The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-04
AGRICULTURAL.

of the cotton crop. The basis of the in
formation as given here is from the most
reliable sources in the United States.
First 1 VIII give some facts as gathered
from personal observation in my travels
through southeastern Missouri, through
northern Arkansas. northern Texas OKLA
homa and Indian Territory.
First, I want to say that In 1902 the
small cotton growing section of southeast
Missouri gave a greater yield Of cotton
per acre than did any other section in the
United States. All the sections here men
toned had this year very large acre
age of very late cotton, and When mace
my August report, and in fact on up TO
the middle of September. the outlook for
much of a crop from this late acreage
was anything but promising. Fortunately,
| however the weather conditions during
| the latter part of September and through
| all of October have been ideal for the
| development and maturity OF these late
crops-unti1 now, on the first OF Novem-
Der, we find thousands of acres of fine
| crops of cotton in all the above named
sections yet unlnjured by frost. Many, in
| fact nearly all these crops (while In
| August there was but little to encourage
| the grower) are now yielding from one
| half to one and one-half bales per acre,
and In few instances as much as two
bales has been picked from one acre.
| Let the reader keep in mind the fine
sections mentioned above for the condi-
lions in all are so similar that deserip-
ton of any one will answer for each and
| all.
Total Crop Increase.
These late crops with or under the in
huences of our fine weather during thesI
last six weeks, have added hundreds of
| thousands of bales to the final yield, and
will add a great revenue to the cotton re-
eeipts This adds greatly to the already
prosperous conditions of the cotton grow
ing sections This great crop is being
gathered just as fast as conditions will
allow, and the fine condition which the
favorable weather permits in which the
| farmers are gathering cotton, will add
hundreds of thousands of dollars more
to the cotton receipts this season.
The crop was never put on the market
in finer condition. There is a shortage of
pickers and in all sections there is
great demand for pickers. On Saturday, |
October 49, advertising boards were to be
seen In front Of all the labor offices In
| Oklahoma City, with this offer or some
thing similar to this:
Five hundred cotton pickers wanted i'm
mediately; so cents per hundred and !
! board"
And so all along the line there is a !
great demand for cotton pickers. In addi-
| ton to what is now in sight in the Sec
lions mentioned there is a large crop of
grown bols, which will, with two weeks
more Of good weather, open and give still |
greater yield and profit to the growers. |
Prices Slightly Influenced.
Now these improved conditions cover
too small territory to influence prices
~ ali, a1,n ffAo
the market demands. There Is no reason
why we should change our former adj
| vice to farmers to hold and not sell their |
cotton for less than 10 cents per pound. |
| No difference what the crop may be this |
season, the farmer should keep in mind |
that we have had two years of shortage |
| and that there is no reserve on hand. Be |
| sides the stock of manufactured cotton |
goods has run down very low.
Another thing in favor of the cotton |
| farmers Is that they were never before |
| in more prosperous and independent cir |
cumstances, so much so indeed that they |
are able to hold their cotton for prices to
suit or that will give them a profit on |
the production These are my opinions
and observations and are backed up by |
the best informed men of the cotton |
states.
! For the last few days I have had with |
me the following eminent agriculturists, |
| all of who mare travelling constantly |
among the farmers In the cotton states, |
studying the conditions and gathering re-
ports from the best farmers: DR.. s. A. |
Knapp of the United States agricultural |
department, who has Travelled over the |
great cotton states of Louisiana and Texas |
| and has charge of the cotton experimental |
| farms of these states. and has under his |
supervision over fifty specialists teaching |
| improved methods of cotton culture in |
the states of Texas and Louisiana; Prof. |
r. II. Perkins, from the Agricultural Col |
| lege of Mississippi, who is perfectly ia
mliar with cotton conditions In his states; |
DIR. Henry s. Hurtzog, president of the
University of Arkansas, who knows what |
may be expected from the cotton crop in |
his state; the Hon. r. Il. Smith, alfalfa !
king of Sherman Texas. who is well in
formed on the crop in Texas; Prof. John
Fields and Prof. J. b. Thoburn, from the
Oklahoma Agricultural college, gentlemen
| who are perfectly acquainted with the
cotton crop conditions in both Oklahoma
and Indian Territory.
/ Now, from such a vast amount of re-
| liable information we certainly should
gather facts as they are on the crop.
Some Crop Examples.
| DR.. Knapp spoke of crops. many crops,
| even in the boil weevil district, that were
yielding under the government methods,
as much as half bale per acre. He spoke
of farmer in Texas whom he persuaded
to plant and cultivate $50 acres Of cotton
according to his instructions This crop
was planted in check rows, AKA feet and
cultivated the same as corn. The farmer
has already picked and ginned one and
one-half bales per acre, or 225 bales from
the 100 acres, averaging over 500 pounds
per bale.
Another farmer. with adjoining farm,
with the same kind of soil and under the
old method, is getting only half bale
per acre from his crop.
Here is an object lesson of what the
| farmers institutes are doing along the
line of agricultural education. 1 will no
tice this later on.
The Hon. r. e. Smith of Sherman,
cotton this season is making over a bale
| per acre. That is he said, 'T have al
ready picked that much where the crop
! has been gone over, and I may get more"
| He went on to say: II have In my en-
ploy young white man who has cleared
| and banked 800 the past month picking
cotton. He gets So cents and his board
per hundred. His greatest days picking
was 10 pounds"
Demand for Labor.
| Mr.. Smith stated that negro women
were clearing from $40 to $50 per month
picking. He went on to state that no
cooks could be found in his town. They
AL.