The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-04
DECLINE IN
COTTON CROP
Favorable Weather Fails to
Check Deterioration-Close
Picking is Noted


Check Deterioration-Close
Picking is Noted
New York, Oct. 31.-Regarding
the cotton crop the Journal of
Commerce will have the following
to say in its issue of tomorrow:
notwithstanding the favorable
weather that has prevailed over
the greater part of the cotton belt
during October, further slight de-
terioration has taken place. Final
reports of nearly 1900 competent
correspondents of this journal, un-
der an average date of October "a,
indicate decline in percentage
conditions of 0.8 per cent from the
condition figure Of 52.5 per cent es-
tihated a month ago. Last year
there was a loss of IA per cent
from a condition Of AL per cent,
while in 1920 a drop of nc less than
|8.7 per cent was shown. 1t should
however, be noted that with the
exception Of the unusually poor
showing made a year ago, and a
condition Of 48.1 per cent in 1919,
the present estimate is the lowest
for any October since 1903. For
the past ten years the average de-
terioration has been 3.4 per cent.
|! South Carolina was the. heaviest
loser, showing a decline Of per
cent. Georgia is a close second,
with a drop Of 2 per cent, while
North Carolina, Louisiana and
Alabama lost each 2 per cent. In
Texas percentage condition was
maintained, while Missouri gained
2.3 per cent and Tennessee 1.6 per
cent. Smaller increases have also
been made in Arkansas, Oklahoma
and Florida. This, when con-
trasted with the report Of October
last year, at which time indi-
vidual declines were numerous and
heavy.
:, Probably the most noteworthy
feature OF the return is their sim
ilarity. with those Ola year ago
1T will be recalled that at that
time a further long period of ex-
cessive rain, followed by drouth,
fine weather set in, which greatly
aided farmers in their picking OPP
erations and served to some ex-
itent to .counteract the unfortunate
conditions prevailing earlier in the
season. This year like state OF
affairs is revealed, and cotton, af-
ter making a favorable start, SUI
fered a severe setback as a result
I:of excessive rainfall, and later or
l-of prolonged drouths. 80.
5 The redeeming element in the
seotton situation has again been the
talmost ideal weather condition:
prevailing during the. picking sea:
son. Although the improvement
tcame too late to materially affect
production, it has Undoubtedly done
much to. increase the yield by al
flowing rapid and close picking
Warmers everywhere, encouraged
iby the active demand and high
prices obtaina bic for the staple aEd
Echeapness. and aXai1abi bilitY OF labor
1rare said to have taken in even the
poorest fields, and, the results in
numerous Instances are = proving
tbetter than expected. Furthermore
the lint is of zunusuaflye fine Dual.
lity, insuring a substantial proper:
ton of cotton Of the higher grades
I AT the present writing very little
aow- grade cotton has been picked
Except Sonysthe .bottaIns, where the
Sexcessive moisture and weveil raw.
fages were heaviest.
t For the whole belt, picking wher
this survey was sund dertaken, was
estimated at 90 per cent completed
Ithus establishing another new high
record and comparing With 81 pei
cent last year-at that time the
/ highest for any year since 1915
and So per cent in 1920. AS a mat
ter of fact, picking is completed
in many parts Of Alabama, Missis.
sippi and Texas, and ginning is be-
ing pushed at an equally rapid
rate.
Farmers in nearly all parts .ot
the belt are reported as. marketing
cotton as fast as ginned. In the
opinion OF most observers this is
due not only to the favorable
weather and cheapness and reason
ableness Of labor, but to the add.
| ed incentive of an urgent demand