THE COTTON TRADE. 237 



sidering tlie supply and demand of the -coming year, we must, 

 therefore, base all our estimates on high prices. The receipts 

 from India and Brazil, and the consumption, in Europe and 

 America, will all be affected by this fact. If the advance Avere 

 slight, it would not experience any sensible check ; but when 

 the price has risen to its present rate, (13|- cents for middling 

 fair, Savannah, October 23d,) an advance of 85 per cent, over 

 the average of the last five years, the amount purchased even 

 in our country may be expected to decline. The supply for 

 1851 will probably exceed that of 1850, not only from the 

 United States, but from India and Brazil. 



The past season here has been unfavorable for the growth 

 of cotton ; but its disasters, especially in the West, have not 

 been as severe as in the preceding year. In South Carolina 

 and Georgia, there will be a decided -decline. The late cold 

 spring, and the long drought in June and July, left the plants 

 small, and the bolls few and scattering. The severe storm on 

 the 24th of August blew out on the ground much open cotton, 

 and prostrated and twisted the stalks so much, that there has 

 been no late crop of forms to mature in October. September 

 was a beautiful season for gathering, and so was much of 

 October. There are some plantations where the crop is very 

 fine. The hot summer favored a rapid growth, and repaired, 

 in part, the injury done by a late spring. The general drought 

 was, at some places, relieved by local showers, which brought 

 out some superior crops. The amount of land planted was 

 greater than ever. The receipts at Charleston and Savannah 

 will also be increased by the extension of the Georgia Rail- 

 road to the Tennessee river. Were it not for this last cause, a 

 falling off of 100,000 bales might be anticipated. With this, 

 the deficiency will not probably exceed 70,000 or 80,000 ; and 

 the receipts of these two ports may be expected to reach 

 650,000 bales. From Alabama, the reports have not been so 



