The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-10
house all over the country.

house all over the country
 But some farmer may say. as has been said: "Why. it Is none of that fellows business how we spend our time" This is true in a sense, and If there were no women and children to suffer In conse- quence of this waste of time we would have less to say about it. But it is all given in a friendly, brotherly spirit, and is not intended for those who do not need it. I am all the time coming in direct touch with farmers all over the ootin- try and l make a study of their condi- tions, and l see many places where great reforms are needed. No country can have apart of it's population in idleness a great part of the time and be prosperous. Some one has to suffer for such waste of time. There is never time when there Is not something needed to be done on a farm, and right now how many fence rows are there all over the country where briars and brush are allowed to grow until the farmer cannot get within a rod of the fence? How many stumps are there on your farm that you have been cultivating for years and which Lave never given you cents revenue for this cultivation? How many little streams are there running through your fields. spoil ing the appearance and beauty of your land by having rows of brush growing along their banks? How much good fer tilizing material is there going to waste on the farm? What kind of shelter and feed has the milk COW. that you have 10 depend upon for food for the children How about the farm implements? Have they all been gathered up, vanished and put in dry place where they will be ready for use when needed or are they lying out in the field, where you last used them?
 Now these are all matters that need to be looked after in the winter. Burn or dig out the old stumps. haul off the stone put those streams through tile laid underground, beneath the reach of the blow; put in five days of the week during winter looking after such things and in providing the good wife plenty Of stove wood, so when you get rushed with yodr crops she will not have to call upon you to get wood Put in the other day, Saturday at the farmers insti- tute. and do your markellng while In town and be sure to lay In an ample supply of tobacco to last until the next Saturday
 I happened to be in store a few days ago when a farmer came in with few eggs. The merchant counted them and asked: What do you want for them2" The answer was: "The old woman said send her the worth of them in snuff"
 Now q farmer may be excused for ex- changing his wife's eggs for snuff for his wife, but he should not trade the eggs for tobacco for his own use He ought to have some farm product of his own production to trade for his tobacco, and right now if he had few bushels of nice sweet potatoes, such as the soil of Ala bama will produce, he could trade them quickly. not only for tobacco. but any thing else he might need. Why, l had Q farmer in my meeting today who had Just sold $75 worth of sweet potatoes from al measured one-quarter of an acre. Why this is only s3G0 per acre. How does this compare with the three acres 1t re- quires in the section where these potatoes were grown to produce a bale of cotton worth $50? But there is still another side to the question. The old gentleman who grew these potatoes is over 70 years old, and he is selling not only potatoes, but fruits and vegetables and honey, is out of debt and has a nice home. I would say to our younger farmers, go and do as well, and if you do not know how at tend the farmers institute and learn from those who are prospering.
 We are often met with an argument when stating cases like this: Why, if everybody. would go to growing potatoes there would soon be no market" To this I would say: Grow them until there is no market, then provide a home market by having hogs to eat them. Sweet po- tatoes make fine hog food" i
 These and many other practical mat ters farmers should study in the insti- tutes and then among the most im- pcrtant of all questions that should be discussed is the question of forage crops. winter pastures, care. management and feed for stock. and especially for dairy cows. The dairy question should be- brought up for discussion in every in- stitute meeting.
 Best on earth or anywhere else. Tha Gawk Engraving Co. Peoples phone 276-