The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-04

ton. A prominent New York cotton
authority and writer on economic sub
jects wrote me recently that some OF
his former friends from the South
had told him ~confidentially that they
regarded the weevil as more of an
asset than a liability. / wrote him in
reply that it had been a tremendous
asset to the cotton farmer who had
never suffered from an infestation
of it.
What then is the present economic
result Of the expanding demand and
contracting supply of cotton? Prices
higher than have been seen before
since the Civil War.
What prices may reasonably be ex-
pected for several years to come? "A
continuation of a range of prices much
hiher than the average for the past
five or ten years and prices highly
profitable to the grower who can pro-
duce an average crop with due econ
omy.
This bringssme to the consideration
of what seems to be the great oppor-
tunity of Greenwood and the Delta
country tributary to it.
In discussing the subject OF cotton
production in the Greenwood territory
| am not unmindful Of the fact that
this year to the east and south of the
city the weevil has done material dam
age and cotton receipts here have fall
en- off accordingly
The weevil first appeared in Green
wod territory in 1910, but while it has
caused great decrease in cotton pro-
duction farther south, especially be-
low the line of the A. & V. Railway
since 1908, up to the present time this
section has continued to produce near
ly normal crops, particularly the rich
alluvial lands to the west and north.
The history Of the progress of the
weevil from Texas east shows that in
the latitude of Greenwood, on rich al
luvial lands, cultivated in extensive
tracts largely free of trees and under
growth, cotton has still been success
fully grown; and from past expert
ence it may be inferred that equal
success, under such conditions, may
be achieved in the future.
This section of the Yazoo Delta
with the Delta country lying to the
west is the seat of the production of
long staple cotton, and although siren
efforts have been made to grow
i tin other parts of the cotton belt, the
have been only indifferently
successful.
The entire production of long staple
cotton or staple of l 3-16 inches and
in the United States is proba-
bly, not in excess of 100000 bales Of
800 pounds each, of which 10000 bales
are Sea Island, grown in Georgia and
South Carolina, and 10000 bales long
grown in Southern California.
The remainder is grown in the Delta
mentioned.
There is good reason to belive that
premium on long staple cotton
continue to increase. As a high
class fibre is has no competition except
silk selling ASSOC per pound and
wool at $1.00 per pound.
The opportunity of a city to grow
n wealth, whose tributary lands will
produce a half, or even a third of a
'ale of cotton to the acre, with a value
# $4,000 to $4,000 a bale for the
'otton and $4,000 to $500 per bale
or the seed, seems to be beyond ques-
ion.
With the presence Of the boil weevil,
We hear much about the great advan-
ages Of crop Investigation. In a Sec
ion that can grow cotton proftably,
md particularly long staple cotton, I
'elive there are two and only two
roper functions Of Investigation, and
hey are first, to grow sufficient food
or man and beast for home consump.
ion land second, to use Investigation
o build up the soil through the plant.
ng of leguminous crops and the pas
urage and feeding of those crops to
ogs and cattle. The surplus arising
rom these operations may be sold
nd will constitute an auxiliary rev.
nue..
The chief money crop, though for
he fertile lands of this section should
e cotton. This is the south's birth
ight, and staple cotton is this Sec
'on's monopoly.
When we grow wheat, corn, oats,
ay, cattle and hogs to sell, we are
'mpeting with the farmers Of ~every
ther state in the middle west, who