County Correspondence
Farm Federation
News and Reviews
By P. C. Squires
Saturday morning was cold, with
threatening weather indications but
County Agent J. R. Sams who never
forgets an oppointment nor stops at
the weather was on hand promptly
to take us to Saluda where a lettuce
planting demonstration was /billed.
The writer has made many trips
thru the famous Berkshire hills or
Masaachusets and the White moun
tains of Nw Hamphire but there It
no mountain scenery in New Eng
land in his estimation that wilt ap
proach in scenic beauty the moun
tains of North Carolina when clothed
in their gorgeous autumnal foliage,
and there are are few more delight
ful motor trips than the river road
ro Saluda.
It is a pleasure to conduct a dem
onstration when those around us
are interested, and it was more than
? passing interest that led the farm
ers who were present to give their
close attention as the commercial .
lettuce bed was prepared and plant
ed in Saluda. In some sections of
the county the lettuce crop and its
cultivation 'has been held up as op I
trifling importance, and some de
tails as practiced by us which we
consider of the greatest Importance
have been looked upon as trifles.
Michael Angelo was a great sculp
tor, and also something Qf a philoso
pher, if he has been correctly quoted
in the following lines, "Trifles make
perfection, but perfection In no
trifle." That which is worth doing
at all, is worth doing well and de
tails which may seem as trifles
often prove of intestimable value.
California is the biggest state . in
the Union considered from the stand
point of big acreages of fruits and
vegetables and big movements of
these commodities acress the conti
nent. Southern California is now
making preparations to handle the
greatest orange crop in the history.
The latest estimate is 70,000 to
75.000 car loads and every car^
load will be sold thru co-operative
associations. The Iceberg lettuce
crop grown in the famous Imperial
Valley required 7,000 refrigerator
cars to move it* to the eastern mar
kets, and this also was sold co-opera
tively. The first fruit auction bid
ding by wire in the four markets
from coast to coast ever seen,
opened initial sale last Monday at
Los Angeles. The time required
averaged two minutes per car, yet
every buyer in the city, Boston, New
York, Pittsburg and Chicago, had
ample time before the telegraph in
strument clicked the warning, "last
call", which was instantly announc
ed to the audience in each city by
the operator, a moments rest, then
came the sharp "sold", with price
and name of city, which In turn, was
quickly posted on the big black
board. Every car sold was rolling
east for diversion at the time the
bidding was going on. Included In
the sale was a number of cars of
Idaho Iceberg lettuce. They do big
things in California.
0
CELERY
We have seen bottom land in
various parts of the county which
we are confident would, with proper
manuring and treatment, produce
the finest grade of celery.
Just outside the corporate limits
of Tryon is soil which with the un
usual facilities the location offers
for irrigation from the mountains,
would delight the heart of Kalama
xoo celery grower. Such land could
be made to produce easily one
thousand dollars worth of celery per
acre. Not in 1924, however, has a
preparatory crop would have to be
planted this fall and a legume in the
spring, to f) plowed under next fall,
followed by axliberal top dressing of
precipitated liriie.
Come to the Federation Ware
house and get as much unbleached
cotton as you will need to cover your
lettuce bed. Better have ft sewed
together and fitted to your bed so as
to have it ready incase of severe
weather.
O
SOIt TEST
We have often of late been asked
the question "How much lime should
be applied to the acre" This de
? pends upon the nature of the soil
and how deficient lnllme. Heavy
clay acid soils should have from on$
and one-half to two tons per acre;
while one ton per acre on light aoll
would be a very good ?pplicatlon.
The More-Crop precipitated Urn?
whiebe la being used extensively fn
this counts at the present time, ean
tm used frely as It will not injure
fetation or harm the soil.
We hare used lime with good re
?suits in the eastern eocuotles of the
? state, but have seen marrelous re
suits from the use of the precipitat
ed lime on the soils of Polk County.
While this form of lime may be used
?ny time, we have found it more
profitable to spread on the land In
th fall oef th year.
If you want to find out if your soil
fs sour get a slip of blue litmus
paper from the drug store. Then
take a good handful of the soil to be
tested, from a depth of three or four
Inches and moisten if necessary, and
then work Into a ball by rolling It In
i
the hands. Split it open with a
knife, lay the blue litmus paper in
the cut, press the two sides back to
gether for for five to ten minutes. If
the bule litmus remains blue, -the
soil Is not sour; if it turns red, it Is
, sour.
0
Polk County Agent
J. R. Sams Department
TO THE POLK COUNTY
FARMERS AND. TRUCKERS
We are in the heart of a campaign
to grow head lettuce in Polk County
as a cash crop. We believe it can
be grown at a profit; if truckers and i
farmers will follow instructions.
Mr. P. C. Squires, at the Farmers
Federafton Warehouse, Tryon is
there for that purpose. Hejias on
hand now the proper seed to be
sown and will give full instruction
relative to preparing and sowing
plant beds. ? These plant T)eds should
be prepared and sown at once so
the plants will be ready for trans
planting at the proper time which
will be next February or March.
This crop requires rich land.
Old garden land that has been
used as such for years will make
good lettuce.
I have a bulletin by Mr. A. F. Vass,
Experiment Station. University of
Wyoming on production of head let
tuce, which is recognized as one of
the best papers ever written on this
crop. He gives the price of N. C.
head lettuce for 1918 at $2.04 per
hamper 1919, $2.62; 1920, $2.74; 1921,
$2.61; and 1922, $2.50. Colorado let
tuce runs the same years at practi
cally the same price, while Califor
nia lettuce runs considerably below
for the same years according to this
bulletin. This bulletin Is published
by Wyoming experiment station,
written by A. F. Vass, Designated as
circular So. 19. Clear Water Wyom
ing. Any farmer may have a copy
by making application.
Now in conclusion let me appeal
to the loyalty of every stock holder of
the Farmers Federation In particu
lar and to every farmer generally to
try the growing of Iceberg head let
tuce this next year. Let those who
have had experience In growing
truck, grow an acre or more. Let
those who have not had such exper
ience, try it on a smaller scale,
even down to one square rod; but
try it, and by so doing we will learn
to grow and market crops coopera
tively. Get in touch at once with
Mr. Squires at Farmers Warehouse
Tryon, N. C.
TO THE MERCHANTS AND
BANKERS OF POLK COUNTY
We are trying to promote the grow
ign and markting of head lettuce in
Polk County by truckers and farm
ers of the county.
If grown successfully; which we
believe can be, it will put money in
the pocket of farmers at that time of
year when their patronage at the
store and bank will be highly
acceptable. I am calling your at
tention to these facts that you may
take notice and govern your selves
accordingly, by giving encourage
ment rigflt now in sowing plant beds
and later on transplanting and car
ing for this crop which we believe
will prove very profitable.
U
WHAT I SAW IN PEA RIDGE.
Well 1 saw so many interesting
things that 1 scarcely know whore to
begin; but stopping for a few mo
ments with Mr. Granville Thompson,
I sa w some very fine Portorican
sweet potatoes, which he was trans
fering from his wagon to the seller.
! Mr. Thompson already has a
beautiful home but he readily
agreed to join in our Better Home
atid School Campaign and see how
much more beautiful and attractive
he can make his home.
Mr. James > Phillipps was away
having some cotton ginned to be
sold by the North Carolina Cotton
Grower's Association. He was also
j having manufactured some fine
i home made sorghum. Looking
; around, every thing looked pros,
; perous, and I am sure Mr. Phillipps
| will join the Better Home Cam
j paign. *
Mr. John Fowler just a little fur
, ther out in Pea Ridge had just help
, ed his bc%r gather his corn club acre,
which produced right at 75 bushels
of corn per accre. He Is preparing
tures which will be heard from later.
*^||-I*id> irl. -VitW.il jtu' v
tures which will be heard from later.
He, also means to Joih in the Better
Home Inprovement Campaign.,
I Then my circuit called me by Mr.
Vance Newman's who was so far j
away on his broad acres that I had
nota time to hunt him up, however, j
his corn field near by shows that he
has caught the* spirit of times. It
looks as if a real farmer had been
around. Then in the back yard
stood a new Fordson tractor which
had just been demonstrating what a
tractor can do. I was told once
that there was more blockade
whiskey made in Pea Ridge than
any other place of its size in N. C.
But I did not believe it, and to^ see
the white fields of cotton and 'war
ing fields of corn, one would know
j that if this was once true that it it
untrue today.
No section of the county has
brighter boys and girls, and their
father and mothers are as ambitious
as those in any other part of the
county to make the most possible or
their children. \
WITH OVER ONE I MILLIONBALES
NORTH CAROLINA RANKS
SECOND TO TEXAS AS
COTTON PRODUCER
By (Frank Parker)
Raleigh, Nov. 8.-That North Caro
lina has come into her own is evi
dent by the million bales of cotton
reported by the United States De
partment of Agriculture. This en
viable production places her in the
second rank among the states in
this commodity. In spite of the boll
weevil, the final condition of ,70 per
cent of a normal crop, indicates 280
pounds yield per acre and a gross
value, of 28 cents, of about $143,000,
ooo tor the lint alone./
This state is wonderfully blessed
this year in its agriculture, which
is a basis of prosperity for^all other
interests. With the market price of
cotton at 30 cents a pound, our cot
ton farmers will be in much the
same position they were In 1919
when the first large cotton crop was
made. According to the Crop Re
ports Service findings from all parti
of the state, the cotton rows this
year were 43 inches apart, the
plants averaged 12 inches In the row
with 8 bolls per plant and the pick
ing on October 25th was 83 per cent
completed. This would trot the
ginnings on that date about two
thirds of the year's production. The
abandonment since June 25^h has
been insignificant. j
The United States crop has taken
a considerable decline during the
past month, resulting in ? Joss of al
most a millioh bales. This leaves
the prospective crop at 10,248,000
bales as compared with 9,762,000
last year and 7,954,000 two years
ago. The estimate is lower for this
year than was expected by the trade,
resulting in a considerable advance
of the market price. Th? belt's con
dition of 47.8 per cent, rorecasted a
yield of 128 pounds per acre. Last
year's condition at the same time
was 42.3 per cent of a normal crop.
By "normal crop" is meant one that
is produced under favorable- condi
tions throughout its growing season
and does not mean an ?'average of
former years. (Asheville Citizen.)
FISHTOP
\
A much needed rain came Satur
day and Sunday.
Miss Bryant, the teacher, returned
home Saturday evening.
N. Case and *f. W. Bradley return
ed Saturday from Spartanburg where
they took a load of tomatoes. They
will ship or haul another load this
weefc#
Nice warm weather -still prevails.
The Mexican weevil made its ap
pearance here this summer. No boll
weevil reported but the cufcumber
and squash bugs and tomato worm?
played havoc with the cucumber,
melon and in some instances destroy- ;
ed the tomato crop. I
Cole Jones has just finished his I
crop x of syrup making which was
over three hundred gallons.
Corn is generally good. Better
than last year.
There are green tomatoes and
beans still in 'the fields.
-O ?
STRAND THEATRE
FRIDAY
RUPERT HUGES
Presents
COLLEEN MOORE
IN
?COME ON OVER"
SATURDAY
Wm. S. HART
IN
"THE TWO GUN TERROR"
One Of Hart's Best
MONDAY & TUESDAY
WILLIAM FAIRBANKS
IN
"THE DEVIL'S DOORYARD
Coming Soon
INi ? ,
"SALOME"
^ Mi-% .. i
THREE m
Auction $3? %
Two New Ford Cars Given feay.
VSmm
FRIDAY AND SATM
NOVEMBER 9 and
. , 0
Nearly 1200 acres of Polk County Farm
Lands and 15 Building Lots and Two
Residences in Columbus, N. C.
~ FIRST SALE
15 Lots and 2 Residences in Columbus
%
Sale of these lots will begin at 10:30 A. M. November 9th. This prop
erty is located in the town of tolumbus, Polk County, N. C. Columbus is
the county seat, a fine health resort, five miles from Tryon and on hard sur
face road. State high school, churches and ideal community in which to
live. Terms on this property same as on farm lands.
SECOHD SALE
November 9th at 1:30 P. M.
The 450 acre tract, known as the Rev. G. P. Hamrick land. This prop
erty has been sub-divided into 15 farms ranging in size from 15 to 50 acres
with wood and water on every tract, including three tenant houses. Also
several hundred thousand feet of saw timber. Strong productive land, suit
able for Corn, cotton, tobacco, grains, grasses, etc.
On this property there is a fine spring with a flow that would fiil a four |
?inch pipe. Mr. Lee Tallant at Columbus will show anyone interested over
this property before the sale. Located only one mile from sand clay road,
2 1-2 miles from state high school and churches.
~^HrfiiRDl5ALE
The 600 acre Tract at Auction Saturday, November!
10. at 1:30
? -i Williams
1
TERMS:
1-5 Cash; balance in one, two, three and four yea
Possession given at once on alt uncultiv>.; lan j
balance January 1st, 1924.
Remember the Ford Cars aftd Cash Prizes to be given awa..
children especially invited. Good music by CljjEside and avc ;
? idies
Bands.
W. H. Haynes, Mgr., Cliffsrde J. C. Nolen, Sales ?
SALE CONDUCTED BY
England Real Estate & Auc&
OF GREENSBORO, N. C.
\yt&
f . *
Co.