The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-18
THE COTTON ACREAGE.
TIE INCREASE NOT TOO GREAT
FOR TIE EXPECTED DEMAND.


FOR THE Expected DEMAND.
The Status Of the Crop as Indicated by
Reports Received From the Cotton
Regions by Savannah Merchants.
The Crop Expected to Be a Medium
Between Those of 81 and 'e2-A
Small Increase il the. Acreage Of
Long Sraple-Facts Which Are Liza
BILE to Increase the Demand.
The reports from the cotton region re-
ceived by cotton men here contain some
very interesting information, which, while
it can not be definite at this early date, gives
rather a general idea Of the present status Of
the crop and furnishes basis on which to
figure out a prospect, with some degree, at
least, Of exactuess.
The general Impression which is being
conveyed on oil hands that there is a largely
increased acreage is probably the outcome
of an attempt 20 bear the market, but there
are counter balancing circumstances which
may in the end defeat the efforts Of the
bears.
According 10 the report of the state agri-
cultural department there is an increase OF
about 10 per cent in Georgie's acreage, and
there Is likely to be q very little more
planted. Georgia may well be taken as an
average for the southern states, with the
possible exception Of Texas, as her
farmers are, as a rule, conservative
and consult their interests before acting
hastily. In Texas it is said that the crop is
liable to be considerably larger than was
the crop of last year in that state, so, all
around, it Is safe to count on an Increase OF
about u per cent. throughout the entire
cotton growing section.
ABOUT SEA ISLAND COTTON.
The increase in the acreage of sea island
cotton, as shown by letters from various
sections Of Georgia, South Carolina and
Florida, has not been 30 large.
The see island cotton was in the ground
this year nearly two weeks earlier than is
usual, and the bulE Of the crop has already
been planted The reason Of the early start
was that planters have heretofore been
suffering from drought when the seed was
put out late. The Florida crop was ell
planted some days ago, according TO the res
ports received, and most of the Georgia
crop is now in the ground. So early was
| the long staple cotton planted this year that
q great deal of il south Of here was above
the ground by March 10, aud some of the
stands now are considerably advanced.
Tho reports in regard to the acreage vary.
Some sections report an increase, some
decrease, while some say the crop is about
| the same. A general summary of the re-
ports indicates that there has been little if
any increase in the long staple product In
South Carolina, an increase Of o to ~ per
cent. in Georgia and an increase OF about
5 per cont In Florida.
THE UPLAND PLANT.
The upland cotton is in many places above
the ground but is not far enough advanced
to base any crop prospectus upon it. One
setback, of which part OF the crop is III
danger, arises from tue fact that the price
OF cotton seed was so high this year that al
most all the farmers sold all Of their seed,
buying fertilizers and new seed for sowing
this spring. The consequence is that If Il
cold snap should injure part of the crop, or
if the stands should not turn out good, the
farmers would, in many instances, be
minus the seed with which TO replace them.
The fact Of a somewhat increased acreage,
and further that the recent rains in Texas,
and the adjacent cotton territory have
made it probable that the Texas crop will
pan ont, have PROBABLY been responsible.
say the cotton men for the recent decline in
the price, which, as Is well known, has been
nearly cent per pound during the last
week or ten days.
THE CROP NOT TOO LARGE.
It will be readily seen, however, that the
increase is not enough to seriously affect the
market during the coming season. 1t is
pretty well known among cotton men and
generally admitted that while the crop this
year will he larger than that of 1892. 1t will
| not run up as high as did that of 1891. Now
last year the supply fell short, and the year
before the market was overstocked. So it Is
probable after all that this year will bring
forth a mean between the crops Of the last
two seasons, and as the demand from various
causes is liable to be increased, fair and
prosperous season all around is anticipated.
Among other things that are liable to in
crease the demand this year, it may be
noted that the uses to which the staple is
being put are increasing every year, as
we'll as the fact that all substitutes for cot
ton are playing out. Then too, it may be
noted that the cotton at Liverpool mas
almost all been bought up, and there is very
| little there to be disposed Of, which, it will
be remembered, was not the case at the
| opening Of tho season of 1892. All these
facts, and others which might be enumer-
| ated, go to indicate that larger crop will
be needed to supply the demand.
| Every body is expecting an early crop
| this year. aud the exporters are leaving
early that they may return when the crop
first begins TO be marketed.