The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-04-04
WHAT WILL THE COTTON FARM
Frs DO?
Campaign for Reduction of Acreage
Now Led by Chief Magistrates of
Several Southern States.

Baltimore, Nd, Marcn oU.-DeeI
and active interest in the campaign
for a reduction of the acreage in
cotton this year., as shown by the
authorities of Southern States, led
the Manufacturers Record this
week to wire to Governors of the
cotton States asking for their opin-
ion as to the extent of the reduction
to be made. Governor Vardaman,
of Mississippi, has entered upon a
canvass of his State in the interest
of reduction, making direct appeal
to growers and others, and Governor
Blanchard, of Louisiana, has issued
an official call urging the growers to
promote their individual interests, as
we'll as the interests of the entire
South, by planting a largely de-
creased area in cotton than that
planted in 1904. and the bankers,
merchants and others to exert their
influence in behalf of such reduction.
Such actions by State authorities,
together with the vigOr with which
other prominent men throughout the
South are pressing the campaign, re-
llOTCG tIlC IIlplOSSltAl dbAS ~
reduction given III the letters pub
lished by the Manufacturers Record
about a month ago from nearly a
thousand Southern bankers telling OF
plans in their respective commune
ties for a curtailment of the acreage.
kilograms received from some of the
governors will tend to strengthen
the campaign. They are as follows
Governor James X. Vardaman, of
Mississippi: "YOur request for a re-
port ON the question of the reduction
of cotton acreage in Mississippi has
been received. | am now making a
pretty thorough canvass of the State,
but / am not as well prepared to an
swer your question as L shall be a
little later. However. / am sure that
l am within the limits of conserva-
tism when | say hat in Mississippi
the cotton acreage Will be reduced
not less than 20 per cent. | believe
it will go to % per cent. The farm
ers are greatly interested in this
matttr. and the work of campaigning
has hardly begun"
Governor n. B. Broward, of Flor
ida: 81 know of no reduction con-
temFlated by our farmers"
Governor j. NJ. Terrell, of Geor-
gia: "At least Is per cent of the
cotton growers will reduce their
crop from 25 to 80 per cent. TWEEN
ty-fve per cent of the growers will
make only a nominal reduction. A
reduction of 20 per cent is a conser
vative estimate"
Governor S. w. T. Lanham, of
Texas: at is impossible to answer
with any certainty. Excessive rains
have affected the sowing of spring
oats. Corn planting has been de-
layed for the same reason. and it i
not likely that the usual acreage will
be used for corn. In consequence il
is not probably that the cotton
creage will be materially reduced
Governor D.. G. Hayward. of South
Carolina: answering your tele.
gran of inquiry, | do not feel war
ranted at this time in making a fore.
cast as to the reduction of the cotton
acreage in South Carolina this ear
Official duties have prevented my
having the opportunity to observe
the conditions of the fields. and, con.
sequently, such a fore-opinion. ]
should think hat the officers of the
South Carolina Growers Association
who have travelled over the State
would be in a better position to fur