The Sentinel=record., 1914-07-02
LARGEST ACREAGE OF
 COTTON IN HISTORY
HIRTY-SEVEN MILLION ACRES HAVE BEEN PLANTED TO THE
 SOUTHERN STAPLE.

Washington, D. C., July Ion the second largest acreage ever recorded and with the prospects of production probably equal to or better than that of last year, the growing cotton crop of the United States today was re ported by the department of agricul- ture as being 1916 per cent of normal with the area in cultivation as 36,- 960,000 acres.
 The condition is slightly less than per cent below the average condi- ton on June 25 for the past ten years Bad weather early in the sea son caused a low condition in num- Der of states, but during June condi- tions in those localities improved greatly. In Texas, where on May 9 the condition was 65 per cent of nor maj, the June p report showed condition of "A per cent; in Okla homa it improved from 6S to 70; in North Carolina from 76 to 92, and in South Carolina from 72 to e.
 The area in cultivation is 497000 acres. or .93 per cent less than the lrevised acreage in cultivation year ago. Oklahoma reported an per cent decline and Texas and Virginia , per cent decline. In California the area was more than doubled, and ILouisana reported an increase Of 10 per cent in acre@5-
 This outline of cottons condition up to June g in the various states was issued in connection with the de- partments estimates:
 Virginia There has been improve meat during the month, and the crop is practically all up, though the fields are uneven. The plant is smaller , than usual at this time.
 North Carolina has been pronounced improvement over a month ago. Good rains in nearly all parts of the state brought up prac- ticauy all cotton. Fieids are uneyel but the plants are strong and grow Ing rapidly.
 Sl uth Carolina-All portions of the state except the northwest have had boantiful rains since the middle of the month. causing cotton not previ- ously germnated to come up. The stand is practically full. though of uneven appearance.
 Georgia Probably twelve to fifteen Der cent of the total acreage, many in the northwest portion, did not come up untii early in June. The re- mainder of the crop is in splendid condition All indications point to q large crop. There are no reports Of insects.
 Florida The stands are very good in the eastern counties but not SO good in the western part of the state. The plant is little smaller for this date, June 15. but is faring fairly
 we'll.
 ! Alahama- state is the best
 favored of any in the main cotton
 bet The fields are generally as wet. 1 cultivated as a garden. As a rule the plants are below the normal il size
 but are stocly short Jointed and tull
 of fruit Weevils have not yet reach
 ed the heavy producing territory.
 Mississippi The month of May
 was dry and cotton received very favorable start. Cultivation is gen
 erally very satisfactory, almost per
 feet over much of the state and the
 smah plant hot weather and dust
 have been valuable in combating the
 weevil which is present in at least l 70 per cent of tho area. Nevertheless. the threat of damage from the boil
 wcevil is very serious; probably the
 most serious in the states history
 Louisiana Local showers during
 the month helped conditions in many | places but the long drouth over much
 Of the northern part of the state has retarded growth of the plant, which 1 had q late start Boil weevil are re- ported more numerous than ever this season Rains have reached almost all of the cotton belt and the pant now is of normal height, good color and thrifty
 Texas-It was not possible to do mueh farm work during May because Of rains The cropNbecame foul with weeds Twenty-Five days of almost perfect weather conditions to about the middle of Junk, when timely