The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-31
CROPS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE ON
THE OUTLOOK IN GEORGIA.


THE OUTLOOK IN GEORGIA.
He VIII submit His Report on Cotton
Crop to the Raleigh Convention
Next NOnth-War With China He
Does Not Think VIII Seriously
Affect Market for Cotton and Its
Manufactured Products-WiH At
tend state horticultural society
Meeting at Dublin This Week.
Commissioner of Agriculture o. b. Stew
ems reached Savannah yesterday by the
Kansas City from New York efter two
weeks spent in the North, principally in
New York. Philadelphia and Washington.
The trip down the coast was the first
Commissioner Stevens had ever taken at
sea
When asked about the cotton crop Of
Abe state, Commissioner Stevens said that
having been away from home for two
weeks he could not say just how 1t is.
but when he started on his trip it was
in very COED condition and bade fair to
turn out about ten and a half million
bales During his trip there have been no
OGClu6u NndDEeS IVA NiiC 'NafNN- -
other circumstance of which he was
aware that would materially affect the
crop or cause him to change his estimate
as to the probable yield.
Commissioner Stevens will have ready
his report of the cotton crop by Aug. zS,
when it will be read at Raleigh, ~. c.. at
the semIi-annual meeting OF the commits
siopers of the eleven cotton growing
states. of which Mr. Stevens is president.
The report will then be printed. end Will
be ready for general distribution about
Sept L Referring to this meeting OF the
Commissioners, Mr.. Stevens said II viii
be one OF the most important that has
been held. as through his EFFORTS each
commissioned of cotton SfoFSrB state
will make a tabulated statement showing
the number of acres of cotton planted In
his state Mhe amount and kind of ferti-
lizers used. and the average cost of raising
the crop. Such a table has never been
made before and will prove of ines Unable
value to all persons interested in the pro-
duction, MAJ lufacture or sale of the sta
pie.
How close a watch is kept on this and
other crops of his own state by the COM
missioner is shown by the fact that in
the 1877 coun Yes of the state there are l,200
correspondents making frequent reports.
The prospe ctive war with China. Com
missioner Stevens thinks, will have lit
tie if any eft ect, on the price of cotton,
or it's manu- actured fabric. The mills
Of the country he thinks, will take at
a good price al of the cotton that is mar
keted and their output will in turn ind
a ready ma rxet, for though China may
be at war, she will need as much cot
ton goods at; ever, and possibly more.
The commits sioner also spoke encourage
ing of the other crops of the state, par
ticularly So of wheat, which he said is
now more PLAN ed than it has been since
the war, and which is proving to the far
mers quite a profitable CROP. Sugar
cane, also he SAYS, has materially in
CT eased in acreage, and bids' fair to be-
come even more popular with farmers
The only thing that is needed 20 make
this one of the most important crops in
the state, he said is the reali satFon of its
value by the planters, and the introduc-
tion of improved machinery fer the max
ing of sugar He is convinced, he says.
by his trip to louisiana last year, that
Georgia cane contains more smgar max
ing material than does the Louisiana
product. and that all that is needed to
make II possible for this state TO compete
with Louisiana as a producer OF sugar.
is the increased acreage OF cane, and the
proper mills for making the syrup and
sugar. Conditions favorable to the de-
VelOpment OF the INDUSTRY. ne says, are
gradually being brought about, and in
Southwest Georgia. many small mills are
being put APP for grinding and converting
into sugar shis years crop.
Referring TO the recent comparative fail
ure of the states peach and watermelon
crops as money makers for the growers.
the commissioned accounted for 1t on the
grounds THAI both fruits, at about the
time of ma turity, were subjected to so
much rain that they were too watery 70
stand the transportation necessary get
them to the Northern markets. and con-
sequently brought lower prices than would
otherwise have been the case.
Mr.. Stevens, though he spent much of
his time in New York says that he spent
no time in looking into national politics.
He was more interested in the industrial
questions. The business outlook, he says
ne has never seen better. trade is good
all over the country. money is easy and
everything points to a most prosperous
year.
Mr.. Stevens will spend a day in the city
and tonight in company with Mai. G..
NJ Ryals will leave for Dublin to attend
the meeting of the Georgia State Horti-
cultural Society which meets there to-mor-
row.