Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-10-15

Meridian, Miss, Oct. IL. 1908. ]
Dear Sirs:
The month of September was ia
from being favorable TO the crop; or
the contrary, further deterioration
took place in every portion of the cot
ton belt. The weevil continued to d.
much damage in Texas-so much so,
as to cause widespread alarm through
ont the south. Reliable information
is at hand, showing devastation by
this pest is more serious this season
than ever before. In the Atlantic
and gulf states the crops opened rap
idly, too much so, in fact, to cause
any doubt as to the yield proving
much smaller than once anticipated.
It cannot be denied that the crop was
late one, yet, on the whole, has
turned out a comparatively early one.
Nothing is more indicative OF a short
yield, than for late crop to furnish
SO much of its yield at one time and
at such an early date. The receipts,
while on large scale, would have
been much larger had the labor been
sufficient to gather as fast as opened
1t is conservative to say at least 70
per cent of the entire crop is already
open in the fields, and at least So per
cent to 20 per cent gathered.
Marketing has been slow for the
past ten days for several reasons-frst ::
the anxiety of the farmer to gather
his crop while the weather was good !;
and, in the next place, the decline has
brought prices to figures which the
farmer knew was below the value of
his product.
Much diversity of opinion exists as
to the probable extent Of damage by
frost, many contending that but little
effect can be had by frost earlier
than the normal period; yet when
viewed from a standpoint supported
by facts there can be I'd doubt as to
the chance Of considerable damage by
an early frost. 1t is certainly too late
now for blooms or squares to mature,
but take, for instance, half-grown
bolls, when touched by heavy frost,
their growth is ended, yet they will
open, but produce only half to three
fourths as much as they would have
done had they attained their full
growth. This, of course, applies on
ly to bottom lands, as the hill lands
have spent their mission, the plant
dead and the entire fruitage upon
same is open. All prospects of
yield that once looked promising,
have been abandoned by conservative
business men, and careful students OF
the crop situation. Only few dis
gruntled ones, who have been inter
ested TO thier sorrow in depressing
prices, and few disguised star gazers,
who cast their little coin over the top
round of the ladder, of prices now
cling TO the idea as any such thing as
bumper yield
Several conditions might be brought
about that would make the crop
very, very great disappointment,
namely: A heavy killing frost by
the 10th to Goth instant, followed by
a severe spell of weather, which is
not unusual, or should the rainy sea-
son commence without any frost, an
immense portion of this crop would
be lost.
Leaving the uncertainties of the
weather aside, and accepting say
normal season from this date, it can
be safely said that this crop can never
exceed eleven millions. Neither fig
ure will meet the requirements of the
trade, with no political or financial
trouble, great excitement in the cot
ton market can be expected before
September l, 1904.
Spinners have been repeatedly
warned by the writer for several
years past to disregard wild estimates
put ont by interested manipulators,
and they will have no one to blame
but themselves if they do not reap
the benefits of present depressed
prices. brought about by war clouds
hanging over the horizon, runners
of panics. farmers rushing their pro-
duct to market. and fabulous state,
ments of bumper yield being circu-
lated.
Yours truly,
A. S. JOHNSTON.