The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-21

able in the home market. The soils are also adapted to the growing of toma- toes. Yields of more than 200 bushels to the acre are often reported.
 Crops Suggested
 Some of the soils in the county are well adapted to the growing of cabbage and the report advises that more of this vegetable should be grown. Strawberries and blaelxberries do well on much of the soil area and the report shows that these crops should be made very profitable as the market demands large supplies and that the berries are shipped into the city from distant sections at good prices.
 The culture of fruit trees is in neg lected condition. The report declares that this industry could be made very profitable as much of the land in the county is well adapted to peaches, pears apples and other fruits.
 On dairying the report says: Although the soils will produce all the standard forage crops, the dairy interests are not | extensively developed. The farmer keeps one or two cows for family use. Near 1 Birmingham numerous small da1r1es or six to twelve cows supply milk for city use. The dairies are frequently examined l by sanitary inspector and the milk IS of good quality and meets ready sale at 9 cents a gallon wholesale or 10 cents l farm near Birmingham is a model and is equipped with the first cement silo built in Alabama The owner finds the production of corn ensilege on his De- l Kalb and limestone soils very profitable, and plans to grow two crops of silage corn annually. On ordinary soils this would easily be done in good seasons, and the land be greatly improved by the stock kept. Most of the dairy stock consists of grade Jerseys, which, under the present system of pasturage and feeding. seem to do better than pure bred stock.'
 Breeding of Mules The report continues: ''The work stock consists of mules and horses, the former being better adapted to farm work. Such stock is shipped in from farther north and must first be acclimated. With soils well adapted to pasturage there is no reason why mule-breeding should not pc profitable"
 On methods of fertilization the report says: "The use of 1ow-grade fertliizer is quite general, and has increased from value of s22, ,573 in 1889 to sS7,e4o in lsss: The opinion is that the next census VIII show that the consumption has doubled in the last 10 years. From 100 to 200 pounds an acre is the usual application for cot ton. few farmers who have used 4oo to 500 pounds report yields that show greater profits than where smaller amount IS used. The universal verdict that fertii- izers are used most profitably where there is an abundance of humus should stlmu- late all farmers to grow green manuring crops. No efforts have been made Gin Jet- ferson county to adapt the fertilizer to the crop Or to the needs of the soil. The farmer usually buys the brand supplied py his dealer.'
 Following these suggestions and state ment of facts the report goes into detailed description of the 13 distinctive soh types found in the county.
 The report closes with the following summary:
 Soil Summary
 The Jefferson county area lies III the north-eentral part of the state of Alabama and comprises 19,3e0 acres, or 1l24 square miles. It is the seat of the most eXten- s1ye coal. iron and limestone deposits in the south.
 The county has two main topographic divisions-the Cahaba valley and the val leys of Jones and Opossum creeks, ana the much dissected upland to the north and west of these valleys. The elevation varies from less than 240 to 14o0 feet, wlth an average of 800 to 800 feet above sea.
 The important rivers are Little canapa' Warrior and Locust Fork.
 Transportation facilities are good. In addition to nine main railroads there IS an excellent system of macadamized roads.
 Tine principal cities and towns are Bir- mingham, with its numerous suburbs, and Bessemer Leeds, Trussville and war rior.
 The climate is exceptionally mild and favorable to a wide variety of staple and special crops. Snow is rare, and freezing weather seldom lasts for more than few days each winter. The rainfall IS ample for crop growth and generally well distributed throughout the year.
 Industrial development has stimulated trucking and general produce farming. The staple crops in general are corn and cotton with some forage crops. Dalrylng inteests are being extended
 Farm labor is chiefly colored and is well paid owing to competition with the mines and other industrial enterprises.
 Deeper blowing and more frequent til- lage should be practiced.
 Winter cover crops should be sown on all cotton and cornfields in order to pre- vent erosion and teaching and at the same time to add humus to the soil.
 Systematic Rotation
 Systematic rotation should be intro- duced.
 More hogs and farm stock should be kept Goats and sheep will do well in for ested portions and on non-agriculturai land.
 Thirteen soil types representing eight series were mapped in the county. As re- gards manner of formation these soils are of two broad classes, namely, alluvial and residual.
 The alluvial soils are the Wabash clay. Huntington gravelly loam. and Hunting ton silt loam. The first two are important soils but of limited extent. The last named is very strong soil and Is fav- orte for the growing of corn and truck.
 The residual limestone soils include the Decatur clay loam, Hagerstown stony loam, Hakerstown loam and the Clarks- vile stony loam.
 The Decatur clay loam is a strong soil, but the bulk of the type is located close to growing cities, and is held at high prices for building sites. It is naturally suited to wide range of crops, and with care ful tillage and the use of manures can be profltabIy used for trucking. The Hagerstown stony loam is we'll adapted to fruit growing and to the usual farm crops.
 The Hagerstown loam is good general farming soil, and its use for market gar- dening is increasing.
 The <Elarksville stony loam is the best | soil for the growing of tree and bush l fruits. Systematic orcharding would be very profitable here.
 The DeKalb shale 1oam, residual from | shale, occurs in the rougher upland coun- try. Hillside areas have many of the | physical characteristics of the grape soils of the northern states. The famous scup- pernong grape grows especially we'll on | the hilly ridges and slopes. The type is