the
| crop was retarded by drought in the same
way as i'll North Carolina ; it came up
/ with the first rains, and before it could
! be chopped OUT" the continued rains
/ have made it very grassy, SO that
| in some cases it was abandoned, but
! the most has now been cleaned and
presents fine appearance, growing off
! nicely The same cold nights have pre-
vailed in the latter State, aud some of the
! cotton has turned yellow in consequence,
| but the proportion is very small. AS it
takes one hundred and twenty days to
! make cotton crop, our readers can form
an idea of the time when the present plant
ing will mature. Putting the average
planting time at the first of May, the
crop which came up in due season will be
ready for picking about the first Of
September; but at least two-i!irds Of the
crop came up as if planted, say the twen-
ty-eighth OF May, and this cannot mature
before the twenty eighth Of september so
that we caunot reasonably expect that cot
ton will be offering on the market-to any
extent-before from the twenty-eighth to
last of September. Some planters put it
much later, say tenth to twentieth Of Oc-
tober, but we give our own opinion from
average statements.


There are many elements which enter
into and control OF modify the production
of cotton, and which may entirely change
the prospect within a short time. This
much we can say, that if June should
prove dry and hot to the end of the month";
the crop will be very promising one.


The nanures used, SO tar, have had little
effect, but the crop begins to feel them now:
and they will fully develop their usefulness
bef ire the first of July.


TIE JOURNAL has tried ii all cases tC
give such information as will be reliable
add, so far. has made but few mistakes. II
will be" remembered by our readers that
last Fall we gave our own estimates OF the
extent Of the cotton crop in the United
States, having the misfortune, Gas some
thought) at that time, to differ from tho
Agricultural Bureau at Washington City
about 100000 bales. The result las
proved that the JOURNAL. figures wer(
right, almost TO a balel Our readers may
rest assured no effort will be spared TO give
them reliable information about the crops
We have not time to speak now OF grail
and other crops. Unfortunately, as We
think, too little grain is planted This vii
command our attention az another time.