The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-18
 Agricultural Club Begins an Important Move
 mcnt. INCENTIVE TO FARMERS Growers of Best Products to be Rewarded Liberaliy. Resolution Adopted Urging Govern . mental Sail Survey in This Sect ion of Alabama--Discussed Matters of Agricultural
 Interest.

 year closing Nov. l, 1904 This action was taken at a meeting of | the club held yesterday afternoon in the City Council chamber. It is one of the most important movements ever under taken in this county. As the member ship of the club comprises more than 100 leading farmers, it Is significant of a progressive era.
 The day being so wet and threatening, the attendance on the meeting was not as full as usual, but every farmer, and others interested in agriculture would have been interested and profited, had he been present.
 President M. B. Houghton stated that the agricultural outlook in Alabama was brighter than it had been for years. He read a communication from G. T. McEl- dory,s secretary and treasurer of the Tal- ladega Farmers Association, asking the assistance and co-operattob of the Mont gomery Club in forming a State Cotton Growers Union.
 He also stated that the State headquar- ters of >a large harvester company. with
 many employees was being established in Montgomery, thus recognizing Montgom- cry as the center of the agricultural in- l terests of the State.
 The query, Does burning off grass stubble in the winter improve tbS yield of hay the following year?" was dis cussed by M. c. Scott and others. The conclusion was that 1t had proven oene7 fical. Planting wheat rye and clover in the field to turn under in the spring in order | to maintain the fertility of land, thereby
 saving commercial fertilizers, proved an
 interesting subject. and was discussed
 by several of the members. Important Resolutions.
 The following resolutions were unani- mously adopted:
 | "In order to a full understanding of the
 nature and capabilities of the varied soils l in this region, the Montgomery Agricul- tural Gu. requests that the soil survey l now being made under direction Of the | United States authorities in the Valley
 of the Tennessee. be extended and made | in this section of the State. and that our | congressman be urged to secure the same | at an early date as Is practicable. "In order to encourage the raising of cattle in this State and prevent the se- | rious losses by death from so called
 Texas or tick fever. the Montgomery Agricultural Club ask our State Depart
 ment of Agriculture to secure the CO.,
 operation of the United States Depart ment in stamping out this dreaded dls- l ease and its cause"
 | The Committee on Premiums for Special | Crops made an interesting report, outlin- l ing the plan and conditions for conduct | ing the contest.
 | Chairman c. G. Abercrombie stated that | the preliminary canvas indicated that 1t would be a marked success. Premiums for Crops. The report was as follows: At the July meeting of the Montgom- cry Agricultural Club. the following res olutlon was referred to the Committee on Premiums for Special Crops. "In order to stimulate increased inter- | est and effort in scientific and practical | farming, the Montgomery Agricultural Club will raise a popular subscription Of | about $1 600. to be offered as premiums and prizes for special crops on limited areas of land, and for the best managed l best cultivated and most profitable one- | horse farm not to exceed twenty-five acres, all to be competed for and award ed under such rules and regulations as | the Club may adopt
 After carefully considering the reso- lution the special committee consisting Of C.. c. Abercrombie. w. D. Westcott. J.
 A. Sellers, J. A. Barnes. A. R. Harvey and M. B. Houghton have prepared a premium list that 1t Is believed will stim-
 ulate great interest in diversified and in-
 tensive farming with results highly ben eficial not only to the farmer but to the community at large.
 "The plan so far as it has been can
 vassed and made known meets with uni
 versal favor and commendation and will
 doubtless prove the most practical and
 popular movement of the kind ever un-
 dertaken in Alabama for the upbuilding
 of the agricultural interests in which
 Montgomery Is so vitally interested.
 Rules Governing Cor test.
 "Contests will be confined to Montgom-
 cry County farmers and to those outside
 who are members of the Montgomery Az
 ricultural Club.
 "The lands upon which crops for the
 contests are to be grown must be up- land.
 "A complete diary showing depth of blowing, narrowing planting, fertilizing,
 kind of seed and quantity, mode of cul- | tivation, harvesting and entire cost must be kept and shown by contestants. "At least five persons must give notice to the club that they will contest for any one premium and must actually contest
 before the prize shall become available.
 "The crops of all contestants must be
 examined and reported on at least three
 times during the period from planting to
 harvesting. by disinterested committee appointed by the Club.
 Average specimens of the various crops grown must be preserved and exhibited at the hall of the Club on the first day
 of November. 1904 together with writ ten or printed statement or the mode ana
 manner of cultivation, kind and quality of soil and all other necessary informa-
 ton as to Its production.
 "The premiums shall be awarded and paid to the successful contestants by a special committee. who shall be disinter ested. to be appointed by vote of the Montgomery Agricultural Club on the | first day of November 1904, provided the | conditions have been fully complied with | Prizes to be Awarded. "The following amounts will be paid for | the best and largest yields on acreage. as | stated, to wit:
 Five acres in rust proof oats $25. | Five acres in corn, 80. Five acres in alfalfa, 80. Five acres in cotton, $25.
 Five acres in grass for hay. $3O.
 Five acres in ground peas. $25.
 Five acres In sorghum, $25.
 Five acres in COW peas. $25. Five acres in watermelons, $30 Five acres in canteloupes, $30. Ten acre truck farm $50
 | For the farmer making the most sat- isfactory and profitable use of commer-