Sharp County record., 1918-08-09
DON'T TRUST THE
PRICE OF COTTON
This Conclusion Can Be Drawn From
Recent Fluctuations in Prices.
BY W. c. Lassetter, Director Extep
sion Division, College Of
Agripulfurp

SION DIVISION, College OF
Agriculture
The high prices Of cotton cannot be
depended upon. This conclusion can
be drawn from the recent fluctuations
in prices or from the history OF cot
ton marketing.
During the period Of April IA to 16
the price Of cotton dropped 332 per
bale During that time there were
wide fluctuations. On one day alone
the price dropped by 1913 points, sp-
proximately &c per pound. approx
mately $40 per bale.
Since April 16 tsR price has con-
tinued to decline. There have been
wide fluctuations, but the result has
been an aggregate loss For example
since April the price Of spot cotton
on the Little Rock market had, by
May l, dropped from about 3%c rer
pound TO about 26c per pound. This
represents an aggregate loss Of about
| $40 per bale.
No one can forecast the price Of
cotton Tor this fall. Much will de-
pend upon factors of Government reg
ulations and upon the worlds ship
ping conditions. The United States
| cannot consume the entire cotton
crop Of the South. Cotton must be
sent abroad If the price ie to be main
| tanned.
The shipping conditions are not at
all favorable. Recent information on
available shipping shows that there
are only about eleven million tons Of
shipping available for service between
the United States and Europe. Since
the beginning Of the war there has
been an aggregate loss of over i've
millioos tons Of shipping. Shipping is
so limited that the United States and
England were forced to take over the
Dutch ships which was made possible
by the Hague regulations. World ship
ping is SO short, stores OF grain &C.
comulated in Australia, Argentine
and other points in the world cannot
be moved to England, France and
Italy 10 supply the extreme need in
those countries. There is barely suf-
Aeient shipping to permit a limited
supply from the United States to
these needy countries.
The United States now is called
upon to furnish millions OF men to
help stem the tide OF the German ad.
vance In France and Belgium. All
available shipping is being turned to
the transportation OF soldiers and OF
the supplies and the food needed TO
support these men. Arms and ammu.
niuons must be carried across the
seas. During this congested condition
In connection with shipping, can we
ask for rtom for cotton? II the Ger
mans win. will there be any demand
for cotton In England, where the
great cotton consuming mills are 10
cated7 So much OF the price Of cot.
ton hinges upon war conditions. II
shipping conditions improve, II the
German advance is stopped. there may
be chance TO send more cotton 10
the mills IN England In that case we
can expect good prices for cot.
ton. But who knows what will
happen Why not be prepared for
the worstY The United States Gov.
ernment has felt this situation so
keenly that II has asked every farmer
In the South TO safeguard himself
against loss by growing the food
stuNs and the feeds needed on his
place The United States Govern.
ment has said that when each farmer
has provided for hS own needs II IL
then his business as TO how much cot.
tor he plants. Where cotton has been
the money crop tho Government has
recommended that each farmer
grow his own supply OF food and
feeds and then put the remainder OF
the land into cotton and endeavor 10
grow Just as much az IA possible.
Upon second thought II is seen that
this 10 the same syeten that the asrt'
cultural leaders OF the college. o. as.
riculture and the u g, Department OF
Agriculture have urged upon the far.
mers OF the South for many years,
Th@e men have urged this system
because the best farmers OF the
South had found that II paid and they
recommended II, therefore, because II
wss considered 70 be good farm man
asement Today world food eondi-
tions and world skipping conditions
demand, a. mean. ~ self.protec
ton against an uncertain cotton mar.
ket that the farmers Of the South
grow their own food and feed supply
10 order that should the price Of cot
ton b, low or should cotton b largely
unmsrtetsble, the farmer and his fam
ily and his stock will not suffer there
W, Do not trust tho price OF cotton.