The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-19
TRIP THROUGH THE FAMOUS BLACK BELT Notes of the Week in Society
 World
YEARS WORK OF Y. M. c. A.
"Wednesday the Mercy Home Will ob- serve 18th AnnlVersary-com-
 mencement Plans at Various Girls Schools of the City.

This is a most appropriate season to spend few days among the people of the black belt, when the youth and life of the country are fresh from the college days and are bouyant with anticipation of a happy vacation. At Akron the entire depot was filled with Hudson girls who were en route to their respective homes after months of study and discipline, and as the train reached Marion, the home of the Judson, the air was filled with the cheers and adieus, as expressed by one of our exchanges, "A car load of Judson
 route to Greensboro was equally
 terestng with ministers and dele-
 to the Episcopal council that met
 sion in that town during the past week. The cordial hospitality extended in the homes of this aristocratic section of the state resounded the same old well come as was extended in ante-bellum days, when wealth and fortune were the country's inheritance, and planters repre- sented as it were, "the lords of crea- tion." The recent cold snaps and heavy rains have chilled the crops but not the hearts of loyal friends. After leaving
 
 furnaces, and passing through the towns that are just beginning to develop their mineral deposits, the eye rests when 1t comes to the broad fields that lie be- yond Tuscaloosa through the active farming districts of Alabama, passing Tuscons lakes, and yearning for one more pull at the "bream' that tempted the fisherman in the past, and invites the followers of Nimrod to seek their banks for further fish stories." Much uneasi- ness Is felt just now over the crop pros poets, the fields for miles have been in no condition to blow, and where planted the stands of corn and cotton are very unsatifactory. Since the recent hard rains practically no work can be done, and even at.this late day much replanting will be necessary and then all of the sue cess will depend upon immediate warmer days. Usually at this season ot the year the cotton patches represent q busy scene with the cotton choppeys and blow hands, but to the weather is attributed the absence of the active labor. The farmer who has branched out to , produce on his farm n diversity ot crops, tD raise his stock, and poultry at home can meet the situation far more heroical- ly under trying circumstances, for he sees n living at all events. One of the most proeressive farmers probably in the state is MT Frank II. Bates, at Bates Farm, near Hamburg in Perry county, right on the Southern railroad, and i've miles from Marion Junction, in the heart ot the black belt.
 More than twenty years ago he found ii necessary to make his cotton crop his ..fancy work" and create on his 1arm a variety of products not only Tor the supplying of the family larder, but Tor market. His first step was to stock his
 afi aGt n modern dairy. This he equipped with the necessary furnishings not only to facili- tate work but to dispense with unnec- essary hired help. This help was ire uuently not obtainable. At the present date seventy gallons of milk are passed through the separator day. me cream is churned, and for the power to operate these machines a gasoline engine is used, enabling one hand to dc the dairy labor One hundred pounds of Bates Butter is shipped to Birmingham weekly, and IS a familiar article in the homes. His meats and lard are home-cured The flock of turkeys passed the age of danger, are an interesting spectacle to visitors to the farm Two hundred and fifty frying size chickens matched by incubator, are picking about the poultry yard and the .bees' are ever busy in their hives. The meadows of blue grass, clover and per nuda. the herds of cows and floeks of
 
 a beautiful home scene, to say nothing of the Berkshire pigs that furnish the home"
 -d hams that are to the epicures'
 About two years ago this home
 med to the ground, destroying
 ntique furnishings, collection of
 tions but with the spirit of in s redoubled. the home was rebuilt and an unusual condition prevails, Among the servants are former slaves, grown old and gray on the place, having never moved and doing service vet to the grand children and great grand children of their former owners. The cook em- ployed has been in service there for thir- tv years. and so it is with the wash woman At noon and at o'clock the huge bell sings the dinner and the rest hour, and things run as well as all we'll oiled machinery. This is one of the many homes of Alabama that is looking to the enriching of the farmers by the estab- ,ishment of stock farms and orchards.
 A. R. R.
 'The Miracle of the Roses an operetta, given by the pupils of Dr. l.. A. Brad yav's vpca1 class. staged by Miss Feagin.