The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-11-05
COTTON CROP BE FAR SHORT
President Morris Returns From Char.
iotte convention-Gives Rea-
sens for Small Yield.

w. A. Morris, state president OF the
Farmers union, returned to Houston
the other day from Charlotte, N. c.,
where he was for several days attend
ing the National Farmers union con-
Yent1on. He says the meeting was to
all appearances the best that has
been held in many years. The hos
pitality accorded was excellent, and
the delegates were profuse in their
praise of the city. He said the meet
Ing was attended by over 1.50O mem
Ders from every part Of America. He
also stated that the personnel OF the
union is growing better and more IN
nuential. He said that several farm
ers who attended are millionaires and
several congressman. some OF whom
are self-styled farmers and others
really so, were among those who at
tended the meeting.
Although Mr. Morris was pleased
with the meeting he is very much
worried over the outlook for cotton
this year. He states without hesitan-
cy that the crop will be away off.
It was the official designation Of
the majority of the farmers from over
the country that the cotton crop is
very greatly below that raised last
year, said Mr.. Morris.
Reports were received from every
state, and this general information
was almost unanimous.
The reduction in acreage and the
greater increase in corn space, togeth-
er with the seriously defective wealth
er at the outset, account in a meas
ure for the small cotton crop that
will be made.
The state of Alabama produced
1,O68,000 bales Of cotton last year.
The production this year viii be
about 100000 bales, or a reduction
Of $4,000 bales. The state, however.
will produce the greatest corn crop
ever realized.
Texas, which has produced 1850
600 bales, will this year not produce
more than 2,250,0o0 bales. In add
ton to my information gathered at
the convention I have visited every
cotton state in America and I know
Just exactly what the til1ers of the
soil think of matters.
The decrease in Mississippi is
about ten per cent Ia cotton with a
corresponding increase in corn. The
crop in that state will be about 1,00G.-
coo bales.
The state Of Arkansas will produce
about 775,000 bales. Missouri planted
an increased acreage of four per cent.
However, on account of the constant
rains, practically II per cent. was lost,
thus making decrease In that state
OF about seven per cent.
The crops in every state are al
most as shown by these few sugges
tons. Despite this information tbs
greatest degree of optimism prevails
among the farmers and their work
next year will be along still further
lines of diversif1cation. The farmers
at the last meeting all reported glow
ingly on the rapid strides being made
in the educational lans that have
been outlined for the benefit of the
farmers. The work in this state, as
has been previously stated was phe-
nominally responsible, and in other
states the results were highly graft
tying. The spirit of better roads that
has been slowly working its way into
the minds of the farmers has taken
new life and every member is pledged
to assist in getting the highways of
every state improved.
In this state we intend to go right
after this feature of our program and
hope to accomplish a great deal when
the next legislature conyenes in
With the assistance of
the influential citizens who are help
Ing nobly in the work we hope to ac-
compnsh great deal for better roads
when the next year rolls around"