The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-04
Agricultural Department
:
 coNpucTEb BY FULTON S. WHITE.

she has lost GOOD in population since 1900 This can be accounted for from the fact that the price of land in Iowa is almost prohibitory. Renters cannot afford to pay the high rents asked for farm lands and so are leaving and seeking homes in the south and west where they can buy land for the rent price in Iowa. I have taken up this subject for the purpose of giving our readers an idea of what a great country ours is and to give them an
 idea of what the various sections of our country are producing.
 l think that our people, especially the farmers, would be greatly benefited by knowing just what line of crops each state or section of our country is pro- ducing and when where and how the crops of each section are marketed. This would enable the farmers of each section to know more of the competition that they have to meet. as well as to know of sec tions where they may buy to best ad- vantage such supplies as they may need. So, as I find time, I want to take up other states and show some of the things that they are doing. 1 want to take up the great corn and cotton belts of our country and show the difference in the financial conditions of the two sections The subject that is uppermost now is the one we have had before our readers for the past few weeks-that of better methods for marketing the perishabe crops of our southern growers and is one that must be kept before the public un- til something definite is accomplished. | want to state here that I am giving this matter a great deal of study, and l shall have more to say on this market question If we can have the united support of the southern and western press, as well as that of the growers of these sections, together, we may accomplish good and lasting results.
 Illinois.
 What has been said for Iowa will apply largely for Illinois Illinois claims to be the leading agricultural state but her claim to this is not well founded How ever she ranks second in this line, Iowa. as stated, holding the first place. Illinois has so much more waste land than Iowa that 1t reduces her agricultural wealth as total below that of Iowa. Both states grow about the same line of crops If all the state of Illionis was as rich as is the central part of the state, then she
 could well boast of being the leading state in the Union for agriculture.
 Grains, hay. grasses, dairying and live stock are the principal products from the farms. Creameries are being establish ed all over the state and the dairy busi- ness now brings to the state great rev. enue, having last year brought in $6O- 000, 900.
 In the southern part of the state fruits and vegetables are largely grown for shipment. These crops consist of apples peaches, pears, grapes and a large line of small fruits such as strawberries
 raspberries and blackberries. Early po-
 tatoes and a full line of vegetables are | also being grown. In the northern part of the state around the great lakes, large crops of cabbage, celery and onions are grown for market From this section are shipped many cars each season of late cabbage to the southern markets.
 There is a vast amount of coal mined in the state and the manufacturing interests rank among the first of any state. Per haps more first-cass farm implements are manufactured in this state han in any other. The aggregate wealth is some thing wonderful. As in Iowa, lands in the best agricultural part are high rang ing from $50 to $l75 per acre. This brings up the rents so high that but little can be made by farming rented lands. This is driving renters from the state and they are finding cheaper homes in, the south and west. The reader may recall state ment I made few weeks ago. that these
 states were not yet fully settled and [
 repeat here that either Iowa or Illinois could support a population three times | or more greater than their present pop ulation, but to do this many of the | large farms would have to be divided into | smaller ones. There are yet many large | farms In the great central western states. There is one family in the center of the great corn producing section that
 owns 1500 acres. This acreage if divided 1 into farms of 10 to 80 acres would sup ! port many more families. But the con-
 ditons are such that there is not much 1 speculation in buying these high-priced | lands.
 South Dakota.
 1 Only a few years ago the Dakotas were ! hardly known or thought of. The writer can remember when this country began | to be settled and attract the attention of | home seekers We thought that the | home seekers who moved to Dakota to
 secure homestead and who had to live | in a dugout or tent would have to en- | dure many hardships. brave many dan l gers from wild beasts and savages and | that he was isolated from the world per
 haps for years. But how changed are the | conditions and how quick such changes
 were brought about. During a recent trip across the Dakotas I was greatly sur | prsed at the development. The railroad,
 the great civilizer had reached these
 new states crossing and recrossing, build
 ing branch lines out in every direction | until these states have as good railroad ! accommoda ations as have many of our
 other states, Beautiful villages and towns | dot the prairies in all sections, some of 1 them having reached the point where 1 they are called cities.
 l Agriculture is the leading industry and | has kept pace if not gone ahead of all | else, for this state like iowa is strictly | an agricultural state. The chief crops are grain, hay and live stock. Owing to | the climate and newness of the country, | there has not been. as yet any attention | paid to the matter of general diversih- l cation. Wheat is the main grain crop. Oats are grown largely. Rye, barley and corn are also extensively grown. Blue grass. red. white and allana clovers are | all grown over very large section of the
 state. Corn is fast becoming acclimated and is being grown farther north each | year. I saw great fields of well matured corn. A great deal of the soil is a deep 1 black loam and is productive The --ay | crop of this state is something enormous. | Thousands of tons of fine hay could be | seen on nearly every farm. The live | stock consists of cattle, hogs sheep and 1 poultry The poultry industry Is receiv- l ing great attention and brings to the
 state a large-revenue. The stock is all ] of the best breed.
 The country is settled largely by for | egners who live in colonies. There are | colonies of Russians. Bohemians, Swedes, l Norwegians and Germans. These are all i hardy, thrifty and industrious people. The
 dairy industry is beginning to be develop
 ed and this state will soon be numbered
 among the great dairy states of the west. There is yet much cheap land in the