The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1904-08-05
The July Cotton Prospect.


port ri the condition and progress
OF the cotton crop for July II.
data Is obtained from special cor
respondents covering the cn'.r,
cotton belt, from which the fol.
lowing summary Of the stu s'itH
IL drduced:
The Times Democrat he - i Ii
presents reports from Ita spcc!a.
correspondents as to the progress
of the growing cotton crop during
the month of July. When these
reports were called for. correspon-
dents were requested to devote
special attention To the following
points: /. The character OF the
weather, as affecting the growth
and maturity OF the plant :.
Ravages or absence nf ravages by
insects 3. The probable suiti-
cheney or insutiicienty OF labor for
picking. T. The date at which
the crop will probably begin 10
move IN volume.
- The reports printed indicate
that very promining cotton crop
IL Just Bow IN II very critical cor
dItion. Over large part Of the
belt excessive rains have fallen
during the past two or three weeks,
seriously rrtardino development
aud maturity, preventing proper
cultivation and causing the pinnL
to take on luxuriant, sappy
growth at "A time when II should
be fruiiIng
The most serious complaiLt
comes from the section OF Texas
infested with the Mexican boil
weevil, where conditions during
"a great part of July were ideal for
the rhpid propagation OF that pest.
Over a large part OF Louisiana
and Mississippi weather conditions
during the month were extremely
unfaverable, and there Is serious
complaint of grassy fields. scald
ing, shedding and retarded ma
turity. The same complaints come
from other States, to "A greater or
less extent. liz il, therefore, evi-
dent that if present conditions
continue for even another week
the crop will be- very seriously
damaged.
Reports from Texas indicate
that the boil weevil Is present IN
great mum bers over "A larger area
than last year, ana while the
damage done thus far has probably
not been so great AS at this time
last season, there Is yet abundant
time for the pest to do its work
The appearance of the cotton boil
worm in Alabama Is causing
serious and widespread apprehen-
sion. Other sections of the belt
are comparatively free from the
ravages of insects.
With normal season, 1T l. APP
parent that the supply of labor for
picking will be inadequate in
many sections of the belt.
While the crop is probably not
so late as last year, the movement
To market will not be general be-
fore about Sept. 10.
TO sum up: The present crop
Is one of great possibilities. With
favorable weather during the
month of August large yield
may be had; with II continuance
of the weather conditions of the
past ten days or two weeks, or
with too sudden change to the
other extreme, the yield will be
very materially reduced.
These reports are brought down
TO the noon of Saturday, July 80 "
The reports for Monroe, Lee,
Chickasaw aud Clay counties are
given below, in the order named i:
Aberdeen. Miss, July 30
Throughout the month OF July
conditions have been favorable on
the whole, and the progress made
by cotton has been fairly satisfac-
tory. In the timbered regions
and on postoak lands the prospect
could hardly be improved upon,
cultivation having been thorough,
the weed showing healthy and
vigorous growth and fruiting we'll
In the prairies and heavy ham
mock lands, however, the growth,
owing to liberal precipitation, has
been too rank, with consequent
deficiency in fruitage, which may
in the end serve 10 discount the
prospec, presented on the first OF
the month. There are no insects
reported worthy of note.
While the largest acreage pos
sibie has been given to cotton this
season, it Is thought the labor will
be able to harvest the crop. unless
the season should close with pro
tracted unfavorable weather con
ditions. The labor is we'll content.
hopeful and industrious. The crop
will be ready To begin moving to
market in good volume oy the
middle of September, but sales
will depend very largely upon the
market quotations. AS rule the
farmers and planters are free from
debt and are under no stress to sell