The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-10-08
the xtAIMtR AND the CROPS.

" &CAICIdiIy IdlI duu
weather, although the temperature
In the more northerly portions of
the cotton belt has been probably
lower than could have been wished,
says The Picayune. There has been
but little rain and everything has
favored the rapid picking of the
crop. As a result of such conditions
the movement to market of cotton
has been liberal. Whether such IA
vorable weather has added to the
yield or not is a debatable question,
but there seems to be a settled con-
viction that the crop will be a small
one and that even a late frost can
not have other effect than to prevent
the yield from shrinking further.
Owing to the active picking
which has been in progress all over
the belt and the premature opening
of cotton bolls, due to the drought
and heat of early September, it is
believed that a very large total of
cotton has been ginned, but it is
argued that such a showing will
not indicate a large production, but
merely the rapid maturing and har-
vesting of the crop.
It is believed that the condition
average is very low-60, or even
Overwhelming a crop of not over
100000 bales, if, indeed, it in
dicates anything at all. The gov
eminent averages r only of inter
est by comparing them with av-
erages by the same authority in
previous seasons. Sixty per cent.
does not mean that the yield prom
ises to be 60 per cent. of a normal
crop-in fact, it would takea proph-
ct to tell actually what it means.
Provided only that it is low enough
to cause prices to advance nobody
will complain.
The corn crop has been largely
harvested and has turned out a
good yield. The harvesting of rice
is also making good progress and
has been finished in many localities.
The loss due to the recent storm is
not expected to prove heavy.
The time is now rapidly approach
ing for the harvesting of the crop
of sugar cane. It is now known
that the damage by the storm was
greatly exaggerated and is not ex-
pected to reach more than 2 per
cent, i: it actually proves to be that
great, by the time the grinding sea-
son commences. Some rain would
probably be welcomed in the sugar
belt, but the lower temperature is
causing the cane to masure rapidly.
From all present indications the
cane crop will prove satisfactory,
even if the tonnage delivered at the
mills does not reach the largest es-
Inmates. With good weather from
now on and a satisfactory grinding
season there if good reason to hope
that a qery good sugar crop will be
marketed.
Every indication points unmis-
takably in the same direction, and
that is towards expanding business
prosperity. The full effect Of the
enormous crops produced this year
has not yet been felt, as the crops
have not all been marketed yet; but
later in the winter and during the
coming spring the vast sums which
the farmers will have received for
their products will be circulating
freely, and the general business will
feel to it's fullest extent the impetus
which such an accession of wealth
never fails to produce.
Here in the Delta our cotton crop
does not promise to be large, but we
will make a good deal of cotton new
ertheless, and it is selling and will
continue to sell at satisfactory pric-
es, SO that the cotton farmer will
have small cause to complain of the
net results of the crop. The South
has produced a large corn crop, and
q large sugar yield is expected in
Louisiana.
There is every reason, therefore
that Greenwood should fully share
in the general prosperity which is
indicated for the rest of the country.
The prosperity which is sure to ex-
list in the surrounding country will
promptly be reflected here in gen
aral trade activity. Good profit in