The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-05
First National Bank Gets Re-
turns From Every County
In State On Prospec1
100000 BALES FOR YEAR
is BASIS OF PREDICTION
Crop has Been Expensive To Produce
but Higher Price Should Compen-
safe for Decreased Yield and
Increased Cost.

The First National bank of Birmingham
has compiled a report of crop conditions
in Alabama which will prove of interest to
the general public and of real value to
the business world. This report is printed
In pamphlet form, and will be widely dis
tributed within the next day or two. The
banks well-informed correspondents sup
piled the data.
county map of Alabama appears in
the pamphlet as a frontispiece, and on
a page opposite the map is table of the
the year 1908, when Alabama's total was
1851 bales.
The First National banks introduction
to its report by counties is dated August
4, and that, together with the corre-
spondents' statements in detail, follow;
General improvement.
TT is gratifying to note the general
improvement in the crop prospects that
has taken place since the latter part of
June, at which time the outlook was dis
couraging, due to excessive rains. While
1t is true that August Is the critical
month for the cotton plant, there is no
reason to anticipate any unusual weather
conditions and 1t is reasonable to ex
pect a normal season from this time on.
THE cotton crop of Alabama last sea-
son amounted to about 100000 bales, and
after carefully analysing the reports re-
ceived, which vary from an estimate OF
half of last years crop in some counties
to bumper crop in others, we feel war;
ranted in making a minimum estimate of
100000 bales as Alabamas crop for this
season, and believe there is a possibility
of 10000 bales more.
ut is no doubt true that the crop will
prove to be one of the most expensive
that has been produced in years. as the
excessive moisture up to July l necessi-
tated replauting in many cases. and
caused much additional labor in getting
out the grass. A noteworthy feature is
the increased use of fertilizer in June
and July over previous years. The crop,
however, should sell at a sufficiently high
price over last yc IRIS to compensate for
the decreased yield and increased cost
of production.
Reports indicate that crops of corn,
oats and hay are fully up to the average
and record corn crops are reported in
counties applying the Williamson sys-
tenn
During the last 80 days there has been
q marked Improvement in business condi-
lions. The banks throughout the state are
generally in strong position and amply
able to provide funds for crop moving.
Stocks Of merchandise are lighter than
the average, and the Improvement that
began 90 days ago in the iron and steel
industry still continues and the approach
of fall will give new life to the coal mar
ket.
I'VE look for great activity in COM
mercial and Industrial lines this fall and
regard conditions generally as the most
promising In years"
Autauga.
Prattville-The corn crop Is very good
in fact 1t Is better than last year. The
crops of peas, hay, and In fact all the
feed crops, are good. The cotton crop
is about three weeks late. and the total
crop will depend very much upon condi-
tons from now until the middle of Sep
TENDER. The plant Is in very good condi-
iton now and is growing and fruiting well.
II conditions are favorable from now on