The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-28

l-SOILO1i g. ~" -, "HA r.
perious 1947 behind them, are
looking forward happily to 194s
as the New Year approaches
with prices good, this demand
good year, with far yield and
an excellent price"
Leaders say 1947 was ga very
good year, with a far YIELD ano
an excellent prce."
And 1948 should be equally
good, provided:
l. The weather favor able,
2. Growers, are able to obtain
needed fertilizer, and
3. Exports under the Marshal
pan meet grower expectations
Those factors can mean much
to the national economy. Cotton
lis still kig in Dixie, despie an
increased diversfaction of agrl-
culture.
Indications are growers Will
probably meet the request OF the
United States Department OF Ag-
riculture that they increase by
three percent the acreage plant
ed to cotton.
If weather and fertilizer con-
ditions are comparable, 194$
production per acre should ex,
ceed that of 1947, for cottor
growers each year as they strive
tc make two grow where one
grew before"
During the AAA years, every
cotton growing state except lex
as and Oklahoma reduced acre
age but 81 m u l t a n eously In
creased total production.
Much of this was due to in
creased fer tilization which
proved profitable in other states
but not in Texas and Oklahoma
That is the reason cotton grow
ers are growing about the fertil
izer situation. They contend tha
with supplies short, the fedora
government should h alt ship
ments abroad. But they doub
that the government will heet
their plea.
First Conference
Another factor in the in
creased produc C ion was tn
transfer of cotton growing from
poor to richer lands. Grower
found that land worn out b,
years of cotton production mad
good permanent pastures wher
they could raise cattle. Mean
while improved methods of col
ton growing made it financial,
feasible to devote richer land
to production of the staple.
The movement of cotton t.
better lands h S improved tn
labor situation for growers. Wit
production of mechanical equip
ment still far behind demand
labor requirements are expecte
to continue to exceed supply
But growers are pleased to not
that for each Of the last thre
years there has been an increas
in the number of acres of tenant
grown cotton. With better Ian
and improved methods pr oduc
ing more cotton to the acre
tenants have found it profitabl
to move to cotton farms.
Mechanization of cotton is be
mig retarded only by slow pro
ductin of equipment. Grower
who are happy that the Marshal
plan will create cotton market
which might otherwise not b
available are at the same tim
fearful it will reduce domestic
steel supplies and, consequently
the supply Of mechanical farm
equipment.
They are convinced, however
that such a setback in tn
spread of mechar = /ation w ult
be only temporary. Mechani
|zation is on the march in cotto1
land. t,t
- - First Conference - --
During the past year the Ma
tional Cotton Council and Mis-
sissippi's Delta council stage,
their first annual cotton mech
anization conference. Demon
strations showed that every ste
in the production of cotton, from
the breaking of ground to har
vesting can be handled by mech
anized equip ent on larg
farms.
/ Equipment m anufacturer
outlined plans for production Q
equipment suitable to .smalle
farms.
Mechanical equipment fo
breaking ground, planting cot
ton, fertilizing it, chopping cot
; ton, flaming out weeds, and cu]
tlvating the crop have prove'
most satisfactory.
But operators say the me
chanlcal cotton picker still need
Improvement.
; For example, during the pas
year when early wet weather il
| hHic~s~assS