ANNmSftSABY EDITION^^
■.
By T. W. PBR0U80N
Ume, PhosphAte and beef cat
tle or Ureetock of some kind are
certainly a good combination for
a permanent system of agrlcul-
tnre. This combination should,
therefore contribute largely to a
system of successful farming as
far as production Is concerned.
The problem of marketing our
products after they have been
produced in the most economical
manner constitutes an enormous
problem In Itself. It Is a consoling
fact to know that much Is being
done In the state and through
out the nation In a better market
ing system for farm products. It
is onr task to discuss for a few
minutes the great problem of
economical production.
Our soil in this particular lo
cality east and south of the Blue
Ridge has been deficient In lime
and phosphate for many years
perhaps seventy-five years or
more. This condition Is partially
due to our geographical location.
The territory west of the Ridge
has always had a greater lime
content possibly due to the fact
that It Is a northern eipoeure
and not subject so much to the
scorching sun which is more or
less common to our section with
a southern exposure. Our impov
erished condition in soil as well
~^as in many other respects In this
section is due mainly to our
methods of farming rather than
to geographical location. It is
^4^ our observation that almost any
f action can he made into a good
arming area if the proper meth
ods are practiced.
Until the Soil Conservation
Service was instituted a tew years
ago the majority of our farmers
were minors of the soil instead of
farmers. They used a ono armed
system of farming, employing
either a one crop system like corn
or tobacco, or it they used more
better crops and larger yields,
their such practices have and are prov-
their ing very expensive ways to grow
than one crop they were of the
soil depleting type usirig no le- Users for many years and which
gumes or soil crops or livestock they have enabled him to grow
to consume their feed. Further
more they did not terrace
lands. Consequently with „
one armed system of farming to- crops. The cotton and Tobacco
gather with no provision for con- farmers have in particular been
ger-‘"g and holding the soil, the slaves to Commercial Fertilizers,
farmer not only of this section to such an extent that they should
but throughout the country woke be called manufacturers of these
up to a grim realization of the crops by a chemical process. They
fact that most of the fertility of really should be Classed as Man-
his soil had been depleted or ufacturers Instead of farmers, be-
leached away down the muddy cause such a system is not in ac-
'■'raountaln and piedmont streams [cord with a permanent system of
away^'boff.has been re-
cove'.'ed by the shrewd buslneee
(be commercial tertlllaer
eonipanles In eastern Carolina
and sh^iped back to us at enor
mous pricee as a filler in their
product. As stated much of this
deplorable situation of the farm
er has been offset by the wonder
ful work of the Soil Conservation
service and Its agencies, the gov
ernment extension service and
county agents working coopera
tively with farmers themselves.
It Is. however, the age old story
of locking the stall after the
horse has been stolen, or Is wat
er all gone over the dam never
to be retrieved. We' can build
only on what we have left and
with what nature has so wonder
fully blessed us In a fine southern
climate and a red subsoil rich in
potash which Is capable of rapid
improvement 'by using proper
methods. Some farmers have been
using lime for many years hut not
until recently has Wilkes and ad
joining counites used these very
imporUnt soil building elements
In an extensive way. Our p-srson-
al experlenco and observations are
that they are Indispensable ele
ments In building a permanent
agriculture. We cannot grow le
gumes and the various soil build
ing crops without them. They not
only enable the farmer to grow
legumes more successfully, but
they aid very materially In grow
ing better livestock. In dairy cat
tle the milk production Is much
■better and In beef animals they
are conducive to a bigger bone
animal and a far better quality of
meat. We would not say that they
take the place of Commercial
Fertilizers as many farmers
think, but they make it possible
to grow the legumes more suc
cessfully and more abundantly
which supply the soil with nitro
gen, humus and vegetable mat
ter, thus Indirectly eliminating
the necessity of the farmer
spending all or most of his prof
it in high priced fertilizers.
The fanner has been more or
less a slave to Commercial Fertl-
JOUBNAL-PATMOT, NORTH WILKESBOBO, N. C
io.tfte IfidluW^
We would not go so far as to ad-"
vocate a total ^imination of com - 
merciai leruiiters in cotton and]
tobacco culture, „,but for such |
crops as wheat, corn and oats and
other crops adapted to this areir;
we do believe It le entirely pos-1
sihle and practical for the farm-:
er to grow to a etate of Indepent j
donee of commercial fectUlxers ;
and when this goal is reached the
hard earned money invested in'
fertilisers may be directed to
more Incratlve channels.
When a farmer uses commercl-'
al fertilizers continually over a
period of years he treats- his soli |
more like a dope fiend. When the
soil gets used to the quick act-1
Ing elements in fertilizers it is
absolutely necessary to continue j
to supply these elements in this I
way or the crops w.ll pine away |
and produce but little. The plants i
are pompered and petted like hot I
house 'plants. We therefore hold |
that it is entirely possible for the
farmer to eliminate commercially
fertilizers entirely, unless it Is In
the form of fertilizers containing
potash. Legumes certainly fur
nish nitrogen, and vegetable mat
ter, barn yard manures furnish
ammonia and humus, and our red
subsoils furnish at least a fair
portion of potash and I under
stand there are some plants that
if grown will furnish potash, but
It would probably come In a more
expensive way than In commer
cial fertilizers.
In conclusion, it is highly Im
portant that we first terrace our
lands, using lime and phosphate
to grow legumes and livestock
and this system will eventually
build our soils to such a condi
tion that It will be unnecessary
to spend the most of the faim-
ers -profit in purchasing high
priced commercial fertilizers.
W© can therefore highly recom
mend the use of lime and pho.s-
phate and livestock of some kind.
Personally I have -been growing
beef cattle for many years, but
have no complaint of the farmer
who prefers dairying. I have al
ways been too lazy to milk and
prefer to let my calves do that.
Beet production for this section
has Its advantage over dairying.
It takes less expensive equipment,
a cheap shed is adequate for
keeping beef cattle and you are
independent of a local market for
sales more or less, whereas the
dairyman must have expensive
equipment in the form of build
ings, concrete floors, milk ma
chinery, etc., and he is subject
to a strict government inspection
(Continued on page six)
GHiAMTie
A
DOUBLE
VISITORS
FROM EVERYWHERE
jUDri-H
15 YEARS
Belk’s Department Store has been privileg
ed to be numbered among the business
firms of this city, and it baa been a pleas
ure indeed to watch the progress of the
community, made possible by the splendid
spirit prevailing among its pepole in all
worthwhile lines of endeavor. We shall
strive, as in the past, to contribute in what
ever manner we can to the continued pro
gress of our city and community, and
pledge our best eifforts to co-operate with
other business firms of the city in extend
ing the glad hand of welcome, and to pro
vide special bargains throughout our store
during the special celebration.
W. G. GABRIEL,
MANAGER
Some, Have a Good Time... Shop
and Save... Enjoy Every Day!
HERE’S OUR
WELCOME
TO EVERYBODY
A varied and interesting program has been arranged for
your entertainment, and we mge you to come and share
its pleasures. See detailed program elsewhere in this
paper, and let northing keep you away. Come . . . help
us celebrate!
BELK’S
Welcome, Everyone
When we came to North Wilkesboro four years ago, it
looked good to us. It looks even -better now, and we glad
ly co-operate in celebrating the city’s 50th anniversary of
progress, pledging our utmost toward its continued prosperi
ty in future years. We, too, have enjoyed quite a degree of
growth in business, and today hundreds of motorists have
learned that our services are worth a great deal to them in
renewing the life of their auto tires—thus saving them real
money. Our plant is now equipped to do retreading and
re-capping, vulcanizing blow-outs on tires and tubes. We
also sell new Pennsylvania tires at a saving, or will ex
change new or retreaded tires for your old ones if in good
cor.diiiun. Gc.s?-sse wiiat we have to offer you.
■1^ ^ ,.
‘ -i
mm
v,y m . ♦
:fT i
SOti
ARHIVERJARY
CEIE
I AT I 0 N
CniM To Tht Dilebralilm But Ride On Good Safe%es. Perhaps It Will Save A Life!
Save Half On Tires
Have Them Retreaded!
You don’t discard your home because the paint wears off;
you RE-PAINT—and renew the value. 'Then why discard
slick, worn tires because the surface is gone? Why not RE
TREAD and renew their value? Retreading tires is OUR
business—saving on tires should be given careful considera
tion. Free inspection service.
Complete Line Penns^vania Ties and Tubes for Every
Car Or Truck Need.-
Get Our Prices on Your Size and Style Tires—Special Prices During Celebration.
The demand is so great for our retread
ed tires that we are in constant need of good,
used tires suitable for retreading and resale.
If you need one or a set, it will pay you well
to drive in and get our proposition on either
new or retreaded tires, taking your old ones
in exchange. In other words, if you need
tires or tubes, don’t make a deal anywhere
until you have seen us and learned the facts
about what we can save you—in cash money.
No charge for transf|erring tires from and to
your car. Come in while attending the cele-
bration.
Section Of Retreading Department
Thompson
GROUND FLOOR FORESTER BUILDING
NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C
f. . . T-':;.':-.
T. H. THOMB§W^_ . . .
t5.