The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-03
ALABAMA'S FARM
 LABOR FAMINE IS RAPIDLY DW|NDL|NG
F. w. Gist Makes Report on Agricultural Condition and Insists That Situation Is
 Looking Brighter
By FRED H. GORMLEY Montgomery, Bureau, The Age Herald 22l-2 First National Bank RuiIdinE

Montgomery, April Special )--With farm labor plentiful and at more reason able wages than farmers have been forced to pay in the recent past, Ala bama agriculturists have started their crops this season determined to stay out of debt and to spend no more than is absolutely necessary, according to re- view of farm activities in Alabama, made public today by F. w. Gist. agricultural statistician for the federal and state gov- ernments.
 Mir Gist said the farmers are display ing greater interest than ever before in more economic market methods and of saving crops for profitable use. He said reports are not sufficient to indicate what crops will be in favor with the farm CTS this year, nor how much acreage will be devoted to each crop. However, he said the great decrease in the sale of fertilizer tags would indicate that the farmers are determined to plant such crops as will not require heavy fertili- zation. MT Gist's review of farming ac- tivities for the season follows
 'The latter part of March was warm and free from heavy rains "a period ta- vorable to farm work At the end of the month very cool wave extended over the state, but the temperature did not go low enough to seriously damage any growing vegetation.
 Considerable blowing has been done during the period, but not enough to give any definite intmation of the ex- tent of farming operations for the sea son. It is therefore impossible to ex- press even the positive intention ot farmers as to the acreage to be devoted to any crops.
 'The volume of sales of fertilizer tax tags to date for this season is only fraction more than one-third of that sold to the same date last year. Some inten- tion to reduce the amount of fertilizer to be used per acre is evident, and there fore the sales do not reliably reflect the probable acreage to be fertilized; some acreage will be grown without fertiliza- tion and no conclusion can be reached as to the area to be grown from these sales. A considerable amount of cotton seed meal has been exchanged for raw seed, which does not appear in the tag sales.
 Some corn has been planted; some is up and looks fine.
 Small grain came through the winter in excellent shape, and both wheat ana oats are looking promising at present. If the last weeks of maturity are free from extreme temperatures, ana mus ture is sufficient to the end of the grow ing season, good yield of grain will be obtained
 Grass is luxuriant and pastures are excellent. Cattle raisers are enjoying season of inexpensive feeding this spring. with profitable results.
 ',The cattle and hog market is better and sales are continuing in good volume. There is a marked absence of sows and pigs on the sales markets, indicating an effort to build up the herds for an- other season.
 Farm labor is rather plentiful and at wage rates more in keeping with the price of farm commodities than year ago.
 Farmers show decided intention or making this crop on the very minimum of expenditure. Whatever the final re- suits of the season may be, they will De attended with less indebtedness to be charged against the harvest.
 More interest than ever before is pe- ing displayed in more economic market methods, and means of saving crops TOT profitable use are in greater favor than formerly"