The Winslow mail., 1924-09-12
LITTLE CHANGE IN
AGRICULTURE ND
STOCK CONDITIONS

General business showed little
change from preceding months during
last year Prospects on the whole are
favorable for the fall and winter, and
the usual upward turn may be ex-
pected in September.
Heavy shedding the first half of the
month caused drop in the condition
of cotton in the Salt River valley, but
in other sections the crop appears to
be doing very we'll. 1t has not been
possible to confirm reports of total
abandonment of acreage in sections
depending on natural flow of streams.
Shipments of alfalfa hay have been
heavier than last year, and hay has
graded unusually high. Alfalfa seed
has given good yields, and brought
good prices Indications point to in
creased lettuce acreage in the Salt
River and Yuma valleys.
Continued lateness of summer rains
has caused rapid deterioration in
ranges, but both cattle and sheep have
held their condition fairly well thus
far. Precipitation has been generally
light, and very spotted, the higher
elevations in the northeastern part OF
the state being most favored. Con-
siderable numbers of sheep have been
shipped from the Prescott and Ash
Fork country to Apache and Navajo
counties. No contracts for fall de1lv-
ery of cattle have been reported to
date. and unless the drouth in Cali
fornia is broken soon it is feared there
will be but little outlet there for
Arizona range stock.
The copper market registered fur
ther advance, probably due to foreign
speculative buying resulting from the
adoption of the London pact putting
into effect the Dawes plan of repara-
tions settlement. Ratification OF the
plan has proved source OF encourage
ment, as European trouble have had
an adverse influence not enly on the
copper but other industries.
Checking transactions in principal
cities of the state as reported to the
Arizona Industrial Congress were gen
orally lower than July figures, but
compared we'll with those for the cor
responding month of last year.
Agriculture
The cotton crop in the Salt River
valley showed a decline in August,
owing to heavy shedding the first half
of the month, and many believe the
WELD will be below normal. The crop
is reported making good progress in
other sections, with the exception of
one or two localities depending on the
natural flow of streams, but reports
of abandonment of acreage in these
instances have not been confirmed.
Ginning is we'll started at Yuma.
Of the 1874 acres planted in the
state. 122,8O0 we're of Acala, 38,065 of
Mebane, 5000 of Pima long staple,
6.625 of Hartsyille, 2,305 of Lonestar
and 1925 of Durango, according to
bureau of agricultural economics esti-
mate Mebane predominates heavily
in Yuma and Pinal counties, and Acala
in the others.
Grain and potato crops in the Flag
staff section have suffered from lack
of rain. Water in the Colorado is low,
occasioning worry in the Imperial val
ley of California.
Present indications are that more
than 5000 acres of winter lettuce, and
1000 acres of spring lettuce, will be
planted in the Salt River valley. There
are prospects of considerable acre
age in the Yuma valley.
Livestock
Condition of Arizona ranges dropped
materially during the past month,
rains being generally light and ex-
tremely spotted. Showers brought
some relief in the south-central and
southeastern parts of the state, and
the higher elevations of the northeast
ern section have received a fair
amount of precipitation. Thanks to
excellent conditions in the spring and
early summer, and to the fact that
browse is still available, stock has
held up we'll, but rapid deterioration
will result in many localities unless
general rains come this month.
No contracts for fall delivery of cat
tie have been reported as yet, though
buyers usually are active before this
time The drouth in California con-
tinues to be a source of serious con-
sideration, for unless it is broken soon
there will be little outlet there for
Arizona range cattle, OF which Call
fornia ordinarily takes the greatest
proportion 1t is estimated there are
140 900 head available for fall delivery
but continued absence of rain may
sharply reduce this number.
Sheep ranges are much below nor
NAL, and the fall in range conditions
and water supplies during August is
reported worse than at any time IL
the past eighteen years, though sheer
are holding their condition fairly
WELL Fifteen thousand head from the
Prescott district and quite number
from the Ash Fork section have beer
shipped to Apache and Navajo coun
ties. where some surplus range is
available To date there has been NJ
demand for feeder lambs. and it i:
problematical whether sales will b'
made later on at fair prices