Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-05
SHRUNK.
Only HaIfa Cotton Crop
for Texas
COMMISSIONER OF aGRIcuLrunis
MAKES REPORT.
HOLD THE COTTON
IS THE ADVICE GIVEN by the
COMMISSIONER TO THE
FARMERS.
He Believes Tint the Market Price
WIN Rise SIM Higher in
/, ghorf IIfae.
HOLD THE COTTON

Austin. Tex, Oct. 4.-(special)-
commissioners OF agriculture. 1t viii
be remembered. sent out on August 81
last Information showing that the de-
crease In the acreage Of cotton planted
this year in Texas justified the belief
that the present crop would be at
least q per cent below that OF last
year. and probably greater. The opln-
ions entertained by the cOmmmlssioner
at the time was that unless a decided
change for the in seasons and cons
lions should speedily enHue. the rsduc-
ton OF the crop would be materially
increased. In a statement prepared
for the press this afternoon. the COM
missioner says that since that time
radical change has occurred. but Instead
OF improving the prospects as TO pro-
duction. 1t mas greatly diminished them
and 1t ls now evident that the cotton
crop OF 1895 will be decreased to
much greater degree than his appre-
henslon then prescged
The continual druuth from Middle
Texas 10 the coast, ana the ravases OF
The boil and leaf worms In the North
ern portion OF the state have so serious
~ arrested the Development and re-
duced the fruitage OF the plant that he
says he Is compelled To believe, and
feels &c his duty TO say, that the pres
ent crop OF Texas viii not exceed %
per cent Of that OF last year, or a To-
tai production Of about 100000 bales
and he seriously doubts that It Will
reach that amount Under this cOHdi-
ti1n. he earnestly advises the farmers
10 market their cotton slowly, which.
In his judgment, IS always the safe
est plan. II. he says. as Ia now re-
ported. the crop Of 1894 j. now exhaust
ed. there vs. now reason why this one
should not command and realize more
than ~ cents per pound BY the first
day Of January next. Nearly all Of the
cotton has already opened, he says.
and from the middle o. tho slate
southwark. VIII soon all be gathered.
When the present rise Ia price reach
ed the S cent mark many oil our farm
ers made great rush 70 market their
cotton. and SPECTATORS have taken adj
vantage OF this and are en1eavUring
10 use this increased amount OF unt-
ton thrown suddenly upon the market
as proof OF an Increase OF production
beyond what had been supposed, and
the eagerness Of the farmers to sell at
$ cents as a cause and reason for re-
duglng the price
lis present estimate Is based upon
numerous reports made by practical
farmers Ia response 10 inquiries sent
out by this department. and the re-
ports fairly represent all sections OF the
state being well distributed from Red
River ~ the coast, and from the Su-
blue to the eNtrpme cotton growing
counties on the West They present
falrle ana well the true conditions. he
maintains. and from his own obserya-
tions and from personal interviews
with citizens and farmers during a re-
rent journey through a considerable
portion Of the state he says he rs pre-
pared To AEroe fully with them. In
conclusion he says from information
received from other states he Is con-
ylnced that the total cotton production
~ this country In 1895 viii not be more
.huu 100000 bales