The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07

and have done much to encourage shem in the various industries and so had fully expected to see on this trip a greatly in- creased acreage in small friuts and veg etables and that the associations had got ten on better footing and had been able to secure better shipping facilities, etc, l instead of this I find in many places that they have dropped back and have let the shipments of various crops fall far below that of last year. This was particularly true of the radish crop Last season from only three stations there was shipped to the north twenty-two cars of fine radishes. This season only fourteen cars were shipped. Instead of this falling off the shipments of last year should have been increased this year up to at least fifty cars, for the demand and the market was better this year than 1t was last year. I happened to be in several northern markets thls season and found in places demands for vegetables, includ- ing radishes, greater than the supply. l visited a number of the growers and got these facts directly from them-state- ments that from fifty to 100 barrels of radishes were grown per acre. One grower stated that he sold eighty barrels from an acre, which netted him s4 per l barrel This was $32O per acre. One other grower stated that he had sold 100 bar
 
 per barrel. This was s400 per acre. Now the question Is, what other crops would pay better? Then, too, this crop can be produced and sold inside of sixty days. 1 There has also been like falling off in the bean, cabbage and potato crops, yet all these are in great demand and bring l ing paying prices. These facts show that I there is something wrong some where, and also show the importance of the rail- roads keeping a live wide awake, up to date man out all the time pushing and en- couraging this work. Farmers generally want to see the end from the beginning, and If 1t were only possible to convince | them at planting time of such prices and results as we now see it would be but an easy matter to induce them to plant. have had to make as many as four vIs- It's to points in order to get the people interested in growing such crops as their soil and location were particularly adapt ed for.
 But I must pass on, spent some time at Mobile making inquiries about crops, and found that good prices were being realized on all crops Last fall while vis- iting at Theodore, a few miles south of Mobile. learned that party had bought large tract of land, and that a great acreage of strawberries, potatoes onions and cucumbers for pickles would be plant ed l find on this trip that the land was sold, but none of the crops mentioned have been planted, and if there was ever a movement of this sort on hand 1t seems to have lost out. But that this section is we'll suited for just such a line of crops there is no question
 The country around Theodore is a great potato growing section and many pota- toes are shipped from this point, yet not near as many as should be- Grand Bay, | n fAr t1-- a....
 truck section, and here sweet potatoes grow almost to perfection, as well as strawberries and beans
 In conclusion I wish to compliment the Alabama farmers on the general improved conditions noticeable on the farms all along the line for we note that the coun- try Is gradually improving, farmers learn ing to use better farm impliments better stock Is to be seen on the farms the crops are generally better cultivated, and the improvements in fences, houses and barns are also better.
 Still there Is much yet needed. There is so much of the best land of the country not yet cleared. and as nearly all the valuable timber has been cut from much or the forests these lands should now be cleared and cultivated in some paving crops. But these changes will come around fast from now on The old worn out land should all be reclaimed and set to grass for pasture, and the brush lands where 1t is available. cleared and made to produce the many needed crops. One thing l forgot to mention is that the har- vest Is now crawling northward, and I saw oats harvested and in the shock and the crop will in a very few days now he ready for harvest as far north as Mont gomery. The oat crop, too, seems to be pretty good in most sections south. There is no telling what could be produced in. the way of diversified crops in this conn try under the right kind of farming.
 On Saturday night, May 8o I went m to Nashville in order that I might have an opportunity to better see some sec tions which had passed In the night coming down earlier in the week. an ac- count of which you now have in hand l was very anxious to see the crops all along the line of the Louisville and Nash vile to New Orleans, and the trip today. Sunday, May S1 will enable me to cover the territory made In the night on my recent trip and chance to see what of the crops l missed on the other trip. Sat 1 urday night deluge of water fell throughout greater portion of middle Tennessee, and the country from Nash vile south was flooded. Crops suffered great damage by washouts and wind Tn some sections there was hail. which d,d consiuerADle damage to the crops but the greatest damage was the terrible washouts. Many fine fields were badly cut up by the heavy rainfall and these washes cannot be replanted this season The wheat crop through middle Ten nessee Is simply immense-one of the hest in the history of the state. The storm Saturday night did imense damage to this l crop. The crop being so heavy and so near ripe much of 1t was blown and beaten down and tangled. What a pitv for the farmers who have worked so hard and waited so patiently for results to see their crops, when ready for harvest so damaged. My sympathies are with the farmers, for too well know what these things mean.
 have been hailed out washed out and frozen out on crops until I know how to feel for the farmers in their distress. have worked for weeks of wet weather trying to save grain and then lost out. The wheat crop is like the negro's rabbit. or the Irishmans flea. We may have If now, but where 1t may be tomorrow we may not be able to say There is no tellinr what we are to get from wheat cron. until 1t is thrashed and housed And now while we have in sight one of the great. est crops of wheat in the history of the country, we also have at the same tine the most unfavorable weather for saving the crop and unless these wind and rain storms stop and stop right away, the loss 10 the wheat crop will be something fear ful. ID,