The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-02
CROPS OF STATE IN FAIR CONDITION IN
 SPITE OF DR0UTH
Prospects for a Bumper Yield in Some Sections. Farmers Institutes
 Are Popular

Montgomery, August 1.-(Specia1.) Despite the long drouth of the early summer the crops of the state are in lair condition and In some sections there are prospects for bumper yield, according to the latest weekly state- nent of the state agricultural and in- dustrial department.
 The report declares that in sections Lot visited by rain the corn crop has been nearly destroyed, although rains have been nearly general over the state during the last two weeks.
 The oat crop has been gathered and is reported to be fair. according to the report. though not what was expected p-evious to the hot spell.
 The zeal for burr and crimson clo- Vcr continues to grow and there never was such attention paid to this branch of farming" says the report. From every section interest in the planting of winter legumes is reported and the farmers are becoming thoroughly con Viiced of the importance of planting these crops"
 The cotton crop Is reported good in sections the "only dominating foe that looms up to temper our hopes for bumper yield being the destructive weevil." In the infested district tns work of the weevil will be disastrous, says the report
 The report calls attention to the widespread interest in farmers insti- rtes throughout the state and the sum mer school at Auburn. which will be held next week.
 Agricultural Departments Report Following is the report of the az ricultural departments:
 "The rains of the last week while not universal. were very generally dis tiibuted throughout the state and in Some localities the fall was unusually heavy. In sections not visited the drouth has well nigh perfected It's work of disaster, particularly to the old corn. There will be large yield from young or late corn as result of the showers and the indications are that while the corn crop Is decidedly off it is bet Iter than we had reason to hope for Ia week ago.
 "The oat crop has been gathered and 1 is reported as fair, though not what | was expected previous to the hot spell. l A feature of the oat crop has been tho raising of seed oats and there will probably be smaller quantities of seed oats bought next fall than ever before
 in Alabama. A demonstrator in one county reports that there will be
 enough home grown seed to supply his
 entire county with seed oats next fall. This is a very gratifying report and
 a step In the direction of economic ia ming that speaks well for the en- terprise of Alabama farmers.
 l "rhe zeal for bur and crimson clover
 and cover crops continues to grow and there never was such attention paid to this branch of farming. From every
 section Interest in the planting of win ter legumes is reported and the farm
 CTS arc becoming thoroughly convinced
 of the importance of planting these crops.
 Cotton Crop Continues Good
 "The cotton crop continues good. Ir
 most sections the stalk is small but very full Shedding has cut short the yield somewhat, but not to such an extent to materially alter prospects. The one dominating for that looms up tc temper our hopes for n bumper yield is the destructive weeyil. As we have constantly predicated In these bulle-
 tins, the second crop of this pest has arrived and in the western portion of the state Is doing havoc. The cotton stalk is now too matured and the cror too far advanced to do much towards determination by picking the squares and dealing with the weevil as we have heretofore enJOlneu Tn the lnIeSteu ulS- trict it's work will be disastrous, and there is nothing or little remaining lupon preventive lines to offset the dam- age or to check the ravages of the weevil. However, the intelligent and persistent efforts of the farmers in lighting 1t up to now, will be com Ipensated greatly on basis of minimum harm. Undoubtedly the work of the pest would have beens more complete and destructive but for the brave and lenergetic fight that the farmers in the weevil infested area have put ur lagainst their foe. Upon offsetting lines we have much to be grateful for for lthis visitation. It has driven our farm CTS to crop diversification, and the large lacreage in oats, vetch bur and crimson clover, corn and other products than
 cotton for next year, must be largely Inscribed to the prevalence of the cot ton weevil in Alabama.
 Hog cholera is reported In several sections, and we repeat our instruc- tions to hog raisers to communicate | -
 at Osceola station. Tho accident hap