The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-20
MUCH CONCERN FELT BY KO[B OVER CROPS
Excessive Rains Playing
 Havoc With Corn
LOWLANDS FLOODED
Caterpillar Working Most Harmful Results in Many Counties in Cot ton - Georgia and Other
 Southern States Suffer

Montgomery, July 1s.-(Special.)- Much concern is felt by Capt. Reuben
 r. Kolb, commissioner of agriculture and industries in reference to the crop
 conditions throughout the state this
 year. Captain Kolb declares that he l is in daily receipt of letters from all sections of Alabama to the effect that the excessive rains are playing havoc with corn, and that. added to the weather. the worms and caterpillars are also producing most harmful results. The greatest concern has been eX- pressed by the commissioner of agri- culture regarding the condition of the crops as a result of the heavy rains of the past few weeks. According to Captain kolb, he is constantly receiv- ing information from all parts of the
 state to the effect that the young corn
 has been beaten to the ground by the wind and rain, and that all the low
 lands are practically flooded.
 While the bad weather is sufficient to cause general feeling of uneasiness
 among the farmers of the state, Cap
 tain kolb declares that this is but one of the harmful clements that the plant CTS have to fear this season. The worm
 has made its appearance in a number of counties of the state, and in some instances whole crops of corn have
 been destroyed by this pest. Accord
 ing to Captain Kolb, the worm is of the
 army worm variety, and destroys in a few days entire crops of young corn. 50 Tar as Is known, there is no remedy to prevent the inroads of the worm. Cafarp,lIor in Eatta,
 Captain Kolb further declares that the caterpillar is working most harmful re- suits in many counties of the state in
 the cotton crops. Numerous reports are being daily received from various sections Of the state to the effect that the cater Plilat Is working much injury to the cotton, and Captain Kolb believes that as result of the excessive rains and the inroads of this insect the cotton crop this year will be short something like 5O00O0 bales of the production last year. The annual yield last year was between 1,7oo,ooo and 1,S0o,OoO bales, and the com
 missioner of agriculture is inclined to the opinion that the production this year will not exceed 1,250,000 bales
 The same condition obtains in Georgia and in other southern states, according to Captain Kolb. While attending a con ference of cotton growers in Atlanta a shoit tiiie dSo' AdpldIl holD says he was told by prominent farmers of that state
 that the cotton crop in Georgia this year would be reduced to nearly one-half or its production last season. Reports from
 other southern states practically of the same nature, declares the commits sioner of agriculture.
 Captain Kolb is keeping in close touch with crop conditions throughout the
 state, and lis lending all the aid and
 counsel at his command toward improv-
 ing conditions. He Is in hopes that the | fears of numerous agriculturists regard | ing the falling off of the crops will prove, to some extent, groundless though he is of the opinion that much | harm has been done by the rains and insects that have invaded the crops, par ticularly those crops that were planted
 late on account of the weather condi- tions.