The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-15
FARMERS MEETING IS GREAT SUCCESS Prominent Speakers at Home
 of Wm. Munford PROF. SPILLMAN SPEAKS coneressmen Underwood and Taylor and Commissioner Poole Also Ad-
 dress Meetng-Be Bar
 becue Dinner Is Served.
PROF. SPILLMAN SPEAKS

becue Dinner Is Served.
 Uniontown, June 14-(Specia1. )-Th farmers meetins and barbecue given yes terday at .Oakland," the home of Will liam Munford, where is locate. the gov ernment diversifeation farm was one O the most successful gatherings in ever, respect, ever held here. The benefits tC be derived from the meeting will be fel by generations to come and 1t marks tht beginning of a new epoch in tho develop ment of agricultural interests.
 Prof. w. J. Spillman the agrastologist of the Department Of Agriculture at l Washington, Pref. J. r. Duggar of the Agricultural and Mechanical college at Auburn. who is conducting d series of experiments at the experimental station here, and Prov W. A. Crosby also of the United States Department oi A sricGlture, all of whom have been here for the past several days were at the meeting giving l advice to the farmers.
 Among the other prominent men present were Congressmen 0. W. Underwood and 1tOIB6 w. IdSlOIs OOHiiiiSHAoiAOA ANs iN Poole, Treasurer J. Craig Smith, Capt. J c. Webb and Col. N G. Winn and B. L. Garber of Demopolis J. B. Ellis. ]. H. l Lumplxin and Dr. w. c. Phillips of Sel- ma; J. B. Garber of Laneville; R. A. White and J. F. Brown of Newberne, be- sides a large number of prominent plant CTS from other places and also from this city.
 Lieutenant Governor R. M. Cunningham was expected but was unavo.dably de- tained.
 In the large grove used for such oc- easion was built a speakers platform and around this the audience eongregated.
 States Object of Meeting.
 The meeting was called to order at 12 o'clock by Jud~e w. H. Taylor, who stated it's object winch was to hear the first report of the diverShcation commit tee of the government to help the farmer. He said in the course of a. Kew words that the man who gathers the crop Is the most important citizen He urged all pres ent to follow the work of Professor Spill man at the Hog. farm and that of Pro lessor Duggar and Professor Richeson at the Canebrake experiment station and closed by introducing Professor Spillman.
 Professor Spillman began by saying that the reports of the Department or Agricul- ture are delightful at a reception Of tbis kind The people appreciate every enort that Is why the Department of Aericul- ture is turning it's attention to the rarm- CTS of the south. Farmers of the south show more interest and more appreca- tion than any where else.
 The south has the best climate and grows better grasses. The south pro- duees forage, It produces mora sorghum than any part of the north. It also has climate to pasture stock ten months and in some places twelve months Tn year. But, said MT. Spilman. the south was so unfortunate as to discover a crop to get rich In few years-Cotton. He then vent on to give other things to raise in the place of cotton Rice rnowing Is very good. Year hefore last tho production of rice way - million hags more than the consumpruh ASwt esut the South Caro- lima rico growers went out of business. Professor Spillman then went on to give his exeprence with wheat. In 1894 when he was professor of agriculture in a state college int Washington That year 1G0 acres produced an average O. 62 bushels per acre.
 In 1892 there was nothing but wheat; good prices. big fields. The farmers got rich and retired. borrowed money at the small sum of 1S per cent and bought 1aTTnS. InlIBS V ere Oll Il lOhIH yet tNflH- body was In debt. Tn 1893 fall rains be- gan at harvest time Wheat went to 1Sc, July 1. 1894 1t was 2oc In 1895 25c Tn three years no interest was paid on the debt. Land only hrousht ten or eleven dollars after single crop in wheat countries.
 Grow Corn and livestock.
 The speaker advised them not to grow grasses but to grow corn and live stock. He told a little story of being mistaken for a preacher when on his way to de- liver an address to gathering of farmers. He replied, T am a preacher. l am preach ing the gospel of diversified crops to the farmers" Continuing he said today there is creamery at every crossroad. hogs. cattle and horses, grain and other things thrive.
 Going back 10 cotton Mir. Spillman says cotton has gone back since the advent of the little bug and has thrown the south in consternation The south Is best for livestock It has more and better feed and better stabling facilities.
 He also stated how Texas went into truck industry on account of the boil weevil, and sold 5000 cars of truck and got for them 8. 0000O0 In the north they brought Si00O, GOO. Last year BLOC acres of potatoes were planted this year, 2500O0. Potatoes though are overdone. Live stock is the only thing that doesn't wear out land Live stock. truck and fruit growing are all right if you don't over stock the market. Going off to alfalfa, MT. Spillman said where alfalfa is plant ed there is no fear of boil weevil. At the farm where the meeting was held alfalfa was planted last year on eight acres and yielded 3 65-1O0 tons per acre a SIP per ton. With alfalfa there Is more profit and less labor. Also grow corn on alfalfa land. If makes a fine crop. After plead for the diversilcation of crops ara again ask ing for the planting of more alfalfa. Pro- lessor Spillman closed.
 Professor Duggar Speaks.
 He was followed by Professor Duggar who also argued for diversified ton. and also spoke earnestly for good roads. He said that with the cooperation and sup port of people of Uniontown a test road from this city to the experiment. station about mile. would be built. and asked that a committee of three be appointed to see after teams, etc, for the purpose. The chairman appointed Capt. G. B. Johnston, Dr I. N. Mclean and MT. J. E. West This committee agreed on a road commit ice of fourteen with Mayor Warden as chairman. as follows: Mayor w. J. Var den. G. B. Johnston, c. D. Stollenwerck I. N. Mclean, J. F. West, l. H. White F. Meyer. O. l.. Woodfn, T.. A. Hardie.
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