The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-21
CATTLE RAISING AS
SUCCESS IN ALABAMA
What Frank I. Derby Is Doing
In Black Belt.
EXPERT OVERSEES WORK
Is Only Private Fnrm in the South
which Government Maintains
Man to Assist and Report
On Progress.
BY WALTER HARPER.

Whitfield July zV.-tSpeclal1-rTank l.
Derby raises and feeds stock and cattle
for the market.
There may be larger stock farms in
! the south, but there is none more in
teresting and important to this section.
1t has been demonstrated that as fine
cattle can be raised in the alfalfa sec
ton of Alabama as anywhere in the
United States Mr. Derby's farm is To-
Gated in the sandy soil region south of
the alfalfa belt. The problem here is
to grow feed for his cattle other than
alfalfa.
Mr. Derby has already demonstrated
that this can be DONE His success is
wonderful and is attracting the attention
of cattle growers over the entire coun-
try
So important is the work that is being
done by Mr.. Derby that an expert from
the bureau of animal industry, United
States department of agriculture, has
been assigned to this farm to watch the
development of the industry, weigh the
cattle at stated intervals, and supervise
the feeding. The reports of this ex-
pert will be used as data for the informa-
ton of the department at Washington.
This is the only individual farm in the
south where this work is being done by
one of these department experts Mr..
Derby is the first individual grower that
has shown a willingness to cooperate
fully with the department in cattle dem
onstration.
J. w .Ridgeway. Expert.
w ha
signed to this work, is considered one
of the best equipped men in this line in
the department. His success with the
cattle on this farm is remarkable and
the results will be of great value, not
only to the department but to other
growers in this section as well.
Mr.. Derby feeds 1900 head of cattle every
winter and carries about 400 head through
the summer. This number will be in
creased as fast as the feed growing ca
paeity of the farm Is sufficiently in
creased The land is being wonderfully
Improved by the feeding of cattle on 1t.
| This is one of the most important fea-
lures of cattle raising. 1t improves land
better and more rapidly than any other
known process.
I saw 10 acres of corn this farm
that will produce this year $50 bushels
to the acre, Two years ago the land
produced about one-third of a bale of
cotton to the acre. Last year a bunch
of cattle were fed in this field and the
corn was planted this year without
particle of fertilizer of any kind. The
land will be in finer condition next year
by virtue of last years feeding than
now.
Land Is Improved.
Mr.. Derby has 5000 acres of land and
every acre of It is being greatly improved
through the feeding of cattle and the
growing of crops that improve rather
than rob the soil.
Mr. Derby does not grow a stalk of
cotton. though he is in the midst of
the cotton belt of the state. He grows
corn, peas. sofa beans, sorghum, grasses
and other products for feeding purposes
only. He does not sell grain of corn
or hay 1t Is all reserved for feeding
stock on the farm. He has had to buy
some feed. but this will be discontinued
when the lands can be made to produce
the required amount.
Besides beef cattle Mr.. Derby has now
a herd of hogs that are being grazed
on peas, oats, sofa beans and other crops
alternately. He plants these crops so as
to rotate from one field to another and
thereby manages to keep grazing grounds
for his herd the year round. The herd
now numbers 143 and without feeding are
as fine hogs as I have seen in the state.
Mr. Derby will have nothing but the
very best breeds. The black Berkshire
predominates. The breed is from the
famous Berkshire farm of w. x. Pick
ems of Livingston.
He also has some fine blooded mares A
flock of sheep has also proved very prof
table.
Believes in Blood.
Mr.. Derby believes in blood. Even the
peacocks on his barnyard are of the finest
blood that can be secured
The most interesting feature on this
farm just now in a herd of so head
of cattle that is being prepared for
the market. This herd is expected
to reach the maximum of feeding ca
pacity in about 80 days and will then
be ready for sale. Secretary James
Wilson of the agricultural department
at Washington will be invited to at
tend the public sale of these cattle
and 1t is expected that he will at
tend. He has expressed much interest