The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-28
TRUCK FARMING.

This department is open to readers Of the Weekly Age-Herald. Farmers and others interested in practical agriculture are invited to give their views and expe- riences in letters of not more than 60e words. Address Agricultural Department, Weekly Age Herald. Birmingham, Ala.
 DiVersifcation and rotation of crops does not necessarily mean truck farming, that is, that every one who engages in 70. tation should become a producer of fruits and vegetables for shipment to nor hern markets. To persuade a very large per cent Of our southern farmers to engage In an industry of this sort to its fullest development would only be to encourage financial suicide and ruin.
 While have been preaching diversfica- ton and rotation of crops, yet it has nev- CT been my purpose to encourage our peo- to engage in only line of crops, which would place them at the mercy of fluc- tuating or doubtful market. Such court would be equally as bad as the one crop Idea Of cotton and even worse. That there Is good money In truck farming in the south up to a certain point. that of pro-
 
 and abroad, will take, there is no ques- tion; but to go beyond this our farmers would make serious mistake
 Burden of Lectures.
 The burden of all my lectures and writ ings has been to try to persuade our far mers not to carry all their eggs to mar ket in one basket, or in other words. not to put all their energies and capital in any crop that requires a quick sale or loss. Let good part of all crops be made np of those staple foods which if not sold today may be kept over until the next day or week or until there Is a paying market for them
 Now the question may arise as to what extent our Alabama farmers may engage In safety In truck farming; that is, grow ing perishable fruits and vegetables for both home market and for shipping north? To answer this question intelll- gently one should be we'll posted first as to the demands of the home market, then that of the markets where crops are to be shipped. This information must at all times come from the following sources: Organization. cooperation and education.
 Cultivate Home Market.
 First the home market should be culti- vated to its fullest capacity We have many local markets that are not nearly supplied with home grown products and 1t Is often the case that truck formers seek foreign markets for crops which might with little effort be sold at good advan- tage on the local market. There are as yet many towns all through the state which are only partially supplied with good fresh fruits and vegetables. These towns may at certain short periods of the season become overstocked on certain ffaaa but they are short on many of the staple lines of fruits and vegetables, so that too much importance can not be attached to the cultivation and building up of these home markets. Here again is where organiza- ton. cooperation and education come to the relief of the truck farmers.
 An illustration Given.
 Only few days ago I was in good mercantile country town and one of the leading produce merchants was very en- thusiastic in telling me what a great country theirs was, and went on to say We grow everything here the best pota- toes the finest apples, fruits and vegeta- bes of all kinds to perfe ction and in greatest abundance
 : Well, l commenced to ask him few pertinent questions. You say this Is grat country for Irish potatoes?
 Yes, the best you ever saw"
 What are you selling potatoes for to- day?"
 Two dollars and fifteen cents for seed. $1. 90 for table,
 Where were these potatoes grown?'' < Colorado"
 You have some fine apples here where wore these grown?'
 They are northern stoeh: come rom Nee York and Michigan
 'l see you have 6ne lot ot vnite oes ns aod you Say this Is a sreai countrc for beans. Are these nome grown here.p
 "No rnese are California stock. ble they can be grown here all the same"
 Well. you say this is a great country for all kinds of vegetables and l see here you have a fine stock of cabbage. new let tuce. radish and tomatoes. Are any of these home grown?"
 No. these are all shipped here from Texas"
 Well" l said what evidence have you to show that this country can grow all these things when all you have to sell Is brought from other sections?''
 Well" he said. 'our people grow cot ton and have not yet learned how to grow these things"
 Merchant Was Honest.
 I am satisfied that the merchant was honest in his statements and that the IT developed would produce large line of these crops. l mention this to show how very important it Is that our people in Alabama as well as In all the southern states get together in pro- ducers associations where they may edu. cate themselves fully as to what may be produced In their own section to good advantage Then set to work to find the needs of the home markets first and after these are fully supplied then look abroad
 
 each and every one keep a few pigs. calves, sheep and poultry and feed up all the surplus of their farms and make it a rule to put only the very best of every thing on the market. and to put their goods all up in neat. attractive packages. so that on first sight of the customer such an impression is made that the goods are half sold
 While visiting over In the peach grow of Aun inf