The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-26
A Few Timely suaaestIons.


 the cotton states for the purpose of in- ducing farmers to reduce the acreage os cotton for 1905. Resolutions are being passed and the general movement being inaugurated against the planting of so large an acreage of cotton. The news papers are full of reports of such meet ipgs.
 All this to the practical, wide-awake, up-to-date, farmer is simply foolishness as such farmers know how to conduct their own business. These things have a tendency to dAmora1ze rather than bene- fit the farmers. The idea of farmers al- lowing themselves to be become so excit- eG as to burn their cotton. Was there ever a. aNbigger piece of foolishness started in any country? Such thing should not be encouraged or tolerated in any country.
 There is only one way for the farmers to protect themselves in all matters and ttis is through education. When a farm CT becomes educated he thinks, acts and is in a position to take care of himself and knows how to protect his interests in all matters Organization for educa- tonal purposes is the only kind of organi- zation needed for the farmers of this country at present for with this asrcul- tural education protection will naturally follow The whole thing to my mind, Is like hitching the cart ahead of the horse The farmers all want protection in many things but want it without or ahead of the education needed to make protection permanent.
 These annual spasmodic efforts for the betterment of the conditions of the farm CTS are of very little benefit. They do not last long enough and besides they are gotten np at the wrong time and often by the wrong path and gotten up when the farmers are demoralized, discouraged and af loss how to act.
 Now l am going to write from a farm CTS standpiont. I will imagine myself back on the farm where I spent many happy days, and from my farm l am going to take in the conditions as they exist today. First as a farmer, these questions that are being agitated today about low or high price cotton. The re- duction of acreage or the burning of cot ton would not disturb me ono second as farmer (and I am one again. have just bought me a small farm and shall commence farming againl. l shall pay no attention whatever to any farmers secret organizations nor shall I countenance or encourage with my presence any move ment which might have for it's object the arraying of one industry or class of industry against the other As a farmer, I do not feel that I need any any advise from men who never farmed, but feel called upon to give farmers advise. Neither do I feel the need of associatlng myself with any of these spasmodic movements In order to get information as what I should do on my farm or as to what crops I should plant
 As stated I bought farm. This farm was operated by one of this class of farmers who seemed always to have been at a loss to know what the farm needed or what to do on the farm and while he was lost the farm has grown up full of briars bushes and weeds The land has been robbed of plant food in the great struggle of trying to grow crops and weeds all at t.e same time. I only got possession of the farm on the first of the year. Now l am at no loss as to what to do. I furnished my man a spade an aX, saw purchased a good mattock, a briar hook etc. We will grub out by the roots every bush and take out every old grub will clean out every old fence row. repair the fences, prune up the fruit trees, repair barns, sheds and fences. Then again put team to hauling man ure from the city to fertiize my land, to build up and restore to 1t the necessary plant food to produce crops. Such crops as l may see fit to plant upon 1t. Not only this, I have supplied my farm with all the necessary farm implements with which to carry on .-1e work in an econi- mical may. Now as to the crops I shall plant I will plant such a line of crops as the soil and climate are best adapted tor and shall so arrange my crops as to have something to sell all the time. So far over production of any crops is con cerned this does not disturb me for I shall provide for this by having some poultry pigs and cows to eat up all sur plus and shall plant ony such crops as can be fed to this class of stock. Further I know that if l produce a first class arti- cle that I need not fear any conception as there is always a market for frst-class goods so as the old saying Is we shall go right ahead saving wood without being disturbed about prices of over production what others are doing There are too many non-producers In this country all of whom have to be fed for me to give myself any concern about whether or not 2 first-class article will sell.
 Farmers Institutes.
 But as stated often we do need farmers institutes or I would prefer using the term Producers Associations, where farmers may meet for educational pur- poses. Where as shippers they may learn what to grow for shipment, where to grow and how to grow, when to ship. where to ship and how to ship. These are all very important matters and things in which we are all interested. These meet ings should be free and open for all class es and even all the ladies should have honorary membership in all such organi- cations. I am heartily In favor of the farmers institutes or Producers Associa- tion and the organization of these is a part of my work. But as stated the pri- mary object should be for educational purposes. Such organizations as this will be of permanent benefit to not only the farmer but to the whole country and for all classes.
 Now the markets of our county de- mand and will take a certain amount of early fruits and vegetables, in fact we might leave out the word early and say that a certain amount of fruit and veget- ables can be sold at a profit. More than the required amount if grown and placed upon the market would have to be done at loss.
 Here is where comes in the importance O. having stock to eat up all surplus on the farm. But the question may arise, how are the farmers to know what are the best varieties to grow and how much of each should be grown to meet the de- mands? This information can be easily obtained, but it cannot be gotten in best form from conventions called to pass re- solutions against any such crop ana where the encouragement to destroy
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