The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-21
Farmers Are Not Getting Re suits That Are Easily
 Possible in County
SOILS ARE ADAPTED
 TO ALL KINDS OF CROPS
In Addition to Crops, Live Stock. In- cluding Hogs, Mules, Goats aud Sheep Can Be Raised Profita-
 bIy in Jefferson
BY WALTER HARPER


 The advance sheets of the soil survey of Jefferson county, made by officers from the United States department of agriculture and the Alabama department of agriculture and industries jointly, have been issued. The work was done by Howard c. Smith of the federal de- partment and s. Pace of the state de- partment.
 The advance pamphlet is of great value and should be read by every farmer and truck grower in the county.
 A large map attached gives the loca- ton of all the various types of soil in the county, and these soils are defined in the body of the report
 By a careful study of the report and the county will be able to locate the dif- ferent types of soil on his farm and fa- miliarize himself with the crops best adapted to them and the requirements as to fertilization and cultivation.
 A feature of the report is the large amount and great variety of valuable productive soils and the general intima+ ton that they are now being made to produce small percentage of the crops of which they are capable.
 There is a general lack of proper di- versification, deep blowing, knowledge of soil requirements and scientific fertiliza- tion.
 Three Essentials
 The great essentials for successful truck growing are here and yet they are not taken advantage of as they might be and should be. The essentials are cli- mate, soil and market.
 The extreme elevations of the county are from 14O0 feet on Butler mountain to 240 feet at the junction of Locust Fork with the Warrior river in the lower end of the county. On only two oeca- sions in the past 13 years has the ther- nometer registered more than 100 and on only one occasion has it registered below zero. The average temperature for December, January and February is 1S degrees. The average dates for killing frosts at Birmingham are given as March ls and November 5 This gives an aver age growing season of 2Sl days, or nearly eight months. The mild, equable climate thus permits the maturing of nearly all the great staple crops produced farther north, and in addition many suited to semi-troplcal attitudes may be grown. The average annual rainfall at Birnifng- ham is given at 57 inches, which is usually well distributed and is ample for all crops.
 After giving a brief review of the early settlement of Jefferson county by immi- grants from Tennessee, Kentucky and the carolinas and the rapid growth of popu- lation the report gives an account of the subdivision of the large ante-beliIm plantations into small, individual farms. In 1880 the average sized farm was 132 acres. In 1900 the average size was 73 acres. It is expected that this years census will show a smaller per capita acreage. The tendency is to cultivate smaller farms with more thorough methods. But the maximum of efficiency in this respect seems yet to be far in the future. It is intimated in the report that no farm in the county is being made to produce all of which it is capable. Much wholesome advice and many valu- able suggestions are made as to the best methods of increasing the efficiency of lHe IdrIn anu SdIue1 OpeTdllOnS m the county.
 Some Suggestions
 Among the suggestions are that more stock and cattle. sheep and hogs, be kept Two mules, instead of one to the farm, is also suggested as a needed improvement. Application of lime to the soil is advised. It is suggested that the farmer with the abundant supply of limestone which exists in the district could easily and at small cost burn his own lime. Even land with lime in the formation is bene- fitted by the application of the prepared material.
 The report shows that alfalfa may be grown with profit if the soil is properly prepared and planted with well selected seed. This advice is given in face of the fact that some farmers in the coun- ty have tried to grow alfalfa without success. Their failure is attributed to a lack of the proper preparation and seed selection.
 The report dwells at length on truck l farming and stresses the fact of the best market in the south for all food products. Melons are put down as among the profit 1 able products that may be raised. Irish and sweet potatoes are also recommended Two crops of Irish potatoes may be raised and the prices are always profit