The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-15
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 their way home, and found that the hucksters had already gotten their loads ana some were ready to start on their daily rounds, while few had bought and kept their stands and were peddling out their stocks to the unwary.
 This reminds me that a few mornings ago was up at the park, and stopping by wagon, was asking the price of va- rious things, but before I had made any purchases I found that I was being slyly pelted with beans. I soon discoy- cred that one of the truckers, friead from up the valley. was doing it to at- tract my attention. I went over to where he stood and he tipped me off that l could buy cheaper from the producers
 Before l forget it, let me state that if you cannot reach the market between and o'clock, do not jump to the con- clusion that there is not any use to go, 9, l came by there Tuesday morning at 1G:15 and found a half dozen wagons still standing at their places, and all of them pretty well stocked. and they were truck CTS and not hucksters., Of course, the earlier one arrives on the scene the better the chance to get the best.
 If you want to know the producing power of Jones valley and the surround ing country, just get up some morning around day and make your way to Capi- tol park CWilson park and you will find more than 100 wagons from the surround ing country filled with all kinds of pro- duce Just at present it is a sight to see the display of toma,oes, and in fact all the season there has been an abundant supply of them, and they have been choice and cheap
 It's a pretty sight to see the lawn lined with the various kinds of vegetables. It makes display which in my mind is prettier than the green sod, for it is very much more variegated. and in the bou. quet which nature ripens and mans work and taste arranges. I find more pleasure than in the set pieces of gardeners one usually finds in public places which are good. to look at but not eatable A ma- terialistic view, you say. I acknowledge, but in these, days of the high cost of liv- ing it pays even an idealist to be a utiIi- tartan.
 Let's see few of the fruits and vege- tables which go into the making of the bouquet which stretches for several hun dred feet on the east side of the park. There is green in abundance furnished by the mustard, okra, corn, beans, cabbage and lettuce. There is big splash Of red contributed by the tomatoes, apples and peppers. There is dab of rich pur- pie in the eggplants, a splash of yellow in the canteloupes, and a bit of brown in the field peas The blending of these vegetables and fruits make harmonious picture.
 Set down in the midst of the table of the great spread which Mother Earth was contributing to the sons of men was a basket of muscadines, the very name sug- 'gestive of boyhood days spent on the banks of brooks, creeks and rivers or ex- cursions into the hills and mountains. To me there is no odor sweeter than that of the muscadine, just as there is no color richer or taste that is more al- turing. I stood by the basket filled with thoughts of the days when I was a bare- foot boy picking them up off the sand bars or climbing after them into the towering trees.
 There is no way. to publish accurately the price of the various product as there is quite variance. The truckers when organized can grade and make uniform selling price; but as yet it is left to each individual to get what he can for his produce. All that is needed to be said for the benefit of the public is that those who patronize the market get gen. uine bargains, and at the same time are able to choose from a large variety of vegetables and fruits. Tuesday morning saw beautiful baskets of tomatoes at 40 to 75 cents each and apples at the same figures, while sweet potatoes ranged from $1 .50 to g bushel. Mustard was 60 cents to a fo, dozen good-sized punches.
 I was reared in South Alabama, were ribbon cane is king and sorghum is looked upon with disfavor; but somehow since living in this neck of the woods have gotten to like the tang of the latter, and so was glad to see some for sale at sl. gallon. This is considerably un- der the prices being asked for it, even in the smaller towns, for be it known, according to the wise. that prohibition lifted the price considerably, as it can be used in making "chain lightning"
 All along I have wanted something to boost the attendance at the market, and at last I have found thing which will different wagons ran across some apple cider, warranted to be the pure juice without the admixture of water, and at 75 cents a gallon. It may not have any kick" in it, but I am sure it is better and far healthier and way wonder cheaper than lot of things that are being swal- lowed as substitutes for the real thing" but which ain't Having tipped off the public to my find, expect to see lot of new faces at the market in the morning. AoxIE1laM1@aassiI
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