The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-18
WORK IN SIXTH DISTRICT. Much Has Been Accomplished. MucI
 Wtll Yet Be Done.


 Tuscaloosa. July 17.--(special.)- Since May, 1907, when Congressman R. P. Hobson. with the practical experts from the Agricultural Department made his trip over the Sixth District, much has been done to improve the ag- ricuitural conditions of the District.
 The work done by the cotton and crop men has been. perhaps. the most extensive. Immediately following the tour of the District, Congressman Hob- son arranged for the government to send number of trained and practical men to the District to work with our farmers and to aid them to get the best results. The cotton and crop men have in that time established 237 demonstra- tion farms and 1,Se5 cooperative farms In the District.
 The demonstrators are citizens who have contracted to cultivate certain areas according to the instructions of the agents of the farmers co-opera- tive dennonstrative work. and to make accurate reports at the end of the sea- son.. They are visited as nearly as possible once a month and. in most cases, have been furnished with seed to plant these plata. The agent makes visit and talks over the crop condi- tlons. giving suggestions and advice. The co-operators are farmers who fol- low the same metho ods. in a general way
 
 to make reports. They receive free of charge, all bulletins and monthly pub lications from the general office of the farmers cooperative demonstratiye work, but are visited only as the agents have an opportunity to meet them on the demonstration farms and at public meetings They hold these meetings at seasons convenient to the farmers.
 There are five men employed by the government now engaged in this work In the District: R. S. Wilson, who has his headquarters at Columbus, Miss, Is ih charge of the work. E. Mlms, Tus- caloosa County, address Berry, Ala: J. E Westbrook, Marion County, address Guin, Ala, and W. H. Knight. Hale County, address Greensboro, Ala, and one other agent recently sent to the District by the Agricultural Depart ment.
 These local agents. with the assist ance of the general agents, visit all parts of the District. They are practi- cal men who have made successes of their own farms, have grown cotton ana crops, and gotten results and are well qualified to assist others
 The work of the "soll man" for the last year, consisted in visits to some 400 farms, where careful analyses of the soil and soil conditions were made:
 
 farmers by mail and published month- ly articles upon treatment. Already three of the counties of the District have had soil survey parties to make surveys of the County, and 1t Is to he hoped that within another year the rec maining counties may have surveys be- gun. The soil man, Mir J. L.. Burgess will not be in the District this vear but his work will be carried on by R S. Wilson and his assistant Tn regard to road improvement. one or two counties have taken advantaRe of the services of the government road engineer. The government will send tnls man 10 any county to confer and adYise with the County Commissioners regarding road conditions, and they make no charge not even for expenses except where trips have to be made over the roads, and then all they ask Is to be furnished with teams to make these trips. It Is to be hoped that the | rest of the counties win take advant- age of this proposition.
 In regard to fish breeding. over 2000 citizens of the district have applied for | fish t obe supplied them for breeding | purposes; one-fourth as many appli- | cations coming from our district as have come from all the rest of the country put together. Over 500 citi- zens have been supplied with fish al- | ready.
 The Rural Free Delivery Routes have | been increased and improved to large | extent and this work is still going on. One year ago the forestry man made l a trip over the district and saw as many people who were interested in | forestry and timber as 1t was possible to see in three weeks.
 Beginning August l, R. E. Reckna- | gel. Of the Forestry Service, Washing ton, will make a six weeks trip over the district Mir. Recknagel is a grad uate of Yale Forestry School; he has been in the forestry service for a num- Der of years. has conducted very sue cessful work in forestry in various parts of the United States, and ls espe- cially we'll informed on forest condi- tions in our section of the State. Mir Reeknagel will visit every coun- | try in the district and will plan to | speak at each of the meetings held in | the various parts of the counties, and | will follow up his address with prac- | tical suggestions to farmers and own CTS of woodlands who are on the grounds, as far as the time allotted | to this trip will permit. Where the tract is very large an effort will be made to make a personal inspection of | the tract.
 This trip Is now being mapped out and the places of the meetings will be annouced later. Any one who wishes to suggest 6 particular place to hold a forestry meeting should communi- cate with Captain FTobson's secretary, Vsas,ar, l.. esiarJxson. Tuscaloosa. Ala.