The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-21
BY ERNEST CARENES
County Agent

There is probably no other industry
located in the south that has a bright
er future for rapid development than
does that of agriculture. Seventy-two
per cent of the population living in
the southern states are engaged in
some agricultural enterprise. The
eyes of the world were recently d.
rected on the farmer when the fate
of nations were hanging in the ball
ance, proclaiming that soldiers must
be fed if they were to fight to sue
cessful end. Business men, bankers
and Industrial workers now realize, as
never before, that the prosperity of
any city. town or industry depends
exclusively upon successful farming
in that community.
LOCATION
Morgan county is geographically To-
Gated in North Alabama, the majority
of which lies in the fertile part of the
Tennessee valley, having for it's north
ern boundary the Tennessee river and
is traversed by the Louisville and
Nashville and Southern railroads. max
ing shipping facilities excellent.
SOIL
Various types of soil exist in the
county. with Tennessee valley red
CLAY soil dominating, which has vari-
GUS agricultural advantages, as fol-
lows: G) 1t is a fertile soil compared
with the average soils of Alabama.
(2) 1t does not leach plant sfood like
a lighter type of sandy soil CD 1t
retains moisture better than the more
porous or open soils. "a The heavy
red clay soil contains supply of
potash in an unavailable form called
kaolin. which may be made availa BILE
by deeper blowing, addition of humus
or organic matter ana thorough, cbl-
tivation. This potash supply is ex-
tremely important because the world
supply is limited and has a very high
comm ercial value. Hence, farmers
cultivating red clay soils will only
need to add phosphorus in the way
of commercial fertilizers if humus is
added and systematic crop rotation
is made with leguminous crops to fur
nish the nitrogen supply. Additional
nitrogen may soon be secured from
the nearby plant at Muscle Shoals
Therefore, it is possible for farmers
to save thousands of dollars annual
ly for commercial fertilizers by a sys-
tematic cropping system
LIVE STOCK
ID Pasture. There is no better pasture
land in Alabama than is found in Morgan
county. Bermuda grass is the Kentucky
blue grass for this county, which is found
growing on the higher and lighter types
Of soil. while orchard grass and lespedeza
are worthy of mention on similar soils
Herds grass and white clover form the
basic plants for pasture on lower lands
that contain more moisture. Good pasture
is the fundamental principle upon which
successful live stock raising depends.
q Beef production. Twenty registered
Shorthorn bulls and few Herefords are
rapidly Transforming the scrub calf into
a more rounded beef type, increasing the
market value 100 per cent at the sans
age. The silos that are being constructed
in different parts of the county. supple.
mented by velve< bean pasture in the
fall, make conditions ideal for winterine
beef cattle and. if good summer pastures
are maintained, there is no reason tn
doubt but what cattle raising in Morgan
county will not be excelled by any other
section of the state.
(3) Darying. No line of farming in the
state has a brighter outlook than that OF
dairying in Morgan county Corn silage
n hay for rough feed supplements"
with velvet beans, cotton seed meal, and
corn form an ideal "a c><a for the dairy
cow At the Decatur creamery. farmers
fortunately find a ready home market fot