Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-05
BY w. W. Morrison

In our letter of the 2lSt we sent
out the following inquiries to our
friends:
How was preparation? Will start
be normal? What proportion planted? :?
| Will acreage be increased? Is wealth
/ ier favorable? Is labor sufficient?
Will food crops be increased? Will
fertilizers be increased? Remarks"
The volume of answers was very
large and moved in fair detail prac-
tically every part of the cotton-pro-
ducing area. The date of the answers
averages about April -. We have
made very careful analysis of these
=, plies and give reseults below:
Comments west of river: The per-
centage of replies indicates that
preparations are we'll above normal
and the start about two to four weeks
late. due to cold in the northern sec
ton and droughty conditions in the
been greatly delayed, especially in
tre southwest. 1t is indicated that
this drought has only been relieved
in isolated sections. Labor conditions
are satisfactory and the reports are
practically unanimous that food crops
will be materially increased. But lit
tie fertilizers are used in this sec
ton, except in the Eastern part,
which indicates a decrease. Few re-
port decrease in acreage. The re-
ports generally indicate an increase
Of from 7 to 10 per cent.
Comments east of river: Percent
ages indicate preparation well below
normal, and that the start will be
from 20 to 80 days late. This has
been due to excessive rains early IN
the season. Labor conditions reported
very unsatisfactory. 1t is indicated
that the decrease in the acreage in
southern Georgia and through the
area in Alabama will
he very heavy. estimates ranging from
20 to 90 per cent. In something more
than one-third of the balance of the
eastern sections a moderate increase
is indicated and only small, if any,
decrease in what is left. Some de-
crease in fertilizers IS reported. Like
the West, the report of large in
Creases in food crops is practically
unanimous.
General summary: With the eXcep-
ton of the dry weather referred to
IN Texas and some few sections in
both the East and West, where the
reports show it to be too cold, the
u esent weather conditions over the
eelt are very satisfactory and farm
work is progressing well. Some re
chanting, it is said, will be necessary,
tut this is too limited in extent to
r. important. The fear of the weevil
seems to be general and some few
p,aces report its appearance already
N previously infected areas. Cor
respondents generally concur in the
opinion that the campaign of the gov
eminent to increase th4 acreage plant
ed to food crops has had a ve-y
roarked effect. Few point out, how
ever, that this will be at the expense
OF cotton acreage.
Conclusions: We have stated what
the replies reflect as nearly as pos
sible. No increase in acreage is in
dicated. The preponderance of evl-
dence rather favors very small de-
crease for the belt as whole. The
lack of fertilizers, the weevil and
the late start make the outlook un-
propitious. Favorable weather during
the next forty days would make
great change, but the crop, 1t Is eVl-
dent, will need it.
The recent decline from around 70
cents reflected nothing more than the
pessimism which the future market
has rather regularly developed on an
eg sier spot demand. And the ad-
vance of the last two days IS nothing
more than better demand, compel
Ing futures to come back to the more
constructive view of the spot holders
The holders can be expected to con-
troll the ultimate course Of Prices du-
ring the balance of the season.
After the price has been stimulated
by good demand, reaction can be