The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1909-01-07
TRAIN MAKES LONG
STOP AT COLUMBUS
SPECIAL WILL
ARRIVE HERE JANUARY II
AND REMAIN TILL THE
FOLLOWING DAY.
A Number of Prominent Men. Incfud-
ing Commissioners of Agricul-
ture of Two States, VIII
Be Among the Party.

The Official schedule of the agri-
cultural special which the Mobile &
Ohio Railroad is to run over its lines
in Mississippi and Alabama, has been
announced, and this schedule pro-
vides for long stop at Colum bus
The special will leave Mobile next
Monday, January 11th, at $50 p. m,
and after having made several stops
along the line will reach Colum bus
Thursday, January 14th, at $50 p.
m, remaining here until Z o'clock
the following morning.
The object of the mana cement of
the Mobile & Ohio in running the
special is to promote the industry of
farming and stimulate interest in ag-
ricultural and horticultural pursuits
in the country traversed by its lines
Several prominent men who are ex-
perts along this line will be on board
among the number being Hon. H. E.
Blakeslee, commissioner of agricul-
ture for Mississippi, and Hon. ]. A
Wilkinson, commissioner of agricul-
ture for Alabama. In addition to the
above named gentlemen, several spe-
cialists from the A. and NJ. College
have been invited to go on the ex-
cursion, and will give helpful talks
and practical suggestions on intensive
farming.
The South is just beginning to
realize the immense value of her ag-
ricultural resources, and farmers are
commencing to learn that by pursu-
the crops they cannot only increase
the yield but improve their land. By
rotation and diversification of crops
the soil, instead of deteriorating, be-
comes more fertile each year, and
under modern methods of farming
there is no occasion for any field to
lay fallow because the soil has been
robbed of its fertility by planting the
same crop from year to year.
For many years past farm lands
in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio have
sold at from one to two hundred dol
lars per acre, while land in Missis-
sippi which was originally equally as
fertile as that of the West has sold
for about one-tenth of that amount.
The difference in the price resulted
largely from the fact that the West
ern farmers, Dy a rotation of crops,
improved the value of their lands,
,-z-sT
Ing but cotton, and much of the land
lost the fertility which nature had
given it.
The success met with by prairie
farmers in raising alfalfa seems to
Indicate that in the course Of a few
years the entire prairie section will
De devoted to the cultivation of that
crop, and practically all of the cot
on will be grown in the SANDY land |
district" This will naturally increase
he demand for sandy land" and |
armers will be compelled to reduce !
heir acreage and pay more attention |
o the cultivation of the crops, thus
practically the same yield |
hat formerly came from a much |
mailer area.
The specialists on board the agri-
cultural train will give instructions
IS to the best methods to be pur-
ued in planting, cultivating and har-
esting different crops in order that
he greatest yield may be secured,
nd every farmer in Lowndes county
hould come to Columbus for the pur-
ose of hearing these specialists, as
he information disseminated will be
f untold benefit to them.
Secretary Sykes, of the Progressive
Jnion, has received a letter from
Ir. w. l.. Henderson, land and i'm
Migration agent of the Mobile &
'hio, requesting him to arrange a
leeting here, and Mr.. Sykes has ar
anged for meeting to be held at
ne courthouse at three o'clock on
thursday. afternoon. Personal let
srs have been written to prominent
lrmers in various sections inviting
lem to attend the meeting, and all
armers throughout the county are
eQuested and urged to be present. ..
81