The following is a reprint of an article that appeared in The Tuscaloosa News on December 8, 1952, submitted by Kerry & Mary Shirley.
Good Farming Pays Off for Wilsons
Fourth Generation on the Farm by Lucia Owen (staff writer)
“Back in 1924, when I laid out those terraces, the land was full of gullies waist deep”, B.R. Houston, county agent said, as he and Lenon Wilson of Rt. 1, Brownville, gazed out over the acres of cotton land that were now sowed down the row middles with vetch, and at the 20 acres of oats and crimson clover, showing as green as a thick carpet over the otherwise brown landscape.
Today the 320 acre farm is one of the best in the county and this year, a bad crop year for most farmers, has brought a brand new barn and rat proof crib for the Wilsons and 750 bushels of corn from 10 acres, and 12 bales of cotton from 17 acres and 750 bales of hay.
“I didn’t make any money,” Mr. Wilson said, “but I paid for this barn and have my corn and hay.” He also has three fat pigs ready to kill and 25 head of beef and dairy cattle, and Mrs. Wilson has a flock of chickens.
Mr. Wilson, the son of the late Mr. And Mrs. L.O. Wilson, is the fourth generation to farm the land, and he thinks Tommy, who is now five and one half years old will be a farmer too. Of the 320 acres on the farm, 150 are cultivatable, the rest being in timber. Mr. Holstein laid out the first terraces of his career as a county agent for Tuscaloosa County on this farm for the present owner’s father, and both know the improvements that have been made.
Mr. Wilson believes in a mechanized farm, and there isn’t a mule on his place. He practices the latest methods recommended by the Extension Service and thinks this may be the reason for his mysteriously high yield during the dry season just past.
On May 5 he planted 10 acres of Dixie 11 Hybrid corn, following a turning under of winter legumes. He fertilized with 250 pounds of 4-10-7 per acre and and side dressed with 100 pounds of soda after the second plowing. The corn was planted in three and one half feet rows in 15 inch drills and was plowed only twice. No rain fell on the corn until July 28, he said, but he gatherer end 75 bushels of corn per acre, and he opened his fine, rat proof crib to show it. His cotton did not do so well, nor did other patches of corn on the place.
In the cement block barn, measuring 50×54 feet, are stored the 750 bales of hay gathered from his farm. Ten acres of Kobe produced 300 bales and the remaining hay is services, Dallas and other grasses. The barn has cement fee troughs, and is built for a life time. The base is of cement blocks and the upper part is wood with an outside covering of tin.
The Wilsons have big hopes for next year. They plan to increase cotton acreage and other crops. “We’ll remodel the house then,” they said, looking at the quaint old home, surrounded by trees and box woods.
A GOOD FARMER, AND A LUCKY ONE – Lenon Wilson, of Rt. 1, Brownville, is pictured above with Mrs. Wilson, their son Tommy, and the family dog Chuck, as they lean on the gate that leads to their new concrete block barn and crib. That barn and crib, in the background is fairly bulging, too, with 750 bales of hay and 750 bushels of hybrid corn. A part of the beef and dairy cattle on the 320 acre farm can also be seen behind them. While most farmers were hit by the drought, the Wilsons succeeded in having an above-normal corn and hay crop and 12 bales of cotton from 17 acres, thou no rain fell until July 28. (Tuscaloosa Engraving Co. Photo)
The Wilson Farm is now owned by The Hughes Family as pictured below. Please leave your comments below.
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