The leader., 1905-06-14
DON'T PLANT
JUNE COTTON.
President Of Cotton Association Says
Acreage Is Sufilciedt for Profitable
Any More Is Disastrous.


Any More IS Disastrous.
There is no doubt but what the
cotton acreage has been largely
reduced all over the cotton belt.
The Southern Cotton Association
estimates place the reduction at
IS.43 per cent. The Times Dem
ocrat at Is per cent. Unfavorable
weather conditions have reinforc-
ed the efforts Of the Southern
Cotton Association, and brought
the acreage to standard about
right for a profitable crep. Heavy
June planting, however, can easi-
Ily run the acreage up to a height
that. would be dangerous, in view
of the great surplus to be carried
over from his crop. We should
not lose sight of The Importance
of keeping the acreage within the
bounds Of 1913. This per cent.
lof reduction with the very low
conditions prevailing over the
Egreater portion of the belt, will
be equivalent to 25 per cent. un-
der ordinary fair conditions. The
bear element is confidently reck-
oning on a heavy late planting.
They argue that thousands of far
mers in every cotton State, deter
red from planting their usual crop
by unfaVorable weather condi-
ltions, are now putting in the
deficit, and will have full acre
age above ground by the 10th of
June. If these predictions prove
I true another large crop is entire
" possible this year. Anything.
more than ten million bales is
likely to prove disastrous. This
amount added to the surplus will
afford amply supply for the de-
mand, even under the most favor
able trade conditions. There is
safety in ten million bale crop.
1t may not be marketed at fancy
| figures, but at least 5 cents will
be realized. Daniel Sully, the
| great bull leader, is quoted as say
ing that If held within that limit,
ten cents is the minimum Of his
calculations for middling. ] pre-
sumo no one will deny the 5 cents
proposition. Our experience in
marketing the. crop of 1903 and
1904 promise this price or better.
We can infer what a - or
1000, 900 bale crop will be worth
another year by comparison of
prices existing now and those
prevailing in February Of last
! year. Cotton sold for about ~
cents in the home markets, during
the months of February and
March from 7A to 8 cents during
l,ApriEand May, and but for the
New Orleans Convention and the
consequent apprehension felt by
cotton buyers that its recommen-
dation might be adopted by the
growers and the next crop mate
rally reduced, am satisfied that
cotton would have been selling
for 5 cents and under. In 1898,
under the influence of much.
smaller surplus than the one now
estimated to be on hand, cotton
went at Az cents to the planter.
How was it in 1904 with crop at
| l10,050, 900? Cotton sold in our
local markets during the months
of February and March of that
year at an average of about 10
cents. A showing much in the
favor of conservative Earnings It
is conclusive from this bit of cot
ton history that, if the growers
add to their acreage a heavy June
planting and, with the surplus,
over-run the markets with anoth-
er bumper crop, cotton may make
a new record in its history, and
go lower than the most sanguine
bear could hope for. Can any
thoughtful man who has increased
his cotton acreage, or contem-.
plates doing so with a late plant
ing, consider unmoved the danger
of the situation now confronting
him? Has he learned nothing
from experience, no practical
demonstration of truth, and will
he pass it by as unworthy of note
valuable lessons, taught by such
experience and demonstration? IF
he. knows anything at all, he
knows be must either raise less
cotton than in 1904 or lose the
fruits Of his land, labor and capi-
tai, for the next twelve months, if
his embarrassment extends no fur
ther.
Only a season of unfaYurable
conditions could save him from
the result of his folly.
FRED L. WEST.