The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-28
Brass Band and Basket Picnic
 Add to GaJs5
FARMERS SHOW INTEREST
The Speeches Are Supplemented With Practical monsrations-Foraqe Crops Are Feature In Gull
 man County.
BY WALTETR HARPER.

BY WALTETR HARPER.
 Logan, August al.)-Commis- sloner of Agriculture J. A. Wilkinson and his party of experts who are mak- ing an educational tour of this county held an enthusiastic and well attended meeting at Logan, twelve miles west of Cullman, today.
 Logan Is in the midst of one of the fin est agricultural sections of the county and the meeting today was attended by as large or even larger number of people than attended the meetings at Cullman yesterday.
 The Logan brass band provided music for the occasion and added much to the enjoyment of the day A big basket din ner under the trees was also an interest ing feature of the day
 The programme of speakers has been somewhat systematized and every fea- ture of the days exercises was attended with absorbing interest by the people.
 Of Practical Interest.
 The subjects that are being treated by Commissioner Wilkinson and the experts with him are of practical interest to tha farmers and the discussions are all re- ceived with close and studious attention The farmers seem to appreciate very much the interest that is being shown by these high public officials in their work and advancement and seem anxious to draw from the meetings all the good pos slble.
 The discussions are practical, heart to heart talks on familiar subjects and the farmers In the audience have been made to feel free to offer suggestions, asl, questions and give personal experiences They are responding llberally to this fin. vitation and the meetings are often re. solved Into real experience meetings which are both pleasant and profitable to l every one.
 The men who are taking part in the worn with the commissioner are enjoying the experience wonderfully and are very much delighted with the real interest that Is being shown by the people in every subject discussed It indicates q growing desire on the part of the farm CTS to improve their condition and it is really pleasure to talk with them
 Better Conditions.
 Commissioner Wilkinson devotes much of his time in the discussions to the promise of better conditions that are promised the rural districts In better schools, better roads and a better sys- tenn of handling the products of the farm. He points with pride and hopeful enthusiasm to the great desire of the people to know more of the practical methods of agriculture. It is evident that the farmer wants to break away from primitive methods and make farm ing science and success financially. He is encouraged to find that the farm CTS of this section own their own homes and are making every effort to improve their farm lands so as to secure the maximum results from their operation He is pleased with the very evident de- sire on the part of the farmers for pub He improvements in the way of schools good roads and better transportation fa cilities He Is encouraged to find that q majority of the farmers of Cullman coun- ty are practically out of debt and are seeking every opportunity to increase their prosperity.
 Commissioner Wilkinson contends that the agricultural departments of the state and federal government are for the ben eft of the farmers and he is glad that the officials from these departments are able to go personally to the farmer and give him the benehs of their knowledge and experience.
 He halls this movement as one of the most promising undertakings that has ever been attempted in the history of the country.
 An Interesting Feature.
 One of the most interesting and most profitable discussions Is that of Prof r;. r. Cauthen on Seeds Their Selection and Improvement" Professor Cauthen Is a practical man and has made q thorough study of this subject.
 He makes his discussions of particular interest by displaying during his talk sam pies of plants Illustrating the value of seed selection. He gathers corn and cot ton stalks from the field in the vicinity of the meetings where he talks and ex- plains the deficiencies and good qualities of the individual stalks. For instance one corn stalk Is condemned on account of It's height and stockiness. 1t ab- sorbes too much of the plant energy dt the expense of the ear. very largo ear is condemned for the reason that the cob is abnormally developed and the gram IS poor or uneYenly dlStrnbuted. He illustrates the fact that an average sized ear with small cob. close even grain on an average sized stalk. which Is well developed gives the best result. He tells the farmers how to preserve and develop seed crops from carefully selected ears that are not selected from the quality of the ear alone but aftr study of tme stalk from which 1t is taken He says that the seed corn should be selected from the growing field and not from the crib. The apparently good ear of corn selected from the crib may have some inherited defect that will show up in the reproduc- ton that cannot be disclosed in the seed. He advises the same precautions in the selection of all other seeds. He follows up his discussion on seed selection and development with some very practical hints on preparation of soil and cultiva- tion
 The Grass Crops.
 The farmers of Culman county are very much interested in the growing of grasses and the discussion of Major Thomas J, Key. editor of the Southern Agriculturalist on this subject Is very timely and important.
 He appears at each meeting with an
 
 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2J