The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-23
FARM ACREAGE
INCREASED
BY 10 PER CENT
Tennessee Valley To Use
Heavy Amount OF
Fertilizer
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK
REPORTED BY GIST
Farm Labor And Live
Stock More Plentiful
Than Usual -
Estate CAPITAL BUREAU,


MONTGOMERY, Ala, March 49,
Interesting data on acreage 10 be
devoted to various crops in Alabama
is contained in statement prepared
by &. w. Gist, agricultural statistician,
The figures show an intention on tho
part of farmers to increase the total
acreage devoted to all crops by about
10 per cent. A very material increase
in the use Of fertilizers is indicated
except in the western part Of the Black
Belt, the heaviest increase being in
the Tennessee Valley. Use Of three
times as much poison for boil weevils
as last year is indicated. -
The data given by Mr.. Gist resulted
from a survey in which replies were
received from about 900 typical farms,
covering every county of the state, 40
to the intention to plant for principal
crops, the situation relative to farm
labor, and other phases Of farm activ-
ity. 'The outlook as reflected by this
survey Of farmers intentions Is on the
whole fairly optimistic and CONSTITUTES,
tive" Mr.. Gist stated. -
Wheat Crop Short
Information concerning various
crops and features of farm work In
contained in his statement, as follows:
Wheat-Last December the regular
inquiry on acreage sown resulted in
the determination that the acreage
sown was about 80 per cent Of that
sown the year before. In the recent
survey this percentage was found to
be about IS, indicating a probable loss
by freezing of some Is per cent Of
the area sown. Only 10000 acres were
sown last December, and the aggregate
loss, as well as the area left for har-
vest, is therefore unimportant
Rye-Another unimportant crop in
this state, used chiefly for grazing and
turning under, shows an acreage about
the same as last year.
Corn-The survey shows an intended
increase in the acreage to corn Of
around 2 per cent This intended In
crease is reflected rather uniformly
over all sections, being probably heav-
lest in the mineral section and In
the southwest corner counties. Tbs
corn production last year was barely
sufficient for farm needs, ON account
of both the small acreage grown and
low yields realized.
Freeze Bad On Oats -
Oats-About one-half the acreage
grown to oats in Alabama has in re-
cent years been sown in the fall, fall
sowing being on the increase from year
to year. The larger acreage sown last
fall was heavily killed by the severe
freeze, and the survey indicates loss
pm aggregate oats acreage Of about Is
per cent. =
Irish Potatoes-An aggregate in
crease Of 15 per cent is indicated,
which 10 somewhat uniformly distrib-
uted over the state except in the south
west section.
Sweet Potatoes-A 16 per cent in
crease is intended, being heaviest in
the southwest trucking section and in
the Tennessee Valley, while the south
eastern section will probably not plant
any increased area and the eastern
portion of the Black Belt indicates 4
rather marked falling off in acreage.
Big Peanut Crop
Peanuts-An intention to increass
this crop by 35 per cent over last year
is expressed, which is reflected to
about that average in the main COM
mercial sections of south AlabAmR.
Last years harvested acreage of pea
nuts was the smallest since 1917, and
the expressed increase for this season
VIII not give any larger are for
harvest purposes than that Of 1922.
PRESENT prices, around $140 for Span
ism ana 300 for runners, may be en-
pected to slack off. However, the yield
OF peanuts per acre can and should
be materially increased with fertiliza-
ton and better culture, i'll which event
the production can be made profitable
even at considerably lower prices than
those now prevailing. Then, too, gfax-
ing and hogging may always be resorfed
to with profit when commercial prices
are unsatisfactory. In fact on this ac-
(c0ntInued on Next Paae)