The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-15
fAueusta chronic1e)

Mr.. j. Skottowe Wannamaker,
of st. Matthews. S. c.. president of
the American Cotton Association,
was in Augusta recently. Discuss
ing the cotton outlook, he gave an
interesting analysis of the Fed
eral Crop Reporting Bureau re-
port and made suggestions of i'm
portant changes in the bureaus
methods.
.The severe and drastic changes
which have fallen to the lot of the
cotton growers during the past two
years must be more fully recogniz-
ed by all agencies issuing crop re-
ports" he said. THE cotton in
dustry of the United States is i'm
periled by the wide infestation Of
the boil weevil, and normal farm
operations are severely handicapped
by the intense financial depres-
sion Of the growers.
1eThe heavy ,infestation of de-
structive. insects. the cost Of the
purchase and application of insec-
ticides, the small use of CONNER
eial fertilizers in the old cotton
states, and the non-purchase of
young mules throughout the cotton
belt for the past two years, are all
economic factors which must be
seriously considered in diagnosing
the present cotton situation by gov
ernmental and private statistical
agencies.
sIt5 is admitted by the govern
ment and private Investigators that
weevi1 infestation is heavier and
more widespread Over the belt
this season. than one year ago, while
the bad financial condition of the
FARMERS is practically the same.
"on July 3, the crop reporting
bureau made the June condition
figures 71$2. as against Ss.2 for
the same period one year ago. The
May condition report was 69.6 per
cent. which indicates an improve
ment during the month Of June
in the growing crop of only 1.6 per
cent, or a net loss of 81 per cent
less than the general average con-
dition for that month. June al
ways shows the maximum condition
of the crop with a gradual loss in
condition during the balance of the
growing season. With fore
cast OF 1922 pounds Of lint cotton
per acre in the June condition re-
port of 1921, the actual yield Of
the crop for that year was found to
be only 124.5 pounds of lint per
acre.
"coadition of the crop now is
practically the same as one year
ago, with weevil infestation much
heavier. If the same conditions
prevail for the balance Of the sea-
son as was the case in 1921. in
stead of a crop of 11,o65,000 bales
as now forecasted by the bureau,
the final yield would not exceed 81
o0e. 900 bales of cotton on the es-
timated increase, of the cotton
acreage. There is practically no
hope for a normal yield of cot
ton this year. based upon the pres
ent condition of the crop, heavily
infested with, weetils and the linn
tied use of commercial fertilizers.
THE heaviest percentage Of
abandoned acreage after planting
each season takes places during
the months of May and June. The
abandoned acreage. therefore,
should be ascertained and publish
ed July 1st or not later than Aug
ust 1st each year, to show the
amount of cotton acreage actual
ly in cultivation. To postpone
publishing this important informa-
ton until the December revision
of acreage renders its market
value worthless to the growers or
any department OF the cotton trade.
The bureau report issued in July
estimates only the increase or de-
crease in the area planted to cot
ton. and takes no note Of the per-
centage of abandoned area after
planting. The abandoned cotton
acreage since 1915 has each year
approximated 5 IL per cent OF the
total planted. as shown by the fol-
lowing data:
Year. -Acrease-
Planted. Abandoned.
1916 36,052,0e0 1.e6..300
1917 S4,925,000 1.0S4.000
1918 s7.207.O0o 1.199,000
1919 s5,1s3.oO0 1,567.00o
1920 S7,04S.ooO 1,165.0oo
o.. c7onoo 11eo ooa