The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-21
How Things Have Change

out peruSat of some recent farm
production statistics would open the
eyes of many of us as to what is
taking place in the United States.
They explain in large measure GER
tain forces that have much bearing
on the prosperity of the different
sections of the country. The south
with a few exceptions makes a poor
comparative showing when set
alongside of many northern and
western states. Even states. like
Tennessee are slipping badly in the
production of certain crops that we
are accustomed to believe that she
is paramount in. Forty years ago
Tennessee produced about four
times as much wheat as she is now
doing and this years planting is
reported to be the smallest on record
Alabama, insofar as wheat is con-
cerned is practically out of the
game altogether and in all other
small grain she now cuts a small
or rather negligible figure. In
fruits Alabama is rapidly declining
and is not holding her own with
other southern states in the pro-.
duction of vegetables and other sta
pie sale crops. Its time we were
getting busy and raise something be-
SAhSo bahSh VI dhQCoiAa piS POh-
ticians.
Potato Growers Organize
This statement comes over the
wire from the state of Maine The
Maine farmers are merely getting
ready for the annual raid or hold-up
of the southern potato planter. In
the state of Maine where the aver
age yield of white potatoes is above
200 bushels to the acre, against
about 60 bushels for Alabama, it is
stated that about one-half of this
enormous crop comes to the south
as seed for early planting. For
years the Maine dealers seem always
able to maintain a stiff price on
their product until the south is sup
piled with planting seed, when, i'm
mediately afterwards, the residue or
surplus stock is sold to the starch
factories for whatever it will bring.
usually about one-fourth or fifth of
what the south had to pay. Seed
are always scarce and high when
the south is ready to plant, but
when the south no longer needs seed.
there suddenly develops in Maine an
enormous surplus that is frequently
dumped as not being worth haul
ing to the starch factories The
southern planters lot of things
1t would be well for us to know.
Question: and Answers
Q. Can one buy in Birmingham
the white and red Bermuda onion
sets? Are onion plants available?
What varieties and price can be had?
C. D., Camp Hill, Ala.
A. There is now no Bermuda
A. IL NJ N,4lxr
mon red, white and yellow. You can
buy plants of the true Bermuda
onions (yellow) and the price in
quantity is usually $1.50 to s1.75 per
thousand, depending on quality. The
plants may be set out like cabbage
and are great success in growing
real onions.
Q. Please give me through The
BILE for window boxes? Mrs. G. C.
B., University. Ala.
A. This depends on when you e-s-
pect results. Little can be used for
immediate effect except you use some
of the hardy ferns such as Springeri
and various types of the Boston. but
if you are looking for something for
later use, you can plant number of
ANIMALS to be reset in window boxes
later on. Suitable plants are Pc
tunias, verbenas, various geraniums,
snapdragon, Coleus, etc. When 1t
comes to planting, a window box its
largely matter OF taste. A number
of plants can be used.
@. Could you tell me the difference
between the early corn. I see ad-
vertised called early Burlington.
Adams early and Truckers Favorite.
1 want to grow one of these corns
for early market. S. c.
A There is practically no differ
ence. not any more than the fine
difference that some local nursery
men try to impress in order to get
about SO per cent more than the same
thing can be bought from real
nursery.
o. Is there a difference between
sugar and sweet corn? I am unable
from the different catalogs to tell
which is which? Mrs. J. Nj. S., Hunts
Vile, Ala.
A. Sugar or sweet corn is wrink-
led varieties, wrinkled because OF
their sugar content They may be
listed as sweet or sugar corn, both
meaning the same thing. Unfortu-
nately some dealers, nurserymen ana
even real growers don't know why
the corn is wrinkled. This same
thing applies to English peas.
@. Is there anyone in Birmingham
rh for Ga1a1