The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-04
COTTON CROP
REPORTS NOT
FAVORABLE

AAA ~ - sT'Iz!.: -. -
age, Yield Will \ Not
Be Much Greater
sNaW York. Oct. Reports of
the cotton crop for the month of
September are not favorable and
indications point to still another
cut in. yield. According to the Ia
test returns. gathered under an
average date OF September q, esti-
mates OF. percentage. condition have
been lowered as to 52.5 per cent.
This figure, which represents the
opinion. Of more than 1,640 COM
petent correspondents of the jour
| nal of Commerce, compares With
! AL, the low record figure estab-
lished year ago, and a ten-year
average of. .62.4 per cent. The Sep
|:temher 1920, per cent condition
was estimated at 63.9; 56.S the, year
before and 5S.1s in 1918. It is, in
fact, the lowest level, with the ex-
:.et ption of last year, in more than
twenty years. although not the
! largest drop.
At this time in 1921 the per
cent condition had fallen 10.4; the
year before there. was 9 decline Of
1871 per eenI. and in 1913 81 per
Ieent In view of the above it has
i;again been necessary to revise es-
Inmates of production and condi-
t ton Of .52.5 following the govern.
Iment's method of calculation and
Eusing the government acreage OF
34,S52, 900 indicates possible yield
|under. normal conditions Of ap-
;,preximately 10, ,533,600 bales. This
Icempares with last years actual
WELD. of 7,953,64l bales, 13,43s,-
36a3. bales in 1920. and l6,1S4.930
bales in the banner year Of 1915.
Other private estimates Of cotton
;condition range from 49.0 per cent
Ito .52.4 per cent.
An examination Of the foregoing
shows losses were far less drastic
/! than last month. For instance, the
iOklahoma condition declined Il
lsper cent against a previous loss OF
sE20.4; Mississippi, 6.3 against 1871
land Texas enly 6.S- against -.15.3
Next to Oklahoma the largest re:
.tduetion was Tennessee which fel
I'LL with Arkansas a close second
lat 1913. The smallest loss was re.
i.ported in, Alabama, namely. 81
! South Carolina with a. decline Of
IA: shows the lowest condition re-
tport. 41s6 while the highest il
Missouri at 1910.
! Very little of the hoped fer i'm.
! proteinent has taken place. Here
;;and there reports have been re;
tceived Of refreshing showers in. To-
I:calities where drouth had prevailed
or else OF a cessation Of the
iidrenehing rains complained of a,
iother places. AT these points
conditions are undoubtedly bette,
but over probably the greater par
lof. the cotton belt excessive heat
and drouih have persisted Man,
lcorrespoden declare that no cot
ton has been made since early
August.
There are some counties where
1.-THE drouth has been unbroker
since last. July. Coming after al
! .sexcessive vet spring, the effect
has been distinctly bad. Lacking {
! good tap root the plant has proyel
extremely vulnerable to. untowar6
conditions and although earlier re,
:ports indicated wellgrown plant:
Iheasiiy fruited, the yield is turn.
ing out TO be short
= Shedding has been very heavy
while. from nearly all parts of tht
:; belt have come plants of pre-.
mature opening. The result OF thi:
is cotton that is immature and OF
tpoor quality. Bolls are described
as small and knotty and the lin
yield very. light. Tosthis must bt
iadeed 5he aepredations Of Weevil:
land other insect pests.
Itais conceded that the hot, dr.,
Iweather of August and September
helped to check weeyil ravages. bu
lin a great many instances the ex
.tept Of the damage wrought ear.
Ilier in the season is proving worse
than expected. Even half-groW.1
hollis, though perfect. have beer
found to be punctured. In parts, O
Texas, leaf and boil worms, alst
ca1erpillars, have added consider
ably to the sum total Of the loss
top crop prospects are regarded a
negligible. Only poor. middle
crop is expected, which leaves lit
tie more than the bottom crop. t
be realized.
Summing up, correspondent
generally express the opinion tina
Notwithstanding. the increase il
acreage production. may not b,
very far in excess Of last year.
Turning from these gloomy fore
icasfs, not Few call attention tc
some more favorable features. Un
usually fine weather over nearl.
al Of the cotton belt during tn,
last half Of September has greatl,
Facilitated njckinS which aS a re