Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / April 28, 1887, edition 1 / Page 1
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I : ; ; 1 ' : : t -y ; . . ' i ' , . - , ' ; "; ' - . , j !5r i ; 4 f: r. Vol. 2. OUR FARMERS CLUBS. What our Farmers are Doing and How the Work of Organizing is Progressing. HARK S CREEK TOWNSHIP CLUB COUNTY. -WAKE This Club met on the 16th inst., when an interesting: discussion was "1 had on the subject : How to Raise Manure and to Improve the Soil. J. B. H. Knight said 1st. Green Crops. On our old and worn down lands, nothing is of more importance to improvement of their condition, when cost is taken into con sideration, than green crops, such as field peas, rye, etc. The clean culti vation and severe washings to which most of our lands are subjected, soon destroys all the vegetable matter- humus naturally in the soil when the land is brought into cultivation. "When this humus has been exhausted, it must be supplied either by vegetable or animal manures. Mineral manures are no good without this humus in the soil to act upon. Now the best way I know to keep a supply of this humus on hand is to occasionally give to your land a pea or rye crop. Pease are far preferable. They not only give veg etable matter to the soil, but draw largely from the atmosphere. The pea foliage is very porous, and readily absorbs from the air such gases as am monia, carbonic acid gas, sulphuretted hydrogen, etc. The grasses and clover act in the same, manner, but I shall speak of them separately, further on 2d. Grasses. Grasses not only sup ply the soil with humus, but upon these we can rely largely for feed for our stock. Everv farmer should have at least a portion of his farm m clover, or grass, for two seasons. 1st. With plenty of grass, feed is plentv, for during spring and summer we find it green, and during summer and fall, while the supply is more than equal to the demand, it should be cut and prop erly dried, and makes an excellent feed for winter use. 2d. With plenty of grass, or, good hay made from it, we can safely make an outlay in stock, which properly fed and cared for, (of 1 1 T ' 1 11 1 .1 v wmcn snail speaK again iurtner on) will make an abundance of manure to be used in enriching- the soil. As to which grass is best for our country, there are many opinions. I have tried red clover, and know it to be a good thing. Purple top is as good annual clover as you can get. This must be sown in the fall, and may be cut for use early in April. It is purely a spring crop. The crop may be cut and fed green to all kinds of stock, or cut and cured making an excellent hay, and the crop come off in time to plant tha same land in cotton or corn. Lucerne Alfalfa, Johnston grass, Ber muda grass, and blue grass are all highly mentioned for hill lands, and Timothy for bottom lands. As my subject is the improvement of the soil, I shall speak of the culti vation of these grasses only so far as they are directly concerned in the im provement of the soil. 3d. Stock. As the grasses and stock are so ciosely allied, before go ing farther, I will say a few words about stock. One of the greatest in ducements to the raising of grasses, is that we may have stock. The more grass, the more stock ; the better , the grass, the better the stock. The more stock, the more manure. The better the stock are cared for, the better the manure. It is advisable to raise pure breeds as nearly as possible, as they thrive better and always bring better prices when offered for sale. When it is not convenient to raise pure breeds, the next best thing to it is to breed from pure-bred males. It has been ascertained that grades thrive as well as pure bloods, and with cows often milk fully as well, 4th. " Rotation of Crops. This - is closely allied with what has heretofore been said, and on it much depends, not only as to the direct improvement, of the soil, but the success in raising the grasses and stock, which mean, indi THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS rectly, the improvement of the soil. No farm should be confined to one crop, but on it should be raised a variety of crops. If one crop is grown annually for a number of years on the same land, the soil becomes exhausted of certain elements necessary for the plants' growth . unless properly ma nured, which is a very hard thing to do. To do this would require a care ful analysis of the soil. A plant only takes just a certain proportion of each element composing it. One or more elements may naturally exist in abund ance, in the soil, but in the absence of any one element, it makes no difference how small the amount required, the crop is a failure. One of the best means of avoiding the exhausting of certain elements in the soil, is by rotation of crops. No two crops are composed of the same elements exactly in the same propor tion. I will give a plan for the rotation of crops which I think a good one. We will suppose a- variety of crops is the wish of the farmer, and his ob ject to improve his farm and at the same time make his home comfortable, and some money by ; his farm. Will state in the outset, howjever, that no definite plan can bo given, for much depends upon the land, and taste of the person concerned. Say 'he wishes to cultivate pease, grain (oats, wheat, etc.,) cotton, corn, grass, potatoes' tobacco, etc. Of these, pease, cotton corn, potatoes and tobacco will require constant cultiva tion. As to quantity , to cultivate of each of these crops, I should say let pease and grass represent about one-fifth of the farm, grain, (wheat and oats) one fifth, or a little more, cotton one-fifth, and potatoes and other crops, one fifth or a little less. To begin, plant the portion allotted to pease, first preparing the land well, and manure them, if you have the spare manure, but do not slight the other crops for this one, and put in the seed pease as soon as dancer from frost is over. Cultivate this crop well, and save all the pease, This crop will mature in time to harvest them before and about pulling fodder time. If convenient, the hogs may be pastured on this lot for a few days. Then turn under the vines to a good depth, but do not use a plow that completely reverses the soil. I prefer a plow that just edges over. In a few more days, or about the middle to last of October, plow this land well, again after apply ing its quota of manure, broadcast, and sow in wheat, and harrow in. The wheat may have a top dressing and harrowing in the spring, or not, as suits the individual. When the wheat comes off, just as soon as Vou possibly can plant in pease again. This time suit your own convenience as to whether plant in drills and cul tivate or sow them broadcast. The former is preferable, for then you have a chance of) another good crop from this land for the, same season. Al ways manure, every time you plant, if you have the manure, but if any of the crops are. to be slighted, let it be the field-pea, unless the land be very poor, when they will need something to start , them. This land after this, may be planted in cotton, the follow ing year in corn, then in potatoes or other crops, or in grass or pease again, thus completing the rotation. All the time plow the land well and until it is fine, but never when too wet. This is for the good of the land. . Pas ture lands are not included in tnis rotation. Now about managing the stock, etc, : Every horse and cow should " have' its stall, which should be warm and comfortable in winter, and so as to be ventilated in summer. Each animal should be fed in its own stall and be confined there until turned out. The stables should be kept well littered, and never suffered to become wet and foul. A good bed should be kept for he. above purpose ' and to absorb the liquid portion of the manure, which is the most valuable part.' Sawdust is a good absorbent, and might be prop-4 erty used- a layer three or four inches deep in the bottom of the 1 stall On OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO RALEIGH, N. jO., APRIL 28, this may be thrown pine or wheat straw, or leaves, whatever is most convenient, but preferred in the order mentioned. Always keep a good sup ply on hand, and never get too busy to replenish when out, or nearly so. On this depends a great deal. The animals' bed should be made daily, if required. Keep the fork and lrtter convenient and this trouble is small. Once get in the way of it and it seems light. ISo more than watering the animal. The stalls should be cleaned out thoroughly once in two or three months, and the manure thrown under shelter until wanted for use. The manure should be properly mixed with rich soil, to prevent burning. The hogs should have their pen in which to be fed, and it should be kept lit tered. When fattening, put them in floored pens and don t forget to litter. During bad weather in winter, all the hogs should be confined to their pen, and a good shelter provided. I have not said anything about the breeds of stock best to keep, as tins does not bear on the question. 5th. Would say that when it is the aim of the farmer to bring his land to a high state of cultivation, it is ad visable to remove the stumps, stones, etc. This can be done a few at a time when it is convenient. It costs too much to undertake the whole farm at once a few each year and they are all gone. 6th. Draining also is a very import ant item. The soil is a good absorb- ent,'4but when full it cannot absorb any niftr Cut deep ditches, not too far apart, and' put in tile, stone or poles and fill ;up. Always have a leading drain with numerous others emptying into it. After these drains are prop erly made, the ground should be deeply )loughd Mbt0 .deep at first, but gradually deeper, eJach year until the desired depth is reached. Land well drained and pulverized, absorbs the rains as they fall, and appropriates the salts and gases in solution in them, as they pass down through the soil into i t i m -. tne unoer drains, ine water comes down richly charged with ammonia, carbonic acid, and other fertilizing principles, and passes out the drains poor in these elements. Then another benefit is derived from under drains besides the . saving of gullies and room for hillside ditches. If the rains are suffered to run off from the surface of the soil, they al ways carry more or less of the soil with them. The part thus carried off is always the most fertile part. The salts present in the soil also pass off in solution in this way. So we see by properly draining our land we not only save the soil and the fertilizing ele ments it contains, but. take from the air much of those it contains, they be ing absorbed by the rains in passing down, and left in the soil in passing through. Besides, there are many elements in the soil that cannot be ap propriated until acted upon by the oxygen of the air they must be dxid ized. When the soil is such that will admit the water down through it freely, the air follows, filling up the pores occupied by the water, and thus accomplishes this grand object. The best of agricultural chemists say it will pay to drain land. CEDAR GROVE CLUB FORSYTH COUNTY. This enterprising club wTas organized on the 17th of pril, 1886. It has now-past the first mile post in its ex istence is. vigorous, healthy and hope ful. It held a lively meeting on its anniversary day in which a general review was made of its operations, It held 18 meetings during the year at all of which its faithful president pre sided, except one. It began with 24 members and it now numbers 61 vot ing and - 25 honorary members. A general summing up of its; work, and of ; the evidences of: improvement among Its members, and of ; the busi ness transactions of the' club makes a creditable and gratifying exhibit. It is one of th most progressive clubs in the State and we confidently expect to hear, of -more and better work as it growsvin age and numhors, ..for,, it, is maae oi, uie rxgiib juqu oi t material ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF 1887. and is fortunate in having good faith ful officers. It is always among the foremost in good works. THE FARMERS OF NASH. The Nashville township club, is the largest club in the State that has been reported to The Progressive Farmer. It numbers 189 members. Its officers are: President Simon A. Robbins. Vice President Daniel A. Taylor. Secretary A. D. Williams. Treasurer Wm. G. Griffin. Postoffice, Nashville, N. C. This club proposes to hold its first annual meeting at Nashville on the 4th day oi JulVj and generously in vites everybody to come. A grand and good time is expected. waitaker s club. This club members 160 -members and is in a most flourishing condition. Officers: President E. W. Sears. Vice President Warren Thorne. Postoffice, Red Oak, N. C. MOORE COUNTY FARMERS. On the 19th instant, the farmers of Moore met in the courthouse in Carth age for the purpose of organizing a county club, Capt. Geo. Wilcox was made chairman and Daniel Under wood secretary. The chairman pre sented briefly and tersely the reasons why the farmers of the whole county should organize, and said that he hoped soon to see a well organized and active farmer's club in every school district in the county and all in thor ough co-operation through a central or county club. un motion oi Mr. l.. uoie, it was agreed that the farmers present should proceed to organize a county club. A call foTThe various clubs already or ganized in the county showed the fol lowing to be represented: Greenwood No. 2, 26 members. Carthage township No. 2, 15 mem bers. Carbonton, 23 members. Jonesboro township No. 1 mem bers. Pocket No. 1, 35 members. Crane Creek, 1 1 members. Greenwood No. 1, 68 members. Poplar Spring, 25 members. The following were elected officers of the county club for one year: President Capt. Geo Wilcox. Vice Presidents J. W. Scott, G. B. Cole, C. C. Hunt, Greenbury Cole and W. L. M. Harrington. Secretary D P. Shields. Assistant. Secretaries D. M. Un derwood and A. G. McDonald. Executive Committee J. W. Scott, Elisha Cole, A. M. Wicker, J. R. Jones and H. J. Dennis. " Col. L. L. Polk, editor of The Pro- gressive Farmer was present and on motion he was invited to address the meeting. He spoke on the absolut necessity for organized co-operatio among the farmers of the land, an said that he desired to see them o ganize by townships or school districts and these into county organizatio and then to see all the States com together in one great. National organ ization. The house was well filled and they listened with profound attention and interest to the speech, throughout. At the close of the speech Mr. Elisha Cole, suggested that the farmers pres ent, as a mark of appreciation of th speech and of the noble and constan efforts of Col. Polk, on behalf of th farmers of the btate, should at one raise a handsome list of subscribe: for his excellent paper, and the su gestion was heartily seconded by th efforts of several of the farmers,' which gave him a good list. We all feel that we have made a step in the right direction and that we -have only to be faithful to ourselves to accom plish great good for ourselves and the country. On motion the club adjourned to meet in Carthage on, the 1st Saturda at 11 o'clock a.? m: i vi, k Geo. Wilcox, President. D. P. Shields, . Secretary. Subscribe to Pbogbessive Fabmeb. x f STATE POLICY. No. 10. An interesting meeting of Marks Creek Clubavas held on the 16th inst. It is necessarily a small club, but it is fully alive to the importance of organ ization among the fanners. A. R. Hodge President, Postoffice, Raleigh, N. O; J. B. H. Knight, Secretary, postoffice, Eagle Rock, N. C. Regular time of meeting, Saturday before 3rd Sabbath in each month. The farmers of Guilford county are contemplating having a farmers' coun ty meeting in Greensboro at an early date for the " pnrpose of organizing clubs in all the townships of the coun ty. And thus the good work pro gresses. We hope before the year is, gone to be able to chronicle the organ ization of the farmers in every county in the State. COTTON-SEED OIL. This journal has constantly opposed all adulterations in food. It was as against adulteration that the Oleomar garine law was favored. We never made war upon butterine or oleomarg arine as such. Simply as an American manufacture it has its proper place in commerce, will command a price ac cording to its intrinsic .value, and be the basis ef a legitimate business. It is only as an attempted counterfeit that the law became necessary. The same princidle applies to cotton seed oil. Lard consumers have a right to claim protection against coun terfeit lard, made from cotton-seed oil. Purchasers of olive oil rightfully com plain when they are -cheated by an imitation made from cotton-seed. Cotton-seed oil is a vast product of the South. It is estimated that with in a few years, when the business shall have been expanded to its full capa city, it will add $75,000,000 annually to the productivy wealth of the cotton , States. But already olive-oil producing countries have taken up the cudgel, owing to the extensive counterfeiting referred to, and soon the great hog raising industry will join in the war fare. Congress will be asked to stop the adulterations from cotton-seed oil, and it will done. Would it not be far better if the manufacturers and all interested would hold a convention and take measures to make their business legitimate throughout, let all the world know what they make, its uses and merits, and declare against all attempted coun terfeits. In this connection we quote from the New Orleans Times-Democrat, which believes that cotton-seed oilcan and should stand upon its own merits i ' "There is a growing sentiment against, adulteration in this country, and this sentiment may find vent some day, either in a general law against adulteration or a special one directed against the use of cotton-seed oil in lard. The proper course is to meet the issue in advance ; to bring the : Southern product before the country on its true merits ; to show its advan tages, ; cheapness ; ;and purity, and to' introduce it to the public as a pure, healthy, sweet and refined vegetable; oil." Here also, from the same source, is warning that should be heeded as ming from a friendly quarter : " If me cotton-seed manufacturers and cotton-seed producers do not wish to be caught in the same trap as the makers of oleomargarine, let them be warned in time that no article can be profitably manufactured wholly for adulterating purposes for a long period, and must ultimately rest on its own" merits." .iart, Field and Stockman. Furroan's formula consists of 30 bushels of barnyard manure. 30 bush- Is of cottonseed, 400 pounds of, plain cid phosphate and- 200 pounds' or amit or potash salts. These may be oroughly mixed together at first or ut in ..alternate layers of cottonseed, phosphoric -acid kainit, and so on. The rotting -down will be hastened by moistening.- Work the pile over from time to time with a forkj, and , cover with several inches of earth, to absorb the ammonia that might otherwise escape.T Farm . and Home. ',. " f 4 1 , t t . i . I t
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 28, 1887, edition 1
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