The Caucasian., 1911-06-06
WEATHER AND CROPS
Greatcst Cotton Acreage ever known
With Better Condition.

PlCayune June 5: The past week
has been a period of generally dry
and hot weather throughout the cot
ton belt. There have been thunder
showers in some localities, but as q
rule there has been an absence of
moisture which would now be well
come everywhere. II would be a
mistake to claim that drOuth COndi-
lions have existed as a rule through
out the cotton belt, although there
have been complaints of drOuth in
the Carolinas and in Oklahoma. In
most other sections farmers have
barely finished chopping out and the
elimination of the grass which got
such a good start during the early
part Of May. Nevertheless a good
general rain would now be well
COmCd.
According to the government re-
ports the largest acreage on record
has been seeded in cotton and the
condition report indicates that the
crop had made greater progress up
to May 25 than has been the rule for
years past. 1t may therefore safely
be claimed that the cotton crop Of
the present year has made favor
able start and that with seasOnablc
weather from now on large crop
may reasonably be expected. OF
course it must be admitted that a
large acreage and a good start do
not insure large crop, but these
two conditions are practically es-
sential to liberal yield, and it is
the first point in the game that the
crop has started off well.
The weather has been rather too
hot and too dry for the best inter
ests Of the corn crop, but if good
rains be experienced during June
there will be little reason to COM
plain Of the corn prospects. The
large acreage planted and the good
start that the crop has made make
it reasonably certain that with aver
age weather from now on a large
corn crop may be considered GER
tain. As far as rice is concerned,
the absence OF general rains in the
districts has been a drawback, as
has also The rapid fall in the river,
which has made pumping necessary.
Nevertheless, the rice crop is max
ing fair progress, and with average
from now on a good yield
will be assured.
The sugar cane crop would be bet
ter for a general and soaking rain,
but there is no ground for believing
that the crop has received any set
back from the dry weather which
has prevailed. Good progress has
been made in cleaning the fields of
grass and weeds and the work of
laying by" has made favorable pro-
gress. A good rain in the immedi-
ate future, coupled with high tenn
perature, would make the cane crop
grow rapidly.
The Louisiana Planter says in it's
edition of Saturday: Extremely hot
weather has prevailed during the
past week throughout The sugar dis
trict, and while some localities have
been visited by thunder showers the
weather in general has been dry and
the planters just now would well
come a good downpour of rain. They
have completed the work of eradi-
eating the grass which several
weeks ago had gained such a strong
foolhold in the fields, and if rains
should come now they will find the
crop ready in all respects for them.
In combination with the hot wealth
er a soaking rain would make the
cane grow with great rapidity. The
work Of laying by is reported to be
in progress on some places, although
it is now only the first of June"