The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07
Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED BY FULTON s. WHITE.
A rip Through Alabama.

I 7 fItE aiHAO1dA
 It is always a great pleasure to the writer to make trip through the south. and especially is 1t the more interesting at this season of the year when one can have a chance to see the growing crops, the flowers and fruits. the grass and stock, in fact to see all the forces of na- ture actively engaged. This to me is a1- ways interesting.
 Starting out from Nashville south over the Louisville and Nashville railroad on May 27. and making daylight run from Nashville to New Orleans gave me an op- portunity to sec the crops and to note | conditions generally. I shall commence with the northern part of Alabama and make mention of some of the things which I saw along the line.
 First are to be noted some fields of wheat almost ready for harvest. Most all crops we find to be late As we came down we found that the crops were need ing rain, but on the 18th good showers covered nearly all the territory from the northern part of the state down to the coast This will greatly improve crop conditions, and as the weather has set tied down now for old hot business we may expect better reports from now on on all crops. On reaching Cullman got there an object lesson well worth men tioning for the benefit or thought for 1 other sections. As the train slowed down we could hear the shouts of a number of boys, all crying out, Nice, fresh straw berriesl" I raised my car window and asked one of the little fellows few ques- l lions.
 First, Flow are your berries? Have plenty yetg'
 No. sir, the berries are nearly all gone; 1 these are about-our last"
 When the strawberries are gone what will you do then for something to sell7"
 The answer came quick: "We have rasp- berries and black berries, plums and grapes, then peaches and apples"
 And the little fellow went on to say; Never think you will come along here and find us without something to sell you train folks"
 Now here is the whole secret of success for all farming communities-to have something at all times to sell, instead of having everything to buy. As our train moved on l thought how different the con- ditions were to what they are Tn many 1 towns, where we see the butcher boy get off the train and sell the farmers fruit.
 Another question also came Into my mind. Why Is 1t that of all the towns we pass in coming down through north Ala l bama Cullman alone has fruit to sell? Are not the soil, climate and general con- ditions at many other towns just as good as they are at Cullman7 Let the reader answer these questions for himself. As I came down through north Alabama and saw the many evidences of what can be done in the way of fruit growing. I won dered why the people were not giving this matter more attention. I also thought what a great help 1t would be to the peo- pie of this section If my papers on fruit growing and especially the ones on apple growing in Alabama as published last fall 1 in the Age-Herald could only be published in bulletin form and distributed largely among the farmers In this part of the state.
 Now I do not say it in boasting way, 1 but after having spent so much time in l visiting the many great apple growing sections of our country, and especially what is known as the Big Red Apple dis 1 trict, l am more than ever convinced of l the wisdom or timely advise of my paper on apple growing In Alabama, and If had to write that paper over today there are but few changes, If any, that I would make. And I do think that If the papers are yet on file that 1t would pay the | state to secure them and publish them in 1 bulletin form and distribute them largely in the section mentioned. The matter as given in a newspaper reaches but small 1 per cent of the people who need the in- l read Is cast aside and lost. Every infiu- ence should be brought to bear to en- l courage apple growing in north Alabama. l While there is so much complaint and doubt as to the damage done the apple crop all over the west we find on ex- amining the crop in this state that wher- ever there Is an apple tree that has had the care and attention that 1t deserves 1t is loaded with fine fruit and there Is no l question of damage by frost-the fruit is there and safe and will make a crop. The | few apples we had at our state fair last year proved what can be done.
 l Now I think 1t would be a wise move to commence early and try to secure a fine exhibit of apples for our state fair next fall. Nothing would better adver- l tise our state than would a grand display of fine apples. Then, too, this is the year when not only apples, but many other fine fruits should be collected for the worlds fair.
 But the fruit crops are not all the crops | to be seen in the northern part of the state. There is the grain crops, grass crops, and quite an acreage of cotton. l Now while most of these crops are late yet there Is a good stand and the crops all clean, having been worked over. The cotton is cut out to a stand in most places and is looking we'll
 | All through the country on down to Mobile we find the crops much better l than we had expected to see in fact, the cotton crop Is the best we have seen any where, for the stand Is good and nearly | all crops cut to g. stand and growing nice 1 ly. I failed to see one crop or field of cotton which was not In good condition. | The corn crop, too, Is much better than 1 had expected-the stand fairly good and the crop making good growth. The only thing is that there is not enough of 1t planted-the acreage is too small. ] was very greatly surprised to see corn silking out and tassels were common But before I get on to Mobile want to make men | ton of few things-some enterprises 1 which have been watching closely along the line this side of Mobile, among which is the tomato industry at Evergreen, one of the best tomato growing sections of the south. The strawberry Industry at Cas- tleberry Is proving @ great success.
 Then there is Boiling, only few miles south of Greenville This point is destined to become great fruit and vegetable growing and shipping point, for the soil here is especially suited for thls industry Then there is Atmore, around which there is some of the finest farming lands of the state. Here great variety of fruits and vegetables should be grown, and this section, like Boiling, Is espe- cially adapted for growing fine canta- loupes and tomatoes. All these sections need to make them a perfect garden is | 4t .l.-l.k rfx.I @R nr..r o.1 .xes1.