The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-16
PLAN SO|L SURVEY
 OF B|BB COUNTY
BonSteeI and Underwood Go to
 CentreviIIe
TALK TO FARMERS TODAY
VIII Seek to Enlist Cooperation of the Farmers In Surveys Which Are to Be Made This
 Fall.

Dr. J. A. Bronsteel of Washington, chief of the bureau of soil utilization of the department of agriculture, was in the city yesterday on his way to Centrevllle In Blbb county, where he in company with Congressman Oscar W. Underwood will address the people today on soil surveying.
 The department will begin the work of making a soil survey of Bibb county in October and Congressman Underwood ar ranged the meeting today for the pur- pose of instructng the farmers of that county on the work that is to be done and solicit their cooperation in the en- terprlse.
 Dr. Bonstel and Congressman Under wood left for Centreville yesterday aft ernoon at o'clock over the Alabama Great Southern.
 The work of this department Is com paratively new, only having been under way for about four years, and the people generally are not familiar with It's pur- pose and benefits. To make the work successful the surveyors need the CO., operation of the farmers in the district where the work Is being done while the survey is in progress.
 For this reason Congressman Under wood arranged a meeting at Centreville, where all the plans will be discussed.
 BonsteeI Accompanied Hobson. Dr. Bonsteel was the expert from .he bureau of soils who accompanied Cap tain Hebson through the Sixth district in the sIring on his memorable tour of edu- cation. and Is said to be one of the best posted soil men In the United States
 Since the Hobson tour the necessity for new and more practical division of the bureau has been established and Dr. Bonsteel has been made chief of that division which is the division of soil utilization.
 The Hobson tour suggested to the chiefs of the department the necessity for a more practical application of the work ol tho bureau of soils
 The mere publication of maps and charts of the survey did not seem to be sufficient for all practical purposes. The farmers want an interpretation of those maps and charts and it was decided to create division, the purpose of which 1 is to send men Into the field to instruct the farmers on the character of soils 1 selection of crops. methods of cultiva- tion and methods of fertilization.
 In other worda, this division will fol. low ur the work of the surveyors and labor for practical results
 Congressman Underwood has already
 
 Perry counties and when BiV1 Is com pleted only Jefferson will remain in his district. He hopes to secure the survey of the agricultural sections of Jefferson at an early date
 Good Meeting Expected.
 It is expected that a large number of people will attend the meeting at Centre vile today at 10 o'clock. Congressman Underwood will address the meeting on the Importance of the work that Is to be done In Blob county and will call or I the farmers to render all the assistance 1 possible to the party of surveyors | Dr. Bonsteel will explain the nature oi tho work to be done and stress the im- portance of the cooperation of the people to be benefited
 In discussing the work of the bureau oi soils yesterday at the Hotel Hilman, Dr Bonsteel said: "The bureau of soils is swamped with requests for soil surveys from all sections of the United States. We have calls for more work than can bt reached in the next twelve months.
 "Captaln Hobson is directly responsible | for thls flood of enthusiasm, but we are glad of 1t. The department is proud thai l the value of its services is being appreci- ated and will answer every call just as fast as possible.
 This Is perhaps one of the most impor- tant divisions of the department of agri- culture, the one that deals more directly with the success of the farmers of this | country, and will be more thoroughly ap- preciated when the work is better under | stood.
 '"The new division that was created July | l, of which have been made chief. prom ises to be of special value to the farmer when 1t is thoroughly organized. I am busy with the organization now. Through this division we hope to be of practical benefit to the farmer In bringing | to his field all the experience and infor. nation that the department of agriculture |