Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30
Of COTTON
ON ACREAGE POLICY
1T Is DEPENDENT IN A LARGE
MEASURE ON POLICY THAT
WILL REDUCE ACREAGE AND
MACHINERY.
BY HON. MARTIN V. CALVIN,
Secretary of Georgia State Agfi-
cultural society.

is and will continue to be, the SUBJECT OF
greatest interest not only TO our own
people, but to the people of the civilized
world.
Production and demand are walking
hand in hand. The latter is in the lead,
in the matter of control, because more
self-poised and better organized and
equipped. That is stubborn fact; we
need not Quibble about Il.
We read of an increase by the million
in the number of spindles to be operated
in this country. Abroad, much the same
plan is being pursued by manufacturers
of cotton goods. This means greater
demand for raw cotton.
There .,as been, from year TO year,
steadily increasing dCmand for the sta
pie. And yet, there is a spirit OF unrest
and dissatisfaction among the producers
because % unremunerative prices.
Quite two decades ago, the cotton grow
ers organized themselves into protec-
tive association, looking to a more sat
isfactOry price for middling cotton, on
which latter the price of each of the 9TH
err grades, depends. Later, they counsel
led with one another in convention as
sembled with view to accomplishing the
same object At first, the policy Of slow
ly marketing the crop was agreed on;
then, as a heroic measure, 1t was agreed
that the acreage and the use CT CONNER
cial fertilizers should be cut rs per cent.
That looked to the crop of 1906. Later, 1t
was determined that the crop should be
held in support of a demand of 10 cents
per pound as the minimum price for mid
ding This applies to the crop of 1908.
Previously, lie, 12c and 15c were the min
imum figures.
Drop Minimum Realized
T. l. 49, ,,ooeSsa,,, tbat tho raSults of
those reasonable demands should be dis
cussed. Up to this date, the minimum
for the crop of 1905 has not been realized.
The agreement to hold the crop contem-
plated, of course, the sale of so much
in October and November, last year, as
might be necessary to meet the oblga-
tions of a per centum of the growers.
According to the latest report of the
census bureau, the crop of 1908 aggregat-
ed 49, OS6, 900. 900 lbs) bales exclusive of
linters. which latter amount TO 3S4,970
bales. 1t is clear that the earlier esti-
mates were incorrect. The world needs
every bale of the crop of 1905
There is another important factor which
controls in the matter of price, namely,
the quantity of cotton that comes in to
sight each week. This is coincident with
the information in hand as to the crop in
the aggregate. For example, to March
18th. ult, IL 2S5, 124 bales came into sight
compared with 9,443,7S2 bales for the cor
responding period of last year.
1t is important that the cotton grower
should know these things. The knowl-
edge of them will enable him to better
understand and grasp the situation. 1t
is worth while to study the figures which
/ have given. The-awake, not to say the
wide-awake, cotton growers cannot fail
to see that they are of vital interest to
all of them.
The condition, as it is today, opens up
a wide field, not for speculative ideas,
but for sober thought.
What causes superinduced the serious
condition by which the cotton growers
are today confronted? Why is it that,
notwithstanding a thorough organiza-
ton, a solemn pledge or agreement and
an admirably planned campaign, in the
interest of holding the crop of 1908 for the
very reasonable minimum price of 10
cents per pound for middling, so large a
number of bales has been thrown upon
the market?
Expectancy Not Realized
Expectancy has not been realized. No
one can question that statement. The
thing TO do is to acknowledge it, and,
quickly as possible, ascertain the cause.
Can it be that 60 per cent of produc-
ers are, to a great extent, still dependent
on factor and merchant for that class Of
accommodation known as advances"
Surely, something radically hindering is
the matter. A very large number of pro-
ducers, who gladly and enthusiastically
Joined the procession, found themselves
tout of step" They were encountered;
therefore, they were unable to stand by
the promises phich were made in good
faith.
Understand, 1 am discussing the situa-
ton as it is. 1 am not suggesting, much
less advocating. the abandonment of the
| demand of 10 cents a pound as a fair and
just minimum price for middling cotton.
L believe that, through a combination of
circumstances now developing, that price
will be obtained.
There must be, to my mind there is, a
way out of this annually recurring con-
dition that is so embarrassing and so I'M
satisfactory to the average cotton grower.
Before entering upon the discussion of
the proposed new departure, let us study
the producers side of this great ques-
ton. Let us so down into the facts which
cotton acreage and cotton crops, respect
lively, gives U.S.
The lamp of experience is just as SER
viceabe at tbs time ii was in the try
ing days of good-sense, patriotic, eloquent
Patrick Henry.
Experience of Producers
What, for example, has been the expe-
rience of the cotton producers of Geor-
gia, Alabama and Mississippi in making,
from year to year. the great crop the
progress of which is watched by the
whole world with the most intense inter
est from the planting of the seed to the
picking ginning and marketing of the
fieecy staPs5?
It will not profit a producer, though he
may boast of 1000 acres planted each year
10 the crop, unless the average yield per
acre be in accordance with what is known
as 1.-THE intensive system" That system,
boiled down, is nothing more or less than
the sum of thoroughness. from first to
last in the management of the crop. That
system is possible to any and every cotton
grower who has the energy to adapt and
practice it.
BY the way of introduction to the new
departure, let us take bird's-eye view of
the average production of cotton per acre,
certain years, in the United States, and
by comparison, in Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi:
In 1902, the acreage in the United States
amounted to 27114.103 acres, the crop in
every instance, in this article is exclusive
of linters-1O 630, 945; the average yield per
acre, 39-1OO of a bale.
Georgia's average yield per acre that
L If ha1a AIahopoafc