The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-20

It IS strange that any lntelnSenC farmer could arrive at any such a con clusion when all the printed bulletins and other written dope plainly sets forth the great advantage of keeping the soil stirred during the dry hot periods in order to conserve moisture to say nothing of the destruction of weeds and grasses which are the chief robbers when it comes to the consumption of moisture and plant food.
 The farmers of the Gulf states would do we'll to read up and get posted on what is known as dry farming which must be practiced in vast sections of the west, otherwise the section would be mere barren waste. The dry land farmer knows how because he must con- serve the rainfall which comes to him otherwise fail and permit or famine to our take both his stock and family. He take both his stock and family. He takes care of the little moisture he gets by continuous cultivation. The SOulhCAh AuAh uO
 Making Seed Grow
 Getting seed to germinate and grow into a thrifty plant at this time of the year is not easily done There is a way, however, simple like everything else when common sense rules are applied. When the weather is hot and dry and the soil loose and porous, most seed will dry or burn out in the process of germination before the young roots can take sufficient hold to sustain the plant. The general complaint that the seed were no good is rarely the cause of failure. When planting most seed, at this time of the year, when the soil is hot and frequently deficient in moisture it becomes necessary to pack or firmly press the soil over the seed in order not only to conserve moisture but to bring the small germ in such close and firm contact with the soil particles as to enable the plant to quickly form sufficient roots to with. stand weather conditions. In the early season, when the weather is cool and plenty moisture present, the conditions are reversed so the method of packing the seed bed in dry hot weather can not be recommended. Many things should be planted this month and many will not do 80 for the reason of past difficulties in getting seed to grow l but if common sense is exercised as here indicated one can succeed.
 The Price Of Tomatoes
 If it were left to n vote of the gen. eral public as to which is the most popplar vegetable, the tomato if not first in the ballot would certainly be near the top. Every gardner will under take the growth of few tomatoes yet the per cent of those who make aOsuc. cess of the business is pitifully small | There is probably no other vegetable crop that is beset with so many insect and disease enemies, hence the excuse for the high price the city man il usually called upon to pay. There il another side to the industry of growing tomatoes, not known by the city con sumer and tells an entirely differen story. This season, it was one of grea expecta tion but turned out to be ar enormous loss to the farmers producing them on a large scale. There is on' small city in Mississippi that shipped to northern markets and some of thu larger southern cities around (1,300. | thirteen hundred carloads of tomatoes and are just now taking stock of thu losses which the most conservative es timate at little short of a million dol lars. Who is responsible for such , calamity, visited on a single southern county. The railroads, express com panies and ice men got their dues. Tn, consumer, the public, paid this tariff