North Carolina Newspapers

y i ft. . , in n Year, In Adrance. "FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." Slnsfa Cpy 5 Ccata, VOL. XIX. PLYMOUTH, N, C FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, i908. NO.1T, ( NORTH STATE HAPPENINGS Occurrences of Interest Gleaned From All Sectious of the Busy Tar Heel State SELECTING SEED-CORN LARGER YIELDS. FOR .North Carolina Agricultural Experi ment Station, West Raleigh 0. Br Williams, Director. The practice of selecting seed-corn Hvom. the-barn late in the spring costs -the farmers of North Carolina, in de creased yields of shelled corn, an amount equal to more than five mil lion dollars annually. Just so long --as this method is followed, just so long will the corn-growers of the State lack this amount of producing what they might with the same treat ment under identical conditions were they to use better methods in the selection of their seed-corn. The proper place to select seed for plant ing purposes next ' year is the field this fall. One day spent in the field in selecting seed-corn properly will pay better in increased yields than most any labor performed during the entire year. There are many ways in which this work might be done sat isfactorily, the exact method depend ing upon local conditions and prac tices. Economy of performance of the operation is always to be looked after but not at a sacrifice of effi ciency. Where corn is gathered from stalks in the field in the usual way, a good method for the corn-grower to nse is to sling a cotton-picking bag over the shoulder or take a basket in the hand and go through and make the selections from the field of corn "which he has that is a little above the average in productivity. Take two rows at a time and select seed from those stalks which have two "well-developed cars per stalk, remem bering that in the selection of seed one should select from the stalks that will yield the largest amount of shelled corn per stalk. The reason why it is advised selecting from two eared stalks is because in testing and studying varieties of corn during the past eight years on the Experiment Station farm and elsewhere, it has teen found that the best yielders of shelled &rn per stalk and hence per vewere those that averaged near two earsper stalk. Take both of the ears if they are good ones and reject "both if they are not.. Do not give much detailed attention to the shape of the ears and grains during field selection, but reserve this for some rainy or snowy day during the winter and have the young boys around to help, as there is no form of farm work that will interest them more or lead them to take a deeper interest in the work of the farm. One reason why so many boys leave the farm is because they are not taught that there is something more in farming than the mere drudgery connected with it. When going through the field selecting these ears it might be well to have the boys along too if they are old enough to appreciate the value and importance of what is be ing done. A cart or wagon might be at one end of the rows and when you get there each time empty the bas ket or bag. Enough corn should be gathered in this way so that, when "the more careful selection is made during the winter at the barn, hav ing in mind the best shape of ears nd kernels, enough will be left for -planting, after throwing out the ears of poor shape and those having ker nels not up to the proper type it is -wished to use for planting. Select from the field" three to five times as much corn as it is expected to be needed, so that a very rigid selection of the ears may be made during some winter day. Make selections from stalks that not only bear two well developed ears, but from those that have a good leaf development and large root system. Select ears that are borne at a uniform and conveni- State News in Brief. Mr. J. D. Elliott, of Hickory, has been awarded the contract for the new building to be erected at Win throp College, Rock Hill, S. C. Trinity High school in Randolph county, opened Tuesday with a good attendance, nearly one hundred be ing enrolled the first day. The pros pects for a good scholastic year are bright. A fair for High Point is being agi tated for 1909 to become a perma nent fixture. The plan is to organ ize a stock company and build race . tracks and buildings and other things needful for a successful fair. The special prizes of $2-30, $150 and $100 for the best county exhibits in connection with the State fair to be in progress October 11 to 17, is ex pected to make these county exhib its decided features in the contest. Thomas Nelson Pae,' of Virginia, v will deliver the nny0J-??Mress before the North Carved rt era ry and His- torical Association' 1-. meeting at Raleigh, in October?,- -.' ' l ent height, for such ears are more easily and cheaply gathered; they ripen more uniformly ;and are less liable not ot have the embryo grains fertilized, as the tasselling of all stalks will be practically at the same date and the pollen from all will bt given off at about the same time. The ears should be held not upright, but in a rather drooping position, as such ears are less liable to rot, as they will shed the rain rather than admit it in to the ears, as they frequently dc when held in an upright ' position; especially is this so if the husks (shucks) do not cover the tips of the ears completely. Also, it is well to discard all ears that have the tips poorly covered with husks, even if all the other characteristics are up to re quirements. When, during the win ter, the corn thus gathered is gotten out for more careful selection, choose those ears of cylindrical shape and those which possess deep wedge-shaped and large-germed grains which completely and deeply cover the cobs and which are arranged in parallel rows. Select heavy, well-matured ears that have medium-sized cobs with kernels that are heavy in weight and medium rough in indentation, and which have the .butts and tips fairly well filled out. Keep the seed stored in a dry place until planting time. If you have not selected your seed corn before from the field iu the way indicated above try it this fall. You may be a little doubtful at the value of this extra effort, but give it a fair trial and we fell sure that you will never go back to the old and less profitable method of selecting seed corn from the barn. Opening at Elizabeth. Charlotte, Special. Thursday morning saw one of the most success ful openings in the history of Eliza beth College. Students began com ing in three days ago until now all the professors and. students have ar rived and are ready to begin work. Mr. Henry J. Zehm, of the musical department, opened the morning ex ercises with an organ selection, which was followed by an impressive prayei offered by Rev. G. D. Bernheim, Rev. C. B. King, who presided, then introduced Rev. W. C. Shaeffer, Jr.. the principal speaker of the morning who, in a powerful address, expound ed his system of Christian philos ophy. The outlook is for the most prosperous year in the history oi this splendid institution. Accused of Wife Murder. Durham, Special. The most sen sational homicide this county has known since the crime for which John Hodges was hanged, the murder of his wife two years ago, took place three miles from Durham, and W. H. Tilley is held without bail. His claim is that he tried to shoot a dog in the yard, snapping his Winchester three times at the dog, and on the failure to fire he struck the gun with his hand, when it exploded, shooting his wife. The relations of husband and wife were not pleasant, and the theory of murder is generally be lieved, c Big Fire at High Point. Hierh Point. Special. Fire Friday morning at 3:40 o'clock was dicoy- ered in the Sapp block on JNorth Main street, and before it was subdued gutted the building, destroying th goods of Clark Shoe Company, valued at $10,000, and insured for $6,000 ; the High Point Clothing Company, valued at $10,000 or more, with in surance of $S.O0O; Moore Book Stori valued at $2,000, with $1,20Q insur ance. Several people lived up stain in the building and lost about all they had. Fire Destroys Seven Stores. Springhope, Special. Fire at 2 o'clock Friday morning destroyed the postoffiee and seven store building in the heart of the town. The loss is about $5,000. The buildings -were all of wood and an eyesore to the town. No insurance was carried on the property. Sunday School Association. Charlotte, Special. The indications are that there will be a large attend ance at the convention of the Meck lenburg County Sunday School As sociation. This is a convention of Sunday schools of all denominations and meets with the Sugar Creek Pres byterian church Saturday and Sun day. Rev. Dr. A. L. Phillips, of Richmond, Va., Mr. J. B. Robertson, State Sunday school secretary and other prominent .Sunday school work ers will bo present. THE APPLE BITTER ROT North Carolina Agricultural Experi ment Station, West Raleigh C. B. Williams, Director. Occurrence in North Carolina. This disease occurs in very destruc tive form throughout the Piedmont and eastern sections of the tSate, though it is possibly less destructive further west. In a recent trip thro' the middle section of the State, the writer saw dozens of orchards ruin ed by this rot which, but for the presence of it, would have yielded largely. In many of the orchards visited, the trees were in fine condi tion, showing suitability of soil and climate, and they bore an abundance of fruit, but closer examination showed that the ground under the trees was completely covered with rotten apples and thaf the apples still on the trees had numerous specks of soft, brown rot. In many villages and towns all apples offered for sale in stores were affected with this rot. The facts as stated above show the very destructive prevalence of this disease in this State. This rot has been known in des tructive form in the United States since 1867. It is estimated to have done $1,500,000- of damage in four counties in Illinois in 1900. In the Middle States the losses are estimat ed to be from one-half to three fourths of the entire crop. The Ppresrdent of the National Apple Shippers Association estimated the damage in the United States in 1900 at $10,000,000. Description of the Bitter Rot. There are many different types of ap ple rot, some are hard, some soft, some wet, some dry, some of one col or and some another, etc. The bitter rot of the apple, sometimes called the ripe, rot, is a soft, wet, mellow rot, occurring usually as circular spots on the fruit. These spots, of which there may be from one to twenty or more on each apple, enlarge rapidly, run together, and the whole fruit becomes a soft, rotten mass. The dis ease usually begins while the fruit is still hanging on the tree, and as the disease progresses, many of the ap ples fall to the grotmd below. Cause of the Rot. This rot is caused by a fungus, known as Gloeo sporium, the spores of which fall up on the appte, grow, penetrate it, and cause the decay. The spores are produced in immense quantities in small pustules, which appear upon the rotted surface. In many instances, the fungus passes the winter in ean kered spots on the twigs and bark. Treatment. There vare two forms of treatment, both of which should be followed. First, inasmuch as the fungus ia known to winter in the canker on the branches, it is important when the leaves are off the trees to carefully inspect the orchard, hunt out 'these cankers, cut them but and burn them, and thus remove the most dangerous source of spring infection. Second, the trees should be spray ed with Boredeaux Mixture in order to kill all spores which fall upon the fruit or twigs. Sprayings should be applied before the buds begin to swell in the spring, just after the blossoms fall, and every ten or fourteen days thereafter until the fruit is almost ripe. These two treatments combined will to a very large extent,! serve to con trol this very serious disease. F. L.' STEVENS, Biologist. Kick Fractures Skull. Statesville, Special. Mr. Noah Sloan, a young farmer, is in a dan gerous condition at his home in on cord township as the result of a kick from a mule. He was iu the act of unhitching a team of mules from a mowing machine Thursday afternoon when one of the animals began kick ing and Mr. Sloan received a heavy blow on his head. Bad Fire in East Spencer. Salisbury, Special. Nine dwell ings were destroyed by fire in East Spencer short'y after midnight Mon day night, entailing a loss of $10,000, with but little insurance. Th'e fire originated in a meat market and the high winds operated against the fire men. This is the worst fire in the history of East Spencer. Tar Heel Items. The cotton crops of Scotland coun ty are proving to be very short. This is caused by the extreme dry weathei a few weeks before the recent heavj rains, and then the floods made mat ters worse. Cotton has suffered great 1v fmm tVip excessive rains : much oi ( it was open and during the rains sprouted in the burrs, and is now giving a product classed as stona cot- ton. With a short crop ana snori prices, and that coming after a railurt on .the watermelon and eantaloupt propostition, things are not what thej were a year - ago from the farmers standpoint. FIGHT CONSUMPTION Great Meeting of the World's Most Learned Specialists CONFERENCE ON WHITE PLAGUE Every Important Commonwealth of the Union and Forty-Six Foreign Countries Represented by Thier Most Distinguished Savants and Humanitarians. Washington, Special. Enemies of the white plague from every civilized nation of the earth and from every State of the Union assembled in Washington to begin a world-wide warfare, that is expected eventually to result in the wiping out of this terrible scourge of humanity. The fifth International Congress on Tub erculosis, convened Monday, repre sents beyond all doubt the largest aggregation of scientific and educa ted humanitarians ever gathered in a single city. Backed by the medi cal and sociological science of the age, with unlimited funds at its dis posal and a definite" object in view, it seems hardly possible that the con gress can fail of attaining its end. The convention opened Monday, to last until October 12, will likeiy be a historical event and will ,be re membered when other more spec tacular events are forgotten. Every important commonwealth of the Union has sent committees to the congress, and the nations of Europe and South America are represented by their most distinguished physi cians, savants and humanitarians. Upon his return to Washington, President Roosevelt will take an active interest in the congress and will probably preside at some of the sessions. , Representatives of forty-six for eign countries are here and there is eager competition for the honor of securing the next congress. Ad dresses will be made by some of the most prominent scientists of Great Britain, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Russia and Latin America. The list of papers to be presented includes contributions to scientific re search on the subject of the cure and prevention of tuberculosis by the following distinguished savants: Dr. K. W. Phillip, of Edinburgh, founder of the first tuberculosis dis pensary. Dr. Theodore Williams, of London. Dr. Arthur Newsholme, health offi cer of Brighton, England, director of King Edward's sanitarium. Dr. C. H. Spronck, of Utrecht, Holland. Dr. Turban, of Davos-Platz, Swit zerland, the originator of the scheme generally followed at present for the classification' of tuberculosis. Dr. Gottholdt, Pannwitz, of Ber lin, secretary-general of the Inter national Conference on Tuberculosis. Dr. Emil von Behring, of Mar burg, the originator of the diph theria antitoxin. Dr. Calmette, director of the Pas teur Institute at, Paris, France. Dr. Letnlle, of Paris, secretary general of the last International Con gress on Tuberculosis. Dr. S. Kitasato, of Tokio, Japan, director of the Imperial Institute for the Research of Infectious Diseases. The congress is divided into seven sections, every section being under the direction of men of distinction in their particular fields. Shot and Killed by Brother-in-Law. Monroe, La., Special. A. L. Shel by was shot and instantly killed by his brother-in-law, T. O. Wilder, in a local dry goods store. The tragedy, it is said, was the result of family troubles which have existed for some time. Immediately after the shoot ing: Wilder was arrested. Burglar Shot and Captured. Greenville, S. C, Special. Two young white men attempted to burg larize a drug store in the Brandon Mill village Sunday night. The pro prietor of the store Avas notified by a passerby and he fired upon the two burglars. One of them was shot in the elbow and was captured. The other was shot, it is thought, but got away. Municipal Election in Alabama. Birmingham Ala., Special. Muni cipal elections were held all over Alabama Monday in accordance with the provisions of the new eorle. The contests Mere practically all between factions of the Democratic party, al though Dr. W. T. Masterson, Repub lican, made a good race against F. P. O'Brien for mayor of Birmingham. He is the first Republican to -enter a contest in city affairs in many years. O'Brien's election was assur ed early in the night. Birmingham also voted to issue $.'r,000 in bonds for extensions and improvements of the school svstem. TI1E MECKLENBURG FAIR This Year Promises to be a Record Breaker From Every Point of View. Charlotte, Special. All arrange ments are about completed for the great Mecklenburg Fair, which be gins October 20th, and closes on the 23d. The special days will draw im mense crowds and the exhibits will be larger and more varied than those of any previous fair held here. The racing includes entries of horses of national fame. The free attractions will eclipse anything ever offered before. Mr. Charles J. Strobe! will be here with his mamoth airship and will make two 10-mile flights daily. On the opening morning he will ride into the city, circle around and accompany the procession back to the grounds. This airship is not a balloon, as some might suppose ,but a real heavier-than-air contrivance, similar to the modern aeroplanes which are excit ing so much comment. Mr. Strobel manipulated his machine at the Jamestown Exposition last year and excited no end of favorable com ment. The Bickett family of five three ladies and two gentlemen has been secured for four daily open-air acts, two nevelty ladder stunts and two trapeze exhibitions. Thomas Quinley has also been engaged for his shallow-water high-dive act, which is said to be very sensational. On the midway there is to be only clean attractions, and no games of chance will be tolerated wherein there is not a fair and equal chance to win. An automobile race is being talked of and will doubtless be one of the drawing features. Ex cellent music will be furnished throughout the fair by the Wood men of the World Band, a fine musi cal aggregation of this city. Special railroad rates will be given and special trains run. Traveling Men's Day at Mecklenburg Fair. At a conference Saturday night in the Selwyn Hotel of the officials of the Meeklenbunr Fair Association and officers of the local council Unit ed Commercial Travelers it was de cided to set apart Thursday, October 22d, as Traveling Men's Day at the annual Mecklenburg Fair, which will be held in Charlote October 20, 21, 22, and 23. This will be by far the biggest day of this big event as at this time the best horses and the largest crowd of the occasion is ex pected. The U. C. T in Charlotte have a very strong organization and the of ficers are leaving no stone unturned to get all of the traveling men of this section, many of whom are mem bers to be here on Traveling Men's Day. It is expected that not less than 500 knights of the grip will be on hand to enjoy the festivities of this gala event. The exercises will consist of an umbrella parade Thurs day morning, to be participated in by every U. C. T. in the city and a special programme, which is now be ing arranged, will be carried out on the grounds. The traveling men will have a special booth in the exhibit hall to entertain all visitors. Goods Roads Proclamation. Raleigh, Special Governor Glenn issues a proclamation in the interest of the State Good Roads Congress, to be held in Greensboro October 13, in connection with the centennial celebration and urging all the coun ties and towns in the State to send delegates. The proclamation follows: To the People of North Carolina: Whereas, a Good Koads Congress has been called to be held in Greens boro October 13, 190S, for the pur pose of encouraging more general in terest in the building ot good roads throughout the Southern States and the advancement of education and unbuilding of the agricnltnra.1 and industrial interest of the South, and whereas, I deem it of the greatest importance to our State that every county and every town in this State should be represented at this con vention. I hereby issue this procla mation, urging county commissioners of every county, and the mayors of every town to appoint some of the finest and best men of their respec tive rounties and cities as delegates to this convention. And do urge said delegates, when so appointed, to at tend this convention as in my judg ment it will tend greatly to advance the material interest of our State. Resnect full v. R. B. GLENN, Governor. BROKE ALL RECORDS Wilbur Wright Makes a Long and Successful Flight SPECTATORS FAIRLY GO WILD In the Presence of 10,000 People Wilbur Wright Establishes a New World's Record For a Heavier Than Air Machine, Staying in the Air For One Hour, 34 Minutes and 51 Seconds, During Which Time He Covered a Distance of Nearly 61 Miles. Lemans, France, By Cable. In the presence of the officials of the French Aero Club of Sarthe, the American ambassador, Henry White, General Bazaine-IIayter, commander of the fourth army corps, a large number of French and foreign officers and aeroplane experts, and a wildly cheering crowd, numbering 10,000, Wilbur Wright, the American aero naut, Monday afternoon captured the world's record from his brother, Or ville Wright, with a flight in his powerful machine of one hour, 31 minutes and 51 seconds, covering in: that time an actual distance of 93 kilometers, or nearly 61 miles. Owing to the recent accident at Fort Meyer the day's-trial for the Miehelin cup, for the greatest dis- tance covered by an aeroplane in 1908, and the aero club prize of $1, 000 for the longest flight over an en closed gi'ounu, attracted intense in terest. The wind was too high in the morning to permit of a flight and when it fell at 4 o'clock in the after noon Wright made three false starts. Finally at 5:1: the aviator got away nicely, sailing majestically up the Field. After rounding the upper turn Wrigt swept back and began des cribing elipses. On the thirteenth round Wright rose to GO feet, after almost skim ming the earth. In the gathering darkness the aeroplane could no longer be seen ai me iartner enn oi ine neui nd it appeared and disappeared in the gloom like a white phantom. Only the sound of the ceaseless ehurn of the propellers told the multitude that Wright was still in the air. Matches were lighted to keep watch on the fleeting minutes and night had fallen when at the end of the 33d roun. Wright came lightly to the ground. With a mad cheer the crowd rush ed forward, only being prevented from hoisting the American, triumph on their shoulders by charging eav alrv. Night Riders in North Carolina. -Shelby, N. C, Special. Mr. J, F. Jenkins, the manager of the South ern Cotton Oil Company at thi3 place, received a letter Saturday no tifying him that, if he continued to gin cotton in the face of the declin ing nuiiket night-riders would burn his gin. Not knowing whether this no' ice was genuine or a hoax, he re queued the local papers to make no publication until he could submit it to the Charlotte office of his com pany. In the meantime he has In structed his 'night watchman to shoot any person found around the premises at night. The original let ter was sent to the Charlotte of fice and only two or three of Mr. Jenkins' intimate friends were in formed of its receipt. Under this siiation less than a dozen people of this place have any information or knowledge of the matter and Mr. Jenkins, when approached about it, stated that he had nothing to give out as he had referred same to the Charlotte office. No other ginner of this section has received such notice so far as can be learned and there is a difference of opinion among the few who have heard of the notice received by Mr. Jenkins. Some think it to bo genuine, while others think that possibly it is the work of some personal enemy. Big Strike in England. Manchester, England, By Cable. All hope of avoiding a parlyzinij strike in the cotton industry and al lied trades was abandoned Monday, when four hundred cotton mills did ot open. The shut-down came as the result of the rejection by 130, 000 cotton mill employes of the pro posal of five per cent cut in wages. It, is estimated that the total num ber who will be thrown out of em ployment as a result of the strike will reach one million two hundred thousand.