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r THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. Vol. 1. TOBACCO. How to Manage It. FROM THE PLANT-BED TO THE "WARE HOUSE. SELECTION AND PREPARATION OP THE SOIL. A soft, dee), sandy soil is preferable, which before planting should be always put in the finest tilth, it being an adage with good farmers, that "r. crop properly planted is half worked." If the land is new ground, it should, after having been grubbed and chopped, be raked cleanly and all leaves and litter burnt. It is then ready for the plow, and should be closely broken twice and crosswise with the bull-tongue, and as often harrowed. It should next be marked off by bull-tongue in horizontal rows three feet three inches apart, into which should be drilled 300 pounds per acre, unless where the land is naturally rich, of a good and active fertilizer. It is then ready to be listed or bedded with a turning plow. I prefer the list, since it lightens the hoe work of hilling, and is at the same time a more economi cal use of the fertilizer the balks between can be thrown out at the first weeding. With a broad weed ing hoe these lists or beds should now be worked into conical hills, placing them three feet three inches apart, and giving about 4,300 hills to the acre. I know that many re commend more crowded planting, giving the rows and hills a distance of only three feet. But in doing so nothing in my opinion is gained in weight, while something is lost in the length, breadth and body of the leaf which with the manufacturer are the prime requisites. The hills can be laid off with great accuracy by stepping or otherwise measuring one row, and then placing the hills of the next between those of the first, and so on or what is called dodging them. To prevent crowd ing or irregularity in hilling, this rule will be found of use where rawT hands are employed. The hill culture, both in the pre paration and the subsequent work ings of the tobacco crop, should nev er be departed from for the reason that that method of cultivation gives the land the best drainage of which it is capable. And in this crop drain age is one of the first things to be considered, for the reason that all the diseases to which the plant is liable, such as frenching, firing, spot- ting, rusting and shedding, come from excessive rain, accompanied by excessive heat. The growth of the plant itself would suggest as much, for in time of drought the leaves stand up to gather the rain, but so soon as it has enough of it they turn down and throw it off. I repeat, then, let no water stagnate upon the ground. For new ground, the hilling can be done as early as April or March, and should be always wrhen the soil is in good working order neither too wet nor dry. In the one case it will bake and prevent the ready growth of the plant, and in the other it will require much rain to put it in con dition for planting. If the land is not new ground, either forest or pine field, it should be fresh or at least long rested and in good heart, and upon which neith er corn nor sorghum has been lately cropped. For such land the prepa ration is in all respects similar to that for new ground, except that a turning plow may take the place of the bull tongue, and that the hilling should not be done earlier than the first of May, for fear that the hills may become grassy while waiting for the plants or a season to plant them. To preserve such lands and to prevent damage to the growing crop from washing rains, water-furrowing or guttering is recommended. FERTILIZERS. Tobacco land, more than almost any other, should be manured with a liberal hand. Stable or barn-yard manure is every way the best, but when not to be had in sufficient quantity, must be substituted by some good commercial fertilizer, of which there are countless varie ties upon the market possessing more or less merit. PLANTING. The tobacco plant requires usually 100 days from the time it is trans planted to grow and ripen properly. To secure the best results, therefore, the planting should not be earlier than the 10th of May, and if possi ble not later than the 20th June. In the one case the plant is likely to be stunted in its early growth, as well as deprived of the dews of August and September; and in the other, there is dangerthat.it may not have time to mature fully before frost. The plants are set very much as cabbage plants are, by inserting them to the bud and dressing the earth well to their roots and steins with a peg. A plant is said to be properly planted when the point of a leaf breaks off in the attempt to pull it up. The plants should never be suffer ed to wilt before they are set. If this cannot be done as fast as they are drawn from the bed, as many as can be planted in a single day should be drawn while the dew is on them, and kept until needed in a shaded place with their roots upon damp ground, their tops being occasion ally sprinkled with water. If the hills have been put up with a good season in them, they can or dinarily at any time in May be planted without a rain, if done late in the afternoon. They should be cut down to one-half their height or a little lower if the season is light. They should also be clapped with the back of the hoe, which clapping preserves the moisture and prevents crumbling of the earth after the planting-peg, and should be lighter or harder according to the dampness of the soil. But with an abundance of plants, should the planter be blessed with a good season in May or June, naught else but planting is then to be thought of. It is a max im with hay-makers that they should work while the sun shines. The re verse of this holds good with the tobacco planter, and he promises to be but a poor one who runs from a shower of rain. And yet for the convenience of housing, it is not desirable that the entire crop should ripen at the same time, and therefore it is not best that it should all be planted in a single day, or even in a single seas on. Instead then of hastening to get once over, it is better to look well to the replanting, in order to get a perfect stand in the portion which has been planted to do so and as quickly as possible shading or watering the replanted hills, when ndcessary, is recommended. AN IMMENSE BUSINESS. . Mr. J. S. Carr. president of Black well's Durham tobacco company, of Durham, states that his company has orders already booked for the famous " Durham Bull " smoking tobacco that will run them full time and full force until the middle of August. He also says that the de mand for their fine brand of cigar ettes, the "Golden Belt," has grown so enormous that he has had to re call his salesmen owing to his in ability to meet the demands. His company has recently opened, at 42 Farringdon street, London, England, an office that from the very first has proved an immense success. Cable orders from London, England, to Durham, are no more uncommon now than orders by telegram to New York from some of the North Carolina towns. Mr. Carr states that his company is at present employing, independent of their bag contractors, 537 hands.' Raleigh News and Observer. WINSTON, N. C., MARCH 31, jtat Items. Another, and the third fire within this month, struck Wilming ton last Friday, burning the county jail and a number of dwellings and stores, causing a loss of $27,000. Hog cholera is prevailing to a considerable extent on the Sound, and several of the farmers in the vicinity have lost a number of swine in consequence. Wilmington Review. The city of Wilmington is af flicted with tramps. According to the Review, there are scores of them hanging about the town, who go singly and in squads begging some thing to eat. Messrs. Linville & Linville, of Kernersville, broke ground at that place on Monday for the foundation of a tobacco warehouse. Kerners ville is moving onward and upward. Twin-City Daily. A white woman and colored man were married near Ilillsboro last Saturday night. We learn that the ceremony was performed by colored preacher, named Win. Allison. Orange Couny Observer. The farmers are at least two weeks ahead of time. The mail service between Roxobel and Rich Square, Northampton county, has been increased tz six times a week. Roanoke News. Big preparations are being made in the Hawfields section of this county for raising tobacco this year. These people have raised the weed only a year or two and have just found out that there is good money in it. Alamance Gleaner. A company of Colorado miners have opened a gold mine on Esq. Powe's land, one-half mile from town, which we learn promises to be a good investment. Already they have struck some rich diggings. Morganton Star. The revenue raiders have swept through the county and have left several still worms badly out of fix. We have heard of no individuals captured. The moonshiners are cautious, vigilant, and well organ ized Chatham Home. Six hale and hearty white tramps were kidnapped in this city Monday night by Mr. Barna Her ring, of our police force, who yes terday morning paraded them for trial. They were in consequence, sent to the county work house for thirty days, for vagrancy. Golds boro Argus. It is said by truck farmers at Faison and Warsaw that the cold weather has nearly destroyed the pea crop. The next session of the North Carolina Teachers' As sembly will assemble at Mt. Mitch ell Hotel, Black Mountain, on June 22d, and continue until July 7th. Wilson Mirror. The report has gained cur rency that a large cotton factory will be built here this summer, on the site occupied by the Willow Brook Manufacturing Company. Cabt. W. H. Snow has sold a half in terest in his Modern Tobacco Barn to a friend of his and they are preparing to develop the business. High Point Enterprise. On Capt. James M. Gudger's place in Yancy county, is located what is said to be the largest cher ry tree in the State. The body of this tree measures four feet six inches in diameter, and it is over one hundred feet high. Hender son is a progressive town. Over eight million pounds of tobacco were sold on its markets during the year ending Jan. 1st, 1886. During last year 23 brick stores, 8 leaf to bacco factories, 61 dwellings and two brick churches were built. The town now boasts of 47 leaf to bacco factories. The tobacco trade of Henderson commenced in 1872 when only 300,000 pounds of the leaf were sold. I ' . : " ..... 1 1886. The Joyce murder trial which occupied the court at Asheville from the 10 inst., was brought to a close Saturday last by the ac quittal of W. II. Jones and his son, Frank Jones, charged with the murder of the Joyce family, con sisting of four persons, and burning the house last spring. One hundred and seven witnesses were exam ined, and a large array of counsel appeared on both sides. Mr. II. W. Weeden has braced his engine and sawmill and wil commence cutting lumber to put up his building for the other machinery of his spoke and handle factory this week. His engine is fifty-horse powrer. A number of Catawba's most intelligent farmers have told us that the wheat crop this year is the finest they have seen for five or six years. Newton Enterpiise. Early sown wheat is represented as looking well ; the later sown rather indifferent. It is too early, however to prophesy. There have been several smokehouse rob beries recently in a section a few miles south of town on the States ville and Fallstown township line. The temperance movement in Statesville is assuming considerable proportions. The Woman's Chris tian Temperance Union holds week ly meetings and is arousing con siderable interest. The people of Henderson held a meeting Monday evening the 22d, to take steps to secure the construc tion of a railway to that point from Clarksville, Va. The Ral- eigh cotton seed oil mills will not shut down until the latter part of April. They have had a very suc cessful season, and the product is twice as great as last season. A good supply of cotton seed is on hand. Raleigh News and Observer. Elm Street Public School en rolls for March 92 pupils. David Jones has made over 2000 hoops this winter, which met with ready sale at $3.50 per hundred. Mrs. Welborn, living in the lower part of this county, saw a large hawk pounce upon a grown hen in the barn yard a short distance from the house. She immediately ran to wards the spot, and the hawk did not notice her until she picked him off the hen by the wing. The hawk measured 3 feet 10 inches from tip to tip of wings. Salem Press. We hear that Major Atkinson of the C. F. & Y. V. R. R. was at Walnut Cove last week for the pur pose of locating the depot at' that place. It is said, notwithstand ing the Revenue officers are so quiet, and corn so plentiful, that there is less distilling of whiskey in this section than during any year since the Revenue law has been in force. Mr. William Bennett says he planted six medium size Peerless potatoes, and from the crop he saved a bushel for seed, besides having had several messes for his table before they were dug, and yet, with these facts before us, our peo ple buy potatoes Danbury Reporter. Further prospecting at the Altan mine, in Union county, shows an ore body twenty-five feet wide. About one fifth of this assays an average value of nearly $50 per ton. The ground was broken on Tuesday for the new three-story to bacco factory. The factory proper will be 40x80 feet, including dry house, 40x100 feet. Foard & Rice, the manufacturers who are to occu py this new factory, are now on the market purchasing leaf to be worked up this summer. -The Judge who presides at the next term of Rowan Court will hardly escape a sitting of two ; weeks. There will be criminal cases suffi cient to consume all of one week, and if crimes committed in April are as numerous as have occurred during this month, a still longer time will be required to dispose of them. Salisbury Watchman. No. 8. Dr. J. T.Bagwell has purchased" a tract of land consisting of 100 acres of Mr. F. A. Miller, about two and a half miles west of Win ston, for which he paid $15.00 per acre. -Mr. J. H. Pointlexter, of Yadkin county, informs us that 1 e raised 1,589 pounds of tobacco last year from one and a half acres of ground, and it was sold upon our market for a good price. A new mail rout has been recently estab lished from Kernersville by Good will, and thence into Rockingham county by Withers to Madison and returning by Rocky springs and Pond P. O., back to Kernersville. The mail leaves on Friday and re turns Saturday. Winston Sentinel. The question, " Shall we try for prohibition in Monroe township in June?" is being discussed. Wheat and oats are coming out surprisingly where a stand is left, the farmers re port. We hope their crops may be good. We learn that the sale of fertilizers has not been so large this season as heretofore. We believe that this is a hopeful sign. Too much money has been sent out of the country in the past for fertil izers before the creature comforts of the wives and babies were pro vided for. The prospect of a sufc fieient fruit crop is not so discour aging as some have recently fore boded. It is believed by a few that the rigorous cold had destroyed the fruit germs. This is proved to be untrue. The peach trees are send ing out a sufficiency of blooms. Monroe Enquirer. The Tom Henderson gold mine on the line of the Atlantic, Ten nessee and Ohio roailroad, and but a short distance from the city, is to be re-opened and worked by Northern capital. Machinery is now being received at the mine. Mr. Martin Isehour, of Alexan der county, stated to . an Observer reporter that if Alexander county had cheap and ample trans portation facilities, it could fill up Charlotte with fine mountain apples at 15 cents per bushel. The apple crop of that county, Mr. Isehour says, is simply immense, and as an indication of its extent, he mentions the fact that during the past winter he sold five hundred bushels of good, sound apples, at eight cents per bushel, hauled the apples 2 miles to a distillery, to the owner of which he had sold them, and then had to take pay for the apples in brandy, getting $40 worth of brandy for the 500 bushels of apples. This is only a sample of many transactions of the kind in Alexander. Charlotte Observer. RAILROAD MEETING. For The Progressive Farmer. Ridge way, Va.j March 24, 1886. A railroad meeting was held at Ridgeway on last Saturday, the 20th instant, and notwithstanding the very disagreeable day, quite a good crowd were present. The meeting was called promptry at 2 o'clock p. m., and upon motion of Mr. John C. Jones, Mr. L. L. Thomas was made Chairman, Mr. S. C. Fountain Secretary, and Mr. G. O. Jones Treasurer. Col Martin was then called upon to address the meeting, in which he spoke highly in favor of the rail road, &c, and created much enthu siasm and good feeling among the people. We have now $3,100.00 on our private subscription, with the 2 per cent paid and deposited i v our county bank, subject to order of the company and a good prospect to increase the stock largely in the future. We are all here in earnest and mean business : nothing but railroad talk here, i L. L. Thomas, Ciairman: S. C. Fountain, Secretary. The Secretary of the Treasury ha j recommended to Congress an additional ! appropriation of $9,000 to finish the G .v- ernment building in Greensboro.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 31, 1886, edition 1
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