The courier-index., 1920-09-03
Planters Are Discouraged
 OUer Poor Cotton Prospects

The cotton crop in Lee county this year is very deceptive thing, &C., cording to statements made yes terday by several large planters. In fact, unless the remainder of the season is exceptionally favor able and killing frost comes late the crop is going to be distressingIy short.
 The plant is in fine shape-large, vigorous and from a casual inspec- tion one would say the yield is go- ing to be abundant. But an exam- ination of the stalk shows the fruit is very scarce. The heavy rains that fell during the making season caused the plant to grow luxuriant- ly and put on heavy foliage, but this very condition prevented prop CT fruiting. There are scores of fields of fine looking cotton that will not make half bale to the acre.
 J. R. Felton who operates a large plantation three miles north of Marianna, said he had closely ex- amined his cotton and the crops on several other places in his neighbor- hood. Stalks higher than his head have only ten or twelve bolls and in many instances he found large stalks with no bolls at all. Mir. Felton says he has gone over most of his cotton crops and finds this condition generally true in all the fields.
 Marshall Ford, another large cot ton planter, stated this morning his crop was in the same condition fine weed but no fruit. He said if an early frost comes the yield will be cut to practically nothing.
 J. B. Hood, who farms several thousand acres of rich lands in the bottoms, stated Monday the situa- tion looked mighty blue to him. The plant is not fruiting, the weed is large and full of sap, the wealth CT conditions have been against the making of big yield and unless the frost comes late and there is plenty of dry weather and sunshine during the next three weeks the yield will be short.
 Geo. Kausler of Tongin, who works more than a thousand acres in cotton, is not as pessimistic as most of the planters, though he says the situation is far from sat- isfactory. He believes there is still good prospect for making a sixty per cent crop.
 On percentage basis it is es- timated the crop in the uplands will probably come nearer to maI- ing an average yield than will the crops in the bottoms. In the up- lands the plant is smaller and the sun has been given an opportunity to open the bolls on the lower parts of the stalks,
 The government estimate of 12,- 100000 is regarded here as exces- sive. In Texas the condition of the crop is below normal. In Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Oklahoma reports are to the effect that the yield will be short. In the boil weevil district the pest has been playing havoc. Taking the situa- tion as whole the cotton men here. or at least many of them, do not believe the yield will exceed Ill., 800, ,000.
 Ginners Hold Meeting.
 The ginners of Lee county with an attendance of about thirty, held meeting in Marianna Wednesday afternoon and re-organized their association by electing J. R. Eel ton president, and R. L. Hartley of Moro, secretary and treasurer. The meeting was called primarily to dis cuss the ginning charges for the new season. Last year the charge for ginning was thirty cents per hum dred in the seed and $2.00 for the bagging and ties. The price this year will be forty cents a hundred for ginning and $2.25 for the bag ging and ties. This increase in the charges is due to the increase in cost of operating gins. For in- stance coal last year was bought for $500 a ton, whereas this year it costs $11.00 a ton. Other items have increased from twenty-five to one hundred per cent.
 J. w. Patton, manager of the Marianna Cotton Oil Mill, stated yesterday he did not know what the seed market would do after the season had opened. Just at this time the price will be from $26 to $27 ton, but it is probable the price will be raised after the open ing of the season. It depends large ly on the supply of seed and the value of the products turned out by the mills.
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