The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-03
THE GROWING COTTON CROP.
REPORTS. OF THE CONDITION OF
THE PLANT IN GEORGIA AND
FLORIDA.


DccrentIc OF About 20 Per Cent. In
the Acreage of Upland Cotton ns
Compared With Last Ycar-An In
crease of 10 Per Cent. in sen
IsIand--Thc Crop About Two
Weeks behind in GrOwth-DnmnEc
by Recent Rains-Wcather Now
Favorable.
Reports from various sections through
out Georgia and Florida show the condi-
ton of the growing cotton, the acreage,
as compared with last year and informa-
ton about the crops.
The situa ton has somewhat improved
since the recent cold weather and rains,
which. in many cases, retarded plant de-
velopment. As a whole the reports show
that the farmers are in firm financial
position, having expended less money in
cotton planting. and devoted more time
to raising corn and hogs.
The following letters have been re-.
ceived from Morning News corrcspon-
dents:
UPLAND COTTON.
Tennille, Washington County, Georgia
From careful inquiry from farmers re-
siding in the southern section of our
county II Is learned that there Is fully %
per cent, less cotton planted than there
was last ear, and this is verified by the
use of fertilizers In this section. The nor
thern half of the county is nearer i'm the
line of last year, say l2la per cent less
| acreage than then.
The weather has not been favorable for
the growth of the plant, though there -
a good stand. The general conditions
cold and rain included, makes the bulk
| of the crop ten or twelve days behind.
The weed Is small, blue and hard hut
with favorable weather at present there
is perceptable change observed
Tillage has been insufficient for a rapid
growth, owing to the weather conditions
that have prevailed for three weeks past
The lands, which have been planted in
cotton from year to year, with no rota-
| ton, are deficient in vegetable matte-,
| and, consequently, have baked since the
heavy rains. and this is not a good con-
ditiOn for this time of the year. Tho
! lack of the usual oat crop to help out the
| feed for pillow stock, is noticeable, and will
| affect the tiliage perceptably within the
month of June as the oat crop cannot
| be supplemented by any forage crop dur
| ing this month
/
| cotton implanted but this year the en-
! tire crop ssplanted.
There is not much complaint of labor
! ers, all being willing to work, even at A
! reduction of wages from 10 to Is per
! GENT. less than last year. But farmers
have been the worst complainers since the
last years crop was marketed. but now
that all are busy, none are in a financial
| straight, they having husbanded their re-
| sources. are in better condition than US
| ual TO tide over the summer season.
| The cotton crop of 1895 will have bee
| produced with less cost if there is an
average crop, than in any previous year
The weather at this time is favorable to
| the growth of cotton with moisture suf
| fcient for a week or two.
Americas, Sumter County, Georgia, June
Careful inquiries among farmers reveal
! the fact that the cotton acreage in this
| section is about 20 per cent. less than last
year. While the reduction in the use Of
commercial fertilizers is much greater.
The Morning News correspondent. in
| talking with two farmers yesterday. asked
| one the relative quantity of guano used
| last year and this year. He reported 5
| tons last year to ! ton this year. The
| other, when asked what per cent he
| had reduced the use Of guano REPLIED.
| make your own calculation; / used Is
| tons last year, and am not using a pound
! cases but it is evidently a fact that the
| general reduction in the use of guano
is considerable. The present condition of
the crop is not encouraging The late
spring and continued wet weather makes
the crop very small for the season. and
In some cases there are poor stands and
in others considerable grass. These con-
ditions are being improved by the pres
ent spell of hot weather. which enables
farmers to clean out the grass and also
kills the lice.
Paschal. Talbot County Georgia. June
1.-The cotton acreage Of this section is %
per cent. off is compared with last wear
The season is about ten days later than
the last, and the progress made by the
crop has been under adverse circum-
stances from the beginning. The temner-
allure has been too low, especially at night
until within the past week. The plant ia
smaller than usual, for this time. Tba
stands are fair, except on sandy lands:
on these much of the cotton is dead ChoD-
ping Will be finished by June Is. Weather
conditions are now very favorable. and
should they continue a marked inprova-
ment may be expected in the next fort
night.
Abbeville, Wilcox county. Ca, June l.
The cotton acreage of this county has been
reduced 80 per cent this year, and the pur-
chases of commercial fertilizers have been
reduced at least 30 per cent. Owing to the
lateness of the season, cotton is small.
and ten days to two weeks behind The
recent cool weather and copious rains
have been injurious to the crop. However
the fair warm weather of the past few
days has greatly improved it,
Davisboro, Washington County. Ga.
June 1.-The recent warm weather has
caused decided improvement in the con-
dition of the growing crops of this sec
ton, and, although, they are considered
ten days behind as compared with last
year, corn looks remarkably we'll and has
an increased acreage over last year The
cool Fights, which continued throughout
::s.ie month, checked the growth Of the cot