The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-27
IS FINE FRUIT SECTION
Vegetable Raising Has Steadily h. creased Until Fruit and Truck Growers Association Is De-
 ing Great Business.
BY WALTER HARPER.

rounding the place attract the attention of every one who passes the place. It is a colony of northern people. Originally the majority of the settlers were Swedes and Norwegians, but now there are sev- eral nationalities, including many Amer jeans. There are but few negroes.
 For several years after the first set clement of the community which was less than ten years ago. the venture was uncertain from the fact that the immi- grants did not understand the capacities and adaptabilities of the soil and climate. And, too, there was a damaging degree of wild speculation by some of the foun6- CTS of the place.
 The first settlers made many ventures at growing crops that were not as profit able as they had hoped md there were few failures. But the more courageous and versatile of the growers remained on their little farms and after many ex- periments and through that hardy deter imitation characteristic of the thrifty northern planter have worked our a sue cess that is commendable and stands as an object lesson for every small farmer in the state.
 Peaches and Cream.
 Fruit growing and dairying are the principal industries of the people and they are making of this section veritable garden spot. There are a dozen or more finely equipped dairies which ship their products to Birmingham and Montgom- cry. All these dairies are supplied with all the modern convenences, up-to-date barns and silos built under the direction of experts from the agricultural depart ment at Washington.
 s. D. Dow. the department expert on milk and dairying, who is located at Au-
 burn, comes to Thorsby once every month to advise with the dairymen here an1 assist them in their work. Each Of the dairies here has separators. Only ths cream Is shipped away for sale and it
 has reputation Tn both the big Alao. kna
 cities for Its purity and high qulu,y. Cream Shipments. l The receipts from the shipm 9nts oe
 cream from Thorsby are now more than
 $500 per month and the business is jus.
 now getting under good headway. The
 profits of the dairy farm are not confined l to the sale of dairy products alone. The
 farms are enriched and fruits, vegetables,
 hay and other products help to sweu tie
 income. Every COW is worth more than
 its price and keep for the fertility it adds 1 to the soil.
 The Thorsby Fruit and Track Growers l association has only been in existence for | few years, but is doing a proflta hle l and growing business in fruits and veg l etables. trawberries are especially profit 1 able.
 There are something over 70 acres in l berries now and the acreage is being
 steadily increased. The crop Is never
 a failure here and good prices are se- | cured in the southern and northern mar
 kets. The Thorsby berry natures at a , time when there is demand, being
 between the south Alabama crop and the l Cullman crop The quality of the berry | Is very fine and has already achieved
 fame as favorite not only in Birming- | ham and Montgomery but in some of the
 northern markets
 Potatoes and peaches are also grown | at a profit by the members of the as
 sociation. A number of the planters are l making a success with the growing of grapes though the varieties that have 1 been tried here are not the best for ship | ping purposes. The officers of the as- | sociation are now arranging to experi- ment with southern California varieties. It is believed that these grapes will do well here The climate and soil are sim far.
 The Eslberta peaches are now being shipped and the crop is very fine. P. K Villadsen is manager of the associa- ton.
 Handsome Homes. striking feature of Thorsby and the surrounding country is the handsome res idences and large, modern barns that dot the entire country for miles. There riEx ov,1 art hot pleases every visitor The farms are all small and are cultivated by the own CTS. They have no labor problems The people own their small farms and are able to care for them. There is not a more promising agricultural community in Alabama than this.
 These foreign people who have adopt ed Alabama as their home are making most excellent citizens. They are high ly intelligent and their advanced methods of farming should really be a benefit to their neighbors of native birth.
 Thorsby has two fine schools, the Thorsby institute and the public school. Both institutions are well attended. The teachers for the public school have not vet been elected for the next term. The teachers for the institute are Prof. N. Henson, principal; Miss Hellen c. Jen- kins, Miss Clara A. Groves and Mrs. F. c. Wheelock, teachers.
 The people of the town and community | take a live interest in the education and moral training of their children. An unusual feature of the town is the fact that there Is not a lodge or fraternal organization of any description repre- scented.
 "Carnation Farm" Every visitor at Thorsby Is expected to see the "Carnation Farm of How ard Brothers, just north of the town.
 It is one of the most interesting and beautiful sights between Birmingham and Montgomery. Here under glass and cheesecloth are grown thousands of the finest specimens of carnations in the
 south ready sale for all that can be grown is found in Birmingham, Mont gomery, Mobile, New Orleans and other large cities This is one of the paying institutions of the town and an industry
 In which every citizen takes unselfish pride
 The Thorsby Savings bank is one of the prosperous institutions of the town. Plans have been drawn for new con- crete building which will be an orna- ment to the community. Work will be- gin on the structure within the next few weeks and I am told that the material will be purchased in Birmingham. The officers of the bank are T. s. Gerald, president; L. w. Stabler, vice president, and Guy H. Gerald, cashier. J. Bice Is mayor of Thorsby.