The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-25
VISITOR POINTS OUT
 SOIL POSSIBILITIES Howard 0. Smith Made Survey
 of Jefferson CAN NOW BE HAD FREE Surveyor Thinks Soil and Climate, To- gethcr With Low Price of Lands, Make Jefferson Especially
 Attractive Field
CAN NOW BE HAD FREE

Howard c. Smith of the United States department of agriculture, passed through the city yesterday en route for Washing. ton and Ithaca, N. Y, where he will spend the holiday season on his annual leave of absence.
 MT. Smith, 1t will be remembered, had county in 1908, and during his stay often expressed himself as being very san guine concerning the future development of Birmingham.
 The surveyors report has been issued by the government and may be had free of charge by all who apply to Congress- man Oscar Underwood.
 To those who think of coming to Jeffer- son county the report presents attractive statistics of climate, showing that it is free from foggy weather and enjoys high percentage of dry, sunshiny winter days
 MT Smith yesterday spoke very hope fully of the future of agriculture in Jef- ferson county.
 There are many forces in operation tending to change not .only Jefferson county agriculturally, but the farming system of Alabama as we'll" said MT. Smith There are large bodies of soils admirably adapted to the production of truck and vegetables, as well as fruits of various kinds. Types of soil similar to those mapped here sell in other states which have large industrial centers for from s100 to s3o0 per acre. Vegetable gardening even on these high priced soils is conducted at profit. It Is not unusu- al for farmers within hauling distance of Birmingham to buy good land at 80 or upwards per acre. and pay for 1t within three years.
 Birmingham has cheap coal, and 1t is evident that large commercial green houses could be cheaply maintained Flowers and bulbs sell at highly remuner- ative prices.
 Changes toward diversifcation of farm products are in progress in Jenerson county. and such changes will in few years be urgently needed. for the reason that the boil weevil is certain to tempor- a-ily at least demoralize cotton farming and render the production of other crops necessary.
 "These changes will ultimately be for the betterment of Jefferson county. This county annually imports about 3OOOO tons of alfalfa and other hays, as well as many thousand bushels Of oats ana corn that could be produced at about one-third the cost on Jefferson county farms.
 "There Is a good opening for dairy or beef products here also The 200 or more dairy1nen supplying the city here little realize the profits in their work. In cer- tain northern cities to my personal knowledge there are darymen who feed from 30 to 50 cows in order to make living. They have only about five months pasture and cold long winter, when feeding must be resorted to. These men receive from to cents per quart retail for their milk.
 How different things are In Jefferson county You have season about 2oo days between killing frosts. and pasture eight months in the year. Two crops of corn can be raised for ensilage on the same soil In one year if care be taken to avail depleting soil by liberal manuring.
 Milk retails at 10 cents per quart so If seems the climate is doubly favored as well as the price of the product. There also seems to be an opening for high class of certified milk, suitable for in vslids and infants and as such indus tries have proven profitable elsewhere the opening for the production of certl- fled milk in Birmingham should be very bright
 The surveyor spoke with pleasure or the great progress taken In new pulio- ings and enterprises, and the many changes that had taken place in the agrl- culture of the county in two years.
 The report now issued for free distri- bution shows In a conservative manner inc vast resources of the county as yet only partially developed, as well as it's attra ctions as a place Of resloence or TOT varied lines of agriculture.