The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-01
OFFICIAL ESTIMATE OF.COTTON CROP

Washington, July 31.-The official state-
 ment of the bureau of crop estimates,
 announcing the forecast of crop produc-
 tion, said:
 The condition of the cotton crop 76.4
 per cent, of normal, forecasts yield of
 about 179 pounds per acre. which, on the
 acreage reported July 1. viz, 36,960, ,000,
 would produce about 6, ,6l6,o00000 pounds of
 lint, which would make about 1SS50, GOO
 bales of 800 pounds gross weight. If an
 allowance of 1 per cent be made for
 abandonment, the present forecast would
 be 13725,000 bales, which compares with
 IA, ,156,000 last year, 13, 703,c00 two years ago,
 15, 5,693 900 three years ago and II ,609, ,OOO four
 years ago."
 In supplemental statement the bureau
 reviewed conditions in the various states
 as follows:
 North Carolina-There has been con siderable improvement over most of the state, but in some sections there has been insufficient rain, and the crop is back ward. The crop. as an entirety, is in bet ter condition than usual at this time. South Carolina-In some parts of the state the crop has improved considerably in other important parts there >has been little if any improvement. The late cot ton (said to be upward of 25 per cent of the crop is small and is not likely to yield much unless frost is delayed con siderably beyond it's usual advent. "Georgia-Taking the state as a whole the cotton crop looks very favorable While rains have fallen pretty generally there are some sections which are still dry. There are some complaints of she'd ding and of cotton dying, but generally the prospect is for fine crop.
 ."Florida-There is considerable varia- tion in this crop. In the western portion of the state the boil weevil is taking the top crop and the extreme dry weather of the spring makes the crop late. Alabama Crops Lose "Alabama-A large area of Alabama has had no rains since in early May, and in such districts shedding wilt etc, is noticeable. Taking the state as a whole the crop has lost several points during July, but is still above average. "Mississippi-Much of the state has suf- fered from extremely dry, hot weather during the month. This is in the boil weevil section and has had tendency to check the ravages of this pest Cotton is generally we'll fruitcu and in parts of the state bumper crop will be made Portions of the delta have prospects of another very large yield.
 "Louisiana-Drouth and high tenpera- lures. while retarding the growth of the plant, have held the boil weevil in check and the farmers, even in the worst in- fected areas, are hopeful of fair crop In some sections rain is badly needed. "Texas-There are three ages of cotton in Texas About 50 per cent of the crop was planted at about the normal date; l 20 per cent during May and the remainder after the rains ceased. The early planted cotton has stood the two mon<hs' drouth remarkably well. However, most of it had reached the limit of endurance without deterioration by the 25th instant The late planted cotton, in order to survive spent it's energies during the month in 1 root growth at the expense of the stalk. Stands are so bad that 1t will undoubtedly show up in the final yield per acre. The month has been extremely hot.
 Arkansas Crop Spotted ..Arkansas-The crop Is abnormally spot ted in Arkansas. In sections which have l had rain and in the river bottoms there | is the best prospect for years In ex- ! tremely dry sections which are numerous,
 tho plant b small but generally well