The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-21
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE COTTON CROP
Although Cotton Crop OF 1909 Was Smallest Since
Year of SO Its Value Was 1872 Above 1903

Although the cotton crop Of the
United States in 1909 was the smallest
produced since 1903, its value was 49,
7er cent more han that of 1908 and
measured by its yarn producing quail
it,, and by the financial results to the
r0wers it was h most valuable ever
produced.
This statement is taken from the
prOof sheets of the United States Cen
sus Bureaus bulletin 107 on the pro-
durtion of cotton in 1909, prepared by
william NJ. Stuart, chief statistician
for manufactures, assisted by Special
Agent Daniel c.. Roper.
The estimated value of the 1903
crop is given by the bulletin as SSH
O89.S33, as pared with 1851, 23O,-
$50 for 1908; $500, 956,011 for 1907;
$~721,647.237 for 1906; and S632,2sS,-
332 for 1905. The amount of differ
ence between the 1909 and 1908 values
is therefore s130,S58,S77, an increase
of 1872 per cent, as stated.
The figures as finally compiled for
the crop of 1909, including linters and
counting round as half bales. show
1885, 200 running bales, amounted to
10.315,3S2 bales, which is 5,271,924
bales. or Al per cent less than the to-
tai for 1908.
1t is interesting to observe, the bull
letin states. that the value of h cot
ton crop of last year was about one
half that Of the corn crop in the
country in 1909, as estimated by the
department of agriculture; vas nearly
$1,000, 600 600 more than hat of the
wheat crop; and was twice the value
of the Dat crop. The bulletin refers
to d leading engineering and mining
- = <f,o+ I'D
production of gold in 1909, amounting
IN value to about $3.50. 900, 900, was
the greatest ever recorded; and it
points out that the sum stated is but
slightly more than one-half the value
of the American cotton crop last year.
The average annual production OF
cotton in the United States for the last
five years was 11.935.641 bales. or l.
620,259 bales more han the crop of
1909. The value of the cotton crops
of the fve-year period ending with
1909 was s3,54S.822.369, while the
value for the five year period ending
with 1899 was s1,529,502,325.
The cotton w were in a
wretched state financially. the report
asserts, when the crop of 1898 was
sold at an average price Of 40 cents
per pound. Their Independence really
began with the price of 12.2 cents per
pound in 1908.
During the last five years the price
OF lint cotton averaged about II cents
Per pound, or about s55 per bale. and
che value of the cotton seed Increased
from s15.76 per ton in 1906 to s2T.73
Yer ton in 1909.
The value OF a 5O--pound bale Of
cotton. including the value of the seed,
was $S4.4f in 1909, compared with
S5O.37, in 1904, and with s30.22 in
1898.
1>b, b,1io4:, no4x +xo .o~,~
tn the Bureau Of Statistics Of the De-
partTnent Of Agriculture. the area
planted to cotton in 1903 was 3z.292,-
900 acres, of which $4,000 acres or
AZ per cent. We're abandoned, leaving
39,9"8 900 acres as the area from
which the crop was harvested. There
was q reduction OF As per cent In the
area harvested and Of 24.1 per cen in
the prod lotion in 1903. The average
production per acre in 1909 was 1916
pounds compared with 1853 pounds
III 1903
Attention is called to the fact that
The acreage harvested between 1879
and 1909 increased 1877 per cent II
The production 97.S rer cent. How
ever. the CROP Of 1903, amounting to
about 13.4s2.131 running bales. repre-
sehts more nearly the normal prodac-
Non. and it shows an increase Of 1905
per cent over the crop OF 1879.
ne states sustaining the greatest
loss in production in 1909, compared
WIN the results OF 1908, in the ord er
or their relative loss, are: Louisiana,
496 per cent: Mississippi. 34.3 per
cent; Texas. 33.4 per cent; Arkansas,
"O-6 Der cent: Tennessee, 27.2 per
cent; Alabama 23.6 per cent; and
Okdahoma- 1919 puer cent.
The result in Louisiana IS said to
oe little short Of disastrous as. during
'he last few years, his State sustain