The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-11-14
TBE TOP CROP GENE.
The FreeZ, and Frost Last Week Flu
ished It.

The Augusta Chronicle says what
effect the cold snap will have on the
top crop of cotton was the paramount
issue in this part Of the world Friday.
This top crop has been the subj ct OF
much speculation of recent weeks and
and al sorts # estimates as to what it
would amount 80 have been INDUCED
in quite lavlshly by those who watch
the fluctuations Of the market with
anxious care.
The farmers who grow the cotton
have been unanimous in the opinion
that the top crop would amount to very
little. 1t has been case OF the spiu
ner hoping for big top crop in order
to reduce the price and the farmer en-
deavoring to mirim re the top crop ID
order to keep up the price. Which one
has succeeded is yet to be lear0ed by
the development Of the crop IN ques-
ton.
There is one thing certain about the
freeze and frost of Thursday night and
that is that it has caused the fu-
ture growth of cotton to sec its finish
in plain unmistasable te1mS. What
cotton has reached certain stage Of
maturity, it is thought, will not be in.
jared If the weather continues dry and
cold. The effect Of such weather con.
di,ions is to make the partly maturcd
boils dry up I'D crack open, furnish
ing some cottou that will be Torth the
picking. But there is an end to all
cotton that was too young to have this
effect produced upon it.
Il vas expected Friday mcrning
that the price Of cotton would 60 up on
account of the freeze and the frost,
but such was not the case. The price
remained the same as the day before
Many samples Of the top crop were
brought to tie city Fndsy and IN
some cases the etfsot had been very
disastrous 70 the bales. Inside the
bolls were a complete musn, which
must certainly result in rottenress.
The Manufacturers Review figuring on
the cotton situation says: "A bale IL
weight has become two days in value,
for bale that once brought S20 is now
worth at least $50. The small farmer
who planted and cultivated ten acres,
hoping to get fr5m the heecy product
enough money to pay the merchant,
the tsz gstherer, and the doctor, finds
surplus in his pocket equal to ali he
had expected. When this is applied
TO the cotton belt, it means over $500,
600. 1t means at anyrate.a a clear sur
Plus Of 500, 900, 900.
Such surplus is as gratifying as it
is sudden. The worlds nakedness and
uuch uDfavorsb!e weather did it, al
though ,he truth is, the wcrld is COM
Ing 10 want more cotton than can be
picked cut.
But We need not stop to consider the
worlds apply. We have to deal with
500 000,O00 of surplus cotton mon.
ey. This cotton money does not go
this year Wholly inte the pockets Of
the micdl"m:p, but in great part it
njli te tl4c.d where it belongs, in
the pockets Of tic producers. Il
will fiji the cotton belt with
prosper ty rud Happiness 1t will fill
svuthcvo shops ald fsciories and stores
xith orders, aad il will rus oa foot
mary lew enterprises. TIE farmer
viii suH scr D. for cotton mill shares, or
irvc-t in new n"ighbooyt ODD bank, or
bald .rist Kill, or better hame
for his family, or plan some other i'm
pr vemeet that Will be fc1i fal "! e:
ten cen, ecttca does net bless AID
br.s b er the land. The Year is to be a
rro.p: rous and happy year that ruch
VIC knvs, aud that is quite enough 70
know at present.