The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-11
Aimed to Stimulate Interest in
Growing Crops
GOOD PRIZES OFFERED
Seed Is Supplied Free and the Product
Is Bought ut the Highest Market
Price-Sid Lee Explains
the Plan
BY WALTER HARPER

/ Perhaps you are curious to know more
| about 1t.
Everybody knows Sid. He is the head
and shoulders of the Alabama Grocery
company.
You will notice that his development
runs to heaviness in the upper part of
the chest. That is his heart.
Mr.. Lees pea club is no new idea.
1t is not momentary spasm to be ex-
plotted today and abandoned as a whim
tomorrow. 1t Is the result of gradual
development OF the heart that has been
in progress for years.
Let him tell yNi about 1t in his own
words.
Mr.. Lees story
when l first came to Birmingham sew
eral years ago l was a travelling sales
man. l sold dry goods and made many
country trips. Ny territory included a
greater part of the rural sections of
North Alabama.
THE life of the travelling salesman is
was on the road My country trips gave
me a most excellent opportunity to study
the conditions that existed in the rural
districts.
MY heart went out to the poor coun-
try boy and girl who have none of those
pleasures that are enjoyed by the city
boy. OF course the country boy is the
hope of this country. He has hundred
to one chance over the city boy to be-
come a leader in business and in the
learned professions. but he has a hard
struggle of 1t in the beginning.
These difficulties and hardships. of
course, contribute largely to his charac-
ter building and the success that usually
comes to him In after life, but it seems
to me that he should enjoy some of the
delights that are enjoyed by his city
cousin.
No Christmas Money
why, do you know that there are hun
dreds of country boys in Alabama who
feel rich if they have so much as a
dime or a quarter to spend as they please
for Christmas, and this is all the money
they have during the year?
Perhaps the boy does not expect any
more than this and is as happy with
his quarter of a dollar as the boy who
has spending money all the year round
and feels no special pleasure in having
little extra for Christmas. But my
heart went out to the country boy and
the ambition of my life has been to do
something to help him.
MY heart has bled a hundred times
at the sight of a country girl fondling
her poor rag doll at Christmas times She
never owned a ore-bought doll in her
life and perhaps had never seen a wax
doll with real fiaxen hair and eyes that
would close as if in sleep.
IF was able I would buy thousands
of pretty dolls for these appreciatve
country girls. I would buy jack knives
and hobby horses for the boys. But
cannot do it. Ny only hope is to be
able to do something to help the country
boy and girl help themselves.
Boys Pen Club
When President A. H. Ford of the
Chamber OF Commerce of Birmingham
suggested at a recent meeting of bust
ness men that the Birmingham district
should produce more of its food products
1 got my inspiration.
Birmingham demands $4,000 worth OF
black-eyed peas every year. The supply
is shipped from far away California
Why could not these peas be grown in
the Birmingham district? Everybody
knows that land that will grow anything
will grow peas. This black-eyed pea is
well adapted to this soil and cic1ate.
THE idea developed in my mind until
it became a hobby. Why not encourage
the boys of the Birmingham district to
grow these peas. Tt would not only
mean ready money to them but would
encourage the growing of food crops at
home The effect is far-reachng.
I'VE got a late start on the enterprise
this year, but the interest that has al
ready been aroused Is most encouraging
Our plan is to send any boy in Alabama
who Will agree to plant and care for
them properly ten pounds of black-eyed
peas for seed. We pay express charges
and the boy is out nothing. He agrees
to return us 20 pounds of peas after his
first crop is gathered These returned
peas will be used to extend the operations
of the club. l agree with the members
Of the club to handle the peas for them,
selling or buying them at the highest
market price. charging for the service
a 10 per cent commission, which I figure
will hardly pay the expense Of CORE
spondence and handling.
THE ten pounds of peas we send the
boy will plant three-eighths of an acre
and should produce several bushels of
peas This variety of pea always COM
mands good price in the Birmingham
and all other markets.
| Offers Prizes
ITO further stimulate interest in the
work we are offering a number of
prizes for the best results.
I'VE are sending out a circular letter
Ito children and their parents which
explains the method better than I can
tell you.
| Here 1t is.
birmingham consumes annually $780,
10000 worth of Black Eyed peas,
which are bought in California and
shipped entirely across the continent.
We raise lots of peas in Alabama. but
not the kind the trade wants. For IN
stance, there Is hardly a fall when we
are not importuned by merchants ev-
erywhere to buy their Clay, Whippor-
will or mixed peas. There Is practi-
caly no demand for said varieties. en-
cepting in certain localities. All The
while we are bringing from distance
this particular black-eyed' pea. and
selling them at big price. We have
experimental by planting the Califo--
MIA seed, and find, when planted on
| oood ground. that we can raise lust as