The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-12
AGRICULTURAL.
THE NEW YEAR. 1906.


 Recently we had something to say of the old year that has just passed away. and is now numbered with the things of the past. From an agricultural standpoint the year 1905 was record-breaker, as was shown in my last paper. But who IS prophet enough to say what the new year, the year of 1906, will bring us? Have we profited by the experiences of the past year? Have we made note of the causes for failures in any of our undertakings in order that we may avoid making the same mistakes the coming year? It is only an imaginary line between the new and the old year. yet custom has made the be- ginning of new year time for making good resolutions. This is fitting time To stop long enough for review or tne past in order that we may see now we are to be benefited in the future.
 The farmer, above all others, Is the one who should take a review Of the past, look back over his experiences with va rious crops, stock, plant foods and stock foods and see if he has used these 10 the best advantage. He should ask him self the question: ''Have I gotten all could from my soil and have l left my soil in a good state of cultivation, or nave I taken all from the soil and given noth- ing back In return?" Another question well worth his consideration is; Have l kent all the stock on my farm that should. and have I fed this stock so as to get the best resultsY' These are all important questions that should be care fully studied.
 Other Questions.
 But there are other questions of vital importance. For some time l have been calling the attention of our readers to the unsatisfactory and disastrous sys- tenn by which many of our crops have been marketed, 80 that one of the most important matters for the farmer 10 LOOK back over is the question: "Did l get all I should have had or all that I was en- titled to from my crops the past sea- son, and if not, what was tho reason2" He should ask himself whether or not he placed upon the market what the buyers wanted and whether these crops were graded and shipped In the proper manner, so that they would bring the best prices and reach the market in such condi- ton as to attract the eye of the buyer. As stated before, the year 1905 was 8 record breaker for this country, but in my opinion right along this line of edu- cation on selecting, grading, pacl-'~~ and shipping our crops is where our grow CTS have been making their greatest mis- takes and sustaining greater losses. This is one of the most important matters for our farmers to consider. We shall have much to say along these lines during the coming season.
 On the first of last year I wrote an arr ticle treating on the lines of general de- velopment and asking our readers to join with me in helping to make the year 1905 a great one in our history. Much was accomplished and the country gen. orally is in a better condition than ever before in our history The south has been the greatest section in receiving and being benefited by this period of pros perity. New banks, factories, new mer- tvatn IaT for them and improved conditions of the farms are few of the many blessings that have come to the south in the past year. Now we always have an abiding faith that the new year is to be better than the old and this is right, for we should always strive to improve on the past, SO at the beginning of this, an other new year. 1t would be well to start at once to lay our plans for the coming season. The farmer should commence at once to formulate his plans, should de- eide at once what crops he is going to plant. then look after seed for these and see that he is provided with pure, fresh seed of the very best varieties. He should also study the question of seed-bed prepa- ration and see to 1t that his soil con tains the best plant food. foods that will meet the requirements of each of the crops that he intends to plant.
 Care of Implements.
 All farm implements should De looked after, and if repairs are needed. these should be provided for early If new farm tools are to be bought, these should be selected and on hand early. This is also a good time to look after the fences, barns, and all out buildings and see what repairs these need. In fact, everything about the farm should be looked over and all work possible performed and gotten out of the way before the great rush of farm work come on. There is always a plenty to be looked after on every farm. Now is good time to send for the best seed catalogues and look them over, for they contain vast amount of informa- ton and ape great help to the farmer in