North Carolina Newspapers

? THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIOHAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. Vol. 2. RALEIGH, N. O., APRIL 21, 1887. No. 9. I 1 tv rr t FARMERS' CLUBS. What our Farmers are Doing; and How the Work of Organizing; is Progressing. TRINITY CLUB SUBJECT, "CORN RAISING." Dr. D. Reid Parker: For a few years, past many of our farmers have neglect ed this important crop. It is now plain to be seen what such a course will bring upon us. Go to any of the feed stores at High Point or Greensboro, and you will see thousands of "ship stuff' brought here from Danville, Richmond and other places, to feed our stock. This may do for people who cannot do any better; but it will never do for us. "We can grow as good corn here as anybody perhaps not as many bushels to the acre as some, other sections, but a plenty for our own use, and of a first-class quality. It is fool ish to talk about successful farming, if we leave out our family and stock sup plies. Wehave all made up our minds to have bet ter stock, and in order to do this we must have an abundant supply of corn, as well as clover, grass and the small grains. I merely outline the im portance of this valuable crop to us, and would urge upon all our farmers the necessity of speedy attention to this matter, leaving the . question of how to do it to other members of the Club. J. J. White: In the first place, I shall insist on a thorough and deep plowing of red land in the fall or early winter, for my corn crop. Let it have the benefit of the disintegrating effects of the frosts and freezes, 1 Sandy land will do better if plowed in the spring, for the reason that the heavy rains will pack down and run together our lands that we term sandy, though they are largely mixed with a tenacious clay. Use a turn plow for fall and spring plowing, in preparing for planting. Just before planting, cross-plow and harrow fine the day is past for clods. Mark out your rows three feet and ten inches. If the land be nearly level and inclined to be grassy, check the ground three feet the other' way. Never plow after planting, but use the cultivator; double plow or sweep. Cul tivate shallow and often, about every eight days. The surface will not get hard and impervious to the air, if you stir thus often. .Keep it clear of grass and the surface mellow, by thus work ing until it begins to tassel; then lay by. Plant up land early in April. If you were going to plant bottom land, break in the spring, as it would be subject to wash by the heavy rains of winter. Plow it with a turn-plow and plant the last of June. By thus planting, you avoid the cut-worms. Cultivate the same as uplands. I fa vor surface culture, as I fail to see any good sense in root pruning for a corn crop. A. Parker: I prefer deep fall plowing,- and cross-plow in the spring. Run the rows one way, with a shovel-plow, and follow with a gofer in the same furrow, and thereby thoroughly break up the hard-pan or subsoil, as a pro vision against summer drouth. Lay by your rows four and a-half or five feet apart, and plant in the drill three feet apart. Never check for . corn. Al ways manure. Place it in the drill by the side of the corn, either when plant ing or at the first cultivation. Decom pose all manures and mix with bone meal, in the proportion of a bushel of bone meal to each two-horse load of manure. Mix as you haul it out, and use freely if you expect a good crop. , For the first cultivation, I run around with a long, narrow gofer. Af ter this I use the cvltivator, double-plow or sweep.' We frequently make a mis take in laying by corn too early. I I don't mind seeing a few silks when laying by. By cultivating late, the corn will remain green to the ground. Dr. Joseph Bird: August is a good time to tackle the raw or bitter weed. Turn them; at that season as a green manure. If I could, I would always begin plowing for cprn' in August. I never fail to have good returns when I begin at that time. - I am not so sure the first working should be a deep OUR one. Let all after culture be on the surface. By all means keep ahead t of the grass. Do - nice, thorough work and make big crops per acre, There, is where the money comes ;in. The corn .crop is an important one and should not be neglected. ( J. H. Robbins: I am preparing my ground for corn on a different plan from any previous -plan. I broke it last fall with a two-horse turn-plow. When I go to plant, I shall bed up in five-feet rows. In the centre between these beds I will run a fifteen-inch go fer its full length, drawn by two hor ses. Drop the corn three feet apart in the drill and cover with a double plow. Just before first plowing, make a lib eral application of good manure by the side of every hill. Then with a shallow running, turn-plow, throw the dirt to the young corn. All after culture should be done with cultivator or sweep, and lay by level, sowing down oats at my last cultivation. 'I intend to raise corn for my own purposes and likely some to spare. . T. J. Finch: Plow all upland in fall unless very sandy, and bottom land in spring. Cross-break in spring. Plant three arid a half feet ; each way, and thin to one stock. I plow the corn deep the first time gofer or bull tongue, then . shallow afterward. It is better to manure after the corn is up. Put manure by the corn. Plow as often as needed. Never wait for ground to get hard. Lay by level. Make your own corn ; never buy. Use double t plow in cultivating. D. M. Payne. OAK RIDGE CLUB, WAKE COUNTY. The farmers of this vicinity met on Saturday, the 21st inst., at Oak Ridge Academy and organized a club. The constitution issued by The Pro gressive Farmer was adopted, with some slight changes. " ' The following are our officers elect: M. W. Buffaloe, President A. C. Green, Vice-President; R. T. Weathers, Secretary; A. R. Buffaloe, Treasurer. Executive Committee: F. J. Holloway, Alpheus Jones, Willie Rogers. Wje meet again on the 16th inst., when we will dis cuss the question "What are the bene fits to be derived from the Farmers Clubs." The outlook for a large and zealous club is most encouraging. We are in the harness and we hope soon to be classed among the very foremost of the active, live, working clubs of the State. You shall hear from us again soon. R. D. Weathers, Secretary. DUTCHMAN FARMERS CLUB, WAKE COUNTY. At a call meeting on Saturday, the 9 th inst. at Dutchman school house, Swift Creek township, Mr. J. M. Jones was called to the chair and W. H. Strain appointed temporary secre tary. Mr. J. P. Massey moved that a com mittee of three on permanent organi zation be appointed. The chair ap pointed Messrs. W. W. Langston, W. H. Utley and W. T. Sorrell. The re port of the committee that the organi zation be known as Dutchman Far mers Club, and that the plan of organi zation as published in The Progres sive Farmer be adopted was on motion accepted,, members were en rolled and the following officers were elected: J. M. Jones, President; J. P. Massey, Vice-President; W. H. Strain, Secretary, and W- T. Utley, Treasurer; Messrs. W. H. Utley, W. W. Langston and W. T. Sorrell were ap pointed Executive Committee. On motion two members were ap pointed . to deliver essays at our next meeting: Messrs. W. W. Langston and A. M. Jones. The President congratulated the members on their successful organiza tion and reminded them of the im portant work before them and ad monished them to be faithful and con stant and pledged himself to be pres ent at every meeting.' Adjourned to meet at same place on the 2 2d inst. , , : W. H. Strain, Secretary, Stanly County Farmers Club No. 1, at Big Lick, has 87 members and is still increasing. " They expect to have 100 or more in a short time. This sounds very much like those Stanly people. w nen int?y move tney ao so in earnest. We Shall confidently ex pect to hear god reports from all parts of the county. mt. pleasAnt grange. Regular meeting of Mt. Pleasant Grange, No. 54, P. of H., St. John's Grange Hall, April 2, 1887. The Grange met and was opened in due form in the 4 th degree, Worthy Master, G. E. Ritchie in the chair. The minutes of last regular order of business taken up. Worthy Lecturer, H. C. McAllister reported that two of the committee appointed by this Grange to attend the farmer s convention held at Ral eigh on the 26th of January, viz.: Worthy Master Ritchie and himself, had attended said convention, the proceedings of which had appeared in the State papers and consequently were doubtless known to the mem bers present at this meeting. He added, however, that he was well pleased with the work of the conven tion, which he thought was a success. J About 400 farmers were present. He thought that the? organization had taken a strong hold on the farmers of the State. Thentfxt- meeting of the convention will bield in Greensboro in January hext'J Worthy Master Ritchie stated that the farmers' State organization recog nizes all fairoersV organizations, and therefore included the Grange. In order that the ,wpc may be still more beneficial to farmers, he thought that there should be "more organizations in this county, adding that a resolution stating in substahqe that the Grange is the best farmers . organization had been introduced '.' and adopted by the convention. - f The following resolution was intro duced and adopted: Resolved, That this Grange is ready and willing to co-operate with other farmers' organizations in pro tecting the rights of farmers, and ad vancing the cause of agriculture, and that we are ready to assist in organiz ing farmers' associations be the same in the form of clubs or Granges, and parties desiring information of the subject oi organization are requested to address the Secretary of Mt. Pleas ant Grange, Mt. Pleasant, N. C. On motion, G. E. Ritchie, M. Dove, and H. T. J. Ludwig were authorized to assist in behalf of this Grange, in forming clubs and Granges wherever application shall have been made for assistance. A communication from the Secretary of the State Grange was explained. Re cess of one hour. The W. M. called the Grange to order at 2 p. m.. The ' Worthy Lecturer delivered a very interesting discourse on the sub ject of drainage. A discussion fol lowed on the subject of education, the members generally taking part. The best method of cultivating crops was adopted as the subject for discussion of the next regular meeting. Motion to adjourn prevailed. H. T. J. Ludwig, Sec. ROCKINGHAM. FARMERS. A correspondent writing from Green Springs, in the northwestern corner of the county,. says: The farmers .of this neighborhood have been in the past extensive raisers of tobacco. At present prices they say they cannot afford to raise it at all, and think our people would be much more prosperous if our farmers would enter into an agreement, as has been done in Kentucky, to limit the amount of hills to 3,000 to each hand and under no circumstances produce more. They advise that some concert of ac tion be taken among farmers, that pledges be signed limiting the crop to that amount;" for unless this is done the evil will continue, as some men, under the impression " that others will raise less, will pitch' heavier crops and the evil will still assail us' The farm ers advise that some one take the matter in hand and see if sucHah agreement will not work to advan tage." We advise farmers to establish agricultural clubs, as is being done all over the country, the constitution and by-laws of which can be had by apply ing to Col. Li. L. Polk, Raleigh, N. C. All that they propose to do can be done by a club, and much good would result from such an organization in the mutual exchange of thought, plans, etc. Ld. Lcho.J HIGH POINT FAIR INSTITUTE. The following is the programme of the Farmer's Institute, to be held in High Point on Friday and Saturday, April 29th and 30th: 1. "Educated Labor," 2. "How to Make the Farm Pay," John Dorsett. 3. "Small. Fruits," E. R. Purdy. 4. "Stock Raising," S. B. Alexan der. 5. "Farming as a Business," J. D. Hodges. G. "The Farmer Must Be Educa ted," Joseph Moore. " ' 7. "Sheep Husbandly," W. G. Bar bee. " 8. "Grass and Clover," Dr. Joseph Bird. 9. "Farmer Boys," J. L. Wright. 10. "Farmer's Clubs and Coopera tion," L. L. Polk. 11. "Agricultural Chemistry," W. H. Pegram. 12. "Fruit Growing," J; Van Lind ley. 13. "The Grape," W. H. Idol. 14. "Cooking," Mrs. 15. "The Care of Fruit Trees," J. S. Ragsdale. ' There will be short "after talks" on all these subjects, and it will be in or der for any one present to participate in these discussions. You are invited to do so and thereby contribute to the interest and profit of the Institute. Messenger: One of the most intel ligent and prosperous farmers of Anson says the crop prospect is better now than it has been in fifteen years. W. 2V. C. Baptist : Snow in Watauga county was last week reported to be over two feet in depth. All the peaches save those in orchards above the frost line are killed. JS'evj Berne Journal: Mr. J. M. F. Rhodes, of Comfort, Jones county, sent us on last Saturday, the 9th inst., two full grown, ripe strawberries which were grown in the open air. Piedmont Pi-ess: Twenty-two-canning establishments have begun busi ness since 1st January last in the South. Mr. T. A. Witherspoon, who lives in Hickory, has a Jersey heifer one year and four months old, with her first calf, that is giving an abundance of milk. ... . ... Orange County Observer: From what we can see and learn, the wheat crop promises an abundant harvest. It would be a great ;help to our people. Capt. William A. Kirkland has been ordered to take command of the receiving ship Vermont. Capt. Kirk land is a native of Hillsboro. Pittsboro Home : Dog-gone the dogs! They have recently killed twenty-six lambs belonging to Mr. W. J. Lutter loh. This fact sufficiently explains why it is that sheep-raising is not profitable and so discouraging. Those having the matter in charge are taking steps to have a very creditable railroad cele bration on the 20th of May. Southerner : Mr. T. C. Bassett, of Rocky Mount, chief painter of the W. & W. Railroad, about 30 years of age, died Monday in that town from an overdose of morphine. Saveral dwellings are to be built in the upper part of the town. One for Mr. James Pender has been commenced, and it is said that Hon. J. J. Martin will soon put tip a residence. ' ' ' Danbury Exporter : The survey and estimate for the branch road from Walnut Cove to his place , has been made. The cost of grading, has been put at $46,000. Of this ; amount ' the State appropriates $25,000, which leaves but 21,000 to get up in order to secure a road to haul off our iron, etc., and to bring in such things as we need. The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Co. will furnish the cross ties, iron and bridge the road. , Southern Tobacco Journal: As to the acreage for the coming year, we find that the planters are waking up to see the error of. their ways. As a rule, they are sick of tobacco throughout Virginia and North Carolin. The gen eral tendency this year is to lessen the acre age, and to grow better grades. How well the planters , will succeed in this remains to be seen. But at this point it is fair and honest to surmise that the acreage for 1887 will fall from one third to a half below last year. Monroe Enquirer. Gov Vance will deliver the address at Bentonville on May 10th, at the unveiling of the mon ument to the Confederate soldiers who fell in the battte at, that place. Gen eral Joseph , E. Johnson will also be present. Woik on the new Baptist church is progessing rapidly. When finished, it will be a credit to that de nomination and an ornament to the town. It is said that most of the corn crop of the country will be planted earlier this year than usual. We re gard this as a hopeful sign. New Era: The track of the C. C. & C. R.'R. has been completed to the Rutherford ton depot, together 'with the side tracks at that point, and the surfacing of the. line is how nearly completed,, Trains ' will run over the road as soon as. the new locomotives and cars arrive. ' These' have been shipped, but the trucks had to be somewhat changed at Jersey City to permit them to run over the Pennsyl vania Railroad and this has occasioned some delay. The freight equipment continues to arrive daily. Mr. A. ; B. Stephenson has been appointed agent at Rutherfordton. i DEHORNING CATTLE IS PROFIT V ABLE. D. H. Morris asks for some one's opinion of the practice of dehorning cattle, and as I have just come from a herd of three hundred, all fed in one lot, I feel that what I say is practical and not theoretical. In Hardin county, Iowa, there is to-day over five hundred head all dehorned, and it would make Mr. M. smile, and exclaim in the lan guage of the poet, "them's my senti ments tew," to see from sixteen 'to twenty steers drink around one tank as quietly as sheep, or munching hay from a rack,- with a six hundred pound one without the least fear. As regards looks it is a great improvement. As to cruelty, it is not so severe as cas tration. The horns are sawed off close to the head, which allows the hair to cover the wound, and to all appear ance they look as if there never had been a horn on their heads. Some parties here apply some preparation to stop the flow of blood, while others just let them go and never pay any more attention to them. H. H. Hobff, in the Ohio State Register, says : I will lap down eight propositions, and promise you that within six months all, save tne Scribes and Pharisees, will be converted to dehorning cattle 1. It will save vearly the loss of two hundred lives in the United States. 2. It will save the lives of two hun dred thousand cattle and horses. 3. It will , save nearly all loss of calves by abortion. 4. It will save twenty-five per cent. of hay and ten per cent, of grain feed. 5. On cattle that run loose it will save one half the manure. - 6. It will save half the shed room. 7. It will save all loss in shipping cattle. ' & It is not cruel but humane. No man who clips a dog's ears or. the tails of lambs or pigs, ought ever to cen sure ' dehorning. A! P. Hath bone, Steamboat Jtocfct,jaiva. , . Subscribe to Progressive Farm er. I tt: