Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-08-19
THE COTTON OUTLOOK
An Analysis of the Condition and
Possibilities of the Growing
CrOD.

Crop.
The August number of Textile
America has an article on .sThe
Cotton Outlook by Mr.. Alfred
B. Shepperson, the most famous
cotton expert of the country.
Whatever Mr.. Shepperson says
about cotton is read with interest
and his present letter gives an
analysis of the condition and pos
sibilities of the growing crop. He
remarks that August is the criti
cal period of the cotton crop; that
earlier drawbacks can often be
overcome by favorable conditions
in August, but if the crop is ma
terially injured in August the loss
cannot be recovered unless frosts
are much later than usual. The
weather conditions in August,
therefore, affect the market very
decidedly. AS to the prospects of
the crop, Mr.. Shepperson says:
"While the growing crop had a
late start, it is now generally in
a good condition, and making very
favorable progress. AS a rule,
the plants are not large, but they
are healthy and we'll fruited. At
this time last year the plants were
generally large and sappy, and in
just the condition to be seriously
damaged by the drought which, as
we all know, reduced the promised
yield fully a million and a half
bales. The present conditions are
just the reverse, as the plants,
though small, are tough, vigorous
and we'll rooted, and in good shape
to stand moderate drought with
cut serious injury.
"While rain would be beneficial
in some sections of Texas and the
dry weather prevailing in these
districts has caused some shedding,
it must be remembered that there
is always more or less shedding.
In point of fact the crop generally
seems to be doing very well, and
the complaints which come to me
are less than usual from Texas.
sThe acreage in cotton Is larger
than last season, the government
report of June 10th estimating the
increase as 81 per cent. The ac-
tual increase, however, is probably
5 to Z per Get. as it is we'll known
that the estimates of the depart
ment of agriculture in respect to
acreage are usually too low, There
has been a large increase in the
use of fertilizers, and the crop has
been we'll cultivated. With a
greater acreage, larger use of
fertilizers, ample labor, well cul-
tivatsd fields, and the plants as a
rule in good healthy condition, ii
crop fully equal to the legitimate
demands of American and Euro
pean spinners may reasonably be
expected, unless the weather con-
ditions during August should be
decidedly unfavorable. y
| The present visible supply of
fcotton is smaller than that of any
corr esponding period since 1890,
when it was about 1000, 900
bales. 1t Is 275, 900 bales more
than in 1929, and 20O,0 bales
more than in 1888.
i The stock of liverpool is about
Is, 900 bales more than it was a
year ago, but the combined stocks
of all European markets, including
Liverpool, are about 81, 600 bales
less.
| Stocks in United States markets
are about 1Os, 600 bales less than
last year. The stocks held by
lAmerican mills are much smaller
than they were a year ago, and
1 the stocks of European mills are
also somewhat less. Their small
stocks of cotton have caused q
number of mills, both North and
/ South, to run on short time, and
several of the largest New England
mills have suspended operation for
the present.
/ 1t is not probable that our mills
generally will be running on full
time until September 1st, when
receipts from the new crop will
| hooin fo oorno m