The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-09-08
REPORT SMALLEST
CROP IN 33 YEARS
COTTON SUFFERS MOST DISAS-
TROUS MONTH IN HISTORY.
Condition Lowest on Record
Boil Weevil Blamed-1, 900 Bales
Lost Since Last Report-T7S.5O-
a-Bale Rise at New Orleans.

Washington, Sept. 1.-Cotton grow
ing has just suffered the most disas-
trous month in it's history. The indi-
Gated crop will be the smallest in the
last 33 years, while condition now is
the lowest ever recorded in any
month in the history of the industry.
Rayages of the boil Weevil are par
ticularly the cause of the severe de-
line of the crop, amounting to loss
Of 1,116,000 bales in prospective pro-
duction since last months forecast.
The department of agriculture in an
nouncing today it's forecast of total
production Of 7,037,000 equivalent
5OO-pound bales, based on canvass
made August 25th, declared every
thing seemed to have gone wrong
with the crop.
An acre-yield Of 127 pounds to the
acre is indicated for the country as
whole this year. Never in the last
Sc years has the yield been so low.
The nearest approach was 129 pounds
in 1866. Only 10 per cent. of crop
is promised in some counties of South
Carolina.
Parts of Oklahoma will have not
more than Is per cent. of crop.
About one-third of crop or less will
be produced in sections of Texas,
South Carolina and Georgia. A half
crop or better may be produced in
Mississippi, northern Alabama, north
ern Georgia and northern South Caro-
lima. States on the northern edge of
the cotton belt may have about two
thirds of crop.
In commenting on the condition
the department in statement said:
"The damage has been the great
est in the area from central Okla
homa to northern central Texas, the
fall in condition amounting to from
25 to 80 points Declines of from 10
to 20 points are shown for southern
South Carolina, for Georgia, north
ern Alabama, the delta section OF
Mississippi and throughout the belt
west of the Mississippi river except in
the northern edge where some slight
Improvement occurred.
"Conditions are especially bad, not
above Is per cent. in southern Okla
homa and not over third of crop
is promised in the adjoining portion
of northern Texas. In southern and
central South Carolina the promise
for less than a third and in some
counties not over Is per cent. Of a
crop. The central belt of Georgia and
most of east and south Texas promise
about third.
Everything Wrong.
"Everything seems to have gone
wrong with the crop. In South Caro-
lima, in Georgia and Arkansas and in
portions of other states, excess rain
fall and cool weather have combined
to give big weed which the boil
weevil in the flush of the early in
vasion has attacked voraciously, de-
stroying all squares and bolls set dur
ing August and even attacking the
larger bolls.
From 40 to 80 per cent. of the
bolls are affected in southern South
Carolina, and the proportions run
very high in other states. Westward
from Georgia through Alabama, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana to Texas and
Oklahoma the weevil has multiplied
far beyond the usual experience. In
Oklahoma, Notwithstanding heat and
drought it is worse than ever expert
enced. In Texas it is the chief cause
of deterioration.
''The mild winter is held respon-
sible for sparing an unusual number
of weevils as we'll as other insects,
which have multiplied beyond meas
ure and are devastating the new
growth in practically all the area Of
its present range. The army worm is
present in large numbers throughout
most of Arkansas, Tennessee and
north Mississippi, but the defoliation
of the heavy growth is not looked
upon as an unmixed evil. Boil worms
and the usual pests are present in
greater numbers than usual. but their
damage is small compared with the
weevil. In North Carolina and Vir-
sinia the long drought has been ell
most a destruction as weevil else
where.
"The northern edges of the belt,
from Virginia and North Carolina
through Tennessee. northern Arkan-
sas and Northern Oklahoma promise
Continued on page 5, column A.