The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18

land that would scarcely yield one-tenth
of it under old methods of cultivation.
Two bales of cotton is not uncommon un-
der the new dispensation.
Fruits, Vegetables, Berries
Many successful producers and ship
pers of fruits, vegetables and strawber-
ries are reaping liberal profits on their
investments, and there is abundant room
and demand for many more. Peaches
pears, plums, Concord grapes, the luscious
, Scuppernong, Strawberries, raspberries,
and the native dewberry, mature to per-
fection in this soil and climate, and re-
turn fine profits to the growers; vege-
tables mature early and stand shipment
well. Cabbages tomatoes, onions, pota-
toes are all profitable crops and find
ready markets in the cities. Many noted
successes are to be found near Marion
in Perry county, in this branch of agri-
culture 1t is not beyond reasonable as
sumption to expect that within a decade
or two, the red lands of the black belt
will be converted into vast market. gar
dens to supply the ever-inereasing de.
mands of the over-populous cities of the
country. Hence, rich lands which today
may be purchased at a price far below
that asked for lands of equal fertility in
more populous states, will enhance in
value to such an extent that the man of
moderate means cannot reach them.
Pecans Popular
The soil and climate of the black belt
seem to be the natural home of the pc
can. Many pecan orchards are paying
dividends, and of late years there has
been an impetus to this industry. The
famous Fortescue pecan, large, rich and
palatable grows to perfection on these
| lands-both lowland and upland. They
command the highest prices of all nuts
in New York and the large cities. The
supply of this splendid nut has never been
equal to the demand-even at prices in
the eastern cities that seem incredible.
And they can be grown in the fence
lines around the fields and in the yards
and. lots of the homestead, making ii
beautiful shade tree. while growing wealth
for the land owner.
Alfalfa and Timber
The experiment station in Perry coun-
ty demonstrated beyond doubt that Ne
braslSa soil and climate could not produce
alfalfa superior in quality or quantity
to that grown on the lime lands of the
black belt. A few years ago the United
States government conducted an alfalfa
farm in Perry county to demonstrate the
value of this splendid grass as a feed for
hogs, using something like 200 large hogs
to test the theory 1t was thorough
success, and the growing of alfalfa for
hay has extended TO every part of the sec
ton where lime enters into the compost
ton of the soil. Perhaps the most noted
example of faith in the black belt alfalfa
Is that of j. b. Haggin, owner of the
famous Elmendorf stud and the most
luxurious and expensive dairy farm and
equipment in the world Mr.. Haggin re-
Gently bought several thousand acres of
land in the black belt for the single pur-
pose of raising alfalfa hay to be shipped
to his dairy farm in Kentucky to feed his
animals. This is no small tribute to the
possibilities of this region.
The counties of this section of Alabama
are all well supplied with timber. Every
plantation has it's large bodies of native
woodland, much of it of original growth
The saw mills have largely consumed the
long leaf pine forests but the harder
woods, such as hickory. the different
species of oak gum, sycamore, beech and
some cedar are plentiful and in demand
for lumber for the inside finishing of the
builder. There is hardly a plantation of
any size whose timber could not be con-
verted into funds sufficient to pay for
the land. All of these practical details
are engrossing the minds of the students
of economic methods in the black belt.
Factories
1t is only a matter of years when every
county will have its own cotton factory,
and when the seed cotton Is picked from
the bols in the field it will be hauled di-
rectly to the factory and be converted
into thread and cloth, thus saving to the
owner of the land all those expenses of
baling, shipping and handling, when he