Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-07

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Terrible Decline in Early September
Measuring the drop CT cotton condition
for the past few months has been much
like checking the fall of barometer when
n storm is brewing. Since July 20, this
has been easily marked from week 10 week
and laterly from day to day. On August
~ the average rate of fall was ABOUT -FOUR
tenthS per day. In our last report we par
tally anticipated and discounted this move
ment but the rate of fall diminished little
during the first weeks of September with
fine Unprecedented result we have today.
Georgia's Condition Figure 40 Per Cent
May condition figure 81, June 70, July
81, August 90. This is greater than has
occurred in many years. lnterpreted in
terms of final production it means that
during the month we have lost difference
between 1,679,000 bales and present in
dication of 1,547 bales.
Thirty Million Loss
At the prevailing price of cotton, cotton
seed and Iinters. 3O,O0000O will not cover
the damage. Besides the disastrous con-
ditions so clearly shown in the condition
figures we must also consider the unusual
abandonment, which has run to almost four
times the standard of l per cent or twice
that since the weevil reached the state some
five years ago. The official figure which
is placed at 50 per cent covers the cotton
area which has been given up entirely or
planted to other crops. The acreage which
was so discarded previous to June 20 was
considered in making our acreage estimate
of June %. 1t was much greater than that
L
that total cotton area which has been elm
mated before harvest amounts to fully 8
per cent of the original planting. we EN-
phaSize this point which looks small when
indicated on the percentage basis, it must
be remembered that per cent Of the Geor-
gia cotton area is much more than 4OO, ooO
acres, a greater area than is planted by
each of six of the minor cotton states,
and almost equal to a fourth of the planting
of each of the states of Louisiana and North
Carolina.
MI. ND n
ton is due principally to the ravages OF
the boil weeyil For five years he has been
working forward with occasional reverses
due to severe winters. The winter of 1918
was so mild that large numbers of the old
weeylS survived. These became active
very early, the tremendous rains of June
and July exactly suited their multiplication
Shortage of labor prevented gathering ana
burning of fallen squares and the late sea-
son has been such as TO force migration to
new feeding grounds with the accumulatiye
result that nlne-tenths of the state has
suffered terrific damage. Only some sew
enteen cotton counties are uninfected as this
goes to press. Even though we should at
tempt to write the whole cotton story in head
lines, would fail to convey an accurate
description of the damage this pest has
brought. Nor is the injury yet complete
History repeating itself, the newly infected
counties will nat have accurately checked up
their loss until the final gin report.
Auxiliary to weevil loss, ana scarcely
second to him in destructiveness, has been
the adverse weather The flooding rains
that came early in the season were followed
in August and September by severe drouth
and heat. The first wrought havoc on low
lands promoted soft, tender growth where
insect allies. The dry weather caught the
frail plants and stripped them of their up
per fruit and even their leaves.
Ordinary cotton trouble like rust, black
root leaf worms and red spider, though as
bad as usual, have been forgotten in the
presence Of the greater enemies If q
painter were to take map of Georgia and
attempt to geographically portray an image
of our present cotton crop, he could scarce
ly paint the southern portion in too dark
colors. In the middle newly infested belt
lie could shade off to dispiriting gray and
even in the northern belt the hue would be
duh and gloomy. The only region where he
could use hopeful hue would be in the
extreme northern limit where Favorable ge-
ographical position has still left bright
prospect.
Picking has progressed very rapidly and
although the crop averaged Il little late,
gathering will be completed carrier than
usual IN two thirds of the Georgia counties.
This is because the plaut has shed most Of
the fruit On the upper half of the stalk
and the weevil has punctured the other
squares the plant was able to retain. There
fore soon as the main or middle crop Is
picked, the harvest is over.
Details by districts and counties follow
with the condition figures in per cent of
normal placed Immediately preceding the
District / (Northwest)
This section begun. the season under the
most favorable auspices, but has been I'M
usually afflicted, first by rains, second by
drought, third by weevil and fourth by red
spider. The weevil early gained a foothold
| in ChattOoga county and from there spread
in all directions. meeting the advances of the
main line from the southwest early in Au-
gust. All of the counties are now infested
except Murray and Whitfield. AS might be
expected Chattoosa county has suffered
! ~. l.
lowest. Whitfield and Dade are in good
condition. The district average 67, is 8
points lower than last month and the ADAM
donment in this district since July is 80
per cent of cotton planted.
District 2 (North)
That portion of the state northeast of
Atlanta has been exceedingly fortunate this
season. Not only have the weather ex-
tremes been felt less than in any other
3 part of the state but the weevil has just
gotten into the crop and will scarcely in
jure it this year. AS noted previously, the
oounties along the extreme northern limit of
. the cotton belt have the best crops this
year. No county will suffer disastrously.
J. The weevil is reported as far north as Jack
. average, IS, against rs last month Aban-
, doned four-tenths of 1 per cent.
District NORTH
Conditions here were exactly similar to
! counties have the weevil and he cannot de-
stroy much this season. The weather has
been unfavorable, but the crop is well ad-
vanced and will make sure money for the
farmers in spite of the comparatively light
yields. District average 6S,. against IS last
month. Abandonment practically nothing.
District (West)
When we reach the middle western Sec
ton we find appalling evidence of weevil in
festation. Not only has the condition fig
ure fallen IL per cent, but the abandonment
has climbed up 21a per cent. Practically
no top crop can be made and the major
portion Of stalks have nothing above the
middle. Condition borders on disaster in
Marion, Muscogee, Schley and Talbot. The
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