The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-03

eers or leaders in these matters have heen forced to use just this same kind of economy and to get as much work as possible from every man and engine em- ployed. Only few years ago one en- zine pulled a few light cars. It required the same number of men to operate them as it does now. Yet under improved methods we see engines with the same men, pulling long trains loaded with tons of freight The railroad companies have been compelled to straigten out the curves. to reduce the grades and to in crease the size of raillng-in fact, to im- prove their equipment In every way possi- ble in order to reduce expenses. From the old fifty pound rail we have ad- vanced to the 110 pound, and yet the limit may not be reached.
 The farmer must use this same kind of economy He must use better and larger mules and blows, and like the rail- roads. he must straighten out the curves and cut down the grades so as to have clear sailing What I mean by this Is he must have his fields clear of brush, stumps. stones ana gullies so that when he starts out on one side of the field with one of these heavy teams hitched to a big blow he will be able to do like the en- zgineer on the iain, who, when he pulls the lever and starts his powerful engine knows that the grades are cut down, the curves strengthened out and that he can go right through without let or hin drence. So the farmer when he starts should be able to blow right through clear to the other fence without let or hindrence.
 This same economy and improvement is also to be seen in our great ships that sail the high seas, See what tonnage they now carry, and how they have re- duced the time fin crossing the great wa ters! This matter of economy is now being practiced along many industrial lines, and the farmer must get in line if he expects to make farming success.
 Economy of Moisture.
 Here again Is where the farmer should use the strictest of economy In storing up in the soil the water that he gets from the winters rains. I wonder how many farmers stop to think of these question concerning moisture in the soil-percula- tion and evaporation-yet these are all questions of vital importance, and the farmer must have some knowledge of each of them if he wishes to make farm Ing pay.
 I know when I get on this subject how little I may say, and that I cannot do the subject anything like justice in the time and space I havef The farmers institute Is the place for a full and free discus sion of these subjects; yet l hope to att tract the attention of our readers and get them to thinking along these lines. I want to ask OUT readers. Is 1t economy to al- low our rains to run off and go to waste? Why not store them in the soil for future use? This can be easily done, and I can tell you how to do 1t, and will explain more fully a little later on.
 I was very much impressed with what Professor Mckay said in one of our in- stitute meetings, when in talking on this same subject he said that farmers should SO prepare their lands so as to worry the rainfall and to make it run around in the ditches and be as long as possible in getting off the land. for the longer 1t is In doing this the more of it the soil will take up. But why should we allow it to run off at all? Why not sub-soil and prepare a deep mellow soii which will take up, store and hold moisture until reeded' Now we are having a very se we're drought in Alabama. and we hear much complaint about crops needing rain, and I want to make this statement here, and that, too, without fear of con- tradiction, that although the drought Is almost unprecedented and severe in the state. yet there is not crop where the seed bed for the crop was prepared after the directions given through The Age Herald that Is suffering for rain. or can not hold out even weeks yet without rain. We have every winter and in early spring enough rainfall in Alabama, If properly stored in our soils as 1t should belt carry All our crops safely through the very dryest weather and on up until our June