Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

Georgia. Even though there be an
increase of 10 per cent in acreage In
the state of Georgia during the COM
ing season (and some authorities con-
tend there will be no increase), the
yield will be materially reduced on &C.
count of the activity Of the boil wee
vii. The boil weevil has already sf-
fected Alabama "a it did Louisiana and
Mississippi. We can expect tho same
result in the great cotton state OF
Georgia.
In Louisiana since the advent OF the
boil weevil, the yield has dropped
from as much as 1,1oO, 600 bales (ses-
son of l9O4.O6) to 273,000 bales; in
Mississippi from 100000 to $4,000,
estimated for 1861 crop; In Ala.
bama, the cotton ginned up to Jsnu-
airy 10, 1914, was 1.676,O00 bales; In
1915 it was 100000 bales; this year
up to date, it has been only $4,000
bales or one-half of last year, or one
third of two years ago. Just think
what it will do in Georgia! These are
statistical facts.
Furthermore, there are some other
conditions that do not look 80 we'll for
a large crop for 1917. Already the
matter of labor Is Q serious one. II
this country raises . large army, the
matter of labor will be much more
serious still.
Another condition which 10 against
the cotton crop is that OF fertilizer. In
order that cotton be successful, espe-
cially in the eastern belt, intensive
cultivation is necessary and this re-
quires good fertilizer-and good fer
tilizer Is very expensive. The eastern
belt outside of the Delta section can.
not produce . full yield Of cotton
without commercial fertilizer. A fer
tilizer with q potash base 10 the one
most necessary. Every one knows
that fertilizer with an adequate sup.
ply Of potash is practically unsttsins'
BILE. Therefore some fertilizers are
lacking in quality and such good ones
that can be obtained are exceedingly
high in price. 1t lie the writer's expe.
rience that cotton cannot be proflta.
bly, produced under boil weevil condi-
tons where high price fertilizer bills
have to be met. The fertilizer situs.
ton is most unfavorable % far 20 the
planting of cotton 10 concerned.
However, the thing that will have q
great influence on the future of cotton
Is the attitude of the farmers towards
the next crop. On account of the
prices that have usually been obtained
this last fall, many farmers will be
tempted to increase their cotton acre
age. This, Of course, would be . great
mistake. II the farmers Of the south
rush in and plant al the cotton they
can in 1917, and neglect their corn and
hay and other crops, the tendency
will then be for the price Of cotton to
60 down, and whilst the planting of q
large acreage under cotton does NOT
necessarily mean . large crop (the
south has failed to make Q
large crop this past year on . very
large screage), stil . large planting
will have . sentimental eject on the
market, and should . large crop BE-
gathered next fall, our farmers will
get less for their cotton and pay more
for their corn, hay and meat. II the
farmers of the south will continue
their diversification and plant only o.
average crop, the crop OF 1917 vii
then be the third small one in success
sion and it will not be unlikely that
the price will 60 to zoe or 25c and pos
sibly more. The southern farmer viii
then have raised his own feed sn6
foodstuffs and any surplus could b'
sold at prevailing high prices. Thu
world needs al OF the food and for
age crops that can be produced II
1917 and ct prices most favorable Il
the farmers. The south will become ,
land overlooking with wealth and vii
at last have come into ito own.
The southern farmer ought to real
ize this. The thing for him to do 4
to div ersify; not increase his cotton
acreage; and by next fall he will hsv'
enough feed and foodstuffs to supply
himself, market his surplus II any
and sell his cotton at price that vii
yield him immense returns. There II
not very much in it for the farmer !
he only gets Ice . pound for his cot
ton and pays the western farmer % I
bushel for wheat in the form Of: -four
81 bushel for corn and 16c Q pount
for meat. Curtsil your cotton crop
plant more corn, peas, peanuts, velve
beans, hay crops; raise livestock; and
at the end of the year you will Owl
your own 81 Q bushel corn or l0c hog
and &c cattle, and sell your cotton fol
25c or 3Oc pound.
Holders OF spot cotton-hold firm
The present situation will boil down b
the proposition that some people hsv'
cotton which other people uaust have
| BY THEODORE v. WENSEL,
/ Pres. Rumble & Wensel Co.