Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-03
PLANS TO RAISE RECORD
COTTON CROP FRUSTRATED
This Years Production Forecast by
Department of Agriculture at
11,633,OOO Bales.
MANY INFLUENCES AT WORK
Scarcity Of Labor. Entry Of Young
Men Into Military Service, High
Prices and Efforts to Feed Itself
Among Reasons for Failure.
IBy AssocIatcd Prcs..l

BY Associated Prcss.l
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Plans of the
cotton growers to produce this year the
largest crop OF that staple ever grown
have been frustrated. a crop larger
than that OF last year and that pre-
ceding 1t probably will be realized
This years production was forecast to.
day by the Department Of Agriculture
at 1l.633.o 900 equivalent 500 pound bales.
That would be about 1885, 900 bales more
than produced last year and 441.ooo
bales more than the 1915 crop. but II
Is 100000 bales less than the record
crop produced three years ago.
Scarcity OF labor. due to emigration
OF negroes to the Industrial centers OF
the North by higher wages, and to the
entry OF young men in the military SER
vice. high prices OF food, feed and
fertilizer. and the movement for the
South to feed itself are the important
influences against the cotton farmers
effort to produce a record crop. In
favorable weather also was a deter
mining factor.
STATEMENT ON CONDITION
ISSUED BY DEPARTMENT
a statement on condition issued at
the department.. said:
1T was the desire and intention of
the farmers OF the South outside the
newly infested weevil areas to plant
this year the largest cotton crop on
record. But their plans could not be
carried out. A number Of influences
have held the acreage down. and In
some places forced reduction where
heavy increases were contemplated. An
important influence has been the labor
problem. In all of the States east of
the Mississippi River. where the negro
Is the chief labor on the cotton PLAN
tations, there has been heavy exodus
OF these workers. Several hundred
thousands of negroes have deserted the
farms to go to the industrial centers
in the Northern and Eastern States,
where they could get higher wages than
they had been receiving. In addition
many thousands OF young men have
left the farm to enter the military or
naval service. Heretofore there was
usually a small surplus Of farm and
industrial labor in the South. while
now there is deficit with no chance
Of an adequate supply soon. AS a re-
suit. much land ordinarily planted to
cotton Is this year planted to other
crops requiring less cultivation and
hand labor. The high prices prevailing
for food, feed and fertilizer have been
a factor. The slogan the South must
feed itself" has had its effect. and many
farmers who have for years planted
cotton to the exclusion of most other
crops, are now practicinE diversified
ton. In many sections 1t Is az prof.
fah RI fDh-
or other food crops as It is to produce
cotton. These crops. requiring less
cultivation than cotton. seem to some
farmers to solve the labor problem,
and they have planted these at the ex-
pense OF some Of their cotton acreage
Unfavorable weather caused much loss
Of early planted cotton. and some OF
this was replaced by corn and other
crops.
In some sections the crop has re-
covered some Of It's lateness, but over
most OF the belt it still averages two
to three weeks late. The weather was
too cold the first half Of June and over
the Southern half OF tho belt dry
weather. which in portions OF Texas
assumed crop-killing proportions. pre-
vailed the greater part of the month
In Texas. Louisiana. Mississippi, Ala
bamA and Georgia the drought has
been serious. but cotton has not suf-
fered as severely as other crops. In
the States on the northern line Of the
cotton belt too much rain has fallen
In many places. The latter part Of
the month was more favorable for cot
ton. the temperatures being generally
high and the crop. while small. seems
to be fruitinE we'll. There is complaint
OF weevils In every infested State. but
the ravages to date seem not so severe
as in former years. The lateness Of the
crop Is probably responsible to some
extent for this, but the dry weather
prevailing In the worst infested Sec
tions has held the weevii in check.
The crop is generally well cultivated"
Acreage and conditions by States
81