Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-05
WHITE COTTON
Of HIGH GRADE
CROWS SCARCE
Undue Rains Bring Hinged and
0ff-CoIOr Classes on Market
Earlier Than Usual.

MEMPHIS. Oct. 4-Calculations of
the probable yield Of cotton have not
become any more definite this week
than they were before. Frost date
and the amount OF rain remain all
important.
Over a large part Of the belt pre-
cipitation was liberal during the
week, being needed nowhere, and
further injuring the quality OF the
crop as well as decreasing the guam
.tity to some extent. In the sections
weather conduced to its greater ac-
tivity and there is no chance Of the
late crop amounting to anything. In
other sections the plant did not have
enough vitality left when the rains
started for any second growth to
start and there injury to the crop
already open or about to open has
has been some improvement, bolls
growing larger and fruiting going
ahead, but for it to amount to a
great deal, conditions must he IA
vorable for several weeks yet and
frost date must be deferred. Calcu
lations for the late fruiting to add
materially to the size OF the crop
must necessarily be contingent upon
a favorable spell during the present
month and no freezing temperatures
until well In November.
Picking Is Hurried.
Where rains have not been too fire.
quent and heavy there has been
progress in picking, for the large
amount OF open cotton and the eX.
tremely high prices prevailing in the
market have been stimulants to push
the work as rapidly as possible.
However, over a large part of the
central and western belt and part
of the eastern, there has been serious
interruption. first from the cool spell
and then from rains. The ginning
has not been what it would have been
and on that account the second CEN
sus report on ginning proved not
much larger than the one for a year
ago.
There has been no complaint Of
the labor supply. though the real
test is yet to come, as the weather
has been. so irregular that in those
sections that usually find trouble in
getting enough pickers, a compare
lively small amount has been picked.
The movement has been as free as
the weather would allow, local re-
ceipts having picked up sharply after
the rains stopped. No disposition has
those ruling being the highest ever
received so early in the season and
being very satisfactory to the pro-
ducers.
White Cottons Wanted.
For the better grades and for white
cOttons there has been keen demand,
the wet spell having reduced the pro-
portion Of high grades so greatly as
to leave those buyers who had sold
freely ahead in bad shape for getting
their needs filed The local exchange
had to quote prices on "tinges" and
"off colored" cotton earlier than
usual, because they came in freely.
Discounts of from IA to IL cent
are ruling, the official quotations, as
elsewhere, being for white cotton of
the upland varieties.
There is some question here among
some observers OF the spot situation
as to the ability to maintain prices
when the weight OF these damaged
varieties comes fully onto the mar
ket They contend that much of the
strength shown in the spot depart
ment for the past few weeks has
been due to the fact that there was
large short interest to spnners in
white cotton and that when this is
satisfied, conditions will not be so
favorable to the seller, quota tons be-
ing based everywhere on white cot
ton
Those who are bullish, however, be-
lieVe that a more reasonable eXplana-
ton for the firmness that has sent
middling to 13 "a and IA 3-sc is
that the spinning world has realized
the moderate promise Of a crop rs
compared to prospective needs and
has done the natural thing Of going
after supplies as fast es possible The
fact that the spot markets have led
in the advance causes a feeling that
the strength has been entirely of
legitimate character.