The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-07

Farm Products But Many Of
 Them Are Sold Below Cost
 Of Production--Some Ad-
 vice About Growing Seed
 For Market
 When the writer was a boy, he hoed cotton many day at 50 cents per day and the days were from sunup to sundown. This was the for any and all work. You were generally allowed an hour for din- ner but you had to furnish your own dinner. There may be isolated places now where farm labor can be had almost as cheap, but a recent sur vey by the government in the state of Ohio shows that the average price of farm labor In that state to be S39 per month, with board, and s55 per month without board. The same things or conditions is showing up in other states. The problem of get ting someone to work the land IS daily becoming mere difficult and this condition is becoming serious factor in the cost of production.
 In Jefferson county, many truck CTS are putting and seeking jobs themselves because they cannot pay the price demanded for farm labor to produce the vegetable crops that bring so little in the wholesale mar ket.
 It is the custom to kick about the price of farm products, although many are everyday sold at less than cost of production.
 OVERHEAD COST IN FARMING
 The business man must take into account as part of the cost of his merchandise the expense of doing business. Generally speaking, these charges cover all monies paid out except for the actual goods he pays for. It should be understood that such monies paid out must come there is no escape from the Lact that expenses must be met before any profit obtains. All such expen- ditures must be charged to overhead before anyone, be he farmer merchant or manufacturer, has anything left that he can call profit TOO oiteh, the farmer overlooks the overhead expense in his production. It IS a difficult matter for the farmer tG conduct his business without the ald of considerable help and when ne must hire mostly by the week or month and pay the wage whetner weather conditions permit of profit able work or not, the cost must be charged up to the finished crop or whatever may be taken in.
 The overhead cost Is often oVer-- looked both by the merchant ana farmer. so that no estimate can pc put upon cost. Reduce overhead as low as possible Is the only solution.
 THE SEED INDUSTRY
 A lot of folks have an ambition to produce seed CT plants and nearly every day The Age-Herald has m quiries about what such ana such a seed is worth and where 1t can pc sold. Personal letters are written sncb readers. as information of this Character cannot be given in these columns.
 It is really encouraging that so many neople are interested in tne production of seed and plants as source of revenue, but unfortunately' the chief factors ins the production of seeds and plants Is generally over looked. For example, party VIII write he has lot of fine cannas put if you write him what variety ne has he does not know and they are generally mixed. The same thlns applies to nearly all bulbs and flower seed. A farmer will write Tn that
  for sale or maybe other seed, put II vtu ask him what variety 1t is ne ' has forgotten or dont@ know. inc growing of seed is a highly spe- eialized industry and anyone who un- dertakes it for profit must know what he is doing and be aple to tell nrospective customers just what ne bas There is a profit In seed grow ing if properly handled.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 O. What is the best fertilizer to use under shrubs when you put them out? Mrs. S., Anniston. Ala.
 A. A little well routed animal ma nure would be permissible put pc carefu! about using green manure or any highly stimulating fertlilzer. Leaf mold of good woods earth IS very desirable and should Dc useo literally.
 O. How deep do you plant hya- oinths when to be set in the open yard? Mrs. S.. Oenonta, Ala.
 A. Planted at this season of the year. they should be put down i 10 6 inches below the surface' other quickly and become blasted by late freeze.
 o Last season we saw some fine beds of tulips of various shades that had great long stems. We Wouiu like some of these and want to know if the double are best or what sort is? Mrs F., Gadsden, Ala.
 A. The tulips you saw must nave been the Darwins, because they pro- 6ilce the long stems, flowers In pas ta1 shades of many complex and Va ried colors. They are not doupie anu in fact most double tulips are un- desirable and are not in the same
 
 class with Darwins. .ho
 o. Is it necessary to fertilize Ine buIbs you plant in water and peppies ana what should be lsed? MISS l.
 A. This question has been answered before but we now repeat that no fertilizer should be used. Any stinnI iant is calculated to accentuate 'oP growth at the expense of bloom. % Could we expect any winter grazing from bur clover planted now and how long would it last? 5. II" Uanceville, Ala.
 A I think it doubtful. It is getting most too late to plant for satislac- .tory results There are other plants that would better serve the purpose See special letter written you.
 O. Is the Abruzzi rvs as hardy as any other and do you recommend us planting this late? Ji H., Lincoln Alabama.
 A. have not heretofore noticed any difference. While rye should have been planted before now as its the slower grower of the grams, yet if is permissible to plant any time Tn November Wheat, barley and oats are probably more desirable to plant late. All depends on what IS de- sired in the resulting crop.
 O. How many hyacinth bulbs can YOU grow in a six-inch pot? l mean the Dutch. I want them for house culture. Mrs. N.
 A. It depends somewhat on the size of inc bulbs but 1 don't think more than three should be undertaken. l. no vou think spinach would