Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-31

at any price and unless a concerted
movement could he made effective
for a smaller acreage In 1927, serious
depression appeared inevitable. IL a
sufficiently large number Of planters
could he aroused to realize the neces.
siiv Of common agreement to put
less land under cotton cultivation,
and 30 reduce the total acreage, the
first and most important step in the
restoration OF normal conditions could
be- made effective.
With this objective In view, fina n.
clal interests, educational institutions.
cotton associations. farm organizations
and the Southern press All united In
an active campaign during the Winter
months and far In advance OF the
spring planting season. Where only
4 few years before experimental sta.
tons had been engaged in disseminate
ing information AZ Ia the best methods
of increasing production. discussion
took the form Of crop diversification
Of how 10 make the farm more self
supporting through the raising OF
cereals. vegetables and live stock, hut,
above all OF fewer acres for cotton.
Though many were skeptlcal re.
garding the successful outcome Of the
movement. confidence among those
most active la the work never waned
The campaign was waged In every
state, county and township through,
out the entire cotton territory.
Curtaiim.nt Feasible.
That growers can he united In &C.
ton for mutual advantage is abundant.
| " proved by the results. According
tn Official figures. the acreage was cut
| IA per cent. or from "A total of
*, 730. 900 acres last year To 42.6s3,
900 this Spring. Had IL not been for
the food. which induced heavier plant
| ing In Atlantic sections than AT first
intended. in order Ia offset the reduc
| ton In the Mississippi Valley. the
cut ~ acreage would have proved
even more drastic.
Tie second and equally important
| factor In this years smaller crop
came from series of unfavorahle
climatic conditions. Both 1924 and
1925 had proved unusually dry. but
none the less highly favorable for the
growth of III. cotton plant. while thu
summer of 1925 had been character.
tied by an exceptionally even distrihu.
ton of sunshine and moisture.
Hut 1877 started with an excess ~
moisture which not only caused the
most disastrous flood in the history
Of the mississippi River but prevent
ed proper frniting az the plant over h
large section OF the belt during the
critical month Of August. Persistent
ana frequently excessive precipitation
| fostered weevii propagation and, foi.
| lowing three seasons Of virtual I'm
munitY fields became infested Ia y
destructive degree In parts Of the
tarniinaE. Georgia, Alabama. i.ouisi
ana, Arkansas, Oklahoma aud Texas.
The predominantly Wet summer not
only reduced truitins, but incren ne ~
insect Toll from the limited number ot
hollis going 10 make up the middle ana
TOP crops Had u not been that sub
stantiai bottom crop had maiured dur.
! Ing hprii Of lssr unsatisfactory
wruiher early IN July the total dam
| age inflicted would have proved even
! greater su few hollis formed ON the
upper part of the plant, ana weeviis
| p1nct,red 80 many of these that -
| top cron was alnnst entirely iaekina
over the greater portion of the belt
! Had Il moi been for the bottom crop
! and The uniquely favorable Fan when
permitted the maturity Of hate planted
cotton IN the mississippi Valley an,
the Western sections. the nnal out
turn undoubtedly would have been
| numbered among the crop failures.
! The annual estimate of the Depart
ment ~ Agriculture places the yield
~ ~ ,7kD 900 bales. or an average pro
| auction ~ ih.dA pounds Her acre, COM
| Dared with l19ii 010 hales last seap.
90 1919 pounds per acre.
la the contract market the contrast