The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-05
CONSIDERING NEXT CROP
COTTON TRADE INTERESTED IN DE-
VELoPMENTS OF ACREAGE.
Time at Hand When the Professional
viii Eagerly Watch fer News in
Order to Scalp the Market.
Especial 70 The PostJ

especial = The IostD
Now York May 4 -Slghtly early in the
season the cotton market has begun to con
slider with de6nitoncss and anxiety the con.
ditlon Of the new crop. As a matter of fact,
very little Is known about the progress rhaJ
has been made in the South in the way Of
planting or preparing TO plant the seed for
the season Of 1002-O3 Indeed IN some parts
the acreage Is as big a problem and harder
Of Judging than It usually is somewhat later
H. the year, and while stories come In OF the
stands and how the STALKS look, and all
that FORT OF thing, still the very best eff
forts Of the government that are being put
forth at this time, aud the result Of which
win be made known next month, can only
to a degree approximate the acreage ana
what 1t has TO say about condition. while
always important, will be merely Il prclim-
mary statement. One thing that may be
determined just now with some degree OF
certainty is III regard TO The question VI
LEI tiliZcr, ana although many reports have
been made upon the amounts required and
actually contracted for still the general
belief Is that this item will be rather of
bulllsn nature than otherwise. Those who
claim to he best cnnAhle OF Judging about
New York say that the amount and classes
Of fertilizers used this year aid not desig
nate very large amount Of cotton seed
btlIs put III INC GiounQ. however, tue
very important report that appeared in The
Fost regarding the acreage In Texas, and
which was eagerly read in New York,
show ed that that State was preparing for
crop about equal to the one that 1t his pro
duced during the present season. The bull
argument, as far as weather is concerned,
strange as IT may seem. rs that mp to this
time everything has been propitious for
the crop, the argument being that If prices
do not slump, while everything is cheerful
and 'ovely from the farmers point Of view.
il Is very probable that they will advance
when the inevitable news of drouths and
other causes for damage arc given out.
Even now We hear that rain is needed, and
presumably the next thing th1t shall come
IS that too much has appeared in certain
sections In other words, the time has ar
rived when the professional In the cotton
Pit watches eagerly for bad word in order
that he may scalp the market on the long
side mud so predominant has this feeling
become that u bullish fever is with diff
Guilty held down until bad reports appear.
And so sure as cotton Is TO he grown and
prices are to be made these items of dam
age will be forthcoming and will have their
usual and expected effect II may be un-
kind to say that if the South does not fur
nish them there are other sources that will,
for while II Is not altogether intended TO
intimate that actual reports that are not
truc appear at this ccntcr still 1t may ne
stated that there are always some pieces Of
news that can he exaggerated into making
II appear that widespread damage has uc-
cured In parts Of the belt The word from
Tuscaloosa. Ala. and Paris, Texas, seem
quite RS important when posted on the
blackboard Of the exchange as does the
carefully tHbulated report That tolls the
actual state of affairs throughout 4 whole
portion Of the belt. and upon Just such re
ports as these cotton goes mp and down ana
the summer months that are coming Will
prove advantageous perhaps, to those VINO
are able to deal rapidly and with Judgment
in the market, and certainly TO those who
gather in the commissions from the quickly
Shifting public OF course, all this does not
L fa COS