This page intended to explain what a good "crop" was:

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Translation:

Crop

A good crop means one that is good taking into consideration every thing - negroes, land, mules, stock, fences, ditches, farming utensils, etc., etc., all of which must be kept up & improved in value. The effort therefore must not be merely to make so many cotton bales or such an amount of other produce, but as much as can be made without interrupting the steady increase in value of the rest of the property.

Remarks - There should be an increase in number & improvement in condition & value of negroes; abundant provisions of all sorts for everything made on the place, carefully saved & properly housed; and improvement in the productive qualities of the land, & general condition of the plantation; mules, stock, fences & farming utensils in fine order at the close of the year; as much produce as could possibly be made under these circumstances, ready for market in good season, and of prime quality.

Taken from James Henry Hammond's "Plantation Books, 1832-1858" c/o Library of Congress Manuscript Division.