The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12
SMALL CROP;
 GOOD PRICES That is the Opinion of MT. Wilkinson. HE HAS TRAvELED OVER STATE Commissioner of Agriculture Looks
 for IS Cent Price. old Crop Is Gone and spinners Have Sold Their Output Months Ahead,
 So Even Full Crop would
 Come High.

Commissioner of Agriculture J. A. Wilkinson has been very busy since he returned from the series of educa- tional meetings that were held in sew eral counties. Much work piled up in his office while he was away, and it will be some time before he has mat ters strengthened out.
 Commenting on his trip Commission CT Wilkinson said:
 T have travelled over considerable part of the State since the government report was sent in on August 25, and found the cotton crop has steadily de- clined since that time. This has been caused primarily from the hot spell of weather which has prevailed since then up to few days ago. also wherever rain fell, instead of proving a bene- 1t, 1t has added to the disaster,
 "Th ecrop of cotton is thirty days late and up to and prior to August 25, was growing vigorously and had about consumed the commercial fertilizers that had been used when the hot wave struck the crop, which caused 1t to sus- pend growth, and shed all of its fruit except bolIs half grown and up. and then when the rains came the cot ton, undertaking to react, only con tinued to shed the more."
 When asked as to what he thought the yield of Alabama would be, based on the present conditions he said that the government report considering the lateness of the crop, was for this date too high, and he further stated that 1t Is now too late for the crop to take on second growth and mature any fruit. as it could not grow and begin to bloom against in a week or ten days, and by that time it would be too late. MT. Wilkinson stated that it would take from fifty to sixty days in the fall from the bloom to the opening of the cotton
 All these things being considered, I do not believe 1t possible for the crop to make much more than it now has on 1t. which is not over two-thirds oe crop"
 when asked as to what he thought of prices. he first evaded an answer. but said he believed the prices should not decline and that the Southern Cotton Association and the Farmers Union and other business interests in the South are right in demanding better prices, and that even with full crop, cotton is worth what the farmers are asking for 1t, IS cents.
 First" he said, because the crop of thirteen and a half million bales of last season has practically all been consum- ed and taken except the very poorest grades, and that good cotton Is in de- mand; and second, because the prices of all cotton goods justifies the mill men in paying this price or more; third, be- cause the spinners have sold the out put of their mills for almost twelve months ahead.
 This information I base partly on the report of local and other jobbers who have been in the Eastern markets, and who state that 1t Is almost impos- Sible to have their orders filled as the mills all claim that they are behind time with their engagements and contracts heretofore made. These -3obbers also tell us that while the mills are run hing on full time, certain classes of goods are not to be had.
 Tn case the bears are passing their hopes on rains in the West, they will be mistaken, as 1t is well known that at so late time of the year as this, when rains follow the drought the effect Is injurious and oftentimes al- most destructive, except to the matured fruit.
 The conclusion of the matter is that though 13,500,000 bales should be made, 1t will all be needed. and should there be a short crop as is now generally conceded, there will be a rush for it. So under any consideration. and count ing the prices cotton goods are now bringing, the price for raw cotton should advance"
 When asked as to the corn crop, Mir Wilkinson replied that 1t was "equai to, if not better than, an average crop in this State, and most of the farmers will make corn enough to do them another year and to spare"