The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-01
NEXT CROP.


Messrs. ]. NJ Aver & Co.. members of
the New York Cotton Exchange, in a
/ special report published on March 25th,
say:
| While there is yet some discussion as
| to the yield of the cotton crop for the
season 1912, we have left that subject
to settle itself You have perhaps noted
in our preceding circulars, that our
opinion is that the crop will not greatly
exceed 100000 bales.
Recently we issued circular letter of
inquiry to our correspondents throughout
the cotton belt. This circular contained
| the following question:
l. Do conditions and prospects Indicate
an increase or decrease in cotton acre
! age in your section and what per cent
either way?
g Will there be an increase or decrease
in amount of fertilizers purchased? What
per cent either way?
3. Is there any grain shortage of any
consequence in your locality, and will the
grain acreage be increased this year to
any appreciate extent?
Up to March goth, we have received $50
replies from 4S4 different towns, repre-
senting 343 counties in nine States. A
, tabulation of these advices indicate the
following:
An average decrease in cotton acreage
from 1901, of 6 per cent
An average decrease in purchaseNOf fer
tilizers from 1901 of 10 per cent.
An average increase of grain acreage
over 1901, of 8 per cent
In addition to the advces above, we
have 25 communications, the writer's of
which either overlooked giving post
office address or sending their names, in
dicating similar percentages.
We have also taken note of various
communications, published by the COM
mercial journals, from the cotton belt.
OF these we have recorded from Ala
bama, from Arkansas, from Georgia,
2 from Louisiana, from Mississippi, II
from North Carolina, Is from South
Carolina, 20 from Texas and from In
dian Territory. These communications
arein line with our direct advices, CIV
ing, if anything, greater percentages,
particularly in the matter of reduction in
cotton acreage and increase in grain acre
age.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the in
formation we are offering, is based on
direct and indirect advices from 7S7 cor
respondents.
1t is not our purpose in this circular to
make an estimate, but to offer such in
formation as we think may be interesting
to our customers and friends. We desire
to state that we have the utmost conf
dence i'll the integrity of our correspond
onts, and We believe they have stated the
situation in their various localities quite
accurately.
The first government estimate of cot
ton acreage for 1901 was 1852, ass bales.
In December this estimate was reduced
on account of abandoned fields to 26, S02,-
239 We use the first estimate for COM
parison, as We presume the first planting
OF last year is the status on which our
correspondents have based their state
ments.
Assuming that there will be reduction
of per cent. in the acreage this year
(l9o2), 1T appears that the planting will
amount to 25,SSO 4OS acres. AS is usual,
there will be some reduction in this on
account OF abandoned fields, etc, and we
estimate a reduction of per cent Gre
duction has exceeded 2 per cent for the
past two years.. The producing acreage,
therefore, may be estimated at 25, 1862 700
By State Messrs. Aver & Sos figures