The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-13
CORN CROP TOO, SHORT

Alabama grew last year g. GOO acres to corn Off this area there were pro- duced 100000 bushels. With an average yield the production should have been 77, ,O00,0GC fair average yield on the acreage of last year would produce about 15 bushels for each person in the state acd each farm animal, or, to put 1t an- other way, about 2S5 bushels per farm
 With only per cent of the crop shipped out of the county of growth, 72 per cent of last years crop was consumed by March Tor in five months There fore, last years crop was only about 50 per cent of Alabamas farm demand, of the population.
 Not less than 5,000,000 acres with fair average yield, are necessary to pro- duce reasonable supply of corn for Alabama Another million acres should be added for a surplus for outside con- sumption, as our share of the world S needs
 With about 100000 blows operating in Alabama. this means 15 acres to the blow, or just three times the amount recom- mended by the Atlanta conference few days since. The Atlanta recommendation of five acres to the blow would reduce the corn acreage in this state between 40 and 50 per cent, instead of increasing it.
 WILL IT BE PROFITABLE?
 Notwithstanding the patriotic neces- sity for an increase in food production, it is not intended to suggest course of action which is either impracticable or unprofitable. Is it practicable and will it be profitable to grow 6,000,00O acres to corn in Alabama this season?
 Corn has the widest range of planting season, is best adapted to all Alabama soils and climatic conditions, is most nearly free from insect attack, is most easily grown without change of farm ar engagements, and can be most readily mar keted of any of our field crops. The combined cotton, corn and oats acreage last year in Alabama was about 7500,O00 acres. Our fall sown oats are largely de- stroyed and it has not been practicable to SOW spring oats. It is therefore prac- ticable to grow 6,0O0,000 acres to corn in this state by using the abandoned oats land, utilizing the idle acreage. and cut ting cotton in half. Each blow can do this and still have time and land for the minor food and feed crops
 twill it be profitable?
 'The five-year average yield of corn in Alabama, not including last season, was 17.5 bushels per acre. At present prices, which have little prospect of receding, this indicates a probable acre income Of $26 It has been demonstrated that with every acre of corn there can be produced yield of velvet beans or peanuts equiva- lent at present prices to at least $l5, with out decreasing the corn yield. Thus the probable acre income from corn may be fairly calculated at $40, or an aggregate of $500 for an acreage of 15 to the blow.
 COMPARED WITH COTTON
 Let us compare this with the prob- able income from cotton. The five-year average yield of cotton, not including last season. was 1884 pounds of lint per acre, and that five years included two of the most favorable cotton years on record At present prices for lint and seed an acre income of $42 is indicated. Allowing only 25 per cent for weevil damage, this income falls to $32.50. Under weevil con- ditions it is not possible to grow more than 10 acres of cotton per blow, to say nothing of the extra cost of weevil con- trol. Therefore we have probable ag- gregate income of 1925 per blow from cot ton as against $500 from corn.
 This comparison is based on average soil conditions for the state, and aver age climate conditions for five years. variation in either will affect corn or cotton in about the same ratio, except