The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-07
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Agricultural information.

back through North Dakota, where are
to be found the largest wheat fields of
the world. Fields there belonging
to individuals, are the largest to be found
anywhere. In the Dakotasi the wheat
grass and oats crops are all very promis
ign. In area, North Dakota ranks high as
she Is a great state in size. In North
Dakota are to be seen our greatest crops
of flax, as she is the leading state in the
production of this crop. 1t was the flax
crop that saved this state, for when all
else failed the flax revenue derived from
the fax industry enabled the farmers TO
bridge ~>er. hold their claims and live
until ether crops could be produced.
The topography of this state is very
similar to that of Canada 1t Is great
open country, a great range and stock
country. Along the Red river, great crops
are Grown.
Passing south out of the Dalsotas. we
come to the great agricultural state Iowa
which Is, perhaps the best agricultural
state In the Union / found in the north
ern part of this state. the soil water soak
ed and corn. the main crop, very late and
foul The prospect for big crop of corn
in northern Iowa is not ait all .f1atterlng,
but the hay and oats crops were Won
derful Passing across the northern part
Of the state we turn south and reach
Oaha at night TIE next day I left for
Chicago, passing through the central part
of Iowa. where the corn crop was very
much better in fact. through central Iowa
and northern Missouri there Is promise
now of one of the largest corn crops IN tho
history of the country.
In the middle of the afternoon we cross
the great Des Moines river and enter ILL
nois at Rock Island. Perhaps some OF
our readers remember Rock Island as one
of the prisons of the sixties and some one
who reads this may have had some exper-
10 MI
and nov this is a great city, city OF
great factories wholesale houses, etc. as
well as being a great railroad. center
There Is still an army post or arsenal
there.
Crossing Illinois I found that crop con-
ditions had improved wonderfully since
my last trip ten days before when
things had looked gloomy indeed. 7 next
left for St Louis passing through the
great corn belt of Illinois, where eondi-
lions and the promise for good crop
was much better than when I wrote OF
this section q few weeks before. On July
g. I made a trip across central missouri
of about three hundred miles where
found the corn crop looking very much
inproy l. the wheat all harvested and in
some sections thrashng was In progress
While the total yield of winter wheat may
fall below that Of 1905, yet the quality Is
so much better than that of last year
that the crop VIII be worth more money
than the crop OF 1905.
The apple and peach crops In Missouri
are greater than they have been for some
years and the quality of these is extra
good The people OF the state are begin
ming to wonder what they will do with
their apple crop. The late rains nave
filled the soil with sufficient moisture to
insure a great crop of both apples and
peaches.
-f<...n afrofa ont I
met with the people of three Missouri
counties at Everton. Mo- where ! de-
livered an address to over 5000 people. The
next day started on trip through some
of our eastern states. ! managed this
trip so as to travel mostly In daylight
so as to see and study crop conditions.
Passing through Indiana. I noticed that
the corn crop was late. poor stand in
many places and small generally. The
wheat crop Is above average In yield
and quality.
Crossing the state Of Ohio, 7 found crop
conditions about the same as In Indiana.
In both states there is n fine crop of hay.
but oats, like the corn crop is off this
year in both states. Orchards have been
badly neglected in both states.
Passing out of Ohio. the next state !
crossed was West Virginia The reader
perhaps would not expect to hear of West
virginia producing anything but coal and
iron yet this is not all The state is
making a great record in fruit growing
and il Is surprise to see what Is being
done In the growing of fine apples The
farms as a rule are small but they are
being improved and cultivated, fruits and
vegetables forming the main crops Some
grain is being grown. also live stock, es-
pectally sheep, which thrive remarkably
well in this mountainous state.
The next state I visited was Virginia.
Here we also find the farms being built
up and new and better system of farm
ing carried on Some grain. grasses and
live stock are being produced while great
crops of tobacco. peanuts. fruits and veg
etables are to be seen growing. | cannot
take space here to make mention OF the
many historic places. but will only alude
to Mount Vernon, the home of Washing
ton. No one should visit Washington
without making a visit to Mount vernon,
making a stop, sither going or coming,
at Arlington once the nome of General
Robert r. Lee. but which is now used as
one of The great cemeteries. In fact. II Is
the largest OF all our national cemeteries.
The whole trip can be made from Wash
ineton In half day by either trolley or
by boat up the Potomac. or course. one
can go even In less time but the visitors
will be well repaid for their time by tax
ing at least a half day for seeing the two
places. The great forest trees, standing
in the park remain as monuments to the
wisdom of Washington in leaving them
for rs to admire.
There is always much of interest to see
in and around washington. Here is the
seat of our government and here the
various departments of the government
are cstab lished in great buildings. which
of themselves furnish the visitor much TO
see. Then there are the beautiful parks.
monuments and many places of historic
interest The best season for visiting
Washington is May or June or during the
winter season At these seasons the grass
is always green and fresh. The visitor
here should not fail to visit the expert
ment plant plots of the department of az
riculture. Then there II the great con-
gresslonal library, which every one should
see this is one of the finest buildings i'm
the world. I am always interested in
reading some Of the old documents per-
tanning to our early history that are on
file here Some of the old newspapers
that are still preserved in this building
would be amusing to young people OF
today, especially some of the advertise
ments that are TO be seen IN them. While
here In Washington. visited the experi-