The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-07
ARE WARMLY RECEIVED
IN PICKENS COUNTY
Samuel Hill, Financier, Spends the Day
With the Party and Assists In
Spreading the Gospel of
Good Roads.
BY WALTER HARPER.


Reform, May 6.-(Specal. 1.-THE tour of
education by Congressman r. p. Hob
son through the Sixth district began at
Aliceville this morning at 10 o'clock when
Capt. Hobson and the department Off
cials with him addressed good sized au-
dience on the various subjects of internal
improvement in which they are interested.
Congressman Hobsons work in bring
ing department experts from Washing
ton to talk to the people. instructing them
along practical lines, is something unique
in this country and is attracting wide
interest and will no doubt act as a most
beneficial precedent. Capt. Hobson has
been careful in the selection of his men
Z and has experts who are giving the peo-
pie practical demonstrations In their de-
partments.
1t is announced that this work is only
preliminary and will be closely followed
up by the departments represented at the
earliest practicable moment
soil survey of every county in the
district will be made A cotton expert
will be located permanently in the dis
trict, the department of forestry will
take care of the timber interests. r-ss
good roads movement will be pushed in
every way possible and a man will look
closely after the establishment of rural
mail delivery routes. In fact, Capt. Hob
son has announced that he will bring ev-
cry governmental aid that is available to
the service of his constituents
EVERY man in the party is an expert
and an enthusiast in his particular line.
Meetings Open at AIiceviIe.
hn nj
was opened by State Senator Amos Hor-
ton OF Greene county, who delivered a.
welcome address in behalf of the mayor.
The Masonic hall was crowded to its ca
pacity when Capt Hobson arose and ex-
piained briefly the purposes of the tour
Among other things he stated that at a
conference held Saturday with the county
olncers or tuscaloosa arrangements had
been made for the establishment of five
new rural free mail delivery routes.
*. g. Wilson of the bureau of plant in
dustry followed with fifteen-n1inute dis
cussion Of cotton culture which was re-
ceived with close attention. He advised
intensive cultivation, careful selection of
seeds and the use of domestic fertilizer
rather than commercial. He announced
thal the department would place a cotton
expert in the Sixth district next fall who
would make his permanent home here
and direct scientific culture of cotton in
conjunction with the farmers in each
county.
BonsteeI Talks on Soils.
j. A. Bonsteel discussed soils from a.
practical standpoint explaining the great
advantages of soil analysis to the farmer
in showing him what crops to nlant on
different soils and the fertilizer necessary
Tor different crops. He commended the
bill introduced in the Alabama Legislature
by Senator Amos Horton providing for
the appropriation of $4,000 for four years
Tor state soil survey, He said that If tha
bill is passed the federal government will
supplement the amount with an eouaI
sum and every county in the state would
be surveyed at once. He announced that
every county in the Sixth district will
be surveyed, anyway, as soon as men
and money are provided.
As Applied to Alabama.
In discussing the work of his depart
ment as applied to Alabama, Dr. Bonsteel
of the soil department said:
"The soils of Alabama constitute tho
greatest natural resource for the produce
tion of wealth. The mines NAV he ev-
hausted of their coal and iron by contin-
ued working, and they will never be re-
pienisned. Inc forests of the state may
be cut and only by the slow ma ssa ee or
years will they be restored. Even when
they are, the forest resources spring di
rectly from the soil. Under proper meth
DDS of cultivation the soils are inav-
haustible, responding from year to wear
with annual crops furnished to the plant
er and the farmer like the interest drawn
from the bank on an invested fund.
There is a great variety of soil within
the state. Forty-fire individual soils have
been discovered and mapped within the
state by the soil survey of the United
States department of agriculture, all
though only one-fifth of the area of the
state has thus far been investigated
Each one of these Individual soils is fitted
to produce a certain crop or group Of
crops to the best advantage. It is neces-
sary, in order that farming may become
q true profession, that every farmer may
have at his disposal the knowledge as to
what crops his individual soils can raise
with the least expense, and with large
margin of profit. This constitutes study
of the adaptation of soils to crops.
Different crops and different soils re-
quire different methods of cultivation and
fertilization in order to produce the larg-
est money returns and the greatest
profits. Properly handled the soils of Ala
bama are capable of continuing their high
average of production of the great staple
crops for an indefinite period. There are
four methods by which this producing ca
pacity, frequently called the fertility of
the soil, may be maintained These are
proper methods of cultivation including
deeper plowing and more shallow cult
walton than is the common practice,
proper crop rotation whereby the same
crop is not permitted to occupy the same
field for more than one year at time.
but is succeeded by other crops which
have different requirements of cultivation
and draw in different ways upon the
soil. Again, the organic matter which