The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-15
M E N, w o M FEN
 A N D THIN c s

one Is working In a dairy, the other trucking.
 There Is a reason. One has to get up too soon to milk the cows and start to town with the milk, and the same thing applies to the man who makes his living out of trucking. Say of milk, it's worth all 1t brings when one takes into consideration the work 1t entails.
 Both dairying and trucking require intensive labor at unreasonable times and then l catch an early train going up the A. G. S., and when l pass 1russville I am on the lookout for my friend Hugh Praytor, for he is sure to be standing around the barn or down at the spring, resting a bit after the milk and cream have been made ready for the morning ship ments. He likes his work, for it's more than living for him, as he is just naturally a Jerseyite.
 Driving anywhere through the Bir- mingham district, early or late, ana out in the fields devoted to trucking, you will see busy men, active women and nimble children at work. The patches are kept free of weeds only through eternal vigilance. Any city gardener knows with what rapidity weeds thrive and how hard 1t is to keep them down even in the pacn yard plots, and when it has to be done on large scale it's heartbreak- ing labor.
 Monday morning I was down at the truckers market on Morris avenue and Twenty fourth street before a. m., and many of the truckers had been on the ground before the sun peeped over the eastern hills. Some of them had come from close to the Warrior river, others from the upper Jones valley. In fact, they were, there from all parts of imperial Jeff ferson, and few from outside the limits. It meant that in the number were those who had made a start at least at o'clock.
 It was a busy scene. The wagons were lined up in their positions on the va cant lot while the streets nearby were occupied by the city hucksters who were getting their loads to be sold in the residential sections. It was fun to watch the city fellows trying to trade with the countrymen. It was a play of wits and test of and 1t was 50-50 con test. The local men were telling how close they had to sell, while the rais- CTS were showing what it cost to produce. It mattered not how far they were apart at the beginning, for in the end it was like unto horse swap and trade was made.
 
 I recognized friends of mine from all pOTllOHS u buC SOhhty- ~'A~AiJ VI them I had met at Baptist associa- tions or at public gatherings. or in their meetings. I was glad to have quite a few of the foreign-born truckers greet me. I said to some of them: How is it that you fellows can raise stuff rain or no rain ana I can't do it without moisture?" One of the older ones, with a smile, re- piled, Its because we just keep stir ring up the soil and you city chaps quit too soon"
 I was talking to trucker who with despair in his voice and genuine sorrow in his heart said: "Unless we get rain soon it's all over with us" We city dwellers look up into the heavens which seem as brass, ana with petulance complain of the heat; but have pleasant homes, attractive clubs and a chance for cooling out ings. A thought of the hard-worked men and women who have to toll under the broiling sun, and to whom the drouth means loss of livelihood, ought to make us ashamed of our complainings.
 The wagons were well loaded with variety of fruits and vege- tables. June apples and peaches were in abundance at s1 a basket There was a surplus of blackberries, the price ranging from $1.25 to s2 a basket. I saw quite few baskets Of plums, and a few baskets of huckleberries. It is too soon yet for home e-grown watermelons and cantaloupes; but the tracks further down are lined with cars of melons, but the price is high on account of the increased freight charges.
 I found the vegetables reasonably priced when the weather and condi- ton of the crops are taken into account. I bought nice punches Of onions at 30 cents dozen. Beats at 75 cents dozen. Turnips, choice ores, at the same price. SQuashes for 25 cents a dozen. I bagged four nice large headed cabbages for So cents.. These are a few of my DICK ups. Better try your luck.
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