The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10

ms one and only business. He owned several fish ponds, many boats and num- bers of cottages or shacks in which to house and care for fishing parties. He gave his entire time to the indus try of taking care of, the propogating and conservation of countless millions of black bass and bream. You could buy any amount of bass or bream from him already strung and every one alive and kicking. Real fishermen he said never bought any fish, preferring to catch their own and were willing to pay literally for the privilege.
 The majoriyt, however, after ex- hausking themselves and ready to re- turn home would buy themselves a splendid catch to show their friends what skillful fishermen they were. Some women would pay dollar or more to have a two-pound bass so anchored on her line that it could not escape in order to demonstrate her skill with the rod and reel to some unsuspect- ing friend. There are many suitable locations in Alabama for just such farms.
 Sweet Potato Crop Short
 Those who have sweet potatoes bet ter hold on to them or at least not fool them away. There is going to be a serious shortage in many sections of the south and in sections, too, that sup plies a large per cent of the commercial demand. The shortage is not altogeth- CT due to excessive heat and lack of moisture in July, although a big factor in certain sections where cuttings or vines set out in July is the main de- pendence. The writer has seen many fields set out twice in cuttings that were finally abandoned to the grass as not enough moisture for the vines to take root was present. Another big fac tor was the high price and scarcity of both seed and plants. In many sec tions. plants cost five times more than the average price for several previous years Then there were not enough t. meet the demand. The state of Mis- sissippi is a serious sufferer, made acute by her severe sweet potato law which prohibits the shipment of plants into her borders unless certain conditions as to disease are observed and plants certified by their authorities. Many growers in other states returned thou sands of dollars to Mississippi plant CTS because they have not made pro- visions for certain necessary inspec- ti0n to conform to the state law. There is every prospect that the crop will be short one and bring a good price.
 Lessons From The Dr0uth
 In early July the writer saw a 4O- acre field of corn just coming into tas- sel, averaging six to eight feet high and showed every favorable prospect of yielding 35 to 40 bushels to the acre. The crop was located in Mississippi and belonged to a corn farmer from Kan. sas. The crop had been well culti- vated and received 500 pounds of high grade commercial fertilizer to the acre and had cost the farmer $4OO for the amount used. The writer saw the same field on the first day of August. The owner was away on visit to Topeka, haps. There had been no rain to speak ot during the entire month of July and the hot dry winds had so parched up the corn that one could apply a match and the field would have burned over with the fury of a prairie fire. There Is not decent ear of corn in the entire held, yet some people seem to think that there IS no element of gambling in the farming industry. Farming is a whole sale gamble in which one may hedge by not putting too many eggs in one basket. In short, diVersificatiOn and intensive culture will in the long run reduce the gambling factor to great extent in all farm endeavOrs. It pays to scatter your investments in farm practice inst Ike rich investors do with their funds.
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