The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-09-03
THE COTTON CROP
MAY BE SHORT.

Commercial Appeal Reporters Say
Plant Is Sheddin2 Freely.
General deterioration in the cotton
crop is reported this week save in North
Carolina, Southern Georgia and in Sec
tions adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.
Dry weather has prevailed for we to
eight weeks and the plant is shedding
freely. Hot days with drying winds
and cool nights have intensified the ef-
fects of the drouth. In many sections
there is a great deal of late cotton and
this has suffered severely. The drouth
has been especially severe in Arkansas
and Oklahoma and it is said that rains
now would do little good there except
to fill out the unmatured bolls.
Cotton is opening rapidly but picking
will not become general over the belt
before September 10 to Is. Where
picking has made pr. gress the new
bales are being freely marketed.
There is a general disposition to mod
ify crop estimates and max then lower
than two weeks ago. In sections there
are some promising crops, but they are
a small minority. The prospects for a
top crop are regarded as poor, although
a late frost might increase the yield.
TENNESSEE.
The crop in Tennessee is suffering for
want of rain. Shedding is general, and
sections where there has been no COM
plant this season are now deteriorat-
ing. Some correspondents say rain at
this late date would help but little.
MISSISSIPPI.
Rain fell in some of the southern
counties and was beneficial. Elsewhere
it was very dry and much shedding is
complained of. Some reports are very
pessimistic. There is much late cotton
in the State and this is suffering. The
crop in the greater part Of the Delta
appears to be making seasonable prog
ress. Cotton picking will not be gen.
eral before Sept. 10.
MISSOURI.
Hot, dry weather has been favorable
to the bulk of the cotton crop, which is
now we'll fruited. Picking will not be
gin except on a few of the sandy lands
for two weeks.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Hot, dry days and cool nights have
caused considerable shedding. It hat
} been two or three weeks since rain fell
The polls are opening rapidly, and in
some places picking has begun in ear
nest. It is current opinion now tina
the yield will not be so large as was in.
Dictated ten days ago.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Their are a few complaints of shed
b ding, but the crop appears to hav'
made normal growth as a rule. Rain
however, will soon be needed. Pickin,
will not become general until afte
Sept. Is, and an early frost would b
damaging.
OEOIOolas
] Dry weather and hot winds hav
caused much shedding in the norther
: third of Georgia, and since the plan
there was late considerable damage ha
resulted. In southern and southeastern
counties the dry weather was rather
benefit, as cotton had about reaches
maturity INC the opening of the boil
was uninterrupted.
ALABAMA.
Shedding has been general, and i
sections severe. Hot, dry weather, wit
: drying winds, has made the farmer fee
that he was losing his August crop.
central and southern Alabama cotton
opening rapidly and picking has begul
In northern counties the cotton is sti
late and on bottom lands growing vel
ARKANSAS.
Drouth has prevailed in all section
from three to eight weeks. Cotton ha
ceased to grow except on some of til
low, moist lands, and is now openin
very rapidly. The hot weather b.
d prevented picking. The yield will
light, and it is doubtful if a rain woul
- add materially.
LOUISIANA.
The weather has lately been favo
able, but the ravages of the weevil ha,
cut the crop very short. Some of tt
estimates place the probable produ
: tion at 20 per cent. of a normal, ar
L none go above so per cent. Cotton
now opening rapidly.
OKLAHOMA.
The rainfall during the week W:
general, but usually light. The bel
a. eft was slight, and considerable d
terioration is reported. The bolls al
: opening rapidly and the promised vie