Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-09
coTT0N PRODUCTION IN aEoE-

CoTTdN PRODUCTION IN GEoE-
GIA
The yield of cotton in Georgia
varied from fifty to 275 pounds per
acre in 1919. The county making
the largest average yield per acre
was Gilmer, where 2T5 pounds of
| lint was harvested from each acre
| planted. Clarke county stood sec
ond, with 272 pounds. Naturally, Gill
ner grows comparatively little cot
ton, while Clarke grows a good deal.
! In other words, Clarke's record in
| this r Spect is much more remark
/ able than that of Gilmer, owing to
| the greater area involved. Of course,
| everyone knows that the larger the
number of farms taken into an aver
age the more difficult it is to main
| tain a high yield. An examination
OF the figures sent out by the bureau
| of crop estimates indicates that the
| yield of cotton in what may appro-
priately be termed northeast Georgia
was around 220 pounds of lint per
acre. The best district in the stat
in the matter of yield showed an
average of 224 pounds of lint cotton
per acre. The crop was infinitely
better in north Georgia than in any
other section of tt state. This
result was due to the fact that the
greater part of the territory in
question was only slightly, if at ALL
infested by the weeyil. Moreover,
the seasonal conditions. while UNI
Favorable in this section to a con-
siderable dregee were on the whole
much more favorable than in any
other part of Georgia.
The next area of the state, which
included a part of middle Georgia,
made an average yield of from 100
to 200 pounds per acre. South of
Columbus and Savannah the yield
was in many instances from fifty
to 100 pounds per acre. T',n lowest
yield was along the sea coast. where
less than fifty pounds was harvest
cd. The Sea Island crop was prac-
tically destroyed. There was ser
ton in southwest Georgia, however,
where fairly good yields were OBJ
tanned.
This briefly represents what hap
pened to the cotton crop last year
The matter Fof primary interest at
this time is what is likely to happen
to the cotton crop next year. Frankly,
no one can tell because there are a
large number of conditions which
may enter DIN as determining factors
il the outturn Of the crop. Soma
of these are comfortable by farmers.
rary of them are solely in the
hands of providence. For instance,
man has no power to yerconn a
season of extraordinary rainfall such
as was experienced last year, or on
the other hand, = of extreme ana
protracted drouth. While the boil
weevil did an astonishing amount of
damage in some parts of middle and
south Georgia last year. undoubtedly
rain and grass, did a great deal Us
we'll. The chances are that a much
better crop of cotton would have
been raised in this part of the state
if seasonal conditions had even APP
proximated the normal OF course
we must not lose sight of the fla It
that the weevil has been spreading
in that section of the state for sew
e1al years and had thoroughly estapr
liShed itself when the present sea-
son opened, and was therefore in
POSITION damage the crop very
severely.
What can be done to mitigate the
conditions by which we are confront
ed. and what sort of policy should
we7 follow inYteW of the situation
which has arisen? Can we count on
producing as large crops of cotton
in north Georgia next year as& char
acterized those of the, present year?
Will the weevii, which has spread
over this part of the state during
the fall, assert itself to the full ex-
tent of which is is capable under
favorable conditions another year?
These are some of the pertinent
questions which are being asked at
this time. No one can answer with
any degree of certainty. It is posi-
BILE before the winter is over that
we might have fall in temperature
of 8 degrees below zero Or more. 1t
Is true that such a spell of weather
is not likely to occur, but it has
happened in the past. In the event
we should have such a severe spell