The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-01
FINEST LAND ON MOUNTAIN PLATEAU Marshall County Is Garden
 Spot of Alabama FARMERS GETTING RICH Five Hundred Acres In Irish Potatoes Around AIbertvIle Will Bring In Thousands of Dollars Next
 Month.
FARMERS GETTING RICH
BY WALTER HARPER.

BY WALTER HARPER.
 Albertville, May 3L-(Special.) )-When the Creator deposited the inexhaustible supplies of minerals in the mountains of the Birmingham district he also had a thought to the feeding of the thousands that should congregate here for their development. The best material proof of Gods fore-knowledge of all things is the certain provision that was made in the beginning for every possible con- dition in life.
 The plateau lands of north Alabama, extending from Chattanooga to Birming ham, though considered practically worth less a few years ago were designed for the garden spot for those two cities.
 The soil is not only fertile and surpris- ingly productive, but is kissed by health ful atmosphere and the mellowest cli- mate in the world.
 Sand Mountain Plateau.
 Albertville is situated near the center of the Sand Mountain plateau, which is about 125 miles in length and 25 miles wide
 Up to a few years ago this tableland was inhabited by scattered pioneers, main ly from Georgia, who titled the soil in- differently. Though they were sometimes surprised at the productiveness of the land they attached to the fact no special significance. The principal crops were cotton and corn. The real worth of the land was yet to be discovered. It came by accident
 German immigrants on Brindlee noun tain, around Cullman, were turning that mountain soil into gold. It was almost identical with this Sand mountain soil i; why not do the same thing here? The soil on both plateaus did not appear more than half an inch deep and that had a dead, scorched appearance For almost half century the lands on both these plateaus were passed over while the val ley lands along the Tennessee river and it's tributaries were taken up by the early settlers.
 Needs Deep Flowing.
 For long time 1t was not believed that the soil on Sand mountain would stand deep blowing. A greater error in judg- ment was never committed. A few years ago these lands could be had at from $1 50 to $5 per acre. Now you cannot buy some of them at $50.
 It has been discovered that these noun tain lands respond wonderfully to inten- sive cultivation and are specially adapted to fruits and vegetables.
 This years Irish potato crop at AL bertville will amount to more than $45,0O0 This crop will be ready for market dur ing the coming month.
 Just think of it. The value of almost 2OOO bales of cotton is to be distributed to the small farmers around Albertville usually scarce
 Large Acreage.
 It is estimated that there are 500 acres in Irish potatoes la a radius of five miles of town. The average production Is 150 bushels to the acre. It sometimes reaches 300 bushels. The average price for last years crop was Il cents per bushel. Put the net profit at 40 cents and you get some idea of what these people are doing in the direction of attaining independ- ence.
 The production of potatoes here was just begun last year, as an experiment Between two and three hundred acres were planted and the result was more than satisfactory The Albertyille Truck Growers association was formed. This as- sociation enables the planters to dispose of their crops to the best advantage. The acreage IS largely increased this year and the prospects are fine for a most profitable yield.
 We'll Kept Farms.
 The visitor is impressed with the pros- porous appearance of this entire plateau. The farmers have modern cottages, neat ly painted. The surroundings are taste ful, the barns large and well stocked.
 The entire country is as beautiful as garden and peculiarly pleasing to the eye.
 There Is another feature that attracts the thoughtful attention of the visitor here There are no large farms there fore no serious labor problems.
 Every farmer owns his own home from 80 to 160 acres and depends upon his own and the labor of his family to cul- tivate the farm. He plants no more than he can manage well. There are but few negroes in the county. The farms are constantly being improved, a condition that does not and cannot exist under the tenant system.
 Where hundreds of acres are going to waste TOT want or laDOr ln the black belt every acre under cultivation here is we'll cared for and Is being improved.
 Small Farms.
 As I have argued constantly in this correspondence the small farm, we'll cul- tiYated, is the salvation of the Alabama farmer. The available labor is unrelia- ble. The successful farmer must culti- vate few acres and force from them the maximum of returns and at the same time improve the land.
 This cannot be done under the old ten ant system.
 Ten acres in Marshall county are pro- ducing more than the average 40 acres cultivated by tenar5 in the black belt. The secret does not lie in the quality of the soil but in method of handling.
 These Sand mountain farmers are Amer jeans. Some of them are native Alaba- mians, while others came from Georgia and other nearby states. They are no moro intelligent than their class of south ern farmers, but they have awalEened to the great opportunity offered them in a free, strong soil, a good climate and the new idea of intensive cultivation.
 They have realized that every inch deep the blow goes into the ground means that much more money in the bank. They are taxing the strength of every mule they can put on the farm and are turn ing up dollars.
 This new idea is spreading over the state and hills thai have bapn consid-