The Chatham Record
VHHSHED SEPTEMBER 19, 1878
CUT COTTON COST,
SROfERIS TOLD
Rational Fertilizer Chief
Cites Need in Farm
Short Course.
.vT the east cotton belt acreage Is
uled by farmers west of the Mis*
i river was the outstanding
, i.ent made by J. C. Pridmore, dl
of the Southern Division, Na
tional Fertilizer
Association, in a
talk for the Ra-
I dio Short Course
| over WSB, Atlan
. ta, a two-weeks’
| course conducted
J by Sears - Roe
so"' J buck Agricultural
Ji Foundation in co
operation with the
gill Fertilizer Associ
s gill ation.
U" ‘’Speaking of
the economic sit-
J, C Pridmore. nation prevailing
over the south
ed e 1 states, it is absolutely essen
t for cotton growers in this terri
t. ■to avail themselves of every pos
sible means of reducing the cost of
gr . g cotton,” said Mr. Pridmore.
“LG me give you a picture of the ex-
P i aof cotton acreage west of the
Mi -issippi river, where we now have
a ; p iximately as much land devoted to
co on as the whole belt had five years
ago. Not only Is this true, but in
time section it is possible for the
farmers, through the use of machin
ery. to cultivate large areas and,
thereby, make cheaper cotton than is
possible in the southeastern states.
“To meet this situation and to grow
cotton in competition with the farmers
west of the river it is apparent that
the southeastern growers must use
every possible means of making big
yields per acre, which is the way to
produce cotton at a low cost per
pound. We not only must practice
those methods known to influence
yields, but fertilize more wisely than
ever before. We must feed the cotton
plants liberally to get a profitable hal
ves'. The fertilizer must contain those
plant foods that will meet soil deficien
cies and supply crop requirements and
furnish the three elements —phosphoric
acid, nitrogen and potash—in propor
tions to constitute a balanced ration.”
Test Farmers
in Radio Course
Asked 10 Questions Vital to
Southeast’s Agriculture
in Better Farming
Campaign.
CAN you answer any of these ten
questions? Well, these are what
the farmers of the southeast are ex
pected to answer in the Radio Short
Course, which closed its sessions Jan
uary 14—a course broadcast over
WSB, Atlanta, through Sears-Roebuck
Agricultural Foundation in co-opera
tion with the Soil Improvement Com
mittee of the National Fertilizer Asso
elation.
Tne questions are: 1. What con
stitutes a safe cropping program for
the southeastern cotton farmer? 2.
'That are the outstanding defects in
the one crop system of farming? 8.
" hat Is a sound live stock program
for the average cotton farmer? 4.
'That other cash crops than cotton
can be grown successfully In the
southeast? What in your community
and why? 5. What are the advan
of high-acre yields? 6. Why are
legates and other organic matter val
uable In improving the soil? 7. What
pa nt food elements are carried in com
mea ad fertilizers? 8. How are plant
T ood needs of crops determined? 9.
Way use pure-bred seed? 10. Assum
you are judge of the court in “The
■* * of the Soil Robber,” what would
you require the defendant to do to re
store his land to such fertility that
he r a grow crops profitably?
T: e course comprised seventeen dis-
on farm problems by leading
agricultural authorities of the south
east and it is estimated that 1,500 lis
lfe? ain from fifteen states. The final
am consisted of a mock court,
T! * Trial of a Soil Robber,” who was
declared guilty of soil robbing. The
raGl ° students enrolled In the course
ar ' to write answers to ten practical
questions covering the two weeks’
co: and those who submit the best
s of answers will be awarded
I s - to be given by the Sears-Roe
‘,uiC; Agricultural Foundation. First
laa.ft ig 515. seC ond, 810, and third,
'0 Tn addition, two leading southern
textbooks will be sent to the
fibers of the next best 25 pa
ihese 25 winners may choose
‘j 1 ' * Live Stock and Poultry,” “Hor-
Leuiture,” ‘‘Southern Field Crops”
y - arm Crops.” All examination
pi’* s must be mailed to reach the
foundation headquarters at Atlanta
11 ' * i irday, January 29. Announce
■l the winners will be made over
ucio station, WSB, at 8:15 o’clock
uight, February 7, during the
Vcf; ir Monday night Sears-Roebuck
A * r cultural Foundation radio hour.
PLANS MATURING
FOR Y MINSTREL
SAYS WJL HOBBS
Costumes Have Been Ordered
from Van Horne of
Philadelphia.
PROGRAM OF THREE PARTS
Minstrel, Professional Review, and
C abaret to Be Presented; Comedy
Sketches Between Main Acts; Jelly
Leftwich in Charge of Music
Numbers.
Bi) Thomas Shutt
According to W. J. Hobbs, of the
1 .M.C.A. cabinet, plans are rapidly tak
ing shape for the presentation of the
ninstrel show the Y cabinet is sponsor
ing.
1 lie plan of the program includes
three divisions and between the acts of
lie main features comedy sketches are
o be presented. The first number of the
program is to be the minstrel, this to
be followed by a professional review and
the third act is to he a cabaret after
piece. While the stage is being arranged
for the second and third parts of the
program the management expects to
keep tlie audience in entertainment with
novelty comedy acts, character sketches,
and other special features in dances and
songs.
Mr. Hobbs and the other members of
the committee request that everyone who
has an idea in regard to some sketch
that might be presented or formed for
presentation to let such idea he known
and the cooperation shall he thoroughly
appreciated. This fact was especially
emphasized as being very important and
a good response is expected.
The costumes for this program are to
he furnished ‘by Van Horne of Philadel
phia.
A committee from members of the
faculty, to he announced later, will cen
sor the acts to he given and cooperate
in forming the program.
The play is under the direction of Mr.
Hobbs. It. C. Finley is in charge of
sketches, and George W. Leftwich will
have charge of she mu^ic.
BROWN MEMORIAL
TO BE NEXT WEEK
Few, Soper, Bruton, and Brad
shaw Will Be Speakers in
Memorial Services.
Memorial services for the late Joseph
G. Brown, for ten years chairman of the
board of trustees of the University, will
be held Wednesday morning of next
week at ten-thirty in Craven hall. Presi
dent Few will preside, and the religious
exercises will be in charge of Dr. E. D.
Soper, dean of the school of Religion.
The address on behalf of the trustees
will be given by Col. John F. Bruton, of
Wilson, who was a life long friend of
the deceased, working with him in much
that lied id for the University.
Dr. Mike Bradshaw will also have a
part in the program, as will representa
tives of the alumni and the student body.
Special music will be rendered, and it is
thought that the program will last for
an hour after which the board of trus
tees convene at a special meeting.
It is understood that the election of a
chairman to succeed Mr. Brown will not
be at this meeting of the board but will
be carried over until the next meeting of
the board in June. Since his death many
resolutions of respect have been passed
by various organizations with which Mr.
Brown was affiliated. Mr. Brown had
been a member of the board of trustees
for over thirty years and served as chair
man for ten years.
Mr. Brown died January 30th at his
home in Raleigh.
■ ■■ m ■■
NEW COLLECTION ADDED
DUKE BIOLOGY MUSEUM
Dr. Bert Cunningham has received sev
eral new and interesting specimens from
the National Museum of Mexico for his
collection here.
The most interesting item in this new
collection is a stuffed Iguana which is a
very large lizard. It is a near approach
lo the reptiles of prehistoric days. There
is also a stuffed crocodile, a preserved
boa constrictor of eight feet in length,
and a peculiar speciment of turtle which
has a toenail on the end of its tail.
This collection is to be added to the
already interesting museum of the Bio
logical department where one may see
all sorts of skeletons, snakes, dead fish,
and stuffed birds and animals.
PITTSBORO, N. C., CHATHAM COUNTY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1927
“Hunger Signals”
Tell Crop Needs
I Hr- :: =jJ
IF PLANTS like cotton, alfalfa and
soy beans develop rust, they are
sending out “hunger signals” for pot
ash. was the striking statement made
by R. W. Hamilton, acting chief agron
omist, Clemson college, S. C. f in tell
ing how crop needs are determined in
’ a talk for the Radio Short Course over
WSB, Atlanta. This course was con-
I ducted for two weeks by the Sears-
Roebuck Agricultural Foundation in
co-operation with the Soil Improve
ment Committee of the National Fer
tilizer Association.
“Every farmer can learn in a gen
eral way something about the deficien
cies of his soils,” said Mr. Hamilton.
“When his crops do not make sufficient
stalk growth, and the plants have a
yellowish cast, he may know the crops
have not had enough ammonia. If the
crops are not fruiting as they should,
and if they are slow in maturing, this
is evidence they need more phosphoric
acid.
“Fortunately, for the southeast,
there are great areas that show sim
ilar responses to fertilizers, so it is
unnecessary to recommend a different
fertilizer for every slight variation in
the soils. Carefully conducted tests'
on various- soils afford the only safe
information on how to feed crops
profitably. Recommendations can be
made that are broadly applicable to
the coastal plain, the Piedmont soils,
mountain lands or limestone valleys.
Intelligent fertilization is necessary to
produce large yields and the quality of
crops that will bring the greatest re
turns to the farmer. To accomplish
this the farmer must rely largely on
the recommendations of the experi
ment stations and agricultural col
leges. Higher acre yields are essen
tial to greater farming success in the
south, and the efficient and wise use
of fertilizers is one the major factors
contributing to higher acre yields.”
SOUTHIPIS
ON FOUR CROPS
t
Bledsoe Advises Farmers on
Sears-Roebuck Agricul
tural Foundation
Short Course.
HOW TO IMPROVE SOIL
<< OUR crops of the southeast oc-
U cupy 90 per cent of the land and
produce 80 per cent of the value of all
crops grown. These crops are cotton,
corn, small grains and hay. It Is upon
the successful production of these
four crops that the agricultural pros
perity of the southeast depends. All
other crops are of minor importance,
although certain restricted areas one
or more of them may be of great im
portance.”
This was the message carried to the
farmers of the southeast by R. P.
Bledsoe, agron
omist, Georgia Ex
periment Station,
'% in a talk f°r the
■~§ Radio Short
-I** Course over WSB,
tlie Atlanta Jour
nal station, a two
i weeks’ broadcast
make possible
flill J||P through tlie Sears
.Jxinlr' Roebuck Agricul
turial Foundation
lill Ji||lif i n c o-operation
with the National
R. P. Bledsoe. Fertilizer Associa
tion.
“A study of the latest statistics for
1926 shows the average Georgia farm
er lost from eleven to twelve dollars
on each acre of cotton or corn and
from one to two dollars on each acre
of oats or hay,” said Mr. Bledsoe.
“Either the cost per acre must be low
ered without decreasing yields or
prices must be increased, or yields per
acre must be increased without un
duly increasing the cost per acre.
“As to soil improvement, no rota
tion will fit the needs of every farm
er, but the following will give the
farmer a basis on which to work:
First year—cotton, followed by vetch
plowed under for green manure; sec
ond year—oats, followed by vetch to
be plowed under. This rotation would
have a winter cover crop on the land
every year to prevent washing. There
would be three legume crops to supply
nitrogen and two green manure crops
to furnish organic matter. To make
this system a success the farmer must
fertilize liberally. The main difficulty
with this rotation is that two-thirds
of the land must be plowed in the
spring. Farmers with tractors gen
erally do this, but those without had
better plant only one-half of their
cotton and oat land to vetch, and in
this way decrease their spring plow
ing. While this will mean slower prog
ress in soil improvement, it is better
than undertaking more spring work
than can be handled. Another change
which will lessen spring plowing is
to add another year of oats and le
gume hay."
DUKE MUSICIANS
WIN POPULARITY
ON RECENT TRIP
Presented Program At Charles
B. Aycock High School
Thursday Evening.
MUCH APPLAUSE GIVEN
Henderson People Highly Pleased With
Performance; Hatcher and Hobbs,
As Usual, Make Hit With Their
Comic Skits; Glee Club and String
Club Good.
The Duke musical clubs returned Fri
day from a trip to Henderson where
they appeared at tlie Aycock high school
on Thursday evening. The glee club,
the symphony orchestra, and the string
club numbers were received witli hearty
approval. Hatcher and Hobbs, comed
ians, delighted the audience with their
character skits, and received several en
cores. Richard Salsbury, piano soloist,
was greatly applauded.
The Blue Devil orchestra, under the
direction of Jelly Leftwich, gave a num
ber of popular selections which were
received with hearty applause, being en
cored a number of times. Leftwich has
built up an orchestra well deserving of
tlie popularity which it has gained.
Henderson people greatly appreciated
the appearance of the clubs there, and
much favorable comment has been re
ceiv'd. This trip, along with the regular
fall and spring trips, has demonstrated
to the people of the state the musical
talent which Duke boasts. The trip was
acclaimed a great success.
ANNUAL MISSiONARY
INSTITUTE MARCH 2
Program Arranged by School of Reli
gion Officials Will Last Through
Two Days.
The Missionary Institute, an annual
affair held at Duke university will be
conducted March 2 and 9. The Mission
ary Institute is a program arranged
by the Duke University School of relig
ious education. All classes of the Bible
r, er . rtments will meet in the Y. M. C. A.
t .y
hall at their respective class periods ancT
will be addressed by men of the faculty
and visiting speakers.
The School of Religion has arranged
for several prominent men to be present
for this occasion. The program is ex
pected to be an overwhelming success.
The schedule has been arranged as
follows:
Wednesday, March 2
8:30 A. M. Opening statement and
address by Dr. E. H. Rawlings, Educa
tional Secretary, Board of Missions.
9:30 A. M. Dr. E. D. Soper, of Duke
university.
10:30 A. M. Chapel hour 15 minutes
inspirational address to student body by
Dr. Rawlings.
11:00 A. M. Dr. O. E. Goddard, For
eign Secretary, Board of Missions.
12:00 A. M. Mr. N. C. Newbold,
State Department of Education.
Intermission 1 to 3 P. M.
Interviews 3 to 5 P. M. by Dr.
Rawlings.
7:30 P. M. Y. M.C.A. Hall address
to Ministerial Association and others in
the Pastor and Modern Mission.
Thursday, March 2
8:30 A. M. Dr. O. E. Goddard.
9:30 A. M. Dr. E. H. Rawlings.
10:30 A. M. Chapel Hour, Dr. O. E.
Goddard.
11:00 A. M. Dr. J. W. Moore.
12:00 M. Dr. D. L. Mumpower, Medi-
Ctd Missionary.
Moncure Has Compensations
A trip to Moncure Saturday was
pleasant and profitable. The little town
has had a hard blow or two recently, but
it has compensations in the building of
three big bridges in the immediate sec
tion, which affords employment for some
and furnishes a considerable payroll to
tlie enterprising merchants of the town.
The Avent Ferry bridge is considerably
advanced, at least in the foundation
work, though it will be abuilding proba
bly till late fall. This is across the Cape
Fear, a bit below the confluence of the
Deep and the Haw. The bridge across
the Haw at Haywood is also in process
of construction. The contract has only
recently been let for the construction of
the Deep River bridge at Lackville, but
work si expected to begin at an early
date. Thus Moncure will see spent with
in a few miles probably $300,000, which
is certainly fortunate for the plucky lit-
Mr. Richardson, chief mechanic in the
Riddle Iron Works, has moved his fami
ly here. After March 1 they will occu
py the J. D. Womble residence, Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Womble expecting to move
back to Sanford at that time. The Rich
ardsons are domiciled with Mr. and Mrs.
C. C. Hamlet at present.
CUT COTTON LINO.
[XPERT ADVISES
D. W. Watkins of Clemson
College Tells Farmers
Need of Reduction.
ALTER TENANT SYSTEM
THERE should be a decrease in the
total cotton acreage to restore a
balance to our farming system, ac
cording to D. W. Watkins, assistant
extension director, Clemson college,
S. C., who discussed the “Cutting of
the Cotton Acreage” in the Radio
Short Course over WSB, Atlanta. This
two weeks’ course for farmers of the
southeast was conducted by tlie Sears-
Roebuck Agricultural Foundation iu
co-operation with the Soil Improve
ment Committee of the National Fer
tilizer Association.
“Not only should there be a de
crease in 1927, but In future years,”
said Mr. Watkins, “but when it comes
to saying who is to do the reducing
we find there are several different
classes and conditions of farmers witli
which to deal. There are the farmers,
all too few, who own their land, farm
intelligently and while they are set
back in years like 1926, manage to keep
their heads above water and continue
their Independent, self-supporting way.
This class already produces 80 to 90
per cent of their living on the farm.
They do much of their own work and
utilize labor saving machinery. They
will not have to reduce as much as
others.
“It is the duty of the landowners
and others responsible for financing
agriculture to bring about a different
tenant system. Tenants should be
led and required to give more atten
tion to producing a living for them
selves and to soil and farm improve
ment. This will automatically reduce
their cotton acreage and will be
beneficial to themselves and land
owners.
“The light is at last beginning to
dawn on all of us in the southeast,
that we must be more self-contained
and less dependent on one source jt
income. The southern farmer must
learn to have his fields covered with
a green crop every winter. Our mild,
open winters permit of the loss of
more soil fertility than is removed by
crops. Northern soils are frozen and
not subject to this loss. All these
have p direct bearing on the
acreage In- cotton in the southeast.
The grower who follows these poli
cies can continue to grow cotton, and
after providing for a self-sustaining
system of diversification, may in four
out of five years produce cotton at a
profit.
“The year 1927 is not a year to
gamble on cotton production, but for
the grower who uses the best seed and
the best methods and the best side
lines and who reduces acreage and
cuts production costs, there Is hope
for 1927 and thereafter in cotton
growing. Such a farmer cannot be
put out of business because he is the
veteran and expert who puts the other
kind of grower out of business.”
Farmers Give
Own Diagnosis
Radio Course Listeners Tell
What Is Matter With
South’s Agriculture.
II ROW less cotton —more cows,
vJ sows and hens” is the new
found creed of the southeast farmer,
according to the first answers received
to the “final exam” given at the close
of the first radio short course in ag
riculture broadcast from WSB, At
lanta, by the Sears-Roebuck Agricul
tural Foundation in co-operation with
the Soil Improvement Committee of
the National Fertilizer Association.
Ten questions submitted to the stu
dents at the close of the course show
that the farmer of the south Atlantic
states has been won away from the
idea that he must grow just one crop
—cotton. “Grow diversified crops that
will feed the family, the live stock and
the land; let cotton be grown as a
cash crop and not made to support
the entire farm,” is the way in which
one of these radio students sums up
the situation.
It was the aim of the short course
to sell the farmer of the southeast the
Idea of raising enough live stock at
least to feed his family, raising enough
grain and hay to feed the live stock,
and enough cover crops to replace In
the soil the elements which are taken
from it year by year by the continu
ous growing of crops.
The answers to this radio examina
tion indicate that the farmer of the
southeast has learned to pin solid
faith in the advice of his county
agent; that he is getting tired of gam
bling with one crop farming, and that
he is going in for pure-bred seed, as
well as pure-bred cows, hogs and
chickens.
Three cash prizes are to be awarded
to the three best examination papers
submitted to the Foundation, and
announcement of the winners will be
made from the Atlanta radio station
February 7.
TOWN AND COUNTY
LOCALS
J. W. Womble and Rowland Steadman
say they actually got lost in looking for
Moore's Mill ,with which location they
have ben familiar these many years.
They ascribe the aberration to marked
changes in the road, but others might
suggest another reason.
There will be a box party at Rives’
Chapel school house Saturday evening,
Leb. 19, 7:00 o’clock. Everybody invited.
Proceeds go to benefit of school.
Little Cora White had the misfortune
to get her arm broken last week at
school.
♦
Slippery walks are dangerous. Fan
nie Lea, colored, slipped a few days ago
and broke the little bone in her leg.
There is a place on the walk from Blair
Hotel to the school building that is a
slick proposition such weather as we
had Saturday night.
♦
Col. J. Dan Dorsett, seen Monday in
Siler City, was in his usual health, which
is remarkable for one of the few surviv
ing members of Chatham’s most gal
lant company of Confederates. The
veteran is a colonel on the general staff
of Confederate veterans and is already
planning to go to Tampa to the reun
ion April 5. Colonel J. Dan lived in
Florida for a number of years after the
war. He was at Apopka, 12 miles from
Orlando. At that time the postoffice
building of the now famous city of lakes
was a log contraption. James Giles, who
has since served Orlando as mayor and
probably ranks as a millionaire, worked
for Col. Dorsett in those days of auld
lang syne.
Mr. R. E. Little comes this week to
take the place of assistant cashier in the
Page Trust Co., at Siler City, relieving
Mr. Dewey Dorsett, who becomes man
ager of the Oval Oak factory. Mr. Little
is a native of Catawba county, but has
served as cashier of the Bank of Bis
coe for some time.
Rev. Ernest Clegg and Prof. D. H.
I.ashley came down Saturday from Lees
ville, Caswell county, to see the former’s
aged father, Mr. H. C. Clegg, and to
take a hunt. The editor formerly knew
Mr. Lashley as a teacher of Newton
Grove, Sampson county.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
OF MONCURE P. T. A. HELD
The regular monthly meeting of the
P. T. A. was held Friday night, the
eleventh, in the Moncure High School
Auditorium. In the absence of the presi
dent, Mrs. W. T. Utley, the vice-presi
dent, Mrs. O. C. Kennedy, presided. The
ninth grade room won the attendance
prize again for having the largest per
cent of parents present.
After the business session a short play
on “Thrift” was presented by several of
the pupils under the supervision of Miss
Mamie Sockwell. Prof. W. R. Thomp
son then made a short talk on thrift. He
also discussed the county-wide eight
months school term.
A large number was present and much
interest was manifested in the meeting.
The next meeting will be held Friday
night, March the eleventh. We hope each
member will come and bring some one
with you.
. i ■ ■ ■ ■
MERRY OAKS ITEMS
Miss Treva Auman, of White Hill,
spent the week-end with her sister, Miss
Thelma Auman, of Merry Oaks.
Mr. and Mrs. Undo Garner spent
Friday night at Moncure with her sister,
Mrs. Clyde Maynard, who is very sick.
Miss Lola Speagle and brothers, Cecil
and Dan, spent Saturday night with
their grandmother, Mrs. Frank Speagle,
near New Elon Church.
Mrs. W. T. Edwards and Miss Elva
Gunter visited in Holly Springs Friday
and attended a play at the school build
ing.
“If You Were a Bear”—“Bang”
“If you were a bear, here’s the way I’d
shoot you”—“Bang,” and the “bear” had
a mangled calf, and not an imaginary
calf either. Dr. Chapin was called to
dress the serious wound made by the
“empty” gun. Julius Dark’s leg was
badly shot up, and weeks must elapse
before the “bear” can travel about.
It was Sunday night at the home of
Lee Perkins, colored, and Junius Dark
was bathing when David Perkins, aged
eight, pointed the “empty” shot gun at
Junius with the aforementioned remark
and following “bang”, and presumable
howl of the sorely wounded “bear.” Dark
is nearly grown.
Young Lady Visitors
Pittsboro had three charming young
lady members of the Moncure school fac
ulty as visitors over the week-end —
Misses Bell, Sockwell, and Strickland.
They were guests of Mrs. R. P. Johnson.
Miss Strickland, by the way, is one of the
cultured daughters of our good friend,
Sam Strickland, of Sweet Sampson.
VOLUME 43