davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
AllgOod' s Farm Letter

The boil weevil and a world war forced southern farmers into increased food production there years ago. Such con- ditiou has helped to make the south self-sustaining and increased it's bank deposits many fold As concrete re- suit Alabama alone has almost doubled her corn production and more than dou- bled other feed and food crops, such as peanuts, velevet beans, peas and hay, and has developed her meat production iE like proportion during that period The fact is, Alabama has, in almost one stride, stepped from dependence to in dependence and changed from a consum- ing to producing state with her people
 living out of their own corn cribs and smoehouses.
 Again new condition confronts our farmers, which calls for immediate and
 concerted action. The attractive price
 of wheat is causing the farmers in the
 great cereal states to increase the acre. age of this crop and to discard corn acreage. They are going into wheat production on mammoth scale. What
 does this mean? It simply means that the supply. of corn and oats will be cut short this fall. It means a higher price for these products another season. It means also that the south will pay dear ly Tor her breadStuftS and feedStuffS an-
 other year, if her farmers are not far
 seeing enough to produce sufficient corn oats beans and peanuts to meet their own demands If the farmer of the west discards everything for wheat and the southern former neglects everything for cotton, it means a calamity to the coun- try generally, but big money to the men that have corn for sale. Let's play safe this season and grow sufficient food and feed crops to meet the world wide short age of food and feedstuffs on account of the world war.
 The 1918 annual report which contains all the weekly letters of former Commits sioner J. A. Wade, and also copies of l 1918 fertilizer bulletins will be mailed tc | parties requesting same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
Infested Chicken Houses

The first step necessary to destroy the mites is to get rid of the hiding places so far as possible. The roots should be taken down and all unnec- essary boards and boxes removed. In heavily infested houses the mites are to be found in all parts of the build ing, including the roof. Where they are less numerous the infestations usu- ally are confined to the roosts and nests and the walls immediately adjacent. For small coops hand atomizer will suffice for applying insecticides ais sprays, but for larger houses a bucket pump, knapsack sprayer, or barrel pump is desirable. A rather coarse spray should be applied from all angles and thoroughly driven into the cracks The floor also should be treated, as many mites fall to the floor when the roosts are being removed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
New Publications

The following publications were is- sued by the United States departmen, of agriculture during the week ended March 15, 1919:
 "The Use of Wood for F'uel' De- partment bulletin 735.
 "A Comparison of Roughages for Fattening Steers in the South De- partment bulletin 762.
 'Motor Transportation in Rural Dis tricts." Department bulletin ITO.
 ''The Field Testing of Copper-Spray Coatings." Professional paper.) De- partment bulletin 7S5
 "Muscadine Grapes" Farmers bull letin 709.
 How to Control Billbugs Destruc- tive to. Cereal and Forage Crops" Farmers bulletin 1903. ,.
 Copies of these publications may be obtained on application to the division of publications. United States depart ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. c. Since last September over 16,000 girls employed in Chicago industrial plants have been instructed in social hygiene.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
Alabama Coming Strong

Missouri stands third in hog produc- tion in the nation. The census reports of 1918 showed that there were 4.700,- 900 head of hogs in the "You'll-have- o-show-me' state. Alabama, which has heretofore been known as cot ton state, is getting away from the rule of the fleecy king, and the num- Der of hogs reported in the state for 1918 was 2,223,0O0 head-nearly half as manay as Missouri. Less than three year ago, Alabama did not produce enough meat for her own consumption; now the hog growers of Alabama are shipping trainloads of hogs to St Louis and other livestock centers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
DeKalb Girl Makes Record

Away up in DeKalb county, Alabama, close to the line of Georgia and not far from Tennessee is a little station on the Alabama Great Southern Railway. where the conductor calls out "All out for Vallevhead' You disembark 10 find a little village of five or six hun dred inha bitants insconSed, as it's name indicates. in the pretty valley between Raccoon and Lookout mountains. AnG' this is where Willie Lee Wilkes lives. Willie Lee who is II years old, has a fine little fox terrier, loves animals and has transformed a 36-pound Po- land China pig named Jeff, valued al ss, into a porIer weighing 4S0 pounds worth at 17 cents per pound exactly sS1.60. And if this is a matter or surprise to you, for her profit amount ed to. s55.60 for 10 minutes a day re- quired of her, listen to the story to.1 in her own words:
 T am a pig club member, because the other little girls in school were joining the tomato club l thought l had rather care for pigs than to be canning My mother gave me my pIS and put one of her pigs in with mine, so I have had two pigs to care for I named my pig Jeff for l saw very large mans picture in newspaper and his name was Jeff and I wanted my pig to have a large namesake. se- lected the Poland China breed for wo have had them for a long time and find them to be good hogs. The pasture and green crops are very important for pigs for it makes them take eXer- else and gives them an appetite for other feed. My pig drinks lots of water and ] make up his shorts in plenty of water. I weighed him in crate. fed my pig three times a day and pulled tender weeds and vegetables out oi the garden at my spare time. I did not spend much time with my pig, and he did not become a pet. Almost all the neighbors and friends that came to my home went to see my pig and Mir. Bennett and Miss Frankie Dobbs, county agents, came to see my piS several times and seemed to think hin a fine one.
 "Well bred pigs are better size and better form than scrub pigs. I am going to do better next year in tn , pig club work for have learned from the study of bulletins. I have planted rye. vetch, rape and arctic grains for a pasture. l only had rye this year. I have learned that pigs need a varie+y of green stuff and plenty of water and they should be fed regularly, not too much at a time. Il takes a boy or girl that loves hogs and is not lazy to make good pig club member.
 T am going to finish my pig on corn meal and cooked sweet pota- toes. I aim to use the potatoes that are too small for table use"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
France Needs Cows

Serious conditions from lack of milk are related in cable received at the office of the American committee for devastated France. Mrs. Dike and Miss Morgan. who are in charge of the committees work in France, beg that at, least 100 milch cows be provided at once to save the lives of babies and little children in the department of Aisno.
 It is almost impossible to buy cows in Europe and the few for sale are held at enormous prices. American breeders who can supply cows suited for export to France are requested to communicate prices and full particu- lars to the American committees of fices at 16 East Thirty-ninth street, New York city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

tick eradication, in contrast to B in Arkansas, S3.50 in Oklahoma, and S4 in Louisiana. He drew attention to the help given by these neighboring states during the time of droughts in Texas, when they allowed Texas cattle from the drought-stricken regions to enter their territory after only one dipping for ticks, taking on themselves the expense of dlp- ping the cattle a second time. He eX- pressed the opinion that "the difficulties encountered in securing these concessions in the time of a great emergency indicate very plainly that these states will not accept such cattle in the future unless they comply with all requirements"
 MAJORITY FOR ERADICATION
 What has already been accomplished in Texas" said pr. Ramsay ,''proves that the men who are retarding tick era dication do not speak for the great body. I am sure of my ground when say that the great majority of cattlemen and farmers want the tick eliminated, but un- fortunately they have not always made their desires sufficiently clllr to their local governments. It is to their interest to do 50.
 Louisiana is likely to become tick free this year, Oklahoma and Arkansas should go into the white in two years, and in three years there may be no tick infested area even in Florida. The bu- reau of animal industry believes the whole south is going to drive out the tick not later than 1923. We confidently hope that Texas is going to be on the band wagon and we look to you members of this association to see that Texas gets aboard"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Her husbandry-1ike many other fields of production-was benefited by war time conditions, as the increased prices of poultry have revived interest in the industry and have influenced many pro- ducers, who had temporarily abandoned the business or reduced the size of their flocks, to engage again in the egg or meat business on d more extensive scale. Furthermore, many persons who enlisted in backyard poultrying from patriotic motives or for home table provision in tend to continue handling hens for home use
 Particularly in the southern state has a forceful impetus operated to popularize backlot and barnyard fowl keeping. A great awakening to the advantages of poultry raising is markedly evident in the territory south of the Mason and Dixon line, and, since most of the poultry stock now present in the south consists of mon grel or low-grade fowl, there is every reason to believed that with the greater development of the industry will come q gradual interest in improved poultry. Education along this line will ultimately popularize standardized poultry in Dixie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
Hog Sale Dates

Following are April hog sales dates for southeast Alabama extension service. The widest publicity possible is desired as to this schedule, that all farmers may make their arrangements with their county agent or school marketing asso- citation, if organized, to bring in their hogs for sale and shipment. The dates are as follows
 Ariton--April 1, 15, %.
 Headland-April s, %
 Newvlle-April S. %
 Abbeville- 9. 2.
 Samson-April 9. 23 .Geneva-April g. 1.6 20.
 Hartford-April 10, A.
 Slocomb-April 3, 16, 90.
 Enterprse-April l, 15, 19, Brockton-April 1, 15, 20.
 Evergreen-April s, %.
 Ramer-April 1.
 Greenville-April %.
 Georgiana-April ?, 2S.
 Clayton-April 3. g, 90,
 Clio-April ?. 16, 30
 Eufaula-April 3, F.
 Union Springs-Aprl s, p.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

The good results of boys and girls club work does not stop with the end of the contest nor in the sale of the produce raised by the club members. In fact the work done in the clubs is in many cases only the beginning or the start, on the road to bigger things and greater success In Avoyelles parish, Louisiana, one cotton club member last year not only learned some valuable lessons in cooperation, business meth cds and in the growing of cotton, but the two tons of selected cotton seed he raised are being sold through the help of the local county agent and the proceeds will be used in paying the boys expenses in college.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

try industry upon a more solid founda- tion Such results are aptly illustrated by the history of some of the breeds which have had temporary bursts of great popularity in this country. These breeds, well advertised, have gained many sup porters and for d few years there oc- cured a keen demand for foundation stock, which subsequently died out al most entirely. This came as direct result of the insa Sable demand which led to the breeders distributing fowls which were inferior, and the discourage ment which these beginners experienced as result of this lowgrade stock led them to abandon the breed and to con- demn it at every opportunity. Unques- tionably some of these breeds would en- joy a deserved share of popularity had the greatest pains been taken to see that only such stock as would give the breed a good reputation should be dis tributed among the newcomers in the hen farming business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
COMMON SENSE IN BUYING

It is imperative that fhe purchaser Of
 poultry stock exercise sound common
 sense in purchasing. Beginners are too
 prone to expect nearly perfect birds at
 bargain prices The buyer should con-
 slider that ideally conformed cattle or
 horses always bring record prices when
 they are offered at the auction block
 and he should bear in mind that the
 selling of high-class poultry operates
 along similar lines. If he wants val uFble birds he must be willing to pay
 prices for these fowl in proportion.
 Common defects which occur in differ
 ent breeds and varieties often cause be- ginners to grumble over the Supposltlon that because of the presence of these defects they are being cheated As an example, the off-colored feathers which occur commonly in many varieties are frequently considered by the beginner to
 be evidences of impurity of blood. The beginner has no other means Of Knowing what the bird should be like than by the descriptions which he can secure from a book or by attending a poultry show where birds of the variety in ques- ton are displayed. In the description of the bird which he reads, he finds only mention of the color of feather which is
 desirable and no mention of the off-col- ored feathers which may and often do occur in the birds of purest blood. If he goes to the poultry show and examines the birds on exhibit he does not find any with these off-colored feathers, for the very good reason that it is the com mon practice of exhibitors to remove these feathers before showing the fowl. Accordingly, it would be desirable for beginners who purchase birds which dc not satisfy them to consult some eX- perienced breeder of the same variety and ascertain his opinion relative to the quality and value of the fowl
 Armed with such reliable information fbe novitiate then has some grounds for talking about being overcharged or de Crauded Without such authentic infor-
 ma ton his best plan is to live up to the saving, "ln silence there is sense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
CONTENTED CUSTOMERS

Not only is it good business to make an honest effort to satisfy customers, for the reason that satisfied customers mean additional business in the future, but there is q definite advantage which will accrue to the poultry industry in it's entirety from such a business policy. If satisfaction is not given, in a ma jority of the cases of those who are be- coming interested for the first time in standardized poultry, many of those newly interested in the business will henceforward taboo stock of this char acter. On the other hand, if the majority are satisfied with the purchases which
 they make, the results will be apparent in a large addition to the ranks of the standard bred poultry keepers.
 This is indicative of conservative and
 sound expansion of a desirable business,
 and makes for the building of the poul-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
NEW VINELESS VELVET BEAN

with corn In addition, the bunch velvet bean is especially valuable for planting in orange and other tree groves where any variety of forage crop which climbs trees is decidedly objectionable, particu- larly while the trees are young. This new bean may be used as rest crop after the manner of cowpeas, as the absence of twining stems eliminates the common difficulty in moving ordinary velvet beans.
 Indications are that where the crop is used principally for soil improvements the Alabama and Georgia varieties are prefera ble, as they yield large amount of green growth. Furthermore, where the entire crop of matured beans is to be gathered the bush velvet bean is per- haps not so desirable as the twining varieties, as the pods are all produced very near the ground and thus the la bor involved in gathering them is in- creased.
 SUGGESTIONS ON PLANTING
 The bush velvet bean should not be planted too early in localities to which it has been acclimated, but at about the same time as cotton, as the beans do not make thrifty growth until the soil has become thoroughly warm. As a rule, 1 bushel of seed will plant to 3 acres, the seed being dropped to feet apart and covered the same as corn in rows which are 36 to AZ inches in width. The beans may be planted either alone or in the same rows with corn. It is customary after planting to cultivate the bush bean crop the same as cowpeas
 In the opinion of specialist of the United States Department of Agricul- ture, bush velvet beans are worthy of extensive testing. The wide popularity achieved in the limited area where they are known indicates that they may be- come highly useful and particularly val uable for the special purposes mention ed. As this variety is a new one, the De- partment reecomends that all farmers who give it trial make provisions to save their own seed as for two or three years the seed will probably be scarce and high in price,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
HAVE THE BROODER READY

Buyers of chicks should have a brooder such as is required for the number of chicks bought ready, warmed, and regu- lated when the chicks arrive.
 If for any reason, the brooder is not ready, take the chicks from the shipping box in a warm room; feed ana return to the box: repeat at intervals of three hours until the brooder is ready
 For the first few days give very close attention to regulating the brooder for the comfort of the chicks. This is the most troublesome state in the operation of a brooder, and the most critical period in the life of the chick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
Tractor Output Large

A production of 314,9S6 tractors in the United States in 1919 is estimated by man. ufacturers reporting to the office of farm equipment control, United States depart ment of agriculture. The reports obtained in a special inquiry by the department show production of 132 697 tractors in 1918, The manufacturers gave the num- Der of tractors of different sizes that will be made this year. The figures for 1919, O. course, are merely estimates and repre- sent the aggregate of the estimates sub mitted by the tractor manufacturers in January and February of this year. A summary of these reports follows
 Number on hand December 31,
 1919 .................... ......... 15,5o5 Number manufactured during 1919 132, ,697 Number sold in the United States
 during 1918 96,47O
 19ls ...,............ ,........,........ sv,s5l Number on hand December
 sl, 1918 ........................... 15,4ol Manufacturers estimate of produc-
 tion for 1919 ........... Sf4 4,9s6
 Number of tractors of different horse power manufactured in 1918:
 2, 10 and 12-holsepower --.......,.. 1,i41 JG and 1S-horsepower Standardization. 20,629 20 and 22-horscpower ................ z, ..55S 2i, a5 and 26-horsepoWer ......... 206 Is 2, 2S. 90 and S2-horsepower ...... 6,9S9 8 and 96-horsepower ......... 2,2l2 10 and 50-horsepower ....... 1,S3i 50, 6, 70 and S0-horsepower .... 913 Not given ................. 6,65S
 Number of tractors of different horse- power which manufacturers estimate they will produce in 1919
 9, 10 and 12-horsepower ....... S.22O 16 and tS-horsepower ........ 4S, S,545 20 and 22-horsepower .............. 157,61 24 and 25-horsepower ...... 40,S75 27, 2S, 90 and 32-horsepower ...... 2l,46o 8 and Ss-horsepower ....... 5,435 40. A and 50-horsepower ... 1,7S0 SO, 65, 70, 75 and S0-horsepower... 1856 Not given 2S, 409
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Agriculture has made great advances in modern times, but the advice of Pliny the Elder, who lived nearly 20 centuries ago, is still good for garden CTS: Dig deep, manure well, worl; often
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
Farm Opportunities In United States

IF YOU are Interested. write 10 the Homeseekers Bureau. L. 8 Railroad Administration, for free information. naming the stste and advantages of which you wish to investigate. and giving full pasiculars about your requirements
 The Homeseekers Bureau is NOT selling real estate It's mission is to furnish dependable data regarding land values. production. markets eli mate. schools. churches. raods. etc. to those "ho wish to engage in farming. stock raising uaifshs, safdeniag and kindred pursuits. letter will bring an answer which ,p,v hein In solving your problems of living
 adafess J. l. EDWARDS. Manager Room lol Asricutnrsi Section. U. S. Railroad Admints- uation. Washington. D. C.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

~1wy TREA MENT. II hAHtbUGN gives quick relief. kEM4Yf Nl Swelling and short
 breath soon gone. All distressing symptoms rapidly dis appear Liver and kidneys aot better. General improvement is realized. send by mail a trial treatment absolutely FREE. Try it. Never heard of anything It's squa2 for drcpsy,
 Write to DR. THOMAS E. GREEN Bank Ridg.. Box :6. ChntswOrth. Gs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Two cabbage heads are better than one, and 20 are still better A warm, rich soil is needed for early cabbages. They mature in time to leave the ground free for warm weather crops like beans tomatoes and so on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

The bean family is an old friend of man. The ancient Roman family name Fabius is derived from a word meaning bean. Adopt a Fabian policy and plan: beans. No other vegetable is more sure to give returns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Less than S2 worth of seeds are re- quired to plant q small back yard or vacant lot garden. Several of the seed houses are offering special collections of seeds that are adapted for planting in their trade territory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

It does not take a very large piece of land to produce all the food for a hu- man being, and there is still enough idle land in and around cities and towns to grow all the vegetables of certain kinds required by the people of these towns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Every member of the family will re- quire nearly HOO meals this year. How many of these are coming from the home garden?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

There arc plenty of garden seeds, but the supply of extra good ones IS always small order early and get the best
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

Whats become of the old-time gar dener who planted his potatoes in the moon? Plant yours in the earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03

If you think the home garden doesn't pay, just try going to market with less than s5 in your pocket.