The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-17

for a few hours and then Mitch on to the
harrow and harrow fine what he has
plowed. The idea is to keep the soil
worked fine before 1t can dry behind the
pillow. Farmers get in too much of a hurry.
They seem TO have the idea that the thing
to do is to rush the planting regardless
of the condition of the soil. We find this
state of farming all through the country.
and it is surprising how many farmers
there are who do not use a harrow a all
on their farms. A log or a brush is very
poor excuse for harrow On the other
hand however, we occasionally find a
progressive, up-to-date farmer who has
abandoned the old methods and who
breaks his lands and harrows them fine
and plants his crops ON the level, and
who has abandoned the old bedding up
system, and the crops of these farmers
should be an object lesson for their neigh
bors. | find that these or this class of
farmers who have learned how to pre-
pare the soil before planting, have far less
expense and trouble in the cultivation of
their crops and the yield in the end Is
nearly double that of the shlftless farm
ers.
| wish to impress this ON every farmer
the Importance of having and using a
good harrow, and preparing and making
the seed bed fine before ever planting
Farmers must learn to be more particular
in this matter If they expect to make the
farm pay.
As stated, there is a great acreage OF
crops planted this season in a very rough
condition and without having the soil
prepared before the seeding The harvest
will show the folly of such farming II is
better to plant less and plant right than
to run over and put in big acreage in a
poor condition.
While we are advocating reforms on
the farms. and urging better and i'm
proved methods. we should make the
foundation of all our work and arguments
on the Importance first of caring for the
soil and for keeping it up to a high state
of cultivation. and for the proper prepara-
ton of the soil before planting Our farm
ers In this country have been soil rob-
bers for years, taking all the while from
the soil and giving nothing back This
state of things has bR carried on in
many sections until the has been worn
out and will not prodiWe crop at all.
In all the new western country we find
the most shiftless, careless system OF
farming. Much of it is what call butch
ering up the soil-plowing the land wet
and allowing stock to run at will over the
fields, wet or dry, Such farming as this
will wear out any country.
The farmers in this new country should
learn now. right at the opening up of the
y
to not only get the most from them. but
at the same time protect and keep the
soil up to a high state of cultivation
When ] see how some farms are man.
aged | am surprised that they make any
crops at ALL. On my last trip. through a
great farming district. I saw droves of
horses and cattle running over fields
where corn and cotton had been planted,
and this is a common thing all through
the country.
Now | will give a few notes on crop
conditions.
The great winter wheat crop of Texas
has been greatly damaged by cold dry
weather. and rust in many sections, The
crop in Oklahoma. Kansas. Missouri ana
other sections north is vet very promsing
| have just returned from quite an ex-
tended tour of crop Inspection. and while
out found the wheat crop very good in
the above named sections. and especially
so in oklahoma, where the crop is the
best have found any where. All through
Oklahoma the crop is fine and heading
nicely. There have been fine rains all
over the territory and the weather Is just
deal for the development of a great
wheat crop.