The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-21


in the development of the cattle in
dustry in the south and especially in
this section. Buyers from the pack
ing centers of the country usually at
tend these sales and the bidding for
the stock is usually brisk and profit
able to the grower.
Fine Herd of Cattle.
This herd of so head of cattle is
in the finest of condition. The feed
ing and care is under the personal
supervision of Mr.. Ridgeway, the gov
eminent expert. He weighs the cattle
every 20 days to note the increase
under certain methods Of feeding. He
does the actual feeding himself and
is able to determine exactly what is
being accomplished.
Mr. Ridgeway tells me that there
Is not a finer herd of cattle anywhere
in the country, not even in the north
west. Mr.. Ridgeway said: las fine
beef cattle can be raised in both the
alfalfa and sandy sections Of Alabama
as in any section of the United States
and I am of the opinion that the cat
tie can be grown more cheaply here
than in any other section. There Is
but one difficulty. That is very i'm
portant but that can and will be elm
mated when the people wake up to
its Importance. I refer to the cattle
tick. Mr.. Derby has cleaned his farm
of the tick but he still suffers from
the pest on account of the quarantine
that has been established against this
southern section on account of the
prevalence of the tick.
This is a matter that must receive
the full cooperation of all the people
to make 1t effective. When this dis
advantage is eliminated Alabama will
MI 1tr of the 1n1>
portant cattle raising states in the
country. 1t will not only bring great
direct profits to the grower but the
industry will improve the fertility o.
the lands as no other process can do
The Black Poll Angus and the Short
Horn cattle are the breeds raised or
the farm.
Expensive improvements.
Mr. Derby has spent thousands of dol
lars In building tarns,s silos and Other
farm conveniences. He has perhaps
the largest and most complete barr
in middle Alabama. The barn cost as
much as the average residence in Bir-
mingham The lot and field arrange
ments are on a plan that would please
the most critical engineer. The fattfe
and hogs are transferred from one
field to another by connecting gates
and lanes that are perfect in the gen
eral arrangement.
The entire farm is enclosed with the
most expensive woven and barbed wire
fencing. The posts are large and sub
stantial and all were chemically pre-
pared before placing for their preserva
| ton.
One 150-ton silo has already beer
constructed and this will be followef
at once by two more of 200 tons eacn
Green corn ensilage is stored In thes'
silos during the spring and summer TO-
winter feeding. In this way greer
food is preserved all the year round
The value of such food for winte
feeding can hardly be appreciated.
Inherited Farm.
The main part of this farm was IN
herited by Mr.. Derby from his fatn
err, the late Andrew j. Derby, who
in his time, was considered one OF m
best farmers in this section. Mr.. Derb'
\ Is a young man of high order o
intelligence and has wonderfu
amount of energy and ambition. III
heart and soul are In the enterprise
He has great faith In the future