The Daily Ardmoreite

CONDITION OF COTTON CROP OF THE U. S.

WHICH HAS BEEN AWAITED WITH INTEREST BY COTTON TEXTILE AND OTHER INTERESTS.

Washington, June 1.—The cotton crop of the United States showed a condition of 77.5 per cent of a normal on May 25, the department of agriculture announced today in its first condition report of the season, awaited with interest by cotton, textile and other interests. That condition compares with 80.0 on May 25 last year, 74.3 in 1914, 79.1 in 1913 and 79.5, the average of the last ten years on May 25.

Until the government's official report estimating the area planted to cotton this year is issued on July 1, no calculation will be made by the department's experts as to the probable size of the crop. Unofficial estimates place the area planted at from 6 to 10 per cent more than last year, when the preliminary estimate made by the department in July was 31,535,000 acres. An increase of from 6 to 10 per cent in the area this year would place the acreage at from 33,417,000 to 34,688,500 acres.

Cotton planting was begun in the central and southern portions of the belt late in March and early in April but some early planted failed to germinate in Texas because of dry weather.

Planting in the extreme southern portions was completed early in April and was progressing satisfactorily in central districts.

Heavy frost in Texas April 9 killed considerable cotton. In the low bottoms of Mississippi the ground was too wet for planting early in April.

Planting began in the more northern portions of the belt toward the middle of April and was growing favorably in the central districts, while in the southern parts it was reported to be coming to a good stand. Some replanting was necessary on account of frost damage through nearly all the central part of the belt. In Texas replanting was delayed by dry weather, and there was a lack of rainfall in the eastern parts of the belt.

Weather was generally favorable for cotton work in the southeastern states late in April but it was much too cool for proper germination and plant growth, and in some sections it was also too dry. Cut worms were doing some damage in the lower Mississippi valley.

Toward the middle of May, warmer weather prevailed in most of the cotton states, and there was a decided improvement, except where dry weather continued. Planting in the northern parts of the belt was finished toward the end of the month, but much replanting was necessary. Cultivation of the crop was going on vigorously in most sections.