The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

f Alabama alfalfa from Greene county
 J. E. Penny last week
 on Thursday after authorizing the fol- lowing statement
 'I thoroughly believe that the cheapest lands from standpoint of actual worth in the United States are in Alabama am convinced that the lands are more fertile than in my home state of Iowa, while winters are shorter and less se- were Bur clover will grow every week and every month from November to May. A few days of frozen ground may check it's growth, but does not kill it. and the ground does not remain frozen over a few hours. One of the best dairy farms I have ever seen was in Lowndes county, Alabama. I do 1pt think l nave ever one in Bullock county. Thep resent crop is estimated at 50 carloads. The same man has a large pecan orchard While all of these products are easily grown, the fact remains that Alabama is as yet undeveloped. l have been told of a single pecan tree producing over S100 worth of nuts in year. and yet not one farmer in 100 has even one pecan tree. There are very few peach orchards and very few dairies. Not one farmer in 100 has foot of alfalfa or a stalk of bur clover. Alabama is certainly big in opportuni- ties"
 In making comment upon the purchase and sta tement of Governor Shaw, Colonel Thompson said that there were great many good citizens of Alabama who claimed to be public-spirited and progress sive, but who are not in sympathy with any movement that has for its aim and object the bringing of settlers or colonies | of immigrants into this state. Their ar | gument is that they desire the lands of | Alabama to be- kept for it's present citi- | zens and their posterity
 Colonel Thompson stated that he had no disposition to criticize this sentiment with undue harshness. but inasmuch s present citizens will not utilize the idle lands of Alabama, and as there is now worldwide demand for just such lands | as exist here, this sentiment and policy ! which has in measure sustained it, is 1 of the dog-in- -the-manger type, and is greatly retarding the growth of the state He stated that when the fact Is made known that since the year 1920 the 1 total number of immigrants coming into 1 the United States constitute about one third of the entire population, or, in round numbers, 30,000.000 people, it will | be seen how much this tide of incoming population has contributed to the present | growth and prosperity of the nation. Now l that Alabama is coming into favorable l public notice in many ways the matter of settling up it's idle lands becomes of l, vital importance.
 Colonel Thompson stated that if her
 own citizens did not appreciate the In | hefitance which has been bequeathed | them in the lands of Alabama, to the ex- tent of purchasing and utilizing them, then certain it was that others would do so, and in fact others are doing so new 1 to greater extent than is dreamed of 1 by majority of the citizens of the state.
 This fact is evidenced by many large deals in different portions of the state during the week. more notably that of | Governor Shaw above mentioned the pur- | chase of 22,000 acres In Baldwin county by northern capitalists for colonization
 purposes, the sale of 3600 acres in Dallas county for the same purpose, and many
 other pending in various parts of the | state.
 l One particular deal in Alabama lands 1 that is attracting nationwide attention i at this time is that of James B. Hasgin, l the millionaire stockman of Kentucky, 1 who bought and has developed along modern lines a large body of lands in Greene county. This purchase by MT. l Haggin has awakened great interest throughout Kentucky in Alabama lands. | and many citizens of that state have since l that time been leds to investigate these | lands, with the result that many have 1 purchased from that section. It is Colonel Thompsons opinion that the growing of
 alfalfa is destined to repay the farm
 CTS of Alabama in a large degree for the ravages of the boil weevil, as this crop is more remunerative in many instances than cotton. While the famous black belt is the natural alfalfa zone and is not
 surpassed by any other lands in the
 world for this purpose, containing more
 lime in the soil than any others, still all
 falfa can be grown in other sections of
 the state. In fact lime lands anywhere
 in the state will grow alfalfa A farmer l In Limestone county, in north Alabama
 has had yield of 12, Al pounds per acre
 which at s20 per ton, the average seliine
 price. was worth APO per acre. There
 are very few instances in the state where
 this revenue can be equalled in cotton. In
 this connection MT. Thompson stated that
 scientific experiments have proven that
 the addition of lime to any land in Ala
 bama will prove of incalculable benent
 Successful farmers are beginning to real
 ize this fact and are buying lime every
 year by carload lots. This is especially
 and half to the acre to the cutting, and
 the state. who use lime in, large quanti-
 ties in the production of all crops.
 A very fine sample of the first cutting of alfalfa for the present season. grown
 by J. B. Penny on his lands In Greene
 county. was on exhibition in the offices of
 the Alabama department of the Southern
 Settlement and Development organization
 this week. and attracted considerable at
 tention. This alfalfa will average tor
 nnd a half to tho acre to tho cuttin. and
 on this seasons crop Mir. Penney expects
 a minimum of six tons to tho acre.
 "As Governor Shaw states in his quoted
 rcmarks." said Colonel Thompson, Ala
 hama is certainly hig in opportunities. Tn
 cattle. hogs. hcrsas. mules and poultr,
 tho field is sis yet practically nndeveloped
 No other state In tho union, according ta
 tho United states department of agrlcul' ture.- can equal Alabama in tho cheaE
 production of heef, while oceans. peaches pears. figs and citrus fruits are all growr
 here ia perfection. and ara yet only IT the infancy of their development, And
 again. Alabama led the world in the pro