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A RANDOLPH COUNTY PAPER FOR RANDOLPH COUNTY PEOPLE.
VOL. 5, NO. 39.
ASHEBORO, N. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1910.
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.
mm
FARMING WITH FIRE.
By Joseph Hyde Pratt
During these spring months
when the ground is. getting,
dry enough to cultivate and the air
begins to feel like planting time,
the smoke from burning brush,
grass, and leaves goes up from
every farm in North Carolina.
New ground are burned off, fence
corners and brier patches cleaned
out, rotting stumps and logs dis
posed of, and old fields and past
ures prepared for the summer
grazing.
All this burning means the
liberation and consequent waste
of the most valuable part of the
food of our growing crops, from
material much of which might be
put into the soil All vegetable
matter contains the three ele
ments of plant food which we
purchase in our complete ferti
lizers. By burning, the nitrogen
(the most expensive of these ma
terials) is liberated in the airs,
and is absolutely lost to the soil.
The other two ingredients, potash
and phosphoric acid, are left on
the ground in the ashes; but even
this plant food does not all get
back into the soil, for it is quiie
soluble, and being also very light,
it is readily washed off into the
streams by the rains But this
is not the only loss. The leaves
or the grass, if plowed in, add to
the soil not only these plant f oodi
but also humus, the ingredient
that nearly all soils need and one
which it is impossible to get even
in commercial fertilizers. It, is
the lack of humus in the soil that
impoverishes so many of our
farms, even though commercial
fertilizers are used heavily, and
that causes the abandonment of
so much land in all parts of the
State.
In clearing land the leaves and
small twigs scattered over the
ground should never be burned
off, but should be plowed in and
allowed to rot wherever possible.
In order to accomplish this, only
the coarsest brush should be piled,
and this should be burned at atime
when the leaves and other ground
cover are wet and won't easily
burn. In cleaning up fence cor
ners and brier patches, fire can
often be dispended with altogeth
er to great advantage. What
material there is that is too coarse
to plow under can be used profit
ably in stopping washes or filling
gullies. Owner 5 of land, in mak
ing contracts with their renters,
should be careful to stipulate that
no burning of grass or leaves
should be done unless absolutely
necessary.
But this is viewing the matter
only on the side of the agricultu-
.if F.vprv vear nearly all of
the most destructive forest fires
are caused by the escape of fire
4W,Tn fiirmprs burmner brusn or
other meterial in the preparation
d fnr cultivation. In conse-
VJ. Aw. -
auence of the dry weather which
we so often have at this time of
year, the grass and leaves be
come as dry as timber, and it
needs but a spark blown over by
the high winds to start a very
destructive fire. At this season
of the year, when the sap is ris
ing and the trees are beginning
to put out into leaf, a fire in the
woods does irreparable injury.
Not only is the reproduction and
the young growth killed, but of
ten practically all of the standing
timber is killed as well. Forest
fires in North Carolina the past
year were estimated to have de
stroyed at least $350,000 to $400,
000 worth of property, not count
ing the permanent injury to the
forests themselves- Out of a
large number of answers from
. correspondents who reported to
Sample of Longevity.
Four Grand Parents and Five Great-Grand-Parents
Still Living
Granite Falls claims a young
citizen with a somewhat remark
able family record. Marvin A.
Mackle, Jr., born March 6, 1910,
has the unique distinction of
having four grand-parents and
five great-grand-parents now
living. On the mother's side are
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.M.
Martin, of Granite falls, and
grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. B.
Martin, of Whitnell, in whose
families there has never been a
death. On the father's side are
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. C.
Mackle, in whose family there
has been one death; his mother's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. H.
Mull, and father's mother, Mrs.
Hayes, all of Granite Falls. All
five great-grand-parents are yet
in good health and rather proud
of the record the young man is
able to claim. This speaks well
for this healthy country.
CRUCIFY THE LAW!
"The hair of a dog may be
a cure for its bite," but there is
no power under the sun that can
make us believe that we can cure
an evil with an evil. Yet this is
just what the "local optionists"
who are beginning to agitate mat
ters in the State are trying to do.
They say, "Prohibition is a fail
ure. Place the State under local
option" (under the saloon is
what they really mean). They
Know that if Pronibition is a fail
urewhich we deny the evil is
not in the law, but in the men
who are sworn to inforce the law.
Instead of bending their thought
and energies toward curing the
spirit of anarchy which prevents
the enforcement of law they be
gin to say, "Crucify the law!"
They propose to double the evil
by having anarchy and alcohol at
the same time. Men, why do
you not rise in your majesty and
say, "We will have neither- We
will see that the old common
wealth shall vindicate her right
to a place among God fearing and
law abiding States by enforcing
to the letter her Prohibition laws
and thus banishing forever that
twin brood of perdition anarchy
and alcohol. "Raleigh Advod
ate. Anent this same "disturbance
the Wilmington Star of a receut
date rightly said that this local
option agitation which was begun
in Henderson would only tend to
make matters worse and wTould
have a bad effect politically.
The Prohibition question was set
tled two years ago. Now let's
talk politics and enforce the law
a bit Rockingham Post.
Public charity is not always
kind, but the order recently is
sued by the Boston police com
missioner indicates that he un
derstands human nature. Here
after the names of families found
in destitution are to be kept from
the public, and reported only to
such authorities as have a right
to know and a desire to give re
lief. the State Geological and Econom
ic Survey on the injury caused by
forest fires, in 1909, 13 per cent
of all the accidental fires were
attributed to the farmers burning
brush. Such fires not only cause
the loss of timber and other pro
perty, but they make the farmer
lose a great deal of time just
when he can least afford to do so.
If the North Carolina farmers
realized the great losses and ser
ious i isks caused by thoughtless
and careless burning of brush
and grass in the spring, we should
have much fewer forest fires and
many more productive and paying
farms.
nterest In Agriculture
Work cf Young People's Clubs Well Organized. Over one Hundred Boys
in Boys' Contest. Numbers of Girls Being Enrolled in Girls Home
Culture tlubs. Valuable Prizes to be Giv&i, Boys and Gir.s
Under Twenty Years old Allowed to Enter.
The boys and girls of Randolph
County are becoming intensely
interested in young people's club
work as proposed by the State
Department of Education and as
being organized Toy the County
Superintendent of Schools. Al
ready 125 boys have joined the
corn clubs and about 25 girls
have entered the girls' clubs.
Lst week at Shiloh and Why
Not fifteen girls joined the clubs.
Randolph boys and girls are
awake to the best things and in
this instance their progressive
spirit is being shown.
This contest is open to boys
and girls under twenty years of
age. It makes no difference
where a boy or girl lives, jufet so
the residence be in the country,
he or she is eligible to enter the
contest and compete for the!
prizes that have been offered.
That the people are interested in
the boys and girls is evidenced
by the valuable gifts that have
already been arranged. The
merchants of Asheboro, and also
those of Liberty, have been liber
al and a fine array of prizes has
been offered. In the meetings
last week in Coleridge and Rich
land valuable township prizes I
were raised.
Some of the frizes already
arranged.
The prizes for boys have al
ready been published. It might
be well to repeat that to the boy
in the county under twenty
years old who makes the highest
yield of corn on an acre of land
a prize of $25.00 will be given.
The second highest yield will
warrant a prize of $15.00; and I
the third highest a prize of -$10.
A prize o $25.00 will also be
given to the boy in the county
who makes the greatest profit on
an acre of land in corn. This is
done in order to encourage boys
to grow corn at the lowest possi
ble cost. Prizes have already
been announced for boys living
within ten miles of Liberty. In
another column, under another
head, will appear a statement of
prizes offered to the boys of
Coleridge and Richland town
ships. THE GIRLS' HOME CULTURE CLUBS
This name has been given to
the girls' clubs because it is
sufficiently comprehensive to in
clude all that is to be done by
girls contests. The work
more varied than that of boys'
clubs. Contests have been ar
ranged in poultry, canning, sew
ing, and cooking. A running
statement of each appears be
low. Whenever a girl signifies hei
intention of entering the club,
she may participate in any oi
all of these contests, and win
prize in any or all. To illustrate:
a girl may enter the club and
compete for poultry prizes and
also for canning and sewing and
even cooking prizes; or she may
not engage in any other contest
than the one she prefers to work
in.
POULTRY CLUfS.
Girls who enter the poultry
clubs will be expected to take a
setting of eggs (13) and with
the one hen get the best results
obtainable. She will be expect
ed to begin the worK not later
than May 10th and the results
will be recorded October 25th.
The prizes will be awarded on
the merits of the records kept,
and Domestic Science.
the breed of fowl, the total,
weight of flock on O ctober 25th
and the condition of fowls on
exhibit. The girl making the
best showing in this contest will
be awarded a prize of $15.00;
the second best will receive a
prize of $6.00; and the third
best a prize of $4.00. More com
plete details . concerning poultry
clubs will be furnished on ap
plication to the office of the
county Superintendent.
CANNING CLUBS. ,
A prize of $10.00 will be given
for the best exhibit of canned
goods. This exhibit will consist
of every variety of canning pro
ducts. A prize of $5.00 will be
given for second best exhibit.
The prizes will be awarded on
the basis of the largest exhibit
of different canned products, the
neatness of the work, and other
points of excellence necessary to
be considered in a case of this
kind.
SEWING CLUBS.
A prize of $3 00 will be award
ed for the best collection of the
following articles: (Best plain
handkerchief, best laundry bag,
best fancy apron, best gingham
sofa pilow. For the second best
exhibit of the same articles a
prize of $2.00 will be given.
Prizes of $1.00 will be given
for the best exhibit in each case
of the following articles:
(1) Best large table napkin.
(2) Best pair pillow cases hem
stitched. (3) Best large gingham sleeved
apron.
(4) Best pair hand hemmed
linen towels.
Also a prize of 50 cents will be
given for che second best exhibit
in each case mentioned.
COOKING CLUBS.
A prize of $3.00 will be given
for the best loaf of bread baked
by directions to be submitted
later. A second prize of $2.00
will be given for the second best
exhibit of bread. More complete
directions as to making bread
will be issued later.
A prize of $1.00 will be given
in each case for the best half
dozen sugar cookies and also for
the best molasses cookies. Prizes
of 50 cents will be given in each
case for the second best exhibit
of cookies. In this case more
complete directions will be issued
later. Also some other contests
may be arranged.
PLAN ITOIl COUNTY EXHIBIT IN
FALL.
It is the generally accepted
idea that in order to carry this
svork forward as a part of the
work of the schools it is neces
sary to have an annual exhibit
of the work that may be done.
therefore, arrangements are be
ing made for a county exhibit of
the articles prepared by the girls,
of the poultry and canning, and
also of specimens of the corn
grown by the boys. This exhibit
will" be in Asheboro about the
middle of November.
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO ENTER
, THE CONTEST.
It. has been stated above that
boys and girls under twenty
years oM will be allowed to enter
these clubs. We have a good
number now, but 'we want, and
confidently expect twice as many
in the county.
All boys and girls who enter
will have an opportunity of win
ning prizes, but of far' greater
worth will be the actual experi
ence in doing this kind of work.
Parents are requested to arrange
for their boys and girls to enter.
Send the names and addresses
tome and full particulars will be
furnished. Just write me a card
and state the name and address
and also the club one desires to
enter. This ' contest lor boys
will be closed May 10. The con
test for girls may be open later.
It is a good plan to send names
early in order that directions
may be furnished and ,also that
the names may be put on the
mailing list of the government
bulletins and other publications
which will be furnished' absolute
ly without cost to all young peo
ple who enter the clubs.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL.
There are those who doubt
the propriety of this work.
Some have even ventured to sug
gest that this is no part of the
work of a school man. The
answer is to be found in the
work being done in other places.
Boys all over North Carolina are
entering the corn contests, and
in every case, they are being
organized by. the school men. So
far as I know no other county
has undertaken the work among
the girls. But the school men
of Middle West have these clubs
for girls, and they are sure to
come to the South. Why not
Randolph lead the way? Why
should we wait when we see a
good thing? We are crying out
for a more practical form of
education, and this is the only
form in which we are able to
manage the system now. Let
us begin the work, even on a
small scale, and the time will
soon come when we will have
these things in our high schools
first and then a little later the
system will be worked out for
the ordinary elementary rural
schools. These things must come
if the schools are to meet the
needs and conditions of the peo
ple. Let us have another 100
boys and also
to join the
names early.
F1
another 100 girls
clubs. Send the
J. COLTRANE,
County Supt. of Schools.
VALUE OF SNAKE SKINS
It is said f o be a hard matter
to skin a dead snake so that the
skin will remain in good condi
tion; consequently, in many re
gions of the world where snakes
are caught for the purpose of
supplying the market with skins
for pocketbooks, belts, etc., the
snake is skinned alive, an opera
tion which inflicts upon this arch
enemy of man the most intense
pain. Some are skinned dead,
but the difference in price of
skins taken from the dead rep
tile and those from one alive
does not make the more humane
method popular. Dead snakes
bring only from 2 to 5 cents,
while live ones bring from 25
cents to $1. Sumatra has a num
ber of snake skin factories, as
that tropical island abounds in
the ophidian species. When a
hunter brings in a live snake,
one operator takes it by the neck
and another by the tail, and the
reptile is attached by the neck
to a tree trunk. A sharp knife
is used to cut the skin just below
the head, and then, while the
other holds the snake taut, the
first operator peels the skin from
the squirming body. The rep
tile, minus its skin, writhes in
excruciating pain for an hoiiv r
or so before it dies.
J. lit Johnson and little daugh
ter, Elizabeth of Liberty are
spending the week with Mr.
Johnson parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. I. Jofinson.
A LAVENDER TOWN
Fragrance of Flower Wafted for Two
Miles at Cutting Time
"One of the minor harvests of
England that promise well is
that of the lavender fields. I
have seen some flourishing crops
in the Hitchin neighborhood.
Comparatively few knew of
this quaint Hertfordshire town
as an important lavender grow
ing centre, yet it has grown the
sweet herb ' (which the Romans
called lavandula when they used
it to scent their baths) , has dis
tilled 'the flowers and sent their
extract into all parts of the world
for more than a century.
The Hitchin district has less
rain and more sunshine than the
London area during the month
which has just closed, and con
sequently the long, trim rows of
lavender plants in their dusky
green look strong and healthy.
They are beginning to show their
flower buds, and there is every
likelihood of an abundant yield
at cutting time, which will be
from three to four weeks hence.
At cutting time people come in
from miles around to inhale the
sweetness of the fields, and
when the distilling begins the
fragrance of lavender is borne
on the wind two miles or more
from the town.
The flowers are put into the
still with the fresh bloom of their
maturity on them, and from six
pounds of such flowers about
half an ounce of oil is extracted.
THE PRIVATIZ CHARITIES OF NEW
YORK
'During the past hundred
years New York has accomplish
ed more in the nature of private
charity than any other city in the
world," writes William B. Sei
dell in Harper's Weekly. "The
beginning of her vast system of
relief occured in the year 1806,
when Isabella Graham collected
together twelve little homeless
children, running wild in what
fcvas then the village of Green
wich, installed them in a private
house, and ministered to their
wants with some semblance of
human sympathy." In the city
of Greater- New York are now
nearly one hundred and seventy
five private institutions, exclu
sive of the Department of Public
Charities, says the author. They
are partly maintained by appro
priations from the city's purse,
which for 1909 amounted to near
ly five million dollars.
BAD LANGUAGE OVER TELE
PHONES The Iowa" Court of appeals has
decided a telephone company
may not deprive a subscriber of
his wire because he chooses to
use bad language over it. The
learned Judges remark it is the
business of the company to sup
ply phones and not to make rules
limiting what may be shouted
into the transmitter by heated
subscribers. In connection with
this decision one cannot help re
calling that pitiful incident in
Philadelphia where a girl opera
tor killed herself after being
grossly insulted over the wire.
Stubborn as Mules,
are liver and bowels sometimes;
seem to balk without cause.
Then there's trouble Loss of
Appetite Indigestion' Nervous
ness, Despondency, Headache.
j But such troubles fly before Dr.'
Kings New Life Pills, the worlds
best Stomach and Lixver remedy
So easy.. 25c at J. T. Under
wood's Next .to Bank of
Randolph.