Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / Sept. 29, 1896, edition 1 / Page 1
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) ISPa in ire p The Progres sive Farmer is a Jood paper-far fbove the aver se. ..aDd possibly "The Progres sive Farmer is a good paper far above the average- -and possibly the best advertis ing medium in N. C." Printers' Ink. OGRES ae best adverus medium in N. S3 THE INDUSTRIAL Abj OCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. Vol. 11- RALEIGH, N. C, SEPTEMBER 29, 1896. No. QTVH7 L7JL V . I I m nt; .ii1 ,o I. tate et't I av tie ,Hl4 i ERS' ALLI- TRIAL UNION. i. l-nt-Mann Page, Brandon, Vri President H. C. Snavely, Lob aC: ?n. t 'ry-Trcaeurer- R. A. South wcrth.' Denver, Col. EXECUTIVE BOA2D. r. Loucks, Huron, 8. D.; W. P. p:'.' -;: Oogan Station. Pa. ; J. F. Wil giw W. Li. Peeko, Ga. JUDICIARY. i a Scuthworth, Denver, Colo. :; W. Beck, Alabama. D. Davie, Kentucky. e.X OABOUSA FASUl STATS ALLI- President Dr. Cyrua Thompson, VVco- President- Jno. Graham,Ridgo C lrotary-Treasurer W. 8. Barnes, BfI?irT. B. Hoover, Elm City, I NvvrA-Dr. V. N. Seawell, Villa aiain Rev. P. H. Massey, Dur So? keeper Goo. T. Lane, Greens- 14istanrDoor keeper Jas. E. Lyon, Durham, N. C. ,... er : ant-at Arms A. D. K. Wallace, TtfATIONAL. FARM AliCB AND INDUS' 11 RuthorforJitoG, IN. . . i ) L'ta;r Business Agent T. Ivey, Hi Is A. Oriiam, Machpelah, K. C. STecTIYS 002HI5TTSE OS" TH3 NORTH COLISA FARMERS1 STATE ALLIANCE. A F. Hileman, Concord, N. C. ; N. C. Eili i'n, Trinity, N. C. ; James M. Mewborne. Kiss on, N. C. ITaT:? ALLIANCE JUDICIARY COHMITT1CE. j'&hn Brady, Gatesville, N. C. ; Dr. J.v. Harrell,- Whiteville, N. C. ; T. J. Caniler. Acton. N. C. ari-a Crclins. Reform Press Association. r.-v sJ. L. Ramsey, President; Sutler, Vice-Ireaident ; W. S. Bsmt, Secretary VVl PAPERS. v Hicfcory.N.U. , V' ' Whltakere, N.C. Houvht Dfiin. N. C. Lnrriberton, N. C. Charlotte, N. C. Concord, N. C. Wadestoro, N. C. fcja.iibury, N. C. inert". Py. . Irf's Paper, The Vt-tif.uie, Tho p;, -v- nv. Urollua. Watchman. F.r-ch of the above-named papers are tot;cs.i tn hpp-n the. list ztandiria on ki frit page and add others, provided 'hsy are duly elected. Any paper f ail ?,?: o advocate the Ocala platform ivill dropped from the list promptly. Our Sjxic 'cxn note see what papers are ::ih$ zl in their interest. AG KICULTTTRE. Toe Virginia station finds the expense 1 i vl L 'jk i k . Liii, vuvv.u , c 3 r J into the sib to be about sixty cents per f ton. Njw that soaking rains have fallen ia rnmy sections, fall plowing will commence in earnest. Plow wheat land the roughly. Don't underestimate the value of the hen. By working seven days in the contributes more than 135 (Wi f ,; everr vear to the wealth of this rf rf nation of ours. The hr n lives largely upn what the live s:cck on the faim wastes; even when touch the rock bottom point, poult rv niva r lfirprr nprentace than ll - - f J - o - - f - I anything else on the farm. K j A good average crop of any kind is i Vltitt-.-VT. i. 4l-.nn nvl1 e-riy sorts or extra late. The early haa so:i;o advantages, but that which kea almost an entire season and fully matures is the most satisfactory. Tae true chicken cholera is a very rre diioaae, and many times when a flick bt-giaa to die eff rapidly the trouble h pimply a bowel complaint, arising from impure drinkiog water, and when this ia the case the remedy 3 to improve the food and surround ings. While the soil mav ba full of fertility. ) tllIae only will not supply the elements fir n'Jtrition. If continuous cropping, v the machine or animal, is to be Practiced, manure must not be with eld, however good the tillage may be. ertihz Ation and tillage together make we largo crops. j Evefore digging a well it ia well to k ana 8ee what kind of trees are .WlDS near it. Locust trees will send Glr root3 a distance of 15 to 20 feet water, and if a well is within that , v- .t M ncu IS WibUlU VUUU !tince t.hpiT ttt;ii , 1 --i. n.- "J oureiy net mio it n Wi 13 w"uea witnin stones. In a muoK I 6 bottom. and this is a f tb ter and cheaper way of put- j V gaown wells ihn fk u u: i unit? - . . WQe ff - u luo UlU iBBUIUUOU c 01 Qlf rrin r 1.1 .. . uub wao eartn oy nana. WEEKLY WEATHER CROP BULLETIN For the Week Ending Saturday, Sept 19, 1896. Central Office, Raleigh, N. C. Tne weather during the week ending Saturday, September 19 .h. 1896, was favorable for the work of gathering crops, but was not such as to cause any improvement in the outlook. The tem perature rose steadily during the week, and the last days were almost as warm as any experienced this summer, with maximum temperatures as high as 100 degrees. Tho weather turned decided ly cooler on Sunday. Some good local rains occurred th-s week on the 13 h, 15th and 16 sb, which were heuviegt ia the eastern portion of the State. The largest amounts were 3 65 inches at Warrenton and 2 95 at Weldcn. Over largo portioES of the State the drought still prevails; many wella and creeks are dry, and at places there is some difficulty in obtaining water The weather was perfect for picking cotton; the crop is opening very fast, and is probably nearly all open ; pick ing is proceeding rapidly. Never be fore has the crop been gathered so early. The hot weather this week caused some more premature opening, and the final yield will be as low as previously estimated. Corn is dry and now being gathered. An early frost would probably injure a little tobacco still left in the fields. Potatoes and peanuts are being dug. Both crops are not us good as premised a month ago. Potatoes are fair; peanuts on stiff lands nearly a failure. Turnips very poor stand generally, but best in northern portion of eastern district. Vory little fall plowing for wheat and oats ha3 yet been done. DROUTH LESSONS. Every year some section of our com mon country ha3 its season of drouth and consequent damage to growing crops. Drouth is a serious misfortune, and yet it may have mitigaticg circum stances if it helps to make the farmer a progressive thinker, li ting him cut of routine work and qualifies him to adapt himself to a wide variety of con ditions, says the Southern Farmer. It benefits a farmer to get out of the ruts, and drouth is likely to get him out of many ruts. Drouth teaches the advantage of catch crops and expedi ents to minimize the loss, and of that system of culture that will enable tho soil to resist the effects of drouth for some time. Drcuth emphaszrs the importance of irrigation the applica tion of water to the growing plant in the right quantity and at the right time. Farmers should profic by tho teachings of the late drouth and put in a large acreage of small grain and for age crops this fall. AN ELECTRIC FARM. The first real electric farm and gar den in practical operation on a large scale is on the Jersey coast, about fifty miles from New York City, and the first consignment of vegetables raised by electricity is about to be placed on sale in the New York market. The o wner of the farm is Thomas Fiemming, who is a thorough gardener and elec trician, having eerved an apprentice ship in both lines. A large stream of water flows through the farm, and this is used in generating the electricity. Plows, rakes, harrows, mowing machines, are all worked by electric motors, and the dropping of the seed is performed by planters that can bo regulated to meet the required distance. Tne cultivation of the plants after they have come up is done by small plows. Weeds are electrocuted. A small electric wagon goes across the field or between the rows of plants and drags a heavy wire netting upon the ground. A powerful electric current is applied to this, and every weed or vegetable growth that it touches is in stantly killed. A lighter current ap plied to the plants stimulates a rapid growth and increases the size. The effect on flowers in the green house raised under the influence of the electric liht is very curioua. At first the light was injurious to many blos soms. The color of tulips was deeper and richer for a few days, but they lost their brilliancy when exposed to sun light The color of scarlet flowers turned to grayish white, and while all bloomed earlier and produced larger blossoms, they soon faded. By reducing the intensity of light and covering them with opal glass globes, the injury to their quality was lessened. These flowers seemed abnormal mon strosities. They are double the ordi nary size, and exceeding brilliant when kept in dark rooms during the day time and used only for evening decora tion. Mr. Flemmicg hopes by another winter to ship specimens of these flowers to New York, exposing them for si!e only at night in stores lighted by electricity. They are to be used for bouquets or cordage bouquets at night. Tho explanation of the increes d growth of plants under the influence of electricity was thought to be the exten sion of the working season for them the continuous light preventing them from resting at night, but it is now generally conceded scientists that electricity helps the plants to assimilate nitrogen of the atmosphere and favors them ia taking up certain mineral salts of the earth. A point of great importance whioh Mr. Fiemming e p cis to prove is that" the cost of producing fruits, flowers and vegetables stimulated by electricity will be less than when cultivated in the ordinary vay. Ho is a practical man as well as theorist, and utilizes power in every available way in order to pro duce tho greatest results with the least possible expense. Farmers' Voice. FARMING FOR A LIVING. There is no gainpaying the fact that if farmers would farm more for a living and not 6imply to make money, they would live better and make more money too. Tne essential thing to do, and it is of prime importance, is to produce all the food crops on the farm that are necessary to eustain the necessary laborers and stock and a eurplus for market. On farms remote from mar ket, farmers cannot successfully diver sify their agricultural pursuits With tne establishment of good roads and manufacturiDg enterprises throughout the country, the demand will bo in creased and the ability to transport prcduct3 enlarged. But it will pay the farmer to rotate his crop3 and diversify them sbffi jient to m et hit? own wants at heme. Let him not only build up his home, but his land. No handsome residence with all the evidences of thrift and happi ness, looks in place on a iarm whose soil is depleted of humus and given over to briars and brambles. TAKE CARE OF THE TOOLS. Take care of the farm implements and machinery. It would seem that no word or suggestion or warniDg is necessary on this point, but it would surprise the general reader if he were traveling over the country to note the evidences of carelessness which are so often seen. The provident and pains taking farmer has a place for his im plements, where he sees to it that they are housed and properly cared for when they are no longer required in the cultivation of crops. His improvi dent neighbors some times leaves his implements where they were used last, or about his premises without shelter. Even his harvester or mowing machine is left in the field long after it has been used, subjected to all kinds of weather and inevitable injury. The coat for repairs is necessarily in creased under such inexcusable neglect, and the period when a new machine will be necessary is much shortened. The care of tools is an important factor in farm economy, and a word in season, while not necessary for the provident man, may be serviceable to such as are too remiss in this direction. SHARP DECREASE IN HOP YIELD It is not surprising that the crop of hops is much smaller than a year ago, or than any average crop in recent years. The market for two years past has drifted into a deplorably low con dition, and hop growers cut their acre age for '96 right and left. A prelimi nary estimate by the American Agri culturist, which is the authority oa the hop crop, places the total ?96 yield at approximately 175,000 bales, subject to revision as later returns come in; of this the Pacific coast is credited with 100,000 bales, and New York 75,000 ; the total crop of '95 was placed at 292,000 bales, '94 320,000 bales. The United States exports annually an average of 95,000 bales domestic hops and imports 5,000 to 17,000 bales foreign. The hop crop of Europe is also materially less than last year, and with a return of normal trade conditions there is a prob ability of higher prices, which ought to make it possible to market the sur plus of old hops" now in the hands of dealers. EXPERIENCE WITH WHITE SWEET CLOVER. A correspondent of the Country Gen tlcman speaks as follows concerning this commonly called pest weed, white sveet clover: It first grew on our land in spots, as the seed was washed on from the creek overflowing the land, then as it grew up and the land was plowed for corn, it was plainly seen that the corn would be much better than where there was none gro sving. I considert d it then ad visable to gather some of the seed as it grew wild, and seed it upon part of a piece of rye ia the spring, as you would with ordinary clover. The result was, in tho fall after the rye was eff the ground, there was a very rich growth of about two feet high, 1 solid mat of it that it was al most itnpocsble for a man to walk through. Iq the spring it was left to grow about up to the horses' knees, and in due tim for corn planting, and then was turned under by having a sharp share on the plow to cut the roots well, and a chain attached to the plow to drag under completely the green growth. It was perfectly subdued, and the corn on that four acres of a twelve acre lot was much heavier and a better, healthier color than on the remaining ground where red clover was seeded, and there was only about six inches growth to turn under. I would advise all farmers in prepar ing ground for a good corn crop to seed their ground with this clover, either with winter grain or spring grain. It will 5 ield much better corn crops and will enrich their ground more and more each year. There is no danger cf the seed lying in the ground and coming up another year, and it quickly dies after turning under. I think it is worth five times the quantity of common clover turned under. It also acts as a subsoiler, as the roots will 1 ue deep and locsen the subsoil. I will gather a good quantity of the seed this year to use for anther reason. It is the cheapest ma nure that can be used, and ia qual to many more loads of manure to the acre than any farmer puts on his land. The seed should be hulled and cleaned the same ls other clover seed is prepared. For hay for cattle, ic is good cut early before it gets stalky, and two and three crops can be cut from it when cut in that state, and then it dies off. There is less demtnd every year for the extra large over fattened hogs that have taken two years to reach matur ity. What i3 wanted for preficable feeding is a thrifty pig that in six or seven months' growth will average a pound of pork per day. This can usually be made at a profit. The heavier hog costs more to keep, and its pork is neither so good nor will it now sell so well as pork that weighs 200 pounds or less per carcass. SWEET CLOVER FOR BEES. Our crop of honey has been very good so far, mostly from sweet clover. Bees won't touch alfalfa till sweet clover has done blossoming. I find quite a change in the minds of some of my neighbors. They are beginning to think sweet clover is a pretty good thing after all. I have sold some seed to one, and two others are talking of sowing some. It will grow on our poorest land, and make a good crop, and choke out all weeds we have in this country, including sandburrs and coskleburrs. If it were of no other use it would pay well as a fertilizer. But it is a splendid hay crop, and, in my opinion, there is nothing better for honey. I have about ten acres seeded down for next year. I put several acres in corn at the last cultivating, and have a nice stand. You see, by putting it in the corn we have the crop the next season. If sown in the fall, it will come up early the next spring, and make a good growth that season, but not seed. I always sow the seed with the hull on. Joseph Shaw, in Glean ings. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Successful farming is a science. The best posted man is generally the most successful. A thorough knowledge of the nature of the soil cultivated and its adaptability to seeds and grains equips the tiller of the soil for the application of his practical knowledge and experi ence. The farmer is all the better for a liberal literary education and a course in a business college. He is enabled to conduct his operations intelligently and on business principles. THE DAIBY. INEXPERIENCED DAIRY WRIT- ERS. Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer. The writer has for years been of the opinion that a good deal of injury has been done to the cause of farm dairy butter making by the mischievous writings of a class of agricultural edi tors who when in want of copy to fill space write short items on subjects with which they may not be especially familiar. Tne following item wi s copied from a farm journal published in Chicago: "Creamery butter is superior to that made on the farm because the cream eriesare fitted with the latest appliances for producing butter of uniform qual ity. The farmer cannot compete with thQ creamery because he has not the facilities for so doing Individuals, however, who make a specialty of choice butter, and who are supplied with all that assists in the lessening of labor, can easily secure better prices than is obtained for creamery butter." It will be noted that three proposi tions are laid down in the above item. First, it is stated that creamery but ter is superior to that made on farms and the reason given is that creameries are fitted with tho latest appliances for producing butter. Now the facts are that some creameries are so fitted and some are not, yet doubtless the majority have modern outfits. Second, it is stated that the farmer cannot compete with the creamery be cause he has not; the facilities for so do ing. Now this is a pretty broad and serious charge to make against a class as a whole. Just think of the editor ot an agricultural paper and in this case the proprietor and publisher a person who is dependent on the pro gressive farmers for the support of his public ition, and through it his own support, I say just think of such a per son making such a serious charge against a class of persons in which is included his own constituents, his pat rons, the persons whose money he is soliciting and taking in pay for a pub lication in which they are being slan dered. It is an outrage to say the least. It may perhaps be offered as extenua tion of such a cause that the editor and proprietor cf the paper quoted from had but recently come into these posi tions and was experienced. But such a plea will hardly excuse him. He ought to know enough about progressive farmers to know that many of them have dairy houses, or rooms, fitted out with needed modern appli ances for all features of butter making. Their list of appliances include im proved milk strainers, cream raising apparatus, churn, butter worker, but ter print, butter carriers for printed butter, small packages to be used when butter is not printed and many other little articles required, one of which is of course a thermometer. It is sus pected that the writer of the quoted item knows more about cffi(?e matters than butter making. Third, he states that individuals who make a specialty of choice butter, and who are supplied with all that assists in the lessening of labor can easily secure better prices than is obtained for creamery butter. Now in the name of common sense if "individuals'' can ac complish all claimed in third propoei tion quoted and they can why can not the farmer" do the same? He can. F. W. Moseley. Clinton, Iowa. RIPENING CREAM PROPERLY. A bulletin from the Iowa Experiment Station makes the following statements in regard to ripening cream : "It would seem from experiments that the right degree of acidity largely governs the flivor of butter, all other conditions being favorable. Another essential feature in making good butter is, that the cream should be frequently stirred during the ripening process, as many of the lactic acid germs are aero bic and require free oxygen. Where the cream it warmer than the surround ing atmosphere, odors are given off; where the cream i3 co ler, odors are taken on. We have found the best re suits to be obtained by quick ripening, with frequent stirring. Our highest flavored butter was produced when the acidity was about 37 and the cream ripened at a temperatue above 70 de grees. The writer could not say that 37 would do for all localities, aa no ex periments have been conducted outside of the college creamery. We found no difficulty in changing th flavor of but ter from one to three pefnta where the A same cream was divided and ripened to different degrees of acidity at vari ous temperatures It was found when the cream was ripened to an acidity above 10 that it took on a bitter flavor. The same results were noticeable when the cream was ripened for a long period at a low temperature without much stirring. Lw temperatures eeem to be favorable to the growth of germs that impart a bitter flwer to the cream. COSTLY WOODS IN NEW YORK Lying in sone of the great lumber yards of New York, and showing their value only to tho experts end the in itiated ones, are heaps of rare andecst ly woods, some from the countries of the Equator, others cut from American forests. In one single lumber yard it is no uncommon thing to see a stock that is valued at $50 COO or more. In one block near the Eist River front there is often a million dollars' worth piled up in the open air or under tho cover of rough sheds. The veining and mottling of a log and the veeners that are made from it fix its value. While all these special woods of commerce are costly, prices three and four times the average are paid for unusual patterns of rosewood, mahogany and black walnut. There are several hundred varieties of fiae wools brought each year into New York, but of these only a few are kiown to commerce to any extent. Mahogany, French burl, rosewood curly ash, American quartered oak, figured birch, black walnut, Circassian walnut and satinwood are the fancy timber varieties that sell the best, their prices running from three to ten cents a foot for veneers These figures give no ade quate conception of values, until they are exarninod carefully. Bat the calculation is a simple one. A veneer is a thin strip cut from a board by a shaving machine, 30 veneers being allowed to each board of an inch thick ness, the boards of these costly woods running about two foet in width. As a rule these boards are eight to ten feet long, and thus a single veneer of ma hogany two feet wide and ten in lenth ia worth, by itself, from 50 cents to a dollar. A double row of these veneers piled up five feet high is worth easily 12,000. In the log, mahogany sells here at $1 to $1 50 a foot, board measurement. It comes from Mexico and Cuba, and, brought to this city in legs, it is scld in veneers. These veneers, stacked up in piles in the sheds, are so brittle that the only way of shipping them to tho furniture and piano manufacturers is to pack them in cases. A case usually holds 500 sheets, or from $300 to $500 worth, and is so heavy that the strength of from four to six men, with rollers, is necessary to get it upon a truck. A case is known in the trade as a 4 fi tch." Even unvarnished and unpolished as these rare woods are in the rough, the patterns are easily visible, and the de signs and veining are very beautiful. Nearly all these woods are sold in veneers, for two reasons: First, they are too costly to use solidly ; and sec ond, they all have a tendency to warp. Next in popularity to mahogany comes American figured walnut, from Ken tucky, We3t Virginia, Tennessee and the western part of North Carolina. The finest logs of this timber are to be found on the slopes of the Blue Ridgo and Cumberland Mountains. So im portant is it to get woods of fine pat terns that some leading walnut dealers inspect the trees themselves before they are cut down. They employ experi enced woodsmen to search over the whole region where the best walnut lies for months at a time, and then, the finest trees having been marked, the dealers leave the city and go through tho woods on horseback themselves, select ing the most valuable trees, afterward buying them from the farmers or tho owners of the land. These precautions amply repay the trouble, for the reason that at times American walnut sell for 20 cents a foot in veneers, and a single log six feet long has been known to yield as much as $525. RELATIONS OF WAGES AND PRICES. High wages do not necessarily mean high prices. For instance, in Aus tralia wages of laborers are 25 per cent higher than in the United States ; yet it only costs a working man one third as much to ride on the railways of Australia 88 it does in America. Why? Because in Australia the government owns and operates the railways, while in the United States the railways and banks run tho government.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 29, 1896, edition 1
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