The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-17
A SMALL ACREAGE.
a HEAVY FALLING OFF IN SEA
ISLAND PRODUCTION.


Advices from Planters Indicate q
Short Crop Both In Long and Short
Staple-The Decline Of Sea Islands In
Florida and South Csrolina-The Re-
ports From the Southern Tier Coun-
ties OF Georgla-The Drop Outlook
Generally.
Planters in Georgia South Carolina and
Florida have been busily engaged during
the past few weeks preparing their lands for
planting cotton for the next crop. They
viii begin planting next month in Florida
and In Georgia and South Carolina the lat
ter part Of March and early in April, and
will finish by the end Of the month.
Advices now being received by factors
from planters Of sea island cotton indicate
there will be much smaller acreage planted
In long staple cotton than was planted last
season. This will beyond question be the
case in South Georgia and Florida, as al
ready considerable portion Of the acreage
which was planted last season in sea island
is now being planted with corn.
CAUSE OF THE LIGHT PLANTING.
There are several reasons given for this
by planters As one planter expressed 1t,
the death song of sea island cotton has been
sung in his section, caused by the depressed
condition OF the cotton market and partio-
ularly sea islands, and the low prices which
have prevailed in the last two years, by
which the planters have come to reallzs the
effect OF large acreage in long staple.
Their experience seemingly has been a les
son TO them. More than third Of the crop,
or some 10000 bags, still remains unsold at
!, er1k-
not expected to go over AZ, 900 bags. With
such large AMOUNT of cotton
carried over planters seem to
recognize the fact that there
is really no reason in producing a large
crop to be disposed of at less than the cost
of its production. In other words any in
crease in the production means 12-cent cot
ton ana sea island cannot be made at that
figure.
PLANTERS SHORT OF SEED.
Another peculiar situation in which
many planters find themselves at this time,
and which is rather embarrassing, is that
they are without seed Last fall many Of
them obtained such good prices for their
seed, S24 per ton, that they disposed OF all
they had to the mills and now are without
seed and cannot get it.
Another reason for abandoning the heavy
planting of sea islands is that planters have
for their needs. The manufacturers of
fertilizers as we'll az the planters have
realized the effect Of too much cotton and
have not manufactured as heavily
as they have in former seasons.
1t is a well known fact too, that planters
are unable to obtain advances freely, so
that with cheap cotton they will not be SO
well prepared to pay big fertilizer bill
next fall
THE DECLINE OF THE CROP.
The production OF sea islands in Florida
has been steadily falling off and there is tar
less attention paid to the crop than for
merly. In South Carolina it has been al
most abandoned aud Georgia has been left
co produce the great bulk of the crop for
several years. This year, however, Georgia
will follow in the wake of her sisters and
produce much less. At least this seems to be
| understood by advices from the whole tier of
| southern counties. The present crop is much
smaller than those Of the two previous
| years for the reason that there was very
| much less fertilizer used. At the same
| time the acreage was smaller on account
of the unusually low figure at which the
last crop was sold.
A LESSON TO PLANTERS.
| 10 has required just such lesson to teach
the planter OF sea island and to curb his
passion for planting nothing but cotton
| EV en- now some are In arrears Tor f0rtili ZeFs
used last spring. They are. however, turn
Ing their attention more every year to rails
ing corn and hogs. They have learned dur
| ing the past few months that high-priced
| hogs and grain and iow-priced cotton does
not work satisfactory balance. The be-
lief prevailed in Europe that cotton plant
ers were making extraordinary efforts
to plant larger acreage than ever before
by reason Of the great demand for fertilizers
and bagging.
THE TEXAS CROP.
| That this is true In some sections of the
cotton belt seems apparent, especially in
| Texas, where cotton is raised very cheeply.
This does not hold good. however, in the
| sea island sections, where the cost of pro-
| duction is much greater, and as conse-
| quence planters are putting in much less
| acreage in sea island. In fact, less than the
season just passed.
Sea island buyers have been entertaining
the belief that the next crop would APP
| proximate $4,000 bags In fact, some claiIn
that it will go to 100000 bags or there
| abouts, and this belief is entertained among
the spinners in England. They are con
graduating themselves on the prospect, as
they see it, Of plenty of cheap cotton next
fall How nearly correct they are remains
to be seen. Unless all signs fail they will
find themselves wide Of the mark.
Railroad employees all believe in DR.. Bulls