The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-14
CROP CONDITIONS
 ARE UNCHANGED
Portions Of Cotton Belt Badly In Need Of Rain,
 Says Summary

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-Crop and weather conditions in the southern states during the week ended yesterday were summarized today by the de- pertinent of agriculture, as follows:
 There was considerable rainfall dur ing the week in the northern portions of the cotton belt, and showers were unevenly distributed in the southeast, in the central and west gulf sections, including the southern portions of Ars kansas and Oklahoma. Only a few To- cal areas received material rainfall and severe drought continued generally. There was no marked change in the general condition of cotton in the east, ern, central-northern and northwestern portions of the belt, where progress was mostly fair to very good, but the continued absence of rain intensified the need for moisture in other portions of the belt. Rains And Cotton
 Cotton made fair to very good growth where recent rains have fallen in ex+ treme western and northwestern Texas, but the crop generally deteriorated. Elsewhere, though, the condition of the early-planted crop was still fair. There were increasing complaints of shedding, premature opening and blooming at the top. Further deterioration was reported also from northern Louisiana, with plants small and making little growth.
 Conditions were generally favorable in the northern portions of Oklahoma and Arkansas, but unfavorable in the southern portions, where considerable shedding and premature openings were reported. Growth varied considerably in Mississippi and Alabama, ranging from poor to very good, depending on local rainfall, but conditions were more favorable in Tennessee.
 Blooms Are NumefOus
 Cotton did unusually well in Geor- gia, with only about normal shedding. Blooms are very numerous in the cen tral and northern portions, with bolls setting well and early opening rapidly in the south, where picking and gin- ming made good progress. The crop advanced very we'll in Florida and fair ly well in South Carolina. It showed improvement in Virginia and northern North Carolina, with no material change in southern North Carolina. In the more western districts conditions continued favorable, except for consid- erable shedding in Arizona, accompany ing the high humidity. Showers were of local character in the south Atlantic area and most crops now need moisture in many localities, although tempera- lures and sunshine were favorable. In the central and west gulf sections. in- cludtng the southern portions of Ar kansas and Oklahoma, rainfall was very light and local. The showers were beneficial in localities where they oc- cured, but in general nearly all crops suffered severely from the drought and high temperatures, with rather wide spread deterioration reported.
 Corn Needs Moisture
 Most late corn is in need of rain in the southeast. The crop deteriorated or made only poor progress in the west gulf sections, while heavy rains im- proved the outlook in the middle Att lantic states. It was too dry in most of the south for truck crops. The crops of tobacco vary greatly in the Ohio valley and Atlantic coast states, with some improvement noted in North Carolina. Tomatoes are poor in New Jersey and poor to only fair in Mary land.
 Condition by states include: Alabama, rain needed locally, especially in south west. Growth and condition of cotton was fair to very good, generally we'll fruited but considerable shedding To- cally.
 The open door to opportunity-The