The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-08-19
TEXAS DROUTH
IS UNRfuEvfD.
Cotton Opening Prematurely In
Vast Territory.

For three successive weeks cotton
has improved in the States east of the |
Mississippi river. and it's promise is |
now fair to good. The crop il late,
and would be seriously damaged by an
early frost, while frost later than usual
is needed to allow the fullest promise
to be natured. The plant within the
past two weeks has grown very rapidly,
and is attaining fair size. 1t is setting
bolls quite satisfactorily and the farm
tone is decidedly more optimistic.
Such rains as fell during the past
week were beneficial. They were local
in many sections, and the Carolinas and
parts Of Georgia would be benefited by
general precipitation.
Even in the earliest sections of this
eastern belt there is very little cotton
that is ready to open and the movement
to market will be delayed we'll into Sop
tember, unless drouth later on should
force premature opening.
Boil weevils are active in Louisiana
and Mississippi and are doing some
what more harm than was earlier antic-
ipated.
In Texas no rain fell except in some
Of the Red River counties and the crop
lost ground steadily. Cotton is open
ing prematurely and very rapidly in
southern and southwestern counties,
and is being pushed to market as fast
as possible by the farmers. In Western
Texas, where, within the past few years
there has been a rapid extension in
cotton growing, the crop is almost a
failure, and in many places is beyond
repair, but good crops are the rule in
the northern tier of Texas counties.
ARKANSAS.
Rains fell throughout the State dur
ing the week. The cotton crop made a
marked improvement and the farmers
are decidedly optimistic, as prospects
are much better than seemed possible
four weeks ago. The plant is fruiting
we'll, but a late frost will be needed for
a full crop to mature.
ALABAMA.
A rapid Improvement in growth is
shown for the week. Rains we're gen.
eral and beneficial. The plant is not
large, but is now fruiting heavily
Many correspondents look for an aver
age crop and several say that conditions
are better than last year. Lateness is
the principal drawback at present.
MISSISSIPPI.
There are a few localities which the
rains have missed. These are too dry
for the best development of cotton. As
q rule, the plant is doing we'll, showers
having fallen over nearly all the Stats
The plant is attaining a fair size and a
better state of promise than was expect
ed a few weeks age. 1t is fruiting ex-
c~ellently but is still late, and frost must
be delayed to permit full maturity O
the crop that is being set. Boil wee
wills are active in southern counties.
GEORGIA..
Decided Improvement in the crop has
recently taken place and some section
promise a good yield. Al a whole
however, the plant is not SO large or sc
we'll fruitsd as is usual at this time
and the crop is just beginning to open
and the movement will be fully tive
weeks late.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
The cotton crop did nicely during tht
week. Rains fell in many sections, bu'
a few are still dry, though not suffer
ing to any extent. More general rain!
would be hopeful. The plant has at
tanned a fair size and is fruiting we'll
1t is somewhat late, however, and thu
date of frost will have an importan'
bearing on the out-turn.
TEXAS.
No rain to speak of fell in this stat'
during the week. The crop improved
in the Red river districts, where rains
fell asst week, but elswhere was con
tinued a deterioration which will PROB
ably have no end until general soaking
rains fall or the crop is opened and ma
tured. In the south and southwest tn
crop is better than last year, but L
falling far short of the earlier promise
1t is opening very rapidly and the farm
ers are rushing it to market in order t.
secure IA 10 to Is cents. Central Wes
Texas conditions are very serious an
rain now would not restore he crop.
OKLAHOMA.
Generous rains have put the cottol
crop in Oklahoma practically beyon'
harms reach, and a large yield is al
but certain. The plant is growing an
fruiting rapidly. 1t is a little late, an
herein perhaps lies the greatest poten
tial danger.
NORTA CAROLINA.
A general advancement was shown i
cotton during the week.. A genera
rain would be beneficial. if q wer
not bad, the promise for q crop woul
be good, as the plant has made
"come ont" which no one expected &
few weeks ago. It is fruiting we'll. :
LOUISIANA.
The crop is doing well, except 70