The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-21
FRANK DERBY FARM
IN SUMTER COUNTY
One of the Model Places in
Alabama
EXPERTS GATHER THERE
Demonstration Is Attended By Fully n
Thousand Farmers and Business
Men-Mr. Derby a Captain of
Agricultural Industry
EXPERTS GATHER THERE
BY JESSE ID. HEARIN

operation exhibited on the beautiful farm
of Frank Derby of south Sumter county
last wednesday; if he could have met
with the farmers, professional and bus
mess men, and the experts of the state
and national departments of agriculture
at the stand erected under the shades
of the beeches and magnoias on Gotta
haga creek, and had part In the feast
of good things that were told and ex-
hibited before repairing to the wonderful
barbecue prepared by Mr.. Derby for his
guests, he would have been strengthened
in his thought that Corporation, not
competition, is the life of trade"
For some weeks the interested farmers
and business men of southwest Alabama
have looked forward to the meeting at
Mr.. Derbys and ON Wednesday fully 1000
of the representative men of Sumter, Ma
rengo, Choctaw and adjoining counties,
together with many from other states,
enjoyed a day of real interest in the
demonstration work shown at Frank
Derby's farm. From all directions sturdy
farmers, progressive business men and
AGRICULTURAL experts met last Wednes-
day morning at Whitfield, Sumter coun-
ty. This is the nearest railroad station
to the Derby farm, five miles away. Mr..
Derby had fully rs buggies, surveys and
hacks at the station and the visitors
were taken as his guests to his farm
five miles away At the very begin
ming interest was created and manifested
in the perfect road from the station to
Mr.. Derby's farm. Mr.. Derby Is largely
responsible for and directed the build
ing of this road 1t is five miles of per-
feet road, made of clay and sand and
as smooth and hard as paved streets. 1t
demonstrates the possibilities of road
making by the simplest methods.
Down on Cotahaga creek a pretty, lit
tle clear stream that runs through the
Derby place and just where the stream
winds through the shade trees, making
a perfect half-moon, a grandstand was
erected capable of seating thousand
people, and on the white sands at the
foot of the grandstand, just few feet
from the running water, was the speak
ers stand.
After a few words of welcome by Mr..
DerbyN he introduced DR.. c. A. Cary of
Auburn, who presided over the meeting.
Before introducing the speakers of the
day, DR.. Cary paid a splendid tribute
to the energy, worth, determination and
progressive spirit of Alabama's cattle
king, Frank Derby. DR.. Butler, an ex-
pert agricultural writer of Raleigh, N.
c., discussed the necessity of eradicat-
ing the cattle tick. His speech was prac-
teal, forceful and SO interesting as to
hold his audience for an hour. He was
followed with a short practical talk by
DR. Herman of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture, who has charge
of tick eradication In Alabama, Missfs-
sppi and Tennessee; and by j. G. Phelps,
district agent for southern Alabama in
charge of the farmers demonstration and
cooperative work, who made practical
and interesting talk on the proper Sc
lection of good seed, the necessity OF
deep blowing and the value of using
improved machinery. Dr. J. w. Ridg-
way of the state agricultural depart
ment; DR.. Dow, dairy expert of the United
States department of agriculture, and r.
B. Nixon, veterinary expert Of the United
States department of agriculture, were
present to answer questions and take part
In making the day one of profit and
interest to the people who had come to
see what wonderful results can be ac-
complished by thrift, industry and intel
ligence.
For some months DIR. d. 7. Gray OF
Auburn, DR.. ]. w. Ridgway and Or.
Dow have been located on the Derby
farm. Mr. Derby has paid the expenses
of these experts furnishing them their
board saddle horses, and servants and
has selected his seed, worked his farm,
fed his CATTLE and modelled his dairy
under the supervision and suggestions of
these government experts.
After short, practical talks by the gov
eminent agents, Reuben F. Kolb enter
tained the audience with one of his best
Commute efforts. He pointed out the ne
cessity of cooperative work and reviewed
the agricultural history of Alabama be-
fore and since the war. The meeting then
adjourned for dinner and the crowd en-
1oyed such another dinner as has rarely
IL ever before been prepared by one man
for so many guests. Select beef, fed for
more than a year under the supervision
of government experts, and as fat and
choice as careful attention could make
them; mutton and pork. and various
fowls furnished the meat for the barbe-
cue. Besides the regular barbecue the
tables fairly groaned with breads, pickles.
jeilies, pies, and cakes of all kinds, and
fried chicken was as plentiful as If the
dinner had been prepared for only half a
dozen chosen guests. 1t was, indeed, more
than q barbecue it was a dining on
tremendous scale served under the
shades of the big trees. and the host saw
to 1t that every one present was given
every attention that he could have had
in the dining room.
After dinner the crowd gave many ex-
hibitions of their appreciation of their
host. Three cheers for "Alabama's most
progressive farmer" rang out through the
woods and across the fields of yellow
corn: three cheers for "Alabama's Cattle
King" sounded still louder across the
fields. three cheers for 1.-The most splen-
did host the crowd had ever been the
guests of" rang loud enough to have
- ,l hoy hafOra
After dinner and the cheering the crowd
-,,as taken to the nearby corn fields and
shown a field of corn raised on land that
last wear produced less than 400 pounds
of seed cotton to the acre, and
20 bushels of corn to the acre. but has
on 1t this year from 100 to rs bushels OF
corn to the acre. Not one pound OF COM
mercial fertilizer has been used on this
land. and it has been built up only by
feeding cattle for the market on 1t. On
ten acres 80 steers were fed for AZ days
and then removed to another plot where
thew were fed for As days, and after one
season of feeding this land has this year
produced more than 100 bushels OF corn
to the acre. OF course. the main idea In
feeding the cattle was the profit to be
derived from the increased value of the
beef cattle and the building up of the land
bv feeding them on it was additional
proflt. Dr. D. 7. Gray of Auburn de-
serves much of the credit for the success
In feeding the beef CATTLE for the work
was done under his direct supervision,
but Mr.. Derby was generous enough to
ask his guests to give the government ex-
perts the major share of the credit for
all that has been accomplished on his
place this year.
After visiting the fields the crowd was
taken to the barns and there they were
shown selected cattle which had been