The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-06-09
BIG CUT IN COTTON ACREAGE.
Forecast Points to Smallest Crop
I'm Twenty Years.

Returns from approximately 1900
special correspondents Of the New
York Journal OF Commerce through
the southern states, gathered under
date OF May 81, show very little
change in the estimates of cotton ac-
reage from those of a month ago.
Present prospects are for a cut of
Z1.9 per cent which indicates that
the acreage planted to cotton this
year will be about 25,59S,0OO or the
smallest, probably in twenty years.
Last year the May estimate was "a
$4,000 acres the same as in 1919.
and in 1918 1t was 37,O73,OOO acres.
The next smallest acreage in the
past ten years was in 1915, when it
was 81, 100000. In that year the cot
tor crop was only 11,191,82O bales,
SO that would seem the 1921 crop
Will likely fall far below this figure.
Talk is heard Of a crop Of only g.
OOO,O0O bales this year, though it is
still too soon to attempt any accurate
forecast on that point. AS to the Der
cont condition, while 1t reflects the
uniformly unfavorable weather had
during the past two months, it is
somewhat better than May last year.
being SS.S compared with $500.
AT that time, it however, is much
lower than 1919 when percentage
condition was 1876 and is, in fact, the
lowest with the exception of 1920
since 1907. In 1918 May per cent
condition stood at 81.2 in 1916 at
79.1 and in 1915, 8O.4.
According to an overwhelming ma
1orlty or the reports received the two
outstanding factors in reducing acre
age this year have been the inability
10 secure needed financial accommo-
uatlon, which of course is due to the
oreaR In market prices for cotton and
the world wide falling off in the de-
hland Tor the staple and another sea-
son or cold, wet weather. 1t is not
yet 100 late to make up for much of
the time lost, but it is freely con-
ceoed that the extremely bad climatic
conditions of April and Nav have
neen source of keen disappointment
10 those who misled by the abnormal
~ warm days in February and March
mad confidently hoped to make an
unusually favorable start. Instead.
replanting has been necessary over
vide areas as much as two and even
three times. with indifferent success
III obtaining a stand; another unfay-
orable factor is the wholesale reduc-
ton in the use of fertilizer which
In the opinion of competent observ.
ers is almost sure to materially cur
tail production, while added to this
Is the alarming prevalence of the
boil weevil owing to the open win
Ter and excessive moisture and the
nf for
measures to fight the pests as was
oohe the previous year. Probably the
most hopeful factor Of the situation
is that labor conditions continue to
Improve steadily. Farm help is said
10 be readjusting itself to lower
wages and proving in the main reas-
enable and fairly efficient.
The result is much better state of
cultivation than at this time a year
ago and in the event of better
weather in the course Of the next
few weeks will enable farmers to
push planting operations rapidly.
Furthermore, the advisability of lab
or should have considerable influ-
ence later in the season in offsetting,
at least to some extent, the lessen
ing in the use of commercial fertiliz-
ers, also enabling the plant to bet
ter resist the ravages of weevils and
other insects The season is estimat-
ed as sixteen days late
- An analysis of the state returns
Shows reduction in acreage in all of
the cotton states without exception.
Texas reports decline of 263 per
cent against an increase of 306 per
cent a year ago. Likewise Alabama
acreage has been reduced 24.0 per
cent against gain of 1.5 per cent in
May. 1920. In Oklahoma, which re-
ported an increase in acreage last
year of ga per cent, there has been
a cut Of $50 per cent. Mississippi es-
Inmates are for a reduction of 29.S
per cent and Arkansas 800 per cent
North Carolina acreage is reduced
27.0 per cent, South Carolina 257
per cent and Georgia 27.2 per cent
Florida and Missouri are the heav-
fest losers in the list, the first named
showing a cut Of 35-5 per cent and
the latter 37.3. In the matter of per
cent condition some improvement is
shown of year ago, notably in
Texas, where the cotton condition is
1873 per cent. against $50 per cent,
and Alabama, where it is shown to
be 64.2 per cent against 61.6 per
cent
In the Carolinas condition falls be-
low last year, although Georgia is
better at 66.4 per cent. comparing
with 63.8 per cent. Missouri also
shows betterment. being 1913 per cent
against $50 per cent.
Conditions in nearly all of the
hoU haan ci
complaints, with the exception of
&c ~f loh