The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-17

| news generally, but a great power as an 1 agricultural and horticultural educator. This is truly a eommendable effort and one well worthy the support of every l farmer in the state, as well as farmers in the adjoining states. But the main object as we understand Is to make the agricultural and horticultural part of the paper devoted to the best interests of AL abama farmers.
 1t then would be a great help in this work if farmers in all parts of the state would take lively interest in the work and write, and give their experiences along many practical lines. I know that we have many intelligent farmers all over the state, men who have made vari- ous branches of farming a success. We have farmers who could write and tell about hogs. others who could tell their experiences with cattle, others with sheep. and so on through the whole line of stock and poultry. as well to tell how they have succeeded in growing farm | crops, orchards, nursery stock, gardens, etc. Then all can ask questions and in l this way great agricultural paper can 1 be built up and kept up and made to be of great interest to all.
 Excuses That Are Made. l know how farmers are as rule. | They do not have time to write. Then again many are not accustomed to writ ing for the press and SD hate 10 make the start l have from time to time tried to | impress upon the farmers those who need such advice-the great importance | and advantages 10 be gained in a higher education, and a more thorough under | standing of these matters. Times are changing and no where faster than on our American farms. Competition in all branches of agriculture is becoming sharper and sharper. Freights are high CT labor is fast advancing in price or becoming harder 10 secure. New crops are forcing themselves to the front. The | population of our country is fast on the | increase, both through natural channels and by foreign emigration, thus causing with each year a heavier demand upon our soils and farms. In addition the pro ducts of our American farms is on the in- crease.
 In the face of all these facts and many others that might be named, one of the most important of all being the constant ly increasing demand for American farms and the advanced price of land, together With higher taxes go to make it of the greatest importance that our farmers
 
 to their welfare and best interests on the farm; that they should study and learn how to produce more or less acreage and produce. this too, at less expense than they have been doing.
 Matters Confronting the Farmer.
 The study of diversfieation rotation of crops and intensive farming against ex- tensive. these are all matters that now confront the farmer and demand his serious attention. To succeed he must educate himself along these practical lines.
 The small farms well titled in great variety of all such crops as are needed for the home and family use. grains fruits, vegetables. and then the adorn- ment of the farm homes with grass, trees for shade, and all the beautiful flowers. these are the kind of homes that make happy and prosperous country. This Kind of farming requires a much higher | type of education than has heretofore been found on our American farms The man who owns farm of twenty to 1 eighty acres and who is out of debt and has his help in his own family, Is the richest man in this great country to- dad. The bonanza farm is fast becoming a thing of the past. Such farms are of very little benefit to any country, as they 1 do not as rule, do anything to i'm prove society or to make men and wom- en better. They do not build up schools l and churches In the community. They are generally farmed in the most reck- less or shftless manner and it usually takes two or three acres to produce what one should
 Generally on the great bonanza farms the poorest class of shiftless laborers are employed. and as a rule the credit system prevails and the whole thing has a demoralzing influence on the whole community But not so of the man on the small farm whose whole ambition Is to build for himself and family home, place that his children can always look l back to a home where they got their 1 first and best early training. This class l Of farmers always make men who love their country, their homes. their families. and who lay the foundation of good soci- l ety. Let us have more of these small well cultivated American farms where the owners pay as they go and not only pay the cash for all they need but are constantly improving their homes and storing something away for their chil- dren or for themselves in old age.
 Many Things to Learn.
 But there are many things yet for us to learn and the more we learn along these lines the greater will be our desire 10 Know more. One of the many things which l think farmers should learn is to | have more confidence in their country. more confidence in themselves. and more | confidence in each other, and with this kind of confidence help each other to | build up the country.
 But some one may ask how are we l to get this practical education? In no 1 better way than to form farmers organi- 1 cations, farmers institutes in every | neighborhood and have regular meetings and talk over these matters here. Let us exchange ideas and thus help ourselves | and in helping ourselves we help others. | Why in these farmers institutes you can get information free that would cost you l hundreds of dollars and months of hard study if you had to dig it out at some l agricultural college.
 l Then again. let all our Alabama readers help us to make the Age-Herald the greatest agricultural paper In the state, by assisting us along the lines as indicat- ed above In this way you can also ob- tain vast amount of valuable education which you can not now take the time to | go to school to learn
 Have No Time.
 But we often hear some farmer say. 'sANe have no time now to attend these