The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-27
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Negro Demonstration Worl
70 the Editor of The Age-Herald:

~ ehS Iauitor OF 1ne ASe-Horalu.
The negro United States farm demon
stratfon agents in the black belt are
teaching negro farmers. among other
things, the value of clovers and demon
strating that those legumes can be
grown on soils cultivated in the black
belt
District Agent Thomas NJ. Campbell
stated today: I'VE are making some pro-
gress in teaching negro farmers that Glow
ers are some of the legumes equal in
value to alfalfa. They can be grown on
many of the soils in the south.
I'VE are trying with some degree of
success to show negro farmers that
clover restores nitrogen to the soil and Is
fective fertilizer.
I'VE are teaching negro farmers also
that clovers are very valuable winter
cover crops and for grazing. The average
farmer Is not only ignorant of the ma
ture and use of clovers, but he does not
know the plant or the seed when he sees
1t. We are trying to teach that also We
start with the farmer by showing him the
clover seed. Then we ask him to set apart
a small piece of land for a plot and SOW
it and cultivate under our direction.
There are six negro demonstration
agents in Alabama In charge of 27O DEM
onstrators with 26 clever plots ranging
from one-quarter of an acre to 80 acres
We select a few of the most intelligent
and progressive farmers in the COM
munity and induce them to demonstrate
clover crops as we'll as corn and cotton
crops.
1.-The department of agriculture at
Washington is thoroughly in sympathy
with this movement, and State Agent b.
l.. Moss has issued orders to local agents
to this effect. following up his orders by
personal inspection of demonstration
plots. Mr. Moss is accompanied on his
inspection tours by III. e. savely, general
field agent for demonstration work"
Harry Simms, demonstration agent for
Wilcox and a part Of Dallas counties,
has under his care one of the largest
clover plots in the black belt 1t is on the
plantation owned by N. B. Tumbleston, a
progressive negro farmer owning $50
acres of fine land near Minters, Dallas
county. The plot consists of 80 acres of
crimson clover mixed with oats and rye.
1t was the second planting, but the field
was carpeted from end to end with the
green plant
This week Tumbleston decided to pre-
pare his clover plot for his corn and cot
ton crops. Before carrying out his pur-
pose, however Harry Smms invited Mr..
Moss and Mr.. Savely to see it. They
started from Selma to visit the plot We'd
neSday, Dut mad TO return TO Selma after
having Travelled In an automobile within
five miles of the place.
Tumbleston then proceeded to turn ufl-
der his field of beautiful clover, while
Harry Simms and Thomas NJ Campbell
blew up the stumps with dynamite.
Tumb1eston will use about $50 pounds
of commercial fertilizer per acre, from
which he expects to make a bale OF cot
ton.
Some idea of the progress made by this
remarkable pupil under Harry Smms may
years ago he began improved methods of
farming on two acres; encouraged by re-
suits he demonstrated the next year on
five acres; then 16 acres. Four years ago
he made only four bales on 25 acres. lie
planted clover and rye and turned them
under and made 13 bales on 16 acres. He
is now planting for one bale per acre.
Besides his land is inoculated for another
years crop. He has a garden the year
round, raises his own meat. bread, mo-
lasses, milk, butter and poultry. He
lives at home
His farm is surrounded by 5000 acres
of land owned by other negro farmers,
several of whom watch his farm and fol-
low his example. He Is only 50 years old.
He owns eight mules and horses and rents
able houses. One of his neighbors. Isham
Smiley, 10 years old, owns 1900 acres of
land. They stand well with their white
neighbors. A. r. OWENS.
Tuskekee, April as, 1918.