Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10
SHORT CROP IS INDICATED.

The reports on the probable yield Of the
cotton crop this season. made by rep
resentative farmers from all the cotton
states at the meeting Of the Cotton
Growers convention held at Macon Octo-
Der sth. indicated a crop OF nearly 100000
bales. In Geogria the opinion seems pre-
valeut that the yield viii not be greater
than two-thirds OF the crop gathered last
year. Much has been written about the
present condition Of the crop in Texas.
some statisticians maintaining that a ire
mendous crop viii be harvested there this
season. while others contend that short
crop only win be gathered ! am just in
receipt OF a letter from Colonel E. S. Pc
tiers, president Of the Texas Cotton Grow
ers' association. which is published here
with because Of the interesting and relia-
bic information IL contains concerning the
present condition OF the crop In his state.
His letter is as follows:
CALVERT, Tex. Oct q. -eo2.
As president Of the Texas Cotton Grow
ers' Protective association. felt the ne
cessity OF making a general survey of the
state for the purpose OF ascertaining, IL
possible II the conditions of the cotton
crop had changed during the last 80 days
TO such an extent as 70 warrant the ex-
travagant statements INDUCED in by Mr..
A ]. Dustin in his recent estimate The
result IS, am constrained to pronounce
ed contemporary, Mr.. Neill. who. prior to
the recent prominence Of Dir. Buston. had
no superior as q crop booster throughout
any land
Analysing some OF Mr.. Buston's state
ments notably. he states the crop in
south Texas has suffered mostly from
drouth. when. as a matter OF fact, IL is
common knowledge that the greatest
damage was from the excessive rains fol-
al - - hnf
the truth is. II we hat had a continued
and more extended drouth. the crop in
south Texas would have been IS per cent
better than IL IS. for the simple reason
that no cotton has been made since the
rain. all new fruit resulting therefrom be-
Ing destroyed by the weevil as fast as
made.
IN north Texas the plant has suffered
mainly from the unprecedented drouth.
dating from last year. We had no winter
rains. and August this year was the dry
est in the history OF the state. the average
rainfall for the month for the entire state
being 3 OF an inch. with many counties
having absolutely no rain and excessively
high temperature In this section the boil
worm was more widely distributed and
more destructive than in any previous
year
As 70 the boll-weevil. which he dis
misses with the statement that IL attacks
only a portion OF the plant. ] am willing
70 admit he is right. However. that por-
ton Of the plant which escapes is be-
meath the surface OF the ground. that is.
the root Had he investigated closely he
would have found also that the insect
since coming TO the United States has
reached a high state OF culture. and
among other things. has shown almost hu-
man instinct in that he viii not climb a
hlll IL he can make a living on the level,
or. in other words, he viii not seek an
elevation II he can ind a bottom TO his
liking. II has clearly been proven. how
ever. that as soon as the lowlands are ex-
hausted as a feeding ground he HES him
self 20 the uplands until those who are
studying his habits are convinced he will
in time find his way 10 Colorado. IL the
succulent plant should be grown there.
unless a way to check his progress Is
discovered.
Mr.. Buston, says further the actual
crop Of 1901-3 was. 106S0.es0 bales. This il
confirmed BY Mr.. Hester, but IL is LOO. COO
hales more than the gins. according TO the
census. say were ginned. The difference.
therefore. must represent Iinters. city crop
and old Gotten
we know that in Texas last year 80. 900
bales Of old cotton were compressed and
went into snd was counted a part OF the
commercial crop. Add 70 this 5000 bales
OF AAAriH anu city CROP anu VIC nave
$1,000 bales from Texas alone. Who can
rightly contend that at least a proportion
ate amount from other states did not go
into the old CROP Therefore, II Mr.. Bus
tons estimate OF Il. so 90 bales is the act
ual growth as he says IL is. then he is at
least 10000 bales on this year. and in
stead Of missing the total estimate only
so bales these figures win clearly prove
that he missed II last year fully 10000
bales on the actual growth
LAS TO Louisiana. we have the report is
sued BY the state commissioner OF agri-
culture. who IS thoroughly conversant
with the conditions in that state. His es-
tfmate- made Up from reports from each
parish. shows decrease Of I1.3n bales