The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-16
ACREAGE REDUC-
TION FORECAST
Rock EiH Sends Out Question
nairc as to Cotton

hoCk lIlll, March 1l.-That tn"
acreage planted i'm cotton i'm South
Carolina this year will be materially
reduced is shown in the summary Of
IL survey just completed by the Pco-
PIES National bank. The survey WAS
Il most COmpre hcnsiVe one and was
mac" with the idea of getting an ac-
cUTatc statement of conditions in
every part of the state. 1t is under
Stoo" that similar surveys are in
progress i'm other cotton growing.
states and the Indications point to
findings similar to those cleaned
from the South Carolina survey.
And while tn" acreage will be ma
tcriaily rcducCd, ii is believed the
yield per a"r" Will be less than
formerly. Concrete reasons for This
belief is lonnd in the fact that the
farmers are not going to be able TO
finance the planting { of us largo an
acrcaG" as last year, and i'm the fur
thcr fact that large number are 70
lnG TO be unable to purchase proper
icrtlliHcrS To insure the usual yield.
Inc facts that this will be the case.
III South Carolina are indiSDutab,c.
ana 1t IL believed that the same con-
dItiOnS obtain in most of the cotton
states.
The survey at thc Peoples National
bank WAS mad" by mcan& OF a uu"S-
tiUnnairc to every bank ir ;hc state.
Nearly all the hHn<s flied in the re-
plies to the questions asked The
summary of the replies, made public
today, shows that the farmers OF the
state now haNc on hand ;.hout -
per cent. OF the 1870 cotton crop. q.
which nearly 50 per cent. grades un-
der middling. The acreage r,duc-
tlon in the sta" is estimated in tho
replies ut "'.S per cent. and reduction
! IN the us" Of CCmmcrCial fertilizers
VIII b" around O. per cent. Be
'hUS" 90 the very great acrCaC" re-
ductIon, TN" small uSr of fertilizers
ana IN" dllticultN in securing linan-
clal aid, 1t seems that the Weld Of
cotton in South Carolina during 1921
VIII be far less than in 1920" stated
an official Of the bank i'm comment
ing ON the summary from the sur
vey.
Continuing, the summar. shows a
d"cIdCd majority Of the banks rcDly-
ing stated cmphatically that they
would require an acreage reduction
before granting loans. while n great
many moro who do not require il,
Will urge and advise in favor of re-
duction. Practically no bank in tho
state intends TO lend any money for
the cash purchase Of fertilizers. the
replies show, Willie few Of tn. lien
merchants of the state arc prepared
TO extend credit to the farmers This
year without the help OF the banks.
"Within the last day or two" said
on" OF the bank officials in discuss
lnS tn" survey, "rcportS have been
coming to us that many farms are
being abandoned because the tenants
are unable to make financial ar
fanSrmcntS To plant another crop of
cotton under present conditions."
Right in lin" with the bank survey
Is the statement Of Il representative
o' wei! known fertilizer con-
Germ fcW days ago. His state
mcnt was to the effect that not
every farmer would be able to secure
cfrtilizcrs this year and very little is
being sold on time. He said he
"'" Va i''I lHtiH WHO psllu cash Tor
their fertilizers last year who have
been denied fertilizers ON a time
basis. His opinion was that the
use Of fertilizers would be material
~ rurtai!"d this year, despite the
tact that the price WAS from - TO 81
per cent. less than obtaining last
year. Tn" acreage OF cotton and of
other crops will be cut considerably
or the crops will be attempted with
the use ol Ilttic or no fertilizers, he
d"'!Hf'd. HIS statements arc borne
out by TN" course adopted locally,
as Ilttlc fertilizer has been sold to
date. say local dealers, and il is be-
hcVcd th" same is true Of nearly
every locality.