The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-04
SEA ISLANDS FALLING OFF.
A DECREASE OF 20 PER CENT IN
THE LONG STAPLE COTTON CROP.

The Growing Crop "A Month Late.
Cool Nights and Dry weather Have
Retarded Its GrOwth-The Acreage
20 Per Cent. Less This Year Than
Last in Georgia and Florida ana
10 Per Cent. Less in Carolina.
There is much speculation as to the out
come of the coming crop of sea island cot
ton Various operators in long staple es-
innate that the next crop will be 10 to 80
per cent. less than the crop Of 1861. The
conditions as viewed by the most con-
sentative cotton men place the decrease at
about 20 per cent.
The crop of 1867 is the largest on re-
cord, and as prices have ruled low, it is
supposed that planters will not raise as
much during the coming season.
The growing crop is about month be-
hind. The weather conditions during the
last four weeks have been unfavorable.
Cool nights and the dry weather have re-
tarded the growth and cut worms have
gotten in their work on the young plant
The stands in some sections are poor.
The statement of the movement of sea
island cotton compiled by Mr.. L. Gourdin
Young of this city, shows that the entire
receipts, including Savannah Charleston
Port Royal, Brunswick, Fernandina and
Jacksonville, has been 101 COL bags, for the
nine months, including Sept l, 1896, to
June l, 1897, against 92,029 bags for the
same period in 1885, showing an increase
Of 9,572 bags in favor of the present year
The exports from all ports have been 49,
ba ms
increase of 4, 424 in favor of this year. The
statement shows that the exports to
Great Britain have been 1873 bags,
against 42,540 bags last year, an increase
OF 500 bags; to the continent, II OIL bags.
against 6,919 bags last year. an increase of
APP bags. Northern mills have not taken
as much sea island cotton this season as
they did last, the exports being $500 bags,
against S967 bags last year, a decrease of
2,S7 bags. The stock on hand at Charles
ton is 1,SO6 bags, and at Savannah, 9,1O9
bags a total of 1895 This is the largest
stock ever on hand at this season of the
year.
In speaking dfthe sea. island crop yester-
day, Mr.. Young said: 'The acreage plant
ed this year is probably 20 per cent less
Aldu last year, III GeOTSla ana Florida,
while in Carolina it Is about 10 per cent
less. In Texas. the culture of sea island
Is virtually abandoned. The growing crop
in Carolina is in fairly good condition, but
in Georgia and Florida 1t is three to four
weeks backward, and in many sections the
stands are not good. The dry weather Of
the last three gveeks has enabled planters
TO keep their fields free from grass, and
the plant having taken root, can, if the
seasons be propftious, recover some of the
lost ground. Rain is much needed, and if
II does not come soon the plant will suf-
fer From what has been reported, a crop
so large as the last would appear to be
impossible, and it may be a great deal less.
THE Texas crop this year is about $500
bags, of which there has been no accu-
rate account kept" said Mr.. Young; "of
the Texas crop, about 1,60O bags has been
shipped to Europe, 800 bags to northern
mills and So bags to Charleston, and the
rest remains in stock. If TO the crop SO 4
far accounted for viz; 1016O1 bags, $500
bags be added for Texas, equal 1O4 1O1
bags, the total for the entire crop will
not be less than 10000 bags. the like of
which has not been thought of before.
and which will not be seen again until
the consumption approaches more nearly
the production.
While 1t has been proven of late years
there is scarcely a limit to the area of
land on which the sea island seed will
produce good cotton, it will not be planted
unless its product meets with prompt, as
well as remunerative sale. Farmers can
now sell their upland cotton for cash, al
most at their doors, whereas sea islands
have to find a market, and sometimes. as
now, be almost unstable"