Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-31
REDUCED ACREAGE
INCOTTON URGED
Business Heads of the South
Concerned Over Outlook
for Staple Crop.

Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 31.-Every-
body connected with the cotton trade,
including the spectators, spinners,
planters. spot cotton dealers, and dry
goods merchants all over the country:
are waiting today for the farmers of the
South to determine the acreage they Will
plant to cotton this year. All along the
line business men are putting of the
making of future commitments until this
question is more definitely settled.
The farmer of the South is an opti-
mistic individual when it comes to cot
ton. The fact that the 1880, 000-bale
crop of 1927 brought him Sl50000, 900
more than the previous crop, which was
100000 bales larger, will undoubtedly
tend to induce him to increase his
acreage. So will the fact that conSump-
ton the world over is growing at ter
rife rate. This is true despite the fact
that efforts are being made to restrict
the manufacture of cotton goods in this
country to level proportionate with
orders.
Carry-over Reduction Factor.
The prospect of reduced carry-over
is another factor which might induce
the farmer to increase his crop.
Some business men predict that the
planters will increase their acreage 8
10 10 per cent. Last year the acreage
was 100000. On the other hand a
number of factors will tend to dis
courage the farmer from increasing his
acreage. Cotton has declined cents a
pound since the first of the year and
unless there is considerable advance
in the price within the next so days
business people in the South expect to
make good Roadway with the informal
and unofficial program to reduce
acreage under the 10000, 900 goal set by
agricultural authorities as the danger
line of 1928.
There has never been any great in
crease in acreage except when market
conditions showed rising tendency in
the price Of the staple or the surplus
carried over was small enough to indi-
cate god price In spite of the extent
OF production.
The price at present for October de-
!iveries Is approximately IL cents a
pound under the cost of production.
There have been no official figures is
sued as yet as to the cost of producing
the 1927 crop. but the schedule of costs
heretofore published BY the Govern
ment indicates that 1t was around 10
cents and possibly not under 1884, cents
after allowing for decreased use of fer
tlil2er. This. OF course. is not eDcour-
aging 10 the farmer
Weather Cuts Acreage.
Weather conditions Just before and
during planting time will have a con-
siderable bearing on the acreage
Weather frequently has restricted
acreage even when large planting was
intended. It is known that the west
ern third Of Texas and Oklahoma from,
the Rio Grande River TO Kansas has
had shortage OF rainfall, in the las,
II months. This deficiency has been
greatest during the Winter This short
age in that section was the chief factor
IN reducing the crop last year, while the
Weeyl! was the principal factor IN hold
ing II down in other sections.
Bankers. uSlneSs men and agricul-
tural agents everywhere are urging d.
Fersitcation of the crops of the South
with no increase in acreage above the
4o,o00.000 mark. In the SoutheaS..
banking and credit pressure of all kinds
viii be strongly exerted
Other factors likely 10 hold down
acreage In the South are that labor has
b2en diverted from the farms TO fac
tories in the Eastern States. while tns
Mississippi Valley States have suffered
terrific losses III mules. agricultural i'm
plenents and labor, as a result OF the
flood. California acreage also Is beins
watched closely.