The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-05-29
B. HARRIS PREDICTS
COTTON FAMINE

started on my way 70 atteno q 1ofe
Food and Feed and Drug Convention
to be held in Galveston, Texas, on
the 9Th, 9th, 10th and 18th. In order
that I might see as much of the pres
ent condition Of the crops as posi-
BILE. from New Orleans I went over
the Sun Set Route to Houston, Texas
and in coming back I came over the
Southern Pacific Railroad to Dallas
and Fort Worth. From Fort Worth
I came over the Texas Pacific by way
of Little Rock, Arkansas, Memphis,
Tenn, through northern Alabama by
way of Birmingham and North Geor-
gia to Atlanta. These two routes car
ried me over some Of the best cotton
lands in the following states: The
Piedmont Belt Of South Carolina and
Georgia, on by Montgomery and Mo-
bile, Ala. From New Orleans l went
through Louisiana into Texas. On
INV return trip came through Arkan-
sas, Tennessee. saw men from every
section of the cotton belt, so got di-
rect positive facts in regard to each
section of the great State Of Texas.
In South Texas where the cotton
is now fruiting the boil weevil is re-
ported in greater number than ever
before at this season of the year and
doing greater damage, as the winter
was so warm great numbers came
through the winter. In West Texas
we hear a great deal Of dope put out
by the bear spectators stating what
a fine prospect they had there. On
the 18th of this month they had one
of the worst storms that had ever
been known in that section. 1t was
reported that at least 10000 acres of
cotton was damaged.
From Houston to Fort Worth, a
distance of 300 miles, I travelled in
the daylight-that was on the 18th:
/ crossed four rivers on that trip and
every one of them was out Of its
banks and covered many thousand
acres of the very best cotton land. A
great portion of this land will not be
planted this year; if they have any
more rain it cannot be planted be-
fore June 1st.
On nay arrival in Dallas I called at
the Federal Farm Bureau Office which
is located there handling the Coop
Grating Marketing Association of
farm products. I saw the President,
Mr.. Orr. I found him to be a very
pleasant gentleman and we'll inform
ed as to crop conditions. asked him
what proportion of the Texas crop
was there to be planted and to be
planted over. He said at least fifty
per cent. of the crop up to the 18th
of this month, taking the flooded dis
tricts was yet to plant, and from what
could see think he was about right.
saw a great many good farmers,
also business men and some bankers
who have lived in Texas for forty
years and they have kept in close
touch with agricultural conditions
they all said Texas had the poorest
prospect for crop up to this date
they had seen in forty years and
they could not make anything like an
average crop this year owing to the
latenes Of the planting and exces.
sive floods and cold rainy weather.
saw some good cotton dealers who
don't hesitate to say that with ida
seasons from now on we cannot make
over 8h or 9 million bales this year
Now, as to acreage, if it had not
been for the floods and heavy rains
Texas would have increased fifteen
per cent but on account of the floods
she will not more than duplicate heI
1921 acreage, and doubt if she
does that. Arkansas cannot increase
on account of the same conditions
existing in that State. The only
states increasing in acreage this year
are Oklahoma and North Carolina,
Taking the cotton belt as a whole,
there will be no increase in acreage
this year. I rather believe there will
be a decrease in acreage.
ha.ra aa;d oil tho TINA un11 ,uere