The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-01
OFFICIALS SEE
CUT IN ACREAGE
Declare Great Reduction in Fer
terilizer Sales Indicate Farmer
Sentiment

| Columbia, Dec. 29.---A straw which
! lOfficials OF the South Carolina division
OF the American Cotton association
says shows which way the wind is
blowing. in regard to the reduction
of cotton acreage newt year, is the
sharp decrease in fertilizer sales dur
ing the months Of November and De-
cember this year as compared with
last year and all previous years.
| Figures secured by officials Of the
association today from the office of
the state treasurer indicated that dur
ing the month of November and De-
Cember this year only $6.67S31 worth
OF fertilizer was bought as compared
with S43,071.69 for the months of No
vember and December last year.
The sales for the last two months
last year were what might be con-
Sldcred around normal or a ten-year
average. Officials of the Cotton Asso.
| citation say that this would indicate
that the farmers are planning q very
heavy reduction in their cotton acre
age mex year. 1t is claimed that the
sales for January, February and
March will not be as heavy in proper
November and December although
they yere only one-seventh as heavy
! in these months
The fertilizer sales are considered
fairly good indication of the cotton
acreage" said cotton association Of
! fetal today
The sales during November and De-
cemDer mean that the farmers have
not the money to put in fertilizer and
that will mean very heavy reduction
In the cotton acreage. Preparations
are being made in every county for
big meetings. to be held Monday,
which is acreage reduction day."
throughout South Carolina by proc
lamation Of Governor Cooper. George
{. Prince, president, and Ellis Efird,
secretary of the Lexington county
branch of the cotton association, were
visitors at state headquarters today
and they said that all indications
pointed to the meeting at Lexington
Monday being one Of the largest ever
held in the county.
we expect to have the courthouse
packed with people," said Mr.. Price,
and they are going to sign the re-
duction pledge and what's more, they
are going to stand by it. Ii calam-
lty overtakes the south because of
another large cotton crop it will not
be Lexington county's fault"
The meeting at Lexington on Mon
day, will be held at noon in .the court
house.
A letter received at state headquar-
4 tTo o,S nr1n ~
mer, president OF the Marlboro county
branch. said that the people Of Marl-
boro county were more in a humor for
q reduction Of acreage this year than
! he had ever seen them.
Col. j. l.. Keitt sent i'm similar re-
port from Newberry county and II. j.
Kirvan, president of the Sumter
county branch. said things were NOV
| ing in Sumter County for the SO per
cent reduction. go
The activity that is In evidence I'm
South Carolina is I'm evidence in other
states. said ,officials of the cotton as
sociatiOn Oday. The campaign for a
belt-wide acreage reduction is being
conducted from Memphis, the head
quarters of the cotton committee ap-
! pointed by the acreage reduction con-
vention held az Memphis recently, and
from st. Matthews, s. c., the head
q""rters of the American Cotton asso-
ciaticn. Reports from both head
quarters indicate a determination on
the part Of the people to stand by the
so per cent reduction agreed upon at
the Memphis meeting A great many
inquiries are being received daily as
TO Texas. 1t was said today that the
movement i'm that state is well under
way and that here will be no fear as
to Texas staying in line with other