The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-21
HOBSON'S PARTY
 BEGINS BIC TOUR
First Meeting Held At 1usca-
 IooSa Yesterday
By WALTER HARPER.

By WALTER HARPER.
 Tuscaloosa, April 2O.-(special.)- Congressman Hobson's second educa- tional tour of the Sixth district opened here today at 10 o'clock.
 Almost 1000 people gath cred in the new county courthouse and sat for more than three hours listening to the practical discussion of various farm topics.
 Business and professional men were prominent in the audience and re- mained for the full programme. Dry and unattractive subjects were made to scfntllate with interest and even TO- nance In the skillful hands of the spe- cialists Captain Hobson has with him. The close attention accorded the sub jects by men who are not farmers is proof of the skill of the men who made the speeches r.f
 For instance no subject could pos sibly appear less attractive than that of 'The Eradication of the Cattle Tick and yet Dr. Cooper Curtis held the closest attention of every person in the large audience when he discussed this subject. The cattle tick vitally affects not only the greatest food sup
 
 southern cattle from the markets of the world. The result is disastrous financially.
 The Meat Supply.
 Dr. George M. Rommel, animal hus- bandman. who proceeded Dr. Curtis, had made the statement that the southeast ern states must prepare to supply the meat of the country He showed that the supply in the United States is not keeping up with the demand. The ome- steading of the western grazing lands is limiting the meat production of that section and the country must look else where for It's supply. The south is the only remaining available territory. The climate and other conditions are ideal and the possibilities are unlimited. Dr. Rommel showed how cattle can be raised profltably with other crops to mutual advantage. The cattle h clip to enrich the lands and produce the best cattle foods in the world. He de- clared that cotton seed and it's pro- ducts are the best milk foods in the world and 1t Is a question of natural economy that cattle be raised in the cotton fields.
 The Dairyman.
 Dr. s. T. Dow, the dairy man, fol- lowed Dr. Rommel and discussed the necessity TOT HedlIuy udlTy COWS dIlu sanitary conditions. He explained how the government is cooperating with the cities and the dairymen in improving the milk supply. He explained the best methods of feeding and caring for the cattle and also explained the silo by which method green feedstuffs are kept fresh and pure all the year round.
 pr. Curtis explained how the govern ment Is trying to cooperate with the
 <1t cattle tick He displayed a map show ing the infected districts where rigid quarantine is established against all cattle. He pointed out the disastrous effects of the pest. He gave the only remedy as careful quarantining and systematic feeding and care of the cat tie until the evil Is eradicated. But the government can do nothing without the full sympathy and co-operation of the people-both the farmers and the peo- pie in the towns and cities. He sug- gested that an association be formed in each county to take the matter up and assist the government. He says that the association of 100 men in each county in the state will clear Alabama of the pest in IS months. The speaker declared that with the eradication the cattle business in the state could be made one of the most important in-
 
 a difficult one if the people would CO., operate and assist the department in its work. Dr. Curtis said that while there are only eight head of cattle to the square mile in Alabama now there should be 80 and he predicted that there will be when the people learn to appreciate the importance of the in- dustry and it's wealth producing possi bilities.
 Hog Is Valuable. Prof. Dan T. Gray of the bureau of animal industry, spoke on hogs. He declared that while he did not have the official figures on Alabama the state of Georgia produces only per cent of it's hog meat supply. He thinks Ala bama has about the same record. He said that Cullman county buys $100, 900 worth of imported pork annually. The | figures for the entire state are enor- nous. Perhaps more. than $1,o0o,oo0 goes out of the state every year for | hog meat alone. Professor Gray went | into detail as to the cheapest food for hogs and displayed various charts 1 showing the relative cost of producing a 100 pounds of meat with various foods. The figures were the results of practical experiments. He thorough 1 ly demonstrated that meat can be pro- duced in Alabama at cents per pound by feeding sofa beans, peanuts, corn ! and cotton seed. He said that meat could not be fattened at profit on | corn at 70 cents per bushel or even at 50 cents @ bushel. He concluded with the confident statement that hogs can be raised In Alabama cheaper than in any other state in the country and that 1t is a shame that we depend on other sections for the supply. Profes- gor Gray Is fluent and attractive speaker and the interest he aroused with a most ordinary subject Is won- derful.
 Farm Management. Dr.. D. A. Brodie, farm management man, gave some interesting facts and fig ures. He made strong appeal for more intensive farming. He showed that the acreage of crops for Alabama Is too low and that a small increase of the acreage would greatly increase the wealth of the state. The average cotton production is one-third of bale per acre. The highest average for any state is 48-100 of bale. The average corn production Is 15h bushels; the highest in any state is 37 bushels. Some other acreages are: Wheat 10 against 32, oats 171a against 55, rye 10M against PAT, potatoes g5 against POO, hay IS tons against 29 tons, rice % bushels against 37.