Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-30
THE COTTON CROP.


Within the past six weeks there has
been a decided change for the worse in
the condition OF the crop. Up 20 the mid
die OF August quite a large area OF the
cotton belt east OF the Mississippi river
gave promise of a fairly good yield. In
some sections Of this state planters an
ticipated an extraordinary yield. But cot
ten Il plant which never indicates den
nitely what Il win do until the hollis ma
ture. open and the staple Is ready for
harvest. Unfavorable climatic conditions
win paralyEe and ruin a good prospect
within the short space Of ten days.
And 50 II has been during the closing
days. OF the recently passed summer. The
fields which had been early planted and
well worked took on a very good crop
during the month OF July. which has been
retained. The August crop has from va
rious causes disappeared until now but
few fields show any top crop at all Too
much rain in some section, too little in
others. and the damaging effects Of the
boil worm, boil rot and other insects
have worked untold damage and loss 70
the crop up 10 the present time.
The great Mississippi or cotton
area west OF the Mississippi has shared
q worse fate than the crop in the old
states on account OF long continued
drouth during the growing season When.
IN Texas. the rains finally came, they
we're too late to be OF material benefit.
but rather injured the crop instead OF
lettering t. Thousands OF acres Of land
planted In cotton were converted into hay
fields on account OF scarcity OF labor 10
keep back the grass. and ] have seen
many large fields OF cotton which would
not produce one bale 20 ten acres. and
that IN some Of the best cotton territory
Of this state.
The Anticipated Yield.
II Is OF course impossible thus early IN
the season 70 formulate any definite idea
as 10 the exact yield this season.. We can,
BY comparison OF existing conditions with
those OF previous years. based on the
same acreage. form a fairly good opinion
as 20 what the crop viii yield in the
aggreEate or at least come within the
neighborhood OF It. There has been a
considerable increase in the acreage this
year. but Il has been largely discounted
In that a proportion Of the crop was
thrown out after being planted and the
late cotton planted after what. In Texas.
failed to mature on account OF dry
weather. The Texas farmers seem firmly
convinced that the crop Of that state. in
GLIDING Indian Territory and Oklahoma.
viii fall short this year 10000 bales as
compared with the big crop harvested In
those states last year. Indeed. many far
mers who grow cotton In some OF the best
are already through gathering and have
turned their cattle in the fields. The re-
port OF a short crop Is so general and
Widespread all over that section that there |
can he no question OF the present short |
yield anticipated. In Arkansas the crop |
Is decidedly inferior TO that OF last year
and the output Of the staple viii be cor
respORdingly small.
New, with an indicated heavy shortage
west OF Mississippi the crop In the old
states must be looked TO 10 make up the
deficiency in order to harvest a crop the
size OF last year. which amounted in
round numbers to To- 600 bales. Will
the old states make as much as they did
last year and I'm addition thereto the es-
timated Texas shortage2 Except I'm a tier
Of counties IN the northern part OF the
state can hear OF no section in Georgia |
which now has prospects for a better
yield than the season OF 1soo- On the con- !
trary. we have had nothing but COM
plants during the past four weeks and
now nearly all sections report the antlci- |
pated yield short. The state OF Georgia |
had brighter prospects up 10 the first OF
August than any OF the old states except |
Mississippi. The same conditions which |
have so materially injured our crop have
prevailed In the other states. hence a
general reduction all along the line has
occurred within the past six weeks. From |
BY correspondence the reports In the daily |
papers and my observation OF the crop IN |
various sections do not see how it Is
possible 70 make more cotton than we
did last year in the old states. Certainly |
we cannot make up the deficiency now re-
ported from the territory west OF the
Mississippi
Price Of Cotton.
The monthly report issued by the Cotton |
prnfarffva Association ~ 4
on September 5th estimated the yield at |
e.s77.0 600 balesa by giving the states east |
OF the Mississippi an increase OF 5 per
cent over the yield OF last year. A re-
cent detailed report sent out from New |
York statistician. who claims TO have |
made a careful estimate. based on a large |
number OF reports received from all sec
tions Of the cotton belt. figures the yield /
for this season 20 be not larger than
$4,000 bales. Mr.. Ellison. the cotton sta /
tistician for the European spinners. re-
Gently issued a statement In which he |
declared that the world would require /
II 90. 900 bales Of American cotton for con- |
sumption during the next twelve months. |
II IL q well known fact that but little or |
no surplus Of last years crop viii be |
carried over. II having all been consumed
by the mills. and the spinners must now
depend upon the present crop for the sup
ply which Mr.. Ellison says they will re-
quire TO meet consumption during the
next twelve months. or until another crop
can be planted. cultivated and harvested !
IL our crop should yield 1000. 600 bales this
season We would stfll fan short Of last ,
years crop several hundred thousand /
bales and loo 0ce bales short Of anticIuat- !
ed demand. we received i0c per pound for
a larger crop last year than we are likely
% make this year. The trade with China
has been Resumed and the dry goods trade