The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-27
WARM WEATHER AND LIGHT RAINS
 BENEFIT COTTON
Crop Makes Good To Ex' cellent Progress Dur
 ing Last Week

WASHINGTON, June 26.-Crop and weather conditions in southern states during the week ending Wednes- day were summarized today by the Department of Agriculture as follows {:
 Warm weather and light to moderate rainfall which prevailed throughout nearly the entire cotton belt were very Favorable and the crop made good to excellent progress quite generally. In Texas growth was very good, though heavy rains were unfavorable on the lower coast, and young cotton was ln- jured locally by hot, dry winds in the northwestern portion of the state, with general conditions ranging from poor to s fair. Cotton showed marked improve $ ment in Oklahoma, where the condl- ton is now from fair to very good, though grasshoppers are doing consid- erable damage in the central and west ern portions.
 Growth Satisfactory
 Except locally where too wet in the northern portion, cotton made satisfac- tory growth in Arkansas, with culti- vation advancing rapidly, and there was a rather marked improvement in the general condition of the crop. The crop is under good cultivation in Louis- jana and decided improvement was re- ported in Tennessee. While growth during the week was fairly good in Mississippi, early cotton is fruiting and blooming poorly, and stands are regular in Alabama, though the weekly advance in growth was fair to good, with gen. eral improvement.
 The high temperatures and mostly dry weather made splendid growing conditions in Georgia, where cotton made excellent progress, the condition is now fair in the north and excellent in the southern portion of the state, where the plants are fruiting rapidly, while lice are disappearing and only a few weevil are in view.
 Hot Weather Helpful
 The high temperatures were helpful also in the Carolinas, and conditions were favorable for cultivation. Weevils are reported in moderate numbers in South Carolina, but active preventive measures are being taken. Tn Virginia the acreage has been greately reduced and the crop is only fair. In Florida cotton is fair to very good in the penins sula and fruiting well, but is poor in the west, with weevil increasing. This pest is reported as increasing also in the eastern and coast sections of Texas and as being numerous in DOT tions of Louisiana. Conditions were fa- vorable for cotton in the far south west
 Corn Makes Progress
 Corn cultivation made good progress in the middle and south Atlantic areas, and in nearly all sections of the south. 2 In western Oklahoma and northwestern Texas, the dry, hot weather was un- favorable for corn, but in the eastern portions of those states conditions were favorable.
 Oats did well in the Atlantic coast area and harvest advanced northward to Tennessee in the interior. Rice made good growth in Texas and Arkansas, but more rain was needed in southwest ern Louisiana.
 Sugar cane grew rapidly in the low CT Mississippi alley and improved in the southeast, while favorable reports were received on sugar beets. The selling of tobacco was completed in Kentucky and an unusually fine crop was being har- vested in Georgia.
 Fruit conditions remain generally good, although there were some com plaints of fruit dropping in Florida.
 Conditions by states follow in part |:
 Alabama Moderately hot, but most ly dry, except local showers in the south; favorable for growth and culti- vation and much work accomplished, though fields continue grassy locally. All crops improved. Corn, potatoes, truck, pastures, minor crops and fruits mostly fair to good. Progress and con- dition of cotton mostly fair to good {; stands irregular and blooming and squaring in south and central where weeVil is becoming numerous locally.