The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-27
GREAT AWAKENING
 THROUGHOUT SOUTH
Material Prosperity Marks the
 Present Conditions
PROGRESS IS MOST RAPID
Advancement of the South Began When Campaign for DiVersification Was lnaueurated By Experts
 Few Years Ago.

Washington. January 26-In no section of the country probably has there been a more wonderful advancement in agri- culture within the past 10 or 12 years than in the south. Favored, as it is, with a soil as fertile in many places as is the valley of the Nile and with the in of practical scientific methods, the belief is expressed by officials of the department of agriculture that the southland Is bound to take that place in agricultural development she merits
 A spirit of overwhelming is coming over the southern farmer. The agricultural in the south has been marked by a material prosperity such as perhaps has never before been enjoyed by the farming element Of that part of the coun- try The financial condition of the south ern planter began to take an upward ten dency about 1897. since which time the sit- uation has steadily improved. The pro duction of cotton-that great staple crop of the south-increased 53 per cent from 1896 to 1908, and the value of the crop 133 per cent. The southern farmer, long debt ridden. has to a marked degree been again placed on his feet as 1t were by the increased prices he has received for his cotton crop of late years. As a natural he is devoting more time and attention to building himself bet ter home. to the education of his chil- dren and. he is in fact, deriving more of the comforts of life than ever before.
 Campaign for Diversifcation.
 The agricultural progress of the south really dates back to a few years ago when the agricultural department in augurated an educational campaign for in the crops. The applica- tion of practical scientific methods to southern agriculture in the opinion of Secretary Wilson has done more to up- lift that land than any other factor. King Cotton until recent years practically was the one great crop of the south-the farm- CT devoted little or no attention to other crops But the advent of the cotton boil weeyiI that little insect pest from Mexico because of the devastation it left in its lightning-like spread over the south, has brought the farmer to a realization that he must raise other crops. Now, through the educational propaganda conducted by the department of agriculture in the di- versification of crops, the southern farm er is accomplishing notable results.
 Boil WeeviI Blessing.
 Officials of the department of agricul- ture believes that the advent of the boil weevil was in reality a sort of blessing to the south While it was disastrous in It's effect upon that great staple crop, it at the same time made the farmer realize that he must not devote all of his land to cotton, but must depend to a considerable extent upon other crops. The south was quick to absorb the scientific knowledge so freely given it by the federal govern ment and is rapidly recovering from past mistakes. Secretary Wilson is a great in the doctrine that the founda- ton of this nations prosperity is an en- frightened agriculture.
 Good Will Toward South.
 q am happy to have an opportunity to express through the Associated Press" said Secretary Wilson today, "the agri- cultural departments good will toward the south and it's desire to foster in every way the agricultural prosperity of that great and favored region. I have always taken a great interest in the agriculture of the south, not only because of it's ex- tTeTnely interesting pOSSlDllllleS, put De- cause I have felt keen sympathy with a people struggling bravely to overcome the results of a devastating war. I felt that they need such help as the depart ment could give them, and I have lent a willing ear to their appeals. It Is very gratifying to me to see the cordial spirit of appreciation manifested by the people of the south for the work the department is trying to do."
 Spillman's Views.
 Under Prof. W. J. Spillman of the bu- reau of plant industry, who has charge of the farm management investigations In the south, much has been done to en- better systems of farm manage ment looking to the restoration of fer tility, the bringing back of humus into the soil, and the suggestions of improved rotations.
 "One of the most important methods adopted in fighting the cotton boil wee vil," said Professor Spillman today, lis the diversification of crops and the intro duction of new crops. Since the farmers have begun to realize that the weevil will in a few years spread over the en- tire cotton belt, they have become inter- ested in other crops as they never were before. In many sections truck growing has developed amazingly. This is espe- cially the case along the seaboard, and along the principal lines of railway con meeting the south with the large indus trial centers of the north. In other sec tions farmers have turned their atten- tion to the production of hay. Formerly much of the hay used, even on farms in the south, has been shipped in from other sections. The price of hay has therefore been high. While not enough hay is grown in the south to supply the de- mand the quantity of the homegrown product has increased to a remarkable degree since the department of agricul- ture began its propaganda for diversified agriculture in the south means of fighting the boil weevil. In some sec tons especially in Alabama and Missis- sippi, alfalfa has become an important crop. Last spring one small town In Mississippi sold over 5000 worth of al- hardly an acre of this crop in that vi- cinity.
 Variety In Crops.
 Many other crops formerly grown in small acreages only have been sown on an increasingly large scale for the past few years. This is especially true of corn, cowpeas and soy beans. The cow pea crop especially has become vastly more important than formerly. This crop is used both for hay and as a seed crop, for which there has been steady de- mand at good prices.
 Southern farmers also are turning their attention to stock raising. Cattle have not been much raised in the south,