The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-03-20
THE COTTON ACREAGE

The cotton seed from which the
1915 crop is to be made. are not YET
III the ground, but the statisticans
! have busted themselves I'm effortg tC
find to what extent the farmers will
curtail their cotton acreage. Care.
fnl study of, the situation has led to
the conclusion that the reduction
Will be twenty-five per cent or there
about. aIessrs. Jay Bond Co. have
issued an estimate which shows an
average reduction of 20. s per cent.
They are Of the opinion that In
South Carolina the acreage will be
less by onc-quarter than 1t was last
year. The greatest reduction is
looked for In Missouri, where the es-
innate iDdicaSes that the cotton
acreage will be cut in half. This
fact fs explained, perhaps, on the
ground that Missouri is In. the grain
belt. or adjacent to 1t. and seeing the
wealth has come to the farmers who
planted grain In 1914. tho Missouri
farmefs arc determined TO get their
snare OF the grain money in 1915.
Suppose the cotton acreage is re.
odnced one-quaFter all over the Sout:s.
what effect will that have? The ef-
feet VIII unquestionabiy be bene-
ficial Assuming that crop condI-
tlon5 Will be as favorable In 1915 ne
IN 1914, which Is doubtful, tho
yield next year, according 10 the ns,s-
mates, VIII be approximately 12.-
S 100000. Add to this number the
supply probably viii be greater
than the demand.
In the year 1924 the estimated
consumption of American cotton by
: the mills of the world was apprcxf.
Snfately 14,250,Ge What the corr
numption OF the present crop will be.
remains to be seen. 1t WILL how
ever, be greater than was at first an
ticlpateh. Possibly the demand for
cotton next year will be greater, also,
than Is anticipated, for there Is an
increasing demand for cotton, which
demand Is created. In part, by the de-
pletion OF the wool, linen and flax
supply. -
hooking at the question from cne
ant,la 1t appears that a reduction
2 such as that which Is estimated, will
mean q fair price for cotton. But
IN taking this view. one must assume
to best OF conditions. To be on the
safe side, the only thing Tor the
fariners 10 do Is to reduce not less
t1Ah cne-quarteT. A reduction
'Sf..stSu hsohuS Iiidt -Dut tnfge acres
i viii be planted where four were
plaGteil last year. considered In con-
necttcn with the fact that COM
paratiyeiy little fertilizer win be
used in 1915, might result In
fairly good readjustment OF tie law
of supply and demand aB 1t is re-
lated to the cotton production. But
I q reduction OF one-fourth Is cer-
taiHit as small as the farmers sIoaid
c0nslder. IL thoy are to show that
J egminary calculations are In
sccstfate. it Will be to tie interest of
the country for Them 10 make the
tsElires too Conservative, rather than
aIt exAgg geratlon of the reduction
ilt down the cotton acreage MI
teaEt onesfopr:.l. and In the fiefCa
Where cotton would. under NORMAL
ceisditfons, have been planted. raIse
1oedstilff. Develop the various faf,,Is
8ficat ttons of agricultafe, and when
tho fall OF 1915 shs.ii have come \
there will not be the hysterts wisleh
existed some months ago; there viii
be no Hh1y- hale cry no faiinrSs IN
.sneee debts We shall live anerriiy
anolsgh II The farmers win curfa;I
flteig creaEe not iess than oris-
ttssaTter and viii give aIl attention
le 10 the raising Of food
y