The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-21
HOW B|RM|NGH M IS AIDING FARMS Long Been Doing Work Atlanta Is Starting STATE AID 10 TILLERS Chamber of Commerce Working With
 Professor Duncan of Auburn to Assist in Promotion of
 Corn Clubs.
STATE AID 10 1ILLtRS

That Birmingham is far ahead of Att ianta in at least one re- pect is evil dent. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has not only taken live interest in agriculture but has had an agriculture committee for years. while, according to a story sent out from At lanta, that city is now waking to the importance of this work
 The Atlanta chamber proposes to offer prizes for corn culture, plan which has been adopted by the state of Ala bama for some time and has proven especially successful
 The chairman of the Birmingham con- mittee is G. B. Mcvay, president of the Amzi Golden Seed company, who with his committee has done great things for the state along this line. He has encouraged the farmer everywhere, and assisted through the state fair in bring ing about a much needed excellence in the everyday edibles Interviews with MT. McNay, speeches which he has made, and many other activities of the chair man. have given Birmingham's cham Der good start over that of Atlanta.
 The committee has been responsible n- directly for the erection of a model dairy and barn at the fair grounds. The Bir- mingham chamber has opened an exhi- bition hall in it's building where two counties have already placed exhibits, and it is proposed to have really com plete miniature exhibits from every coun- ty in the state.
 Only yesterday the agricultural com mittee met with Prof. L. N. Duncan of the Alabama Polytechnic institute and ndorsed his organization of corn clubs among the boys of the state
 Professor Duncan is at the head of the department at Auburn and Is now on a, tour of the state to organize these clubs among the boys in the beats for the purpose of promoting the growth and culture of corn.
 These clubs will get the benefit of his scientific knowledge from the ques- tion of fertilizer to the manner of hand ling the plant. They will also be sup piled with free seed from the depart ment at Washington. This is what Pro lessor Duncan said about the work:
 Alabama agriculture needs to be ci- versified. We are centerlng our efforts on increasing the production of corn just now. Alabama raises about 1872 bush els of corn to the acre. This in the total gives us about 34 bushels year. We are now buying 11,000, 900 bushels for consumption in Alabama. This is paid for out of our cotton money. The solu- ton of this problem Is obviously to in crease the production of corn at least five bushels to the acre.
 We have had magnificent success with these corn clubs among boys in Tus- caloosa and Calhoun counties this year. Our object is now to extend them throughout every section of the state. The organization and operation of these clubs tends to improve conditions on the farm and to keep the young men on the farms. We give them scientific train ing that will enable them to make a fine life business of farming. It is our in- tention to undertake to operate an edu- cational train through the state during the summer. We already have this movement under way. It Is meeting hearty cooperation among the railroads and the members of the railroad com mission"