The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-29
Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED BY FULTON s. WHITE.

At the time of writing the following let ter MT. White was on his way to the City of Mexico. While in Mexico he will iovote much attention to the agricultu- -al pursuits of the country and will make n special study of alfalfa cultivation He will no doubt be able to furnish readers of The Age-Herad some very interest Ing letters on these subjects.
 Some time ago l had an article on truck farming in the south and promised to have more to say later on, and so Will take up this important subject again. Since writing my former article l have had a good opportunity to see something of the great progress that has been made In this great industry, and as 1 predict ed in that article, there is hardly a sec .tion in the south where this industry can mot be made a paying business.
 But it takes organization, cooperation and education in order to win. The grow er mist know what to grow and when to grow it; what, when and where to ship Now shipping facilities for fruits and vegetables have been greatly im- sprbved fort he past few years. Great im- proVements as well have taken place in building up our markets, and improved methods for carriers and for handling the crops have also been introduced. Not only have these improved conditions been brought about but, better still, irrespon- sible dealers, dealers who made their liv- ing by defrauding the grower, have been forced out of business, and the honest dealers have had to organize for self-pro- lection.
 Organized for Protection.
 Now the question is, what has brought about this improved condition? And the answer is that the growers have been forced to organize for protection, not sonly in selling, but in buying also. So long as the commission merchant could ifind isolated growers. who were not post sed as to markets and shipping, and per .suade such growers to ship them goods -on commission he continued to rob the serowers and put them off with most any excuse as to why they got no more for stheir crops Not only this these pro- ,ducers' associations that are being organ sized all over the country are bringing .about another great reformation-that of selling their crops for cash instead of shipping on commission. This season or 1904 there will be far more vegetables and fruits sold for cash right at home on the platforms at the stations than has ever before been sold
 Then the great advantage of the inn proved methods of shipping loading not only cars but trains and rushing perish able crops to the markets on fast time, and having experts ready to receive and care for the crops immediately on ar rival. These improved methods all work together for the benefit of the grower, and make it far more easy than ever be- fore for him to make his business pay.
 The truck growers of the south have the great advantage of putting their crops upon the market before the north ern farmer can plant thus enabling them to get the cream of the market. There never has been a season in the history of the country that the southern truck growers have realized so much from their crops as they have this spring. Good prices have been the rule on nearly all lines and so the growers could sell every irst-class article at a fancy price.
 Greater Profits Possible.
 Now it only remains for our truck growers of the south to continue in this line of self-protection and education in ."rder to realize even greater profits