Business: Cotton Crop

Owing to the successive failures of the cotton crops of the past few years and to the high current price for cotton, this year’s crop is being watched with unusual attention. The reports of the Department of Agriculture on the condition of the cotton crops as of June 25 showed marked improvement at 71.2% compared with only 65.6% On May 25 last, and with 69.9% June 25, 1923.

The preliminary estimate of crop yield for this year was placed at 12,144,000 bales, which exceeds any crop’s actual production back to 1920, when 13,439,603 bales resulted. In 1921 cotton crop production was only 7,953,641 bales; in 1922, 9,761,817 bales; and in 1923, 10,128,478 bales. The preliminary estimate of the acreage planted in cotton also showed an increase of 1,702,000 acres, or 4.4% over last year.

The condition of the crop in various states varied widely, as it usually does. Arizona made the best showing at 92%, with California a close second at 90. Tennessee cotton was poorest off at 67.

The total cotton acreage in the U. S. this year is 40,403,000 acres. The leading cotton state is Texas with 15,595,000 acres; Oklahoma is second with 3,672,000 acres.