The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10
CROP ESTIMATED
 AT 9OO,OOO BALES
Corn Outlook Not As Promising As Cotton,
 Says F. w. Gist
tstate Capital Bureau.)

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Aug. 9.--An optimistic report on the cotton crop of Alabama was made today by F. W. Gist, agricultural statistician, in his weekly summary of general crop condi- tions in Alabama. The report indicated crop of about nine hundred thousand bales. Boil weevils are only sixty-five per cent as numerous as year ago. The Tennessee valley and black belt, always heavy producers of cotton, do not make as good a showing this year as other sections of Alabama.
 The corn crop is not as promising as cotton and Mir. Gist predicted that some farmers will find their supply insuffi- cient for their needs, whi., others will have a surplus.
 Mir. Gist's report for the week fol- lows:
 The cotton report, issued on Aug. 8, indicates a crop of around 900, 1000 bales. The two weeks intervening since the last report have been on the whole favorable for this crop. Rain has fallen on an average of 25 days during the period, and has continued it's record of falling in the forenoon and preceded by high temperatures and bright sunshine. It is reported that the weevil is only about 65 per cent as numerous as a year ago, and only 75 per cent of the usual number.
 On the other hand, the corn crop is not in so promising prospect. Some parts of the state have suffered materially from lack cf rain during the month of T11r rA fhnen yield. The south half of the state has a good corn crop, while the north runs from fair to very poor. It is evident at present that many farmers will find their corn supply quite insufficient, while others will have a surplus. The question of distribution of the surplus and the purchase of needed corn be- comes very important. Pigs are scarcer in that portion where surplus corn is in prospect, and farmers will naturally be thinking about the advisability of either purchasing feeder pigs or getting ready to sell their corn.
 Hay condition has also gone off with the approach of droughty weather, and with little more than the usual acreage available for cutting, there will be a demand for hay which the local produc- tion can not furnish. Consequently some of the same questions of distribution will be presented with respect to hay.
 The peanut crops looks good for fair to heavy yields. Pig shortage in the pea nut belt also emphasizes the importance of distribution of that crop. The harvest of Spanish will begin in a few weeks and farmers will be vitally interested in the market price.
 Pastures have kept up fairly we'll, for the reason that most of the heavy pasture sections have received suffi- cient rainfall.
 Peas, soybeans, and velvet beans are in good yielding condition and will fur. nish additional feedstuffs for farm ani- mals. It is doubtful if large quantities of the seed of these crops will be har- vested unless the price is very tempting. Labor Is not plentiful enough after cot ton picking is provided for.
 Syrup crops promise quite sufficient supply for local needs in most sections.
 Home gardens have been severely hit by drought and are furnish very little for the table at the present time.
 The cash crops of this state promise good volumes. Farmers are now inter- ested in the price. Food crops are in n spotted condition. The real concern now Is the lack of feeders in some sections ana the question of buying feeds in others.