The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-11
RISKS TAKEN IN
 GINSENG CULTURE Many Inquiries From the Farmers of Alabama GROWTH VERY SLOW Advance Sheets Issued by Bureau of Soils on the Survey of Dale
 COunty-Possibiliti
 of Soil
GROWTH VERY SLOW
BY WALTER HARPER

BY WALTER HARPER
 Washington, November 10.-(Special.)- Almost every farmer in the land has at some time or other contemplated the cul- ture of ginsing. Many inquiries have re- gently come from farmers in Alabama to the agricultural department and to mem- bers of Congress seeking information about the culture of this valuable plant
 The market price, which ranges from s5.75 to $6.50, looks good to the average farmer who sells cotton at 10 cents a pound and corn at 30 cents a bushel.
 But the officials and experts of the ag- ricultural department do not encourage the man who is not experienced in the culture of ginseng. The officials rather discourage the idea.
 It requires from five to seven years to
 obtain marketable roots from the seed
 and then success depends upon special and
 peculiar conditions of soil and care. The
 cultivation requires shade and constant
 moisture. There are many chances for failure.
 The farmers of Alabama should be very CdItlul III any dllel1pl tO STOW lle pldul It is not native to that climate or other conditions, and its culture must be artifi- cial. Then again ginseng grown in any of the southern states is of inferior quality
 and does not bring the good price that is paid for roots grown in the northern states.
 The amount of ginseng grown in the United States in 1908, the last figures at hand, was 154,1SO pounds, valued at $1,111,- 994.
 The bureau of soils of the United States department of agriculture has just issued
 the advance sheets of the soil survey of Dale county, in the state of Alabama. The report is now ready for distribution by the two state senators from Alabama and Congressman Clayton.
 Following is a summary of the report which is made by Lewis A. Hurst and
 R. w. Rowe of the federal department and A. D. Cameron of the Alabama de- partment of agriculture and industries:
 Dale county, with an area of 357,12C
 acres, or 55S square miles, is situated in the south central part of Alabama. The surface varies from flat to hilly, the great CT part being gently rolling The, county is well drained.
 Cotton and corn are the principal crops. Other crops, among them cow peas. peanuts, velvet beans and sugar cane, are gradually becoming important.
 Many of the soils are deficient in or ganic matter and legumes-such cow peas, velvet beans, vetch, and crimson clover or bur clover-should be grown | more extensively
 "The upland soils have been classified l into four series: The Norfolk, character ;Is. ,,,1 11,1txr e-,tt, | soils; the Orangeburg, with gray surface
 soils and red friable sandy clay subsoils the Susquehanna, with grayish to browr soil and niottIed red and gray clay sub soils; the Greenvlle, with reddish-browf | to dark red soils and dark red sandy clay
 subsols
 "The bottom land soils are included ir l three groups: Meadow. comprising thf | poorly drained first bottom soils subject | to frequent overflow; the Cahaba series consisting of second bottom soils witt | reddish subsois; and the Kalmia series l second bottom soils with yellow or mot
 tied yellow and gray subsoils. "The Norfolk series includes five types gravelly sand, sand fine sand. sandy
 loam, and loamy sand. These soils are | well drained and inclined to be drouthy The lighter types are especially adapted to early vegetables; the heavier to sugar cane, watermelons, and cantaloupes. The sandy loam is good cotton and corn soil
 'The Orangeburg series includes a gray ely sandy loam, sand, sandy loam, and fine sandy loam. These soils are much more productive than the Norfolk soils. Cotton, corn, oats, sugar cane, peaches, and oceans and number or forage crops do very well.
 "The Greenville soils, including the loamy sand, sandy loam, and clay loom are decidedly the most productive upland types of the area. They are highly adapt ed to cotton, corn, peaches, oceans. and forage crops Sugar cane makes heavy yields, but the sirup is inferior. -.ls-s... "Only one member of the Susquehanna series is developed in Dale county-the fine sandy loam. This is moderately good cotton and oat soil. and with care full treatment fair yields of corn can be secured Peaches do not do so well on this tyne as on the Orangeburg and Greenville soils.
 "The Kalmia series includes a fine sand, sand, and fine sandy loam. These soils give only moderate results with the gener- al farm crops, but are capable of marked improvement by proper management "The Cahaba series represents the bet ter drained second bottom land. Only one tyne was mapped-the fine sandy loan. This is an excellent soil for cotton, corn
 and forage crops
 "Meadow is mainly poorly drained and suhiect to frequent overflow. Very little of if is used at present, but most of it could be reclaimed and made to produce good crops of corn, grass, and forage
 "Tbe nrice of land Is gradually increas- ine, in Dale county There is large area of excellent soil suited to a wide range | of crops that can be bought at very req sonable price"
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