The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-02
Improvement in
s. Cotton Outlook

Improvement IN
ii Cotton Outlook
-rr
New York, July 3o.-The fol-
lowing story regarding the out
look Of the cotton crop viii appear
in the New York Journal of Com
merce tomorrow.
From a careful survey into cot
ton conditions undertaken by the
Journal OF Commerce, for July, it
will be seen that generally favor
able weather has brought about
further Substantial Improvement.
According TO reports received by
this paper, under an average date
of July "a. there has been an in
crease in percentage condition Of
IL per cent to al per cent.
This represents the opinions Of
more than 1000 competent CORE.
spondents, compared with an esti-
mated condition of 72-4 per cent of
month ago, 71.S per cent at the
end of May and ten-year aver
age of 75.3 per cent. Moreover,
it is an advance of 63. per cent
over July, last year, when cotton
condition had fallen to as low as
67.3 per cent. In 1920 the per
cent condition averaged 74.S per
cent, in 1919, .70.1 per cent and ia
per cent the year before that.
With one exception. in 1920
when per cent advanced 3.3 per
cent, it is the largest increase for
July in recent years, and contrasts
very favorably with the years 1919
and 1918, which sustained declines
of 1.3 per cent and 81 per cent, re-
spectiveIy. In view of prevailing
uncertainties regarding the cotton
situation. very few eorresp ondents
are as yet venturing upon predic-
tons as to. the size Of the crop.
Taking a condition percentage
of TAI and following the govern
ment's method of calculation, an
acreage of 34,S52,oo0 indicates un-
der normal conditions a yield OF
l2,l25,00e bales, which compares
with an actual production of T.
s5s.64I bales in 1921, 13,4S9,603
bales in the year 1920 and 1914
$50 bales in the high record year
1914 Estimates put out by the cot
ton authorities and private con-
Germs as to the number OF bales
range from 11.08s, 600 to 12,22s,000
bales.
Nearly all Of the Improvement
is directly traceable to the more
favorable climate conditions which
prevailed during July over large
part Of the cotton belt. Several
weeks of fine, clear hot weather
with occasional showers. brought
about great change for the better.
and reports have poured in of rapid
growth, healthy, we1l-formed plants
with unusually heavy fruitage.
fields generally clean and we'll
worked, and weeviis being held in
check, though still a menace.
inquiries directed particularly to-
root conditions, revealed very few
complaints cf lateral roots. A sub
stantial majority reported at least
a. fair tap root. All OF this applies
more especially to cotton in uplands
and hill sections. Low land cotton
! and on the. bottoms has not been as
fortunate. From these sections
complaints have been very general
of poor tap root, rank growth,
plants running to stalk and poorly
fruited. Drawbacks, such as ex-
cessive shedding, black rust, boil rot
and inability to cultivate because of
the sogginess of the soil have all
combined to render outlook very
favorable. Furthermore, weevlis at
the points in question, are already
proving troublesome, though else
where damage is thus far compare
lively slight. On the other hand.
drouth iii certain parts Of Texas
threatens to somewhat reduce the
favorable showing made by the
state.
Replies to the questionnaire sent
out for the purpose of ascertain
ing what means, if any, are being
fused to destroy the boil weevil,
brings out some interesting facts.
; 1t develops that Notwithstanding
the alarming increase in infestaiton
owing to the open winters Of 1920
p, and the prolonged rainy season
this year, no really concerned or
successful effort is being made by
farmers in general to rid themselves
| OF this pest.
According to most correspondents
the reason for this seeming inertia
is unwillingness or inability to
make the financial outlay necessi-
tated by experimentation. The con-
census of opinion still seems to be
that no really efficacious remedy
has yet been found, hence planters
hesitate to expend money and labor
for what may turn out to be totally
/ ineffective.
| It is no eXaggeration to state
that the rakn and file of farmers
are depending upon the weather to
come to their aid in checking wee
vii activities. 1t is an indisputable
fact that hot, dry weather can do
more TO render the weevil harmless
than any artificial means Of de-
struction, but IT is also true that if
weather conditions are unfavorable
cotton production is likely to be
materially reduced by the weevil
/ invasion.
There are, however, some farm