The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-10
COUNTRY HOMES AT MOUNT P|NSON  John l.. Parker Has Ambi-
 ti0us Plans LOCATIONS ARE IDEAL Takes Harry Wheelock Out to Tell Him Some of the Artistic Fossil
 bilities-Other Farms in
 That Section
LOCATIONS ARE IDEAL
By WALTER HARPER

by WALTER hAhPEH
 Dr. John l., Parker has not only the money, but he has the courage to indulge his bugs
 He has the "back to the farm" bug a good case of them. But this is not a new thing with him. He has always loved the woods and the green meadows, the songs of the birds and the ripple of the brooks.
 Even the disjonted chorus of the rice bird gives him thrills of joy. He has both the soul of the poet and the artist When the weather gets hot and dusty l in town and business cares weigh heavy on his mind he longs for the freedom of the soil and the expansive environment | of whispering fields and woods To sat I isfy this constant craving he went up the | valley above Boyles not far from Mount Pinson and bought 100 acres of woods fields, bubbling springs, primrose hedges gentle breezes, birds and rarified ozone pr. Parker carried Harry Wheeock out there yesterday to inspect the combina- tion and to advise with him as to the best plans for taking the plastic landscape
 
 been made and molding from them the ideal country home in Jefferson county. I was an honored guest of the party.
 Harry was delighted with the prospect and with his fine architectural eye jug gled the spring, the old house, the barns, the magnificent shade trees, the sloping hills and the glens and-presto,-there it was, dream of beauty, content, ease and splendid repose.
 Nature had done so much that the rest will be easy. Then there are the fertile fields in the valley and the beautifully wooded hills to the rear. The people who settled the place had but little apprecia- tion seemingly for the artistic possibili- ties of the place. The old residence is in the wrong place. That will be moved back on the side of the hill behind row of magnificent spreading shade trees The barn will be straighened up and the sta bles moved to the rear. A garage will be built in connection with the barn and cement enclosure will go around the spring at the foot of the hill. A fish pond and a duck pond will be built just across lne TOdu dIlu Spleiulu uIlN0WdyS anu terraces will be formed.
 When all the plans that are now be- ing formulated are carried out pr. Parker will have one of the finest country places in this section. It will not only be place for comfortable living, but he plans to make the farm one of valuable utility by stocking it with fine breeds of cattle and other stock as
 The development along the valley adja cent to the Mount Pinson road is very marked.
 The old Caldwell place. not far out, is one of the best properties of the kind in the county, and is also one of the pret- tiest
 Then there is the place that is being improved by B. NJ. Allen. This will also be a show place of no small consequence when MT. Allen decides that it is finished.
 Next to thim comes the farm of Robert N. Bell. By the way, Bob is one of the best city farmers in this neck of the woods. He is a great believer in fine blooded stock and he has some of the finest hogs and cattle in north Alabama, or In the state as to that matter.
 Between the Bell place and pr. Parker is the stock and dairy farm of the Tan ner Borthers. The Tanner boys are also believers in the value of booded stock and have a large herd of as fine cattle as can be found in a days journey from Birmingham.
 This valley is well watered, the land lies just right for easy cultivation and the soil is wonderfully productive. Talk ing all things into consideration, these are the cheapest lands in the state Of Alabama and those men who are getting possession of them now are wise.
 The predominating soil type here is the Hagerstown loam, with considerable clay. The soil is finely adapted to the growing of all vegetable crops, hay and grain. At one time this was great wheat coun- try. The cloyers grow surprisingly we'll. Being well watered the section is ad- nirably well suited to stock raising and the dairy industry.