The morning times., 1897-01-31
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use, and that some of the most fertile
farming land in the country is practi-
cally unknown to the farmer.
This railroad farming will be con-
Quoted upon scale somewhat differ
ent from that of the ordinary tiller OF
the soil; instead of one farm the road
will carry on one hundred situated
along its line about ten miles apart
For years past the people of the
South have been using a great deal OF
the farm produce of the northern
states, both raw material and articles
manufactured from such products. all
of which, Of course, had to be shipped
from the producer in the North TO tha
consumer in the South. and tOr years
those most directly interested in the
prosperity of the Southern farmers have
been trying to induce him to cultivate
the staples which are in constant de-
mand-
But the farmer of Carolina and OF
Virginia is just as set in his ideas as
his northern brother. and either be-
cause he hesitated at the slight risk
involved by the experiment, or from
natural distrust of suggestions emana-
ting from outsiders, persistently refus-
ed, except in rare instances, TO intro
duce northern crops into the land SO
long appropriated 10 the production OF
rice, cotton and sugar cane.
Now, however. an association of gen.
tlemen from all parts of the South
have, through the agency of the Sea-
board Air Line. found a means OF
placing before the farmers of that sec
ton a gigantic object lesson which is
nothing more nor less than a series of
farms along the line of the railroad,
showing just what can be accomplish
ed by intelligent and industrious farm
ing on this plan. As the railway in
question runs through a country in
which there is a wide diversity of eli
mate as we'll as soil. there if anywhere
in the South can such products as New
England beans, broom corn. celery and
sugar beets be raised to advantage.
This same company has already
shown by practical demonstration that
hops can be properly raised in that part
of the country, and the result has been
that, whereas hops were never before
cultivated there, they are now very
generally raised and have proved one
of the most profitable crops
The farms will be operated bv the
SVAiPaiiJ SSNS4dSANClys anu dS great 4
variety of produce as is found prac-
ticable Will be grown. Located as they
are all along the line, 1t will be an easy
matter for traveller to see at a glance
just what products produce the best
results in any locality through which
the road runs. The farming will be
confined almost entirely to products not
now grown in that region, and at the
same time an effort will be made to i'm
prove the live stock now raised there
In order that proper attention may be
given to these experimental crops and
the best results obtained, the company
will organize department unlike any
thing connected with any other rail-
| road in the country. This department.
will not only have charge of these
farms, but will also give careful atten-
ton to the study of the markets to
which the products should be shipped
| in order to secure the best financial re-
| suits. By these methods those inter-
ested in the future of the South hope
| to demonstrate the possibilities of
Southern soil and climate and ma
terially better the condition of the
| Southern farmer.