The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-21

At the close of my address we organized , the Lamar County Farmers institute,
 with Judge John A. Pope. president. The
 name of the secretary I seem to have
 misplaced at present Judge Pope's post office address Is Suligent. Ala. the same
 as the other officers mentioned above.
 Great Interest Aaken.
 There was an unusual amount of inter-
 taken in this meeting The main ques-
 tions discussed were the most suita ble
 crops to be substituted for the acreage
 which will be taken out of cotton growing
 and the question of soil building and soil protection The farmers owning rolling
 or hillside farms begin to realize that un-
 less they quit growing cotton they will | soon be without homes or soils that will
 produce crops of any kind. There will be | a great reduction in the cotton acreage in l Lamar county.
 1 Some of the objects of organizing these
 farmers institutes might again be men,
 toned here. The prime object is that a
 campaign of agricultural education may
 be inaugurated In every neighborhood or
 in every school district or beat. The first lessons to be studied in these meetings Is
 the care. management and maintenance
 of the fertility of the soil and as the only practical way by which any farmer can | keep up the fertility of the soil is in the
 rotation of crops. this will come in for a
 good share of attention. Another very
 important educational matter will be to
 study the growing of fruits and vegeta-
 hles as well as a full line of the legumes. 1 forage crops. grasses etc. Then those
 who are intending to grow crops for l shipment to northern markets must study | the matter of varieties.
 | The people of Lamar county are anx-
 ious to engage in truck farming and to grow and ship fruits and vegetables, all l of which they should do: but they are
 rot yet ready for this class of farming. | The rundown condition of their lands and their want of experience In such farming
 will prevent them from competing suc-
 cessfully with older associations who have been through the mill of experience. so
 that think the suggestion of Judge Pope ] that the people take this year for edu-
 cation and fof preparing their lands and ! for a general preparation for next years
 crops was a good one.- The judge ex- poets to organize every beat in his county | as fast as possible and to start this edu- l cational work at once.
 | The judge is fully in earnest in this
 matter. and all that Is needed to make
 the venture win Is that the people all | cooperate with the president and all | work harmoniously for the common pur- pose This, many good citizens have | promised to do.
 Question Answered.
 l Night here let me answer an oft-repeat- el question. am often asked why when | there is a Farmers union already in ef- l feet or organized, why do we want anoth- l CT organization? The answer Is this: It i makes no difference what a man may al- ready belong te, this work does not in- | terfere with any of his obligations to any l church, political party or to any other 1 organization. This work is largely edu- l cational, and these associations Farmers | institutes or Fruit and Truck Growers association. are organized as stated for | educational purposes to the end that those who engage in fruit and vegetable grow | ing may cooperate in buying and In sell l ing; that all should plant the same kind | of seed all plant at the same time; cul- l tivate alike. and all harvest and ship to- ! gether. Where there are large acres of
 crops, buyers will visit such districts and | buy the crops right on the track or at the l railroad stations. I find that the buyers | of the great cities prefer to deal with well | organized farmers associations. these as- | socations to consist of a president secre- | tary treasurer and a board of directors | of from three to seven. The secretary | often fills the offices of both secretary and l treasurer, or where associations of this 1 kind are well established and will plant | and grow the leading crops in such quan- | titles as to be able to load cars these as- | sociatons attract the attention of the | best buyers from all parts of the country, | and this often enables the association to | sell crops at home to best advantage, so that this line of educational and cooper