The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-04-23
THE COTTON OUTLOOK.

Reports Received from All Parts Of the
southern States Concerning the Cotton
Acreage-A Reduction of at Least sixteen
Per Cent.-Planting from One to Three
Weeks Late, Owing to the Wet and Cold
Weather.
ST. Louis. April 10,-The Globe-Demo-
crat prints the following synopsis of the
reports of its correspondents in the cot
ton states in relation to the acreage for
the year, planting. etc.:
On the I'D day Of February was printed re-
PORTS from correspondents In the southern
states in regard to the probable decrease In cot
ton acreage this season. At that time nothing
more than an estimate could be made, but from
the information th,n obtainable from promi-
nent planters 1t appeared to be certain that the
reduction in acreage As compared with last
year would be at least Is per cent. taking the
cotton territory a whole. To-day we again
print reports from our correspondents In
the south. April Is the month for plant
ing. and this work has so far progressed that It
was found possible to ascertain the reduction In
.creage with some degree OF exactness and the
reports show that the estimate Of last February
was vsry nearly correct, there being differ
ence Of per cent only between the estimates
tased on the reports published herewith and
the estimates Of two months ago. To-day's re-
ports come from many different points and
cover every cotton growing state Of i'm
Iortance in the south They were sent
In response to q circular dated April I. IN
structing the correspondents to obtain from
planters such facts and figures As would enable
them to make q reliable estimate Of the acreage
In their respective territories as compared with
last year. Taking the returns for all the states
there seems TO be no doubt that there VIII be an
average reduction Of At least 10 per cent This
is q conservative estimate. In Texas the esti-
mates Of decrease range all the way from to 10
per cent. In Hill county, however, there will
he IN increase Of 10 per cent. and q small IN
crease In the territory tributary 10 Houston
covering some siX or seven counties. In the
San Marcos district there Is a reduction
Of Is per cent in old land, but sufficient
new land has been broken and planted
in cotton TO Offset this reduction. Jefferson re-
rorts that the acreage will be about the same
as last year. In the country surrounding Abb
line the decrease in acreage It Is stated. will be
fully 40 per cent. and in the Honey Grove dis
trict % per cent. These are the extremes. The
average decrease for the state 10 1922 per cent.
In Arkansas the average decrease Is larRer-z&
Der cent. There are no reports OF increased
acresge. and but two-Little Rock and Forrest
City-wbich place the acreage the same as In
ls9l Helena reports q reduction Of 10
per cent. Fort Smith Of Is per cent. and
Malvern and Paragould Of 80 per cent. In the
Pine Bluff district, probably the most impor-
tant In the state. the acreage has been reduced
IS per cent. In northwestern Mississippi there
will be no appreciable reduction, but In other
parts Of the state the acreage viii be reduced
from is to 50 per cent. the average for the state
being II per cent. In Green county II is said to
be doubtful II q single bale will be
raised. The reduction in acreage in Ala
bama and Georgia win be less-not over
10 per cent. In Tennesses the acre
age Is about tina same ss last year, and In South
Carolina there is a reduction Of Is per cent.
North Carolina shows the largest average de-
crease-33ls per ceut--and the correspondentl
estimate Is confirmed by the commissioner OF
lana Is about 10 per cent. Corn and small grain
in all the states will grow where tho cotton
grew last year. Owing to the late spring plant
ing Is frum one to three weeks late, except in
few specially favored sections