The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-27

training schools all over the country. If I was agricultural commissioner of A state my first step would be to get farmers some one or two or more of the leading farmers-near each county town, to plant crops for experimental purposes and when these crops were ready for cultiva- ton would appoint a day when I would. invite all farmers in, and l would pro- vide myself with a complete outfit of up- to-date farming implements, and l would take these right out Into the fields and give practical lessons in their use. and so educate the farmers In the use of these so that, they would not have to depend so largely on poor unreliable farm help, as Is now the case
 This Is the kind of work so badly needed. Then. again. if l was agricultural com missioner of any state l guarantee that after 1 had been In office for six months that if a stranger should drop down Into any part of the state and begin to ask after me that he would soon find some lonesome farmer-who had heard of me at least. But some agricultural commits sioners may say this theory Is all nice enough on paper but the state does not furnish the money to carry on the work. In this case I would not have the office. for If I could do nothing or there was no means provided to do with, I would seek other employment. These practical train- ing schools are what Is most needed all over our country
 The Age-HeraId.
 I wish to call the attention of the reader to a few advantages you have as a reader of the Age-Herad But I do not do this in a boastlng way at all, but I do feel that this paper should have il broad field of feafalpaee a Q faf of hn south. We are trying Tn a plain honest practical way to give the farmers of the country just such information as they most need The reader of the agricultural department of the Age-Herald not only has the advantages of my personal ob- servations, but here he gets almost free of charge the hard accumulated expe- rience of practical farming, covering an experience of forty years. Not only this. I will say further that doubt if there is another man anywhere in all this coun- try who has had a better opportunity than have had for seeing and learning of farm conditions over a very large scope of country.
 Then again there are few men who have met and talked with more farmers than l. I have been for months right out among the farmers of the country and have had rare opportunities for learning conditions generally Then again I have no interest whatever in any land schemes or speculations of any kind so am not influenced In any way whatever in making up my reports on crops. or in the general information furnished our paper each week. Then again, my nigh sense of honor of what Is right and wrong would prevent me from trying to mislead anyone with false, statements.
 So the reader not only learns here how to plant, grow and harvest all crops. but he Is also kept posted on crops over very large scope of country With such information ready at hand the farmer should surely be able to shape his crops and work to much better advantage than he would otherwise be able to do. shall continue to give facts as, see them on all crops and our readers can rely on these statements. Of course, writers may differ In opinion and we may not all see alike, yet think that l have farmed long enough, and during all my farm experi- ence l have been trying to learn. SO that think that am able to arrive at pretty near the facts concerning crop conditions In view of these facts I will say that | wish every farmer would read the Aoe- Herald, and not only read, but file inc papers away where you can have the in- formation always ready at hand for use when needed.
 As an excuse in part for this advise. permit me to say-and not boastingly either-that wherever we find an associa- tion of truck farmers whose membars have followed our advice in preparing their soil, planting and cutivating their crops, that such farmers all have some thing to sell. Let me ask is not sucb TO- suits excuse enough for giving this timely and friendly advice?