The Washington herald., 1921-04-08
SOUTHERN AREAS
HEAVILY REDUCE
COTTON ACREAGE
Growers Smart Under
Losses Suffered on Last
Years Surplus Crop.
GEORGIA is IN LEAD
Memphis, Montgomery and
Jackson Follow Atlanta's
Lead; Forecast "Cuts."

ATLANTA. Ca. April 7.-Due to
losses suffered by planters of Geor-
Ia on last years crop and the de-
sire to bring about increased
prices, there will be a reduction in
the Georgia cotton crop this year
of approximately 30 per cent, ac-
cordine to the belief OF local bank
ers and cotton men.
J. B. Gordon. Atlanta cotton man.
who has Just returned after trip
over the entire cotton belt. declared
today that there will be reduction
OF arount 20 per cent throughout
the belt. Georgia. he said, viii lead
ali the cotton States with a 80 per
cent reduction.
whether the threatened reduction
Is only = temporary measure or
permanent one is entirely contec-
ural, according to A. NJ. Bergstrom,
prominent Georgia banker.
IF the reduction that 1 believe
will take place this year in Georgia
is successful in bringing the plant
ers larger profits on their reduced
crops than they have heretofore
realized on larger ones, reduction
again next year is probable" said
Bergstrom-
-On the other hand, II prices are
made to advance through curtah-
ment this year planters may not be
able to withstand the temptation
to revert to normal crops"
MEMPHIS. Tenn, April IRE
duetion of IS to 80 per cent is ex-
pected in the cotton acreage in the
delta section. this year.
Reports received here at head
quarters of the cotton acreage re-
duction movement say farmers arc
following the plan laid out for re-
doced cotton acreage and planting
more feed and food. There are three
things working toward a heavy cut
in the acreage:
Lack of sufficient credit from
banks and merchants to plant a
heavy crop.
+Heavy surplus of cotton on
hand with small prospects of SELL
ing II in the near future.
3-Shortage of feed and food in
the South. Only about 3S per cent
of the farmers have enough food
to run them until the new crop
comes in. agricultural surveys
show.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. April IL
Alabama farmers have reduced
their cotton acreage about 20 per
cent. according to an estimate
made here today by NJ. c. Algood.
commissioner Of agriculture. which
was concurred in by, F. w. Gist,
agricultural statistician for the
Federal and State government
More soy beans. velvet beans and
other seed recommended for diver
sincation has been sold than ever
before.
The statistical service declares
also that there will be a reduction
of around per cent in the total
number of plows~ sold this year.
JACKSON. Miss, April Am
energetic campaign for diversified
ton of crops, added to the failure
of many farmers to obtain loans
will bring about a reduction of
fully Is per cent in the cotton acre
age Of Mississippi this year, accord
ing to conservative estimates made
by students of the reduction move
ment here.
II has been hoped that the land
planted in the heecy staple would
be reduced at least 35 per cent.
The delta where a majority Of
Mississippi's cotton crop is grown,
will notS have as much acreage in
the product as last year. due to the
lack of money for planting and the
effective plans Of banks throughout
that section in refusing to loan
money for the purchase of feed
stuffs after July I and throughout
all Of 1922.
DALLAS. Tex, April 7.-Cotton
acreage in Texas, a larger producer
Of that product than any other
Southern State, Is being cut from
IS to 80 per cent this year. it was
estimated today by onicials of the
Texas Industrial Congress and the
Texas Farm Bureau Federation.
w. c. Barrickman, secretary of
the Industrial Congress. declared
latest available reports show a re-
duction OF 80 per cent or more.
Because Of the 1890 crop sur
plus, low prices and realization by
Southern farmers that they must
diversity to avoid further heavy loss
and ome 'self-supporting.' the
only tMng that can cut this re-
duction is damage by pests or
weather conditions to other early
crops" said Barrickman. Texas
planters. however. are going to
piow up other crops and plant cot
eon only as last resort"
Authorities were optimistic that
the reduction this year will lead
to sterilization OF the cotton mar
ket. and at the same time give
farmers other crops to fall back
on in case Of a failure"
Cotton mem refused TO call the
reduction a strike" as a protest
OF low prices. The cotton crop
raised this year will be suficient
70 meet all demands at fair prices"