The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20
ELLIS ON future OF
BLACK BELT FARMER
viii Combat Boil Weevil When
It Gets Here
TURNIPSEED'S ORCHARD
Has 10000 Trees and Has Built Cam
ming Factory With n Daily
Capacity of Fifty Thous-
and Cans
ORCHARD
BY WALTER HARPER

met Col. B. F. Ellis of Orrville at
on their way down to Magnolia Springs
for few weeks fishing and recreation.
Colonel Ellis is one of the largest land
owners in Dallas county. He is the
father of J. B. Ellis, the we'll known
insurance man and political campaign
manager of Selma.
When asked his opinion of the fate that
awaits the large plantation owner in the
black belt when the boil weevil arrives,
Colonel Ellis said:
I'VE are not crossing the bridge until
we get to 1t. For my part am free
to confess that I do not know what will
happen.
'Tt has been demonstrated that cot
ton can be grown In spite of the weevil,
but the average negro tenant cannot
do 1t. 1t is my opinion that some of
the large land owners will have to take
charge and superintendent their plan
tations for while, but just now the
tenants will not submit to this plan.
"They have gotten used to the plan
of renting or leasing the lands for a
stated amount per acre and will not
hire for wages until they are forced to
it by the weevil or some other calamity.
However, there are many negro ten
ants In better shape just now than ever
before. They are learning to grow some
corn and enough meat to do them.
Most of the negroes on my planta-
lions have enough corn and meat to run
them another year, but one bad crop
would put them out OF business.
you know there is but one year be-
tween the average negro tenant and
bankruptcy
1.-The small farmer who owns and farms
his own 40 or 100 acres is making more
money on the capital invested than the
man who owns and rents out the large
plantations. yet none OF the large planta-
lions are for sale. We do not know how
to sell.
IT can name some good farmers who
are making more clear money on 40 acres
than other large plantation owners clear
on their thousands of acres.
=" Necessity is the mother of inven-
tion.' When the boil weevil comes we
will find way to overcome the difficult
ty. but the pest will no doubt be felt
very keenly in the black belt"
D. C. Turnipseed of Union Springs is
building q large canning factory in his
year Mr.. Turnipseed lost thousands of
peaches on account of scarcity of cars
and the inability of the railroads to
handle his shipments.
He expects to prevent this loss by can
ming his fruit. The factory will be ready
for this years crop. and will have a
capacity of $4,000 cans for every day Of
eight hours.
Mr. Turnipseeds orchard consists of
10000 trees and though he lost half his
crop this year he still made a profit of
SO, 900. When the cannery is prepared
to take care of all the surplus fruit his
profits should be very greatly increased.
Mr.. Turnipseeds success is of notable
interest. He took worn-out cotton farm
of 400 acres a little less than five years
ago and began by degrees to set 1t to
peaches. He now has the 10000 trees
and is considered one of the most sue
cessful peach growers in middle Ala
bama.
He recently built residence for his
family in Union Springs that Is one of
the handsomest and most expensive in
that section of the state.