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Vol. 1. Utgricultuvat. TOBACCO. How to Manage It. FROM THE PLANT-BED TO THE WARE HOUSE. SELECTION AND PREPARATION OP THE SOIL. In our last issue, we gave an ar ticle on the " selection, preparation of the soil, &c, for tobacco," by Capt. R. B. Davis, one of the most intel ligent and successful tobacco cul tivators in Catawba count'. We follow this week with an article on the same subject from a treatise by Messrs. Alex. G. Fleming and Nathaniel II. Fleming, of Dutch ville Township, Granville county, who are recognized authority in the tobacco belt. Our selections will always be made from the best author itiees, and from these only. THE KIND OF LAND AND ITS. PREPAR ATION. The lands most preferred with us are of a moderately coarse, san dy soil, with a deep yellowish sub soil. In selecting lots for the yellow leaf, always select land free from wet spout y places. Remember, that Tobacco, of all crops, requires a thorough preparation of the soil and the very best preparation is ab solutely essential to success. If you have bottom land, fallow in the Fall with a two-horse plow, one that will not turn up the subsoil too much. If fresh lands, break early in the Spring with single plow; if there is much vegetation, use a turning plow as deep as the nature of the case will admit; if clean land, use a small plow and plow as deep as possible. Should there be a drought of a few weeks, repeat the fallow ing as often as necessary until the land is in good condition. If New Ground, clean oft all litter and break with a small cultivator plow to prevent turning up the undersoil too much ; plow across the first plow ing and harrow well to loosen the turf; with pitchfork and rake, pile up all the turf and roots, and let them dry a few days and then burn them, then with grubbing hoe and axe cut and take up all roots near enough the top to come in contact with the plow. When ready for bedding, plow and harrow again, to get up all the roots that appear. The rows should be from 3 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 6 inches apart, the latter only on very strong land. Barnyard manure should be kept dry and chopped to pieces until it is fine, and will drill regularly. We use our manure altogether in the drill, and will give the manner in which we usually apply our manure and fetilizers. Are lay off the rows before carrying the manures and fertilizer to the field. We never, let more than one load of manure be exposed to the sun at one time. It is a very good plan to haul and drill the manure (one load at a time) and then drill the fertilizers at the rate of 100 pounds to the 1,000 hills, on the average lands we cultivate; thinner lands require more. The kind of fertilizer depends greatly upon the condition of the land. When the fertilizer is drilled it should be covered immediately by turning two furrows together, run ning the plow very shallow in order to keep the hills low, then throw out the middle in same manner, take sweep made of scantliug 4 inches square, 7 feet long and cut the beds down as low as possible to prevent the tobacco drowning. Then with hoes put the hills 3 feet apart and you are ready for plant- in"'. PLANTING TOBACCO. It is a matter of the utmost im portance and should, by all means, have strict attention; for if the plants are not well planted, the growth will be irregular to do this, le careful not to bruise, while draw ing, or break while packing in basket, THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS 1 1 and never plant one that is injured. It is an all-important matter to see that the planters do not make the holes for the plants deeper than the plants are long, and when the plants arc inserted, be sure the dirt is well put to the roots, but not packed too hard, as the growth will be re tarded should there be a drought of a week or two after planting. CORN CULTURE PRACTICAL HINTS. NO. 2. For the Progressive Farmer. Mr. Editor: Corn is one of our most useful and usual plants to cul tivate, and it is astonishing how slovenly and unsystcmatically it is )lanted and cultivated. Every man uis a habit of his own, and his habits vary as much or more than the seasons. If we plant tobacco, we pulverize the soil, remove the roots, stumps and rocks; but we hurry in the corn (the seed taken from the crib just as some green employee comes to it), amid clods, trash, rocks and half plowed soil, and the wonder is that it makes any corn at all. The fewest number , of men know how to thin their corn. And some planters knowing that they have planted their corn on the hard ground, undertake to make amends for it by persistent plowing. Four merciless "goings over" must be inflicted, by old timed implements that enter the soil more from main strength than mechanical adaptation. And as they tangle and break the tender plants with their "laying by" castigation, they drive away from the field, with very little grass to hinder the maturity of a bountiful yield. But alas! one-third of the plants are barren another third flourish only pitiable "nubbins," while the other third, instead of showing fine ears of uniform per fectness, show a diversity of variety, as well as the disadvantageous cir cumstances that have surrounded them. Fifteen bushels to the acre, while the same soil was good for forty-five, with common sense treat ment. Corn yields best in rows 6 feet apart, and so crowded in the drill as to make the entire growth com port with the activity of the soil. The atmosphere which aids very largely in the formation of fruit, must come freely in contact with the ripening corn. And as to the bar barity of four toilsome and unnatural "plowings," the corn needs but one. If the soil is prepared, one good plowing when the plants are very small, and the harrow run through them in a fortnight thereafter, leav ing the surface of the earth level, not disturbing the tender rootlets (which run often two or three feet from the stalk) and keep down weeds and grass with the hoe. and slightly stirring the surface about the base of the corn, it can have an opportunity to grow and mature. But with the most philosophical systems, farmers needn't look to make full crops of heavy, well-formed corn, and plant such run doivn varie ties as an ignorant negro may gather up, from the front end of the crib, the day they go to plant. Better pay ten prices for the seed of im proved and trained corn. Truly, etc., J. W. V. FRUIT CANNING. FROM COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION. For The Pkogkessivk Farmer. If one class of immigrants are needed more than another it is prac tical fruit canners. They are needed for several reasons: First, because thousands of bushels of fruit go to waste every year in North Carolina for the want of market. If a fruit cannery was located in every county in the State the farmers could readily sell peaches at from 25 to 50 cents per bushel. In the majority of vil lages of North Carolina twenty-five bushels of peaches is sufficient to supply the market for a week. A cannery would enable the producers OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO WINSTON, N. C, APRIL 7, to sell one hundred bushels per day and thereby encourage the farmers to grow fruit and vegetables which pay a handsome profit. It would also give employment to needy women and children and keep in North Carolina thousands of dollars that go North annually for canned goods besides drawing money from outside the State. Small canning establishments are within reach of every town and community. (Quite a number of farmers near Baltimore put up canned goods on their farms, North Carolina farmers can do the same). Practical canners who will give their time against the money necesary to start a cannery can be secured. The average canner can fix up all necessary machinery to run for the first year at a cost of not exceeding $200. The running ex penses may be paid from the sales of canned goods. Commission mer chants will take the goods and ad vance enough to cover the current expenses. An outlay of money is needed to purchase fruits until a return can be made from the goods shipped. All expenses necessary would reach probably four to five hundred dollars. There is no risk, the canned fruits will not spoil. I will be glad to correspond with any party in North Carolina who would like to learn more concerning the canning business or to visit any town where the citizens would interest themselves in starting a canning factory. Now is the time to act so as to be ready for the present year's fruit and vegetable crop. J. T. Patrick. TOBACCO IN MECKLENBURG. The enterprising firm of Carson Bros., of this city, are making the initiative move. They have dis tributed, within the past month or so, tobacco seed to three hundred and eighty-one farmers, who have expressed a desire and willingness to grow the weed. This number includes more than one-tenth of the farmers of Mecklenburg county. This is an auspicious start. If only half are successful and it is reason able to suppose that this is a small estimate there will be a sufficiency to support a good market here. This will be followed up by the opening of a warehouse in this city, in the early fall, by these gentle men, who propose to open a market here for the sale of tobacco. Mr. C. M. Carson has just returned from a visit to Danville, where he has been gaining a knowledge of the warehouse business. The pros pects are encouraging. Evening Chronicle. A MODEL FARMER OF JONES COUNTY. Mr. Editor: In the person of J. B. Banks, of Jones county, and other citizens whose interest is identified with the successful farmer of Jones, may feel pround to know that Mr. Banks has made as great success as a farmer as any man in Eastern Nort h Carolina. Within twenty years, he has bought and paid for five large plantations. Land fifteen years ago, that was worth about one dollar, by improvement, is now worth $50 per acre. Land fifteen years ago that would not sprout cow peas, now yields one bale of cotton per acre. He will soon have a new ground consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. Before using cotton seed for manure, he grinds them. He sells every year bales of cotton by the hundred. May his success light the pathway and encourage the hearts of other farmers. O. New Seme Journal. A promising novelty in roses is " The Bride," a sprout from the well known tea rose Catherine Mermet. The Bride has all the fine qualities of the original plant in form, size and habit, but is a pure white, and connoisseurs pronounce it the best white rose in cultivation. ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. 1886. The Rudisill gold mine has been sold to a Pennsylvania company for $40,000. Tobacco plants are coming up nicely ; we have not yet heard of any damage by the fly. Danbvry Reporter. Mrs. Avery, wife of Judge A. C. Avery, died at her home in Morgan ton on the 25th ult. She had been an invalid for some time. Drinking three quarts of whis key from Friday night till Saturday noon killed Charles Hill, colored, of Belew's Creek Township. Salem Press. Buncombe county trots out a youthful criminal, a negro boy aged ten or twelve, who, in a fit of rage, stabbed to death a little white boy named Calvin (or Jack) Pressley. A teacher tells us of a boy who attended his school, who was thir teen years old and weighed 178 pounds. He is strong and active and plays ball well Pittsboro Home. Some of our farmers have be gun to plant corn. The prohibi tion question is being discussed in our sister town, Smithfield. Clay ton Bud. The fact that prohibition is gaining ground is a perceptible one. An employee of the Salem Branch Railroad informs us that the said road cleared in the month of March about $11,000. Greensboro Patriot. It is safe to say that Franklin's acreage in tobacco this year will be double what it was last. No pains are spared in the preparation of the land. The prospects are fine for a large crop of fine tobacco. Frank lint o?i Weekly. Prefers North Carolina. Mr. A. M. Saville,from nearPineville, sometime since went to Florida with a view of making that State his future home. He returned yesterday contented to remain in Old North Carolina. Charlotte Chronicle. The farmers report that a de cided improvement has been noted lately in the condition of wheat and oats. The St. Catharine gold mine. near the Air Line depot, is doing a big business now. The main shaft is about 400 feet deep and very fine ore is being brought to the surface. Charlotte Observer. Col. T. M. Holt's new factory at Haw River, to which we recently referied, will be a weavemill, two stories hight 75x172 feet. On the upper floor will be 216 looms, and on the lower beaming, packing, etc. It is proposed to have it run by the 1st of October or November. Ala mance Gleaner. One of the citizens of Mat thews told us a few days ago that the population of the town num bered about 350. Although the town is so small as to the extent of its population it boasts of fourteen stores, six churches and seven doc tors. Monroe Enquirer. Deputy-Sheriff R. W. Wing, tells us there are now only three prisoners in the county jail, the smallest number in four years. A floral curiosity is the flowering peach tree in the Baptist church yard. The tree has clusters of pure white blooms but bears no fruit. Greenville Reflector. The heavy rains this week, have caused much damage to rai1 roads, bridges, etc. Special dam age is reported on the Western road. The new find in Randolph county, near the Montgomery county line, promises to be a big thing. A cross-cut is being made and a distance of 18 feet fails to reach the opposite, or hanging wall of the vein. The ore is a solid mass of slate and quartz and is said to show gold all the way. Salisbury Watchman. No. 9. Mining interests in this sec- tion are receiving a new impetus. Uf one is to iudije from the enenry miusea into old ones ana tne re opening of others which have been idle for some time. The Sarah Davidson gold mine is being oper ated again. Charlotte Chronicle. New machinery is being added to the pulp factory at Graywood. In a few weeks the work will be in full blast and the pulp will be turned out in increased quantities. Mr. B. Swert slaughtered one of a pair of steers yesterday which weighed 3,000 pounds gross. They had been stall-fed and were seal fat. It looks to be equal to Balti more beef. New Berne Journal. During March the collections of internal revenue in this district were $5G,691.50.- rThe prospect of an early crop of peas is reported as not very satisfactory in the section near Goldsboro. There are now fifty-six pupils in the colored de partment of the institution for the deaf and dumb and blind. This is fourteen more than have been pres ent at any term in five years. Ral eigh News. We are glad to learn that the prospect for a wheat crop is much improved. Mr. A. K. Umstead, who has been making weekly visits to the country reports that wheat has improved very much recent ly. The oat crop is said to be almost an entire failure. Col. W. T. Blackwell proposes, at no distant day, to erect a magnificent ba.nk building on the corner now occupied by R. Blackwell & Son. It is a beautiful location and Col. Black well intends to erect a building sec ond to none in the State. Durham Tobacco Plant. There are now 180 students at Wake Forest College. There are 1,017 uniformed members of the State Guard. A handsome mon ument is to be erected at Washing ton, N. C, to the memory of the Confederate dead At Shaw Uni versity, a wooden building, 50x30, two stories in height, is in course of erection, for use as a mechanical shop. It will be thoroughly equipped with all the necessary ma chinery. The students of this uni versity are taught mechanical work of all kinds, and have, in the main, erected all the buildings, &c. News and Observer. W. P. Picket & Co., have pur chased a new engine and bojler for their tobacco factory, and it has arrived. They will hereafter run their factory all the year, and do their prising by steam. Mr. S. L. Davis, who lives a few miles from here, has invented a machine for setting out tobacco plants. He exhibited his model here yesterday and explained its workings. The machine is light and operator car ries it in his left hand and sets the plants as he walks along the row, without stopping. If it is a success, and it looks as if it were, it will prove a valuable invention. 3Ir. Davis says they will cost about $2 each. y' We are pleased to learn that the many little and big home en terprises and mechanical establish ments are doing well. We have two of the largest founderies in the State; and the Furniture manufac tory is increasing in patronage and growing in importance. The cot ton factory of Oates Brothers has done well from the start, because, probaly, it is managed by practical men.- Judge Thurman's father and mother were natives of North Carolina, his father being a Metho dist preacher residing in one of our northeastern counties. Gov. "Old Bill Allen," the great Democratic political champion of Ohio, was also a native of this State, and was the uncle of Judge Thurman. "The Judge was born before his mother moved to Ohio. Charlotte , Democrat.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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April 7, 1886, edition 1
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