The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-03
nj, Nete. frew wa.h,.stc.,

The directors of the experiment sta
 tions in the cotton growing States were
 invited by the Secretary ol AgrieultYre
 the chiefs of his bureaus and divisions at Washington. D. c, on June 2!th. The
 writer was one of those attending this
 directors of all the cotton. growing States. with 6ne exception. The dis- cussions, which were participated in by
 most Of those present, were informal
 and dealt largely with the needs of the
 Southern farmer in view of the rapid
 spread of the boil weevfl and with the pare our people for the changed condi-
 lions which the boil weevil wiii effect. Since the discussions dealt chiefly Win technical and administrative questions. It sufiices here to say that both the Sec retary and the directors freely express cd the opinion that the conference was haTRly bs,S. satisfaetory. o, ,,n,,.. i, ,.. clearly the dominant thought Uf this body of leaders of agricultural move. ments that the time for preparation for that efforts to solve agricultural prob lems and promote diversification must De far-reaching and prompt. To do snis properly ,1 and in time eonsderable al the State Legislatures or the entire south realize in time and in a substan- tial way. as some of them have already done. that investments to promote agri
 cultural development pay large dIvi- dends in dozen different ways?
 night journey kept me from making crops in Georgia. The condition of cot ton raised east of Georgia has but little Influence on the cotton market In theee regions cotton along the South ern Railway is generally clean. though rather small. From all reports the con- ditions west of the Mississippi are much more unfavorable for cotton.
 It Is popular to talk or "bringing the cotton mills to the cotton fields" My observations on this and previous jour neys through the Carolinas suggest that cotton mills and cotton fields mu- tualiy rerel each other. the cotton fields refreshing from the immediate vicinity of the larger cotton mills. Judging from car window view. the vicinity of Q large cotton mill community is the place to find abandoned farms. Of course the explanation is easy The tee Farm for the supposed advantages 0t the factory village. The flow of this human tide has important social and economic results, in which the State. as well as the individual, is concerned The aosses and the gains from such miEra- tions are not for me to weigh, and per maps one whose ambition is the bet terment of country life would be no fit and impartial judge of this matter. At least ne can suggest that the way to sIop IL IS to Increase the profits and nome comforts of the farmer.
 Through Virginia there are evidences of recent torrentiaI rains. us witnessed py trestles washed away bottoms over rseent washes and eds WsIpe WSssepy fearred with farmer runs his rows straight up hill and down like Northern farmers. he Tlness Mi9hsss th,. Tn seasons soi of heavy rains. Tor stra1ght-row farming, or more prob apiy the land is not kept long enough m grass to make this system absolutei, progressive cotton grower. Of course. an Virginia the chief auvantage of the straight ,n row is permitting the check tions thus saving in less work This IS an advantage of which we shall need tN a,ah avail ourselves more and more in aoaha, enanah ;o where where, the land is level parts or the Tennessee Valley, in parts 6I the Prairie Region, and in the level hams oi the southeastern part of Ala ton nere to the fact that field of cot ton on bie.ek slough land near Union town laa a two-horse cultivator in two all up to the middle of June. the thin ning or part of 1t being done by pulling the surplus plants.
 Passing over a score of matters of general. or official, or technical inter est. shall speak only of a visit to what may be called the national ex- garment ps Hno station farm. This is tract tbe ii oIy b;stnn,e acres or land forming, part of tne historic Arlington, the plantation home of General Robert E. Lee. The greater portion of this property is now use rsed sra as a National Cemetery. From which is most imposing in its noble simplicity and perfect symmetry. we Thse Th me panorama of river and city. nnnnt rne tall white shaft that. is. the fit try, the graceful dome of the capitol. and the low gilded dome of the new Library. are but a few view. ie oupero
 But. however, delightful the contem- pIation of historic and enchanting scenes where art and nature join, my thsR tasR IS here the humbler one and my ,under the View from the hills of Ari- ington. Here are the field laborato- ries of the National Department of the timothy breeder, the forage crop experts, the horticulturist, and others Sc1nonet Smone thep part ds of their field work. which this farm Is employed is the testing of varieties of seed sent out in the much discussed congressional seed Distribution. These tests are not to and on too. small a scale for that, but ratner their purpose is to ascertain whether the seed bought by the de- partment are true to name.
 Horticulturial operations constitute q large proportion of the work on this farm and the collection of seedlings or certain forest trees and of ornamen- tal plants are interesting. Extensive tests of varieties of fruits are under way. On one acre is model vegeta- Die garden showing all the important vegetables for home use and their proper arrangement and rotation to insure supply of vegetables as early ana as late as possible. Likewise on another acre are assembled in proper proportions small fruits and tree fruits to give a succession for family use A'
 In the grass garden are extensive collections both of grasses and of legu-