The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-14
CROPS IN ALABAMA
COMMISSIONER POOLE THINKS OUT-
 LOOK IS GOOD.
Weather Has Been Favorable to Corn and Gotten in Some Sections --Has Compiled
 Booklet.

The prospects for good crop of cot ton in Alabama are encouraging. If the weather is propitious for the devel- opment of tho plant during the next thirty days, planters of this State will have causs to congratulate them selves. for I'D to the present time con- ditions for the growth of the Southern staple have been good. generally speak ing
 This statement was given out yes terday by Commissioner of Agriculture R. R. Poole in conversation at the Capitol.
 The crop at the present time. he said, is hardy and we'll developed, although the stalks of the plant are small, ow- ing to the late period at which most of 1t was planted.
 In hIs talk, the Commissioner of Ag- riculture spoke of the crop in Alabama generally The prospect In some parts of the State, especially among the east ern sections. is better than that in oth- CT parts. In the cast there have been rains in plenty for the development of the plant, while the precipitation in the western part of the State. while not so plentiful as in the other DOT tions. has been sufficient.
 The crisis In this years crop. says Mir. Poole. will be during the next thir ty days. Heavy rains during this pe- riod will be disastrous to the planters making the stalks of the plant too large and too soft. A protracted pe- riod of dry weather. on the other hand he declared, would keep the bolls from developing and would cause the bolls to shed.
 Speaking of the agricultural prospect Commissioner Poole said that corn and other crops throughout the State are reported as being in excellent condition with good prospects for m unusually large yield.
 One feature of agriculture. which has been made prominent during the last year or two, is the beneficial effect oi the scarcity of labor upon farming lands. The lack of labor, sIr. Poclt says. forces the farmers to work small CT acreages. with the result that the lAnd has opportunity to regain some of it's productive constituents. The small farmer. moreover. is using fertilizers in large quantities, with the result that the land is brought to higher state of .productiveneas, and is permanently enriched. The scaicity of labor. he de- ciares. has aided greatly in the devel- opment of the wfregrass section. There the farms are small and are worked to large extent by the owners The prosperity of this section of the State during the last few years has been me of astounding features of agricultural history in Alabama.
 As an aid to the work of interesting people from other sections of the coun- try, in the advantages offered by Ala bamR to settlers. the State Department of Agriculture has gotten out a book. '"rhe Alabama Opportunity" for the use of the Alabama Immigration AE- sociation The book is compilation of letters by Will T. Sheehan, which first appeared in The Advertiser, de- scriblng conditions and resources of the State.
 speaking Of the book. Commissioner Poole said:
 The book has a fine lot of informa- ton presented in an attractive man. ner. It Is of convenient size as a book to handle or mail It gives a compre- hensive review of the places discussed and ths things seen and understood by native Alabamians. but which are not so generally known throughout the 
 The books will be mailed to all who make application to the Department. and will be sent out at the suggestion of different industrial and commercial associations of the State.