The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-20
COMMISSIONER POOLE SAYS
 CROP OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY
Reports to Agricultural Department Show That Growing Cotton in Alabama is in a Most
 Serious Condition.

In the opinion of Hon. K. R. Poole. Commissioner of Agriculture and In- dustries. the cotton crop of Alabama is in . serious condition. In an interview yesterday on crop conditions, he said that unless the weather improved. he expected to see some of the land already plHnted in cotton repianted in corn and oats.
 The Commissioner finds that the high price of cotton has had the effect of in- creasing the acreage in Alabama per cent. but thet this increase has been more than offset by the protracted drought during the entire spring.
 More than 95 per cent of his corre- late and conditions unfavorabie. The corn acreage this year has. in Ala bama. been decreased 10 per cent.
 In his interview. Commissioner Poole reviewed crop conditions. not only in Alabama. but in all the cotton-growing States. having received reports from those States through the Commission CTS of Agriculture.
 In discussing crops conditions, Com missioner Poole says:
 From our correspondents. we have received 500 answers to inquiries sent out There has been an increase of 6 per cent in the acreage of cotton. While this increase has been set aside for cotton. the acreage actually planted has not reached an average crop. owing to the protracted drought during the en- tire spring. The stands are generally the poorest for many years. Drought with the continued cool weather has been unfavorable to germination and growth.
 Rains have fallen in Middle and North Alabama, but not sufficient for the needs of the crop. Southeast Ala bama, now acknowledged to be the best cotton producing section of the State, has received little. if any rain, and the crops are suffering. Bugs, of some de- scription. new and unnamed species. have attacked the crop in Southeast Alabama, and are doing some damage.
 More than 9s per cent of our corre- spondents report the crop as very late. with prospects gloomy. l consider the cotton crop in Alabama in very seri- ous condition. and unless the weather becomes more favorable at an eariS date. expect to see much of the land set aside for cotton put in corn and peas. River lands. as rule, have not been planted. The acreage of corn has been decreased 10 per cent in Alabama The stands are fair. and while the drought is now beginning to take ef- feet, our correspondents report the corn crop in fair condition.
 "oats and wheat have been seriously damaged by the drought, and the pros- peet for these crops is very poor indeed. Labor Is reported very scarce in most sections of the State. To this we att tribute the small increase of cotton acreage. Our farmers generally would have largely increased their acreage, if labor for cultivation could have been secured.
 From the Commissioner of Agricui- ture of Georgia. we have received the following report: ~
 "'There is little, fl. any. Improvement in the cotton situation in the State of Georgia. The weather has continued cool and dry during a great portion of the time since spring set in. The weather during the last week was dry except that light scattering showers occurred on last Saturday. Drought. however. continues in many sections.