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- - - - . ' " - -- , 4 THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. T Vol. 2. RALEIGH, N.; C., MAY 12, 1887. No. 12. OUR FARMERS' CLUBS. What our Farmers are Doing and How the Work of Organizing is . Progressing. PINEY GROVE CLUB NO. 1, WAKE COUNTY. This club numbers twenty members and is in fine spirit. It meets the sec- ond Saturday in every month, and would be pleased to have members from other clubs visit it. At our. next meeting we will discuss the question, " Which is the Best Method of Making and Using Home Made Manure. President B. T. Honevcutt Vice- r President, James Honeycutt; "William No well, Secretary; William Medhn, Treasurer; Executive Committee: L Honeycutt, Hackney Nowell, Wiley Hood, W. H. Bunch, P. Nowell. ' "We hope to run our list up to fifty or sixty members before the fall. W e like all farmers, feel the pressure of hard times, but we want to make up a good list of subscribers for your paper, for we feel that all farmer's clubs should take it. Member. GRANVILLE FARMERS FALLING INTO LINE. Our highly esteemed friend, Mr. S H. Cannady of Wilton, N. O, called to renew his subscription and gave us the following points as to the farmers club recently organized at his place: The club started with twenty-two members, which has been increased to about thirty. The officers: following: are the "S. H: Cannady, President; Lee Jen- -kms, Vice President, W . P. Lyons, Sec retary,. and J. F. Cannady, Treasury. Executive Committee : J. B. Floyd, G. L. Allen, Joseph Gooch. We hope to bo able to meet the far- mers of Brassfields township at Wil ton, at a big farmer's dinner during the summer. Granville is a grand old county, and her farmers must keep up with the great farmers movement, and when they do fall into line it will add strength to it. For The Progressive Farmer. DON'T STARVE YOUR LAND. Some of your readers think the article published in your columns some weeks since, headed, "How to Reclaim Worn Out Lands," rather ex travagant, and too much risk for gen eral adoption. I don't think; however, that there is. any danger of founder ing our lands, or producing indiges tion, if we should double the men tioned in that article. The more money we have deposited in the bank, the more liberally we may draw checks upon it. Just here let me remark, that if a farmer does not get above 25 per cent, on his money in the bank, he had better draw out and loan it to his fields in the shape 'of good plant food, good farm machinery and sensible til- tage. The more food in the soil, the more gram . or grass you may ' ex- pect to reap. . It is the height of folly to expect fifty bushels of L wheat to grow upon one or two acres of land that has nothing-but a sand bed or im poverished clay to feed the crop. We might with the same, propriety expect a horse to do good service all summer with nothing but a liberal feed of saw dust. I once knew a lady who lived upon a farm, and ordered ; chaff, to be stirred into water to make slop for hogs. Many of our farmers feed their crops upon food of about the same strength as the chaff slops. . , It took three of that lady's hogs to make a shadow or give a respectable grunt. Just so with the starved farm. Four or five shocks wont make a de cent bundle. I never attempt to write or talk about farming, but the subject of making compost looms up and de mands attention; but I am going to, with loud and long applause cheer it down this time, and only say that your columns, Dear Farmer, ought to teem with articles on manure-making, week after week, until oiir farmer friends are compelled to recognize the fact that manure-making is the all-important crop upon the farm, and; upon, it all other crops depend. I venture ; to say that there is not a farmer in North Carolina who is half-way doing his duty in making compost to improve his hungry lands. I am almost ready to threaten an article on that subject exclusively, some time, even if you consign it to the waste basket. But I am digressing far from what I sat down to say. I wanted to say that I believe in liberally feeding the soil and rapid improvement. But many of us poor farmers can't do as much as we would like- to do, for want of means. So I practice,' to some extent, what I consider a more economical plan. I take a piece of thin land that I wish to improve, turn it during the winter or early spring. In May, pre pare a nice mellow . seed-bed and seed to peas, using a little sprinkling of compost or a small quantity of guano, to give the pea vines a vigorous growth. When ; the pods begin to form, the vines should be turned under. Then use a little more compost or guano when the wheat is seeded. By using half the quantity of fertilizers, on the pea crop that I intend giving the wheat crop, I find I get a much better result than when I use none oh the pea crop, but put the whole quantity in at the time the wheat is seeded. This plan is within the reach of the poorest farmer, and will pay handsomely. Old Guilford. GREENSBORO FARMERS INSTI- The farmers of Guilford and ad joining counties will hold an " Insti tute " in Benbow Hall, Friday and Saturday, the 20th and 21st insts. Elaborate arrangements will be made for an enjoyable and profitable occa sion. Among the attractions will be a small fruit and floral exhibition on Saturday. The Morning News gives the programme as follows : " Farm Education," by Prof. Jos. Moore, of New Garden. "Does the Farm Pay ?" by Dr. D. D. R. Parker, of Trinity College. "Stock .Raising," by Dr. H. F. Bahnson, of Salem. "Agricultural College," by H. E. Fries, of Salem. "Clover," by Col. Tom Holt, of Haw River. V" Shall We Diversify Our Crops ?" by Col. i. L. Polk, of Raleigh. "The Dairy," by Dr. D. W. C. Ben bow, of Greensboro. "Agricultural Chemistry and Home Fertilizers," by Dr. Dabney, State Chemist. . " How Shall We Keep Our Boys on the Farm ?" by Prof: C. P. Frazier, of Greensboro. "The Orchard," by J. S. Ragsdale, of Jamestown. "Tobacco Culture," by J. L. King, of Greensboro. " Department . of Agriculture of North Carolina," by John Robinson, of Anson, State Commissioner. " Ensilage, and Its Effect on Stock," by Henry Wakefield, of Friendship. "Special Crops," by W. E. Benbow, of Oak Ridge. "Strawberries," by J. A. Young, of Guilford. , . , "Cherries, " by J. Van Lindley, of Pomona. "Commercial Fertilizers," by P. M. Wilson. " Cooking," by - . V , Short after-talks between the speeches. J. Van Lindley, Chairman. FARMERS' CLUB. Mr. Editor : Hickory Mountain Farmers' Club met in regular meeting Saturday evening, 16th inst., Presi dent A. H. Perry in the chair. The regular order of business was duly observed. The constitution1 and by laws laid down in The Progressive Farmer, unanimously adopted. We number 21 and expect to . increase rapidly. , We heartily endorse E.(W. A. 's proposal that the fanners have county meeting at JPittsboro during the summer, and we would - suggest that the meeting be held in July, and we do hope that all the townships in the good old countv of Chatham will form farmers' clubs before '. that time. We will meet at the Hickory Mountain school house Saturday at 3 o'clock, the 30th of April. The subject for discussion is, " How can we as farmers best improve our land and our crops ?" J, D. Dorsett, Sec'y. April 25, 1887. , . The Home. FARMER'S CONVENTION. c: The leading mrmers of Thomasville Township, as fan as heard from, highly favor the coming together of the far mers of the county for the purpose of learning how to-form. A more appro priate name of iuch a meeting would be " Farmers' Institute." We are al ready satisfied that such a meeting would meet the i icarty approval and cooperation of e ery intelligent farmer of the county. Two or three days spent together i 1 comparing farm ex perience, aided jy able lectures upon the leading industries of the farm, would wonderfully help the farmers. Dr. Dabney, Commissioner Robinson, Colonel .Polk and other prominent characters will, as we are alreadv as sured, come to our help. Lot us have the Institute some time in August next. What say the farmer clubs of the county and our farming friends where there are no clubs ? Speak out at once and let us get right down to hard work to have the best thing for the farmer ever held in the county. Remember, not a particle of politics in it. It is to be "through . and through " for the farm. I. L. Wright in Davidson Dis patch. MECKLENBURG MOVING. The farmers of Long Creek have organized a farmers' club, composed largely of young members. Le,t the old ones help them along, both with advice and encouragement. If the farmers don't take care of themselves they will not be taken care of, and these clubs are calculated to produce a great deal of good. The farmers of Sugar Creek and adjoining country met at the residence of Mr. Hat Farrow, on Saturdav, and organized a farmers' club. The ob ject of the club will be to improve the condition of the farmer, and promote the cause of agriculture.' Only a tem porary election of officers was held. Will elect permanently at next meet ing, which is to be held at Hickory Grove on the second Saturday in May at 2 o'clock. Among other speakers invited to address the farmers, is Mr. Rr. . B. Hunter, of the Observer ; and ,Mr. S. B. : Alexander, and we confi dently hope they will accept. Our farmers are sadly in need of an organ ization of this kind, and we hope to see them - turn out largely , at next meeting ancl hear some good speak ing. ' , ' . N. Charlotte, May 3, 1887. Charlotte" Observer. FARMERS' MEETING. ; The attendance at the meeting of the Farmers' Club Tuesday was not numerous, but what was lacking in quantity was in a measure made up in quality. President Car presided. Owing to absence of books the roll and minutes were , disbenced with, Messrs. Geo Howard, Seth Speight, Lam Lawrence, H. C. Bourne, and Dr. A. B. Nobles, were elected mem bers. Mr. D. W. Bullock was elected an honorary member, and entertained the club in. a diversified speech to prove that farmers were neither fools nor laggards. Col. Carr gave a lucid and entertaining account of his trip to the farmers of progressive tendencies around Raleigh. Dr. Staton was called on and explaineii the method of making perfect Ensilage. Mr. Jack Cotten and Dr. Nobles discussed manuring, broadcast versus drilling. Dr. Nobles spoke on deep plowing, which he advo cated except just before planting cotton Dr. Nobles reported that he had "made, two bales of cotton per acre in 1884. Mr. ; Grey Hargrove said he made 3600 pcfunds seecl cotton to the acre in 1866. 'Oh motion of Dr. Bass, Dr. Nobles was appointed to read an - essay - on manuring. Mr, Barlow moved that Mr. Hargrove discuss the best manner of raising manure. . , Meeting adjourned to meet the first Tuesday m July. Southerner. IREDELL COUNTY FARMERS. The Iredell county Agricultural As sociation held its regular meeting in btatesville Monday, and was called to order by the President. All the officers were present save Mr. T. M. Mills, the Secretary, who withdrew. N. W. Johnson was, then elected Secretary. Seven township associations enrolled, and were represented by their dele gates. Good reports were received from each township association, show ing that they were receiving new members at every meeting and the or ganization growing in favor with the farmers. Several amendments to the constitution were presented and re f erred to the committee, which will come up at the next regular meeting. The meeting lasted for several hours and a great deal of interest was mani fested. Several speeches were made by leading members and considerable business of importance not here re ported was transacted that will greatly strengthen and perfect the organiza tion. Besides the regular routine business of the association, hereafter there will be essays delivered upon progressive iarmmg. The association adjourned to meet again on the first Wednesday m Au gust, at the Court House in Statesville, at 11 o'clock a. m.Statesville Land mark. , HOLSTEINS. For the combined use of the dairy man and general stock raiser the Holsteins possess superior advantages over any and all other breeds. With the first, the most valuable considera tion is the, production of milk, for which purpose they have been especial ly bred, and acknowledged to exceed all other breeds for centuries in their native land, Holland. Their yield of milk ranges from 10,000 to 18,000 pounds per year, and has reached, in the case of Smith, Powell and Lamb's Clothilde, 26,026 pounds or an average of 71 pounds per day ! They mature early, coming into milk when about two years old, hold out evenly nearly the entire year, and when properly fed, give rich milk. They are very hardy, requiring neither rich food or extra care to obtain good results. To all these valuable qualities is added,; for the general stock breeder, large size, hardy, rapid growth, early maturity and easy fattening for beef. ' The heif ers at one year often weigh 800 pounds, at two years 1,200, and cows at matur ity 1,400 to 1,700. During the milk ing period it is difficult to keep Hol stein cattle in high flesh, but when dry they take on flesh rapidly hence are the most desirable, as being large and valuable for beef when done milking. They have been ; thoroughly . tested in different , parts of the United States from Maine to California, and as far South as Texas, and everywhere proven successful. No' other breed has ever made such rapid progress in favor, of the practical American farmer as the Holstein has done in the past fifteen years ; and at the . present rate of increase in twenty-five years more they will out number any ' other : im proved breed in America. The qual ity of Holstein beef is of the finest kind, the fat better distributed through the lean than, most, any other breed, and commands the highest prices paid in the markets. Breeder's Journal. Farmers throughout the country are demanding that the literary universi ties which hare , gobbled the national agricultural college fund must disgorge and that it be used for estebHshing purely agricultural - and chemical col leges. This honest and commendable sentiment has recenred a fresh impulse from the Hatch act, f which gives $15, 000 annually to each, state and territo ry for anagricmlxperiment tion. In New Ilampsmre. vfbr " in stance, where the college fund has been absorbed by Dartmouth college, there is a movement to take a portion of the fund away from that institution and set up an independent agricultural college at a central location, and estab lish in connection with it the experi mental farm provided for by the Hatch act. We are glad to see this move ment, and especially glad that it is not confined to any one state. Let the agitation continue and increase until we get the institutions designed by the agricultural college act of 1,862. When farmers have to fight to get their rights in this matter, they will appreciate the college more than ever, and will fill them up with their boys. The experience in many states with the college fund will lead farmers to be on the alert to guard the Hatch fund from: being stolen or misapplied in the same manner. We should be very sorry to see any quarrel over the experiment station fund in any state, but if a firm stand of the farmers in behalf of their rights in the matter is quarrelling, the more we "quarrel" the better. There must be no misapplication of this money. The only hesitancy that President Cleveland expressed in signing the bill was the fear that the money might be misapplied, as the agricultural col lege fund has been in some states. When he was impressed with the wide spread interest in the act among the practical and progressive farmers throughout the country, he remarked that he felt safe in approving the bill, because he could trust to them to see that it was properlv enforced. Farm ahTeimf ' SHALL WE WASH OUR SHEEP? To determine just the shape in which we shall sell any product we , should know the views and wishes of the deal ers and the manufacturers. Sometimes our own convenience maybe consult ed. For instance, there is some cheat in our wheat can we afford to take less for it per bushel or be at the ex pense and pains of cleaning it per fectly? There may be burrs in our fleeces can we better afford to sell it as burry wool than to pick those burrs out by hand ? The question of wash ing has several sides, to it besides the condition of the wool. No careful handler of pure blooded sheep would for a moment hesitate to answer no to the question. No reasonable man would consent to wash thinnish sheep in cold spring water. The washing of sheep in muddy water cannot be re commended nor in cold spring water on sanitary conditions. There was a time when fleeces sold higher if wash ed. Growers of course tried to do as required, especially when well paid to do so. In one instance a flock of sev eral hundred were put through a pool bottom. The results can be readily imagined, The buyer stood by the shearing table and saw that the shear ers had to stop every two or three min utes to whet their shears, on account of 'the sand in the wool. The buyer knew no better, but be assured the manufacturer was the loser. The wants of the manufacturer are , what we need to know and consider. They do not object to the dirt shrinkage in the wool if they can determine just what per cent that amounts to. The wool growers can ask nothing fairer, and where the grower sells direct to the manufacturer nothing can be easier, than to ascertain exactly this shrinkage, if both parties -are honest and wish to be fair in the matter. It was once considered honest enough to stuff fleeces with anything that would ; weigh, provided the trick was not, de tected. But all tricks are mean and dishonesty will not pay in the long run. Men n6wadays have to . look to their self respect in all transac tions. Farm and Fireside. ' .- The 'fly wheel to Messrs. F. & H. Fries' new engine is 22 feet in diam eter. 66 feet in circumference and weighs 25,000 pounds. It had to pe shipped m sections and made a car load by itself. Sentinel. " r I. I i f i i A I T .1 ill hi til I ft ; '- X if T ' .i ' - -
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 12, 1887, edition 1
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