The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-02
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have long wanted a good hand book of Alabama and at last through the efforts of thes Department of Agricul- ture and Industries, I now have a re- liable guide to the agricultural and in dustrial resources and opportunities of my native state.
 I like books with pictures. diagrams and maps, and am gladN that a good may of Alabama is inserted in the one I am now writing about, for it not only gives the usual data expected but surprises one who studies 1t by show ing length of crop growing seasons see line; information which is both in- teresting and valuable.
 While the publication is intended to be useful to Alabamians, it's prime pur- pose is to assist the great outside world to offer, by giving concrete tfacts deal- ing with agricultural. industrial and educational activities. I congratulate the Department of Agriculture and 1n- dustres for the wisdom used in the selection of those who have contribut- ed to the making of the State Hand Book, and for the statement that it will be glad to answer all special in- quiries upon request.
 I am glad that those connected with the work are not only building on the labors of those who went before them but are broadening out and making the Department of Agriculture and In- dustries take in much wider range than at one time was thought to be it's functions. I have noted with keen
 interest the wide activities of the va rious heads of state secretaries of az riculture and of the helpful co-opera- tion of the national bureau with them
 Now in this story I am not going into the details set forth so patiently, but will content myself with picking out a few items about soils in Dr. Thos. Owens introductory remarks about The State; General and Miscellaneous Record" He takes the motto of Mont gomery and applies it to the state at large, Alabama, the Key to Your Op- portunity." We have had this slogan flashed on our vision for several years down at the capitol. I had to be there on the night when the great sign was first lit up, and heartily congratu- lated the Montgomeria on their happy choice.
 anniversary of her entrance into the sisterhood of states does offer wonder full opportunities for all who are will ing to work. She now ranks first in the variety of her products. Cotton is no longer the staple product, for the | campaign for diversification is bearing rich fruit, and strange as it may sound I it is still true that she heads the list in the production of corn per acre. 1 Alabama also ranks first in the l length of navigable waterways, the amount of river bottom land, and the amount of black soil land, and in the | give a list of her soils: sandy loam 1 sandy soil with clay subsoil sandy; ] sandy upland with clay sub soil; black
 soil with red clay subsoil; hammock | land; black soil gray sandy; Green vile sandy loam; sandy loam with | n ctihSoi1. adi 1na xxyitl Ilo1 1x | clay subsoil; black sandy loam lime | land, with red subsoil alluvial land
 sandy gravelly soil; pine and oak sandy
 land. with red clay soil; and red loam
 Now can you beat this for variety? 1
 l Now Alabama soil is better adapted
 as has been shown by experiments
 than that of any other state for the growth of the velvet and soy beans peas, clover. alfalfa, and other grasses besides being the natural home of the cotton seed from which is secured the
 very best feed for fattening beeves Chufas, peanuts, field peas, sweet po- tatoes, artichokes and corn. which are the most fattening of all hog feed. car l
 when used separately or together make a complete ration for hogs Il was a great Kansas expert whos tolc me several years back that the hog ii given a chance would make Alabama
 rich.
 The name of Walter Lee Dunson, the
 Tallapoosa county boy, the proud pos sessor of being Known as the champion
 corn grower of the world, who raised
 his record breaking yield of 232 39-5t
 bushels on one arce of alluvial sand,
 loam is known throughout the entire
 that of commissioner of agricultur,
 James A. Wade was equally famed fol
 the growth of short staple cotton. H
 won the famous Carnegie cup valued a
 $1,000 besides many ribbons ant
 medals.
 K Alabam not only has the soils bu
 she is wide awake to seeing to it tha
 plemented by that of the United State
 has steadily forced our demonstration
 agents up until Alabama now rank
 first in the number of demons tratiol
 agents. The legislature was the frs
 to establish a Bureau of Markets an,
 Immigration. in connection with it Department of Agriculture I say let