Newspapers / The progressive farmer. / July 6, 1897, edition 1 / Page 1
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The Prcijres tire Firmer is eood paperfar fore the,Ter izca& possibly Je best dvertis log medium in N. C? printer' Ink. "The Progres sive Farmer is a good paper far above the average- -and possibly the best advertis ing: medium in N, C" Printers' Ink. & THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OP OUE PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. IX Vol. 12. RALEIGH, 1?. C.f JULY 6, 1897. ITo.22 MM M t EE ZIATIONAL FARLIERS ALLX AHCS AND INDUSTRIAL UNION. President Mann Page, Brandon, Vice President O. Vincent, Indian- aretary: Treasurer W. P. Bricker, Oogan Station, Pa. LECTURERS. j P Sossamon, Charlotte, N. C. Hamlin V. Poore, Bird Island, Minn. F. H. Peirsol, Parkersburg, W. Va. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Hann Page, Brandon, Va.; R. A. qouth worth, Denver, Col.; John Bre W. Va.; A. B. Welch, New York; W. A Gardner, Andrew's Settlement, Pa! judiciary. 1 a. A. Bouthworth, Denver, Colo, S. W. Beck, Alabama 11. D. Davie, Kentucky. 3GR7X2 CABOLHf A FARMERS' .STATU AIXZ ANOE. President Dr. Cyrus Thompson, iichlands, tf. C. Vice-President Jno. Graham,Ridge- ray, N. O. Secretary-Treasurer W. B. Barnes, Sillsboro, N. O. m " Lecturer J. T. B. Hoover, Elm City, 5 0. 4 Steward Dr. V. N. Beawell, Villa- oow, N. C. - Chaplain Rev. P. H. Massey, Dur ham, N. C. Door-koeper Geo. T. Lane, Greens- Vjro, N. C. " - Assistant Door-keeper Jas. E. Lyon, Durham, N. C. Sergeant-at- Arms A. D. K. Wallace, 2utherfordton, N. O. gtate Business Agent T. Ivey, Hills XTO, N. C. m , ttt Trustee Business Agency Fund W. i. Graham, Machpelan, N. C. iXTCTTim COMMITTEE OF THS HORTH CAEOLINA FARMERS' STATS ALLIANCE. A. F. Hileman, Concord, N. C. ; N. 0. English, Trinity, N. C. ; James M. fcewborne, Kins .on, N. C. iXATl ALLIASCa JUDICIARY COMMITTEX John Brady, Gatesville, N. C.; Dr. ;,F. Harrell, Whiteville, N. C; T. J. Candler. Acton. N. C. Jjrth Carolina Reform Press Association. 0lcera-J. L. RameyK iarion Butler, Vice-President; IF. 8, sirncM, Secretarf, PAPERS. . rsmssive Farmer. SUte Orn, glelg&, N. O. si t nr v Hie Kory , W . "tfi" Whitakers,N.C. ur Home. BTeayeLD' S" n fue Populist, Lmiiftfn, N. C. The People's Paper, Charlotte, N. U. fhe Vestibule Concord, N. C. ?be Plow- Boy. Wadesboro, N. C. rollaa Watchman. Saiisbnry. N. C. Kash of the above-named papers are jested to keep the ii3i standing en .s T7sz paqe ana ouu uicr, t . - .7.,., X.y7t nlrtttnrm will dropped from the list promptly. Our nzsle can note see what papers are Aished in their interesti ' 1GEICULTUEE. Doa'c diagu3t the young boys with farm work by giving them the poorest tools to work with. Daring dry weather frequent tillage serves two good purposes: it saves moisture and kills weeds. The farmer who combines, the im proved stock seiantific feeding gets the be3i results, and meets the world's competition on a paying basis. This i3 a good month to plant late cucumbfra for pickles, eet out late celery plants for winter uee, and to plant sweet corn for use in the early fall. Nothing adda more to render a home in tho country attractive than a neatly kept lawn; it also adds greatly to the value of the premises. It pays in sev eral ways. An exchange gives this good advice : Put out some roots for the stock the ccmiog winter, and do it in time. They ill furniah a relish which pays as food better than even the corn or the hay. Manures left in heaps in the yard to rot down, will lose by actual test from 40 t0 60 npr OAnt nf thoir value. The fertil z ng elements in manure must be to a liquid form before the plant can use them. The farmer should avoid all fretting antLworrvinc when a rain comes Dour iQg down day after day at planting time. Worrying wears a man out 'aater than work and does no good aatever. Farmers should lftam that roots are not trip hammers striking at the almost wae like subsoil. Keep it stirred up. f be best time, however, is before plant mg, aa deep cultivation now is likely w kui the plants. - Don't rf16 garden. With the lone seasons orth Carolina farmers enjoy, they readily and another crop to plant a substitute for one that has out- UVf its usefulness. THE VALUE OF A GOOD SPRING. A spring of good water on any farm adds at least a hundred dollars to its value, and if near a city it is worth much more. Often such springs can be found in hillsides by digging six or eight feet, especially if the soil shows springyplaces during winter and spring. If the spring is higher than the house, it can be conducted into the kitchen by force of gravity, and the water can be turned off or on as the housewife may desire. There are doubtless hundreds, and possibly thousands, of farm3 in New England where the best pure water can be conducted into the house at slight expense. If the water has to be lifted a hydraulic ram will force the water up hill. This costs somewhat more, but it will generally pay. American Cultivator. Some one rises to suggest that ento mology "bug science" be taught in our public schools, at least enough to learn the children what insects are their friends and what their enemies. We think the idea is a good one. HOW PLANTS GET WATER. The fact that in wet weather the soil dries slowly even when covered with plants that ordinarily drain the soil rapidly, leads some to think that when wet the leaves absorb moisture on them. But the fact can be equally well accounted for by the knowledge that water on the leaves prevents them from evaporating the moisture brought from the soil by roots. Th?s soil con tains some mineral elements which unite with carbonic acid gas from the air in forming plant tissue. While the leaves are wet they cannot absorb car bonic acid gas. This with the effect of stopping, evaporation, makes the sappy growth which many, jumping too quickly at conclusions, think must be caused by the direct absorption of water through the leaves. American Cultivator. Bones will accumulate about the farm and every one should bo saved. If they cannot bo applied to quick growing crops, they can be very read ily got into shape for use as a fertilizer for the fruit trees and grape vines. RURAL SANITATION. Of all teachers, Nature is the mcst severe, inasmuch as she never forgets an infraction of hi r laws, nor fails to visit her penalties upon the unlearned and guilty alike, says The Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette. She doea not recog nize ignorance, but causes all who fail to observe her laws to suffer. An erroneous impression has obtained that the rural districts are removed from the influence of unsanitary con ditions. This is far from the fact, for farmers are constantly breaking the laws of nature with impunity and without restriction. Devotees to the cause of the public health service con fine their best energies to the crowded cities, and, lacking thoroughness allow the country to go by default. Dr. A. O. Stimpson, who lives in a Pennsyl vanian village and has an excellent point of observation, writes to the Medical and Surgical Reporter that physicians should contribute a portion cf their time and talents to the promo tion of the healthf ulness of the com munity in which they reside. In their travels among patients, the doctor very logically argues, they often see many existing evils that could be easily corrected were the attention of the public specifically directed to them. In most farming communities there seems to prevail a careless indifference to anything that might tend to better ing their sanitary surroundings and a stubborn determination to ignore the ways and means of important sanitary reforms. On some farms we find not only the stables and outhouses built in close proximity to the family dwelling, but overrunning with all manner of filthy accumulations. If a calf, sheep or any other animal happens to die from accident or disease, the owner of such stock, after some hours delibera tion, takes his stone boat, hitches his horse or oxen to it, and, after transfer ring the carcass of the dead animal to said vehicle, drags it to a convenient distance from the house and there dumps it upon the ground. Here it is allowed to remain openly exposed to the air until it is converted into adipo cere or until the crows constitute them selves scavengers pro tern, and devour it. How much better would it have been if the farmer had heaped a pile of straw and fagots on the dead animal, applied a torch, and cremated it. Bat, no l that would "have been too much trouble. It was so much better to allow the foul effluvia from it to contaminate the atmosphere for miles around. Sani tary laws should be enacted making it compulsory to cremate all refuse ani mal matter. Allowing decaying vegetables to re main ad infinitum in dark and damp cellars is another source from which many diseases may generate. The im mediate removal of such matters and a general sprinkling of chloride of lime over the cellar floor would quicklj remedy the difficulty and remove the causo of threatened infection. As an additional support to my theory of dis infection, I would suggest the liberal sprinkling of chloride of lime in privy. vaults, on stable floors, and over the cellar bottoms once a month during the summer season and twica or three times through the winter season. ; The pigs should be taught to eat as early as possible, and should be pro vided with an apartment into which the sow can enter. They will begin to eat regularly at four weeks old, and can then be weaned without any loss. Bran is the best food for developing bone and muscle, and a little additional corn is a help. CHARCOAL ITEMS. The value of charcoal for poultry cannot ba too widely known. Both fowls and chicks are fond of it. Judge G. O Brown says there is not sufficient attention given to the importance of having the charcoal fresh when it is ueed for poultry. Charcoal has won derful absorbent powers, especially for gases. Oaly a Email quantity should be put into the feed hoppers at a time, on account of its absorptive nature. Before placing it where the poultry can get it it is best to heat it well, which will have a tendency both to drive eff impurities which may have be come absorbed and to refreshen end rnake it of that crispy or crLckling na ture characteristic of fresh burned charcoal. Keep the charcoal in some vessel that is thoroughly dry aiid has a tight fitting cover to exclude the air. Asa corrective of injudicious over feeding, as a remedy in bowel troubles, and as a preventive of indigestion, charcoal has no equal. Feed every other day, making it about the eiza of corn for fowls, and the size of wheat for chick3. Charred corn on cob is an excellent way for giving charcoal. Place a few ears cf corn in the over, and keep them there until they are burned black to the cob. Corn charcoal can thus be made as wanted. The older and dryer the corn the easier it will be to make charcoal and the better it will be. The best way to feed is to give just what the fowls will eat up clean. In that way'it is little exposed to the air. Charcoal is invaluable as a dentrifice. It whitens the teeth and removes any unpleaeant taste of a disordered stom ach. A few drops cf tincture of myrrh in a glass of water is an excellent mouth wash, while listerine as an all around purifier and antiseptic for the mouth is unexcelled Knight Watch man. Although charcoal has no fertilizing properties in itself, it is an excellent thing to apply to gardens, to manure heaps, and, indeed to all rich ground. It is indestructible, though its lightness causes it to be easily washed from the soil, when it will be broken into very fine particles, and deposited in the black mud of ditches and ponds. Tnis is very rich, because the charcoal is an excellent absorbent of ammonia from the air, which it readily gives to the roots of plants. Hence though the charcoal be not itself fertile it is an ex cellent gatherer cf fertility. In fresh charcoal there is a slight trace of sul phur, which makes it repellant to in sects. A mixture of sulphur and char coal is the best means of repelling cucumber and f quash bugs when it has been dusted on the vines. American Cultivator. . i m In the same journal we findlthe follow ing from J. W. Smith, of Kentucky : To prevent crows injuring my young corn, I sprinkle shelled corn on top of the ground on the plowed fields. The crows are looking for worms and will not pull up corn if they can get enough to eat without doing so. I have followed this plan for years and my corn has never been disturbed. I have had no cutworms when my neighbors have been compelled to replant entire fields. A man who kills a crow should be fined. Save the birds and they will cave the fanners' crops. ! gQRTICULTTTRE GROWING FALL TURNIPS. Where the land is fresh and free from the seeds of foul weeds, fall tur nip seed may be sown broadcast from the first, of July until the middle of Atfgust, depending on the season, and covered, with a light smoothing or brush harrow. Prepare the land very carefully and pulverizs and compact the seedbed thoroughly. New ground the second year from sod gives best re sults: The, soil is then rich in plant food and in good tilth. A piece of sod ground broken during the summer and seeded to wheat in the fall makes an excellent turnip field the following season, after the wheat has been har vested. Ordinarily such land will not produce a sufficient number of weeds to interfere with the full development of the turnips. Four or five pounds of seed to the acre will give about the right stand. In sections of the country where new land is not available, truck patches from which early vegetables have been removed will answer admirably. Often wheat land is plowed as soon as the grain has been removed and seeded to turnips. The ground must be rich, for turnips aregross feeders, but soil con taining an excess of vegetable matter will cause an excessive growth of tops, to the detriment of root development. A cool, moist climate is very favorable to the growth of turnips, and for this reason the seed should be put in late if the season is dry, then most of the growth will take place in fall. While broadcasting answers very well on new lai d, the best results are obtained only when sown in rows and cultivated. Have the rows about two feet apart and the plants anywhere from six to twelve inches apart in the row. Givo level culture, keep the land free from weeds and stir the surface often. Turnips are a valuable winter feed for sheep and cattle, particularly the former. When fed to milk cows, give just after milking. Otherwise the milk iay be given an unpleasant odor and the butter an undesirable taint. They must not be fed in excess to any stock but when other succulent feeds cannot be fed, turnips are invaluable. -L30RE APPLES. Were every family to put in practice the following sensible advice of Prof. Faraday, a marked gain in the health of its members would be the result: Let every family in autumn lay in from two to ten or more barrels, ar.d it will be them the most economical in vestment in the whole range of culi nary supplies. A raw, mellow apple is digested in an hour and a half, while boiled cabbage requires five hours. The most healthful desert that can be placed on the table is baked apple. If taken freely at breakfast, with coarse bread, and without meat or flesh of any kind, it has an admirable effect on the general system, often removing constipation, correcting acidities, and cooling off febrile conditions more effectually than the most approved medicines. If families could be induced to substitute the apple sound, ripe and luscious for the pies, cakes can dies and other sweetmeats, with which children are too often stuffed, there would be a diminution of doctors' bills sufficient in a single year to lay up a stock of this delicious fruit for a sea son's use. Ex. BERRY CULTURE. Mr. MrA. Thayer, Sparta, Wis , sends us the following hints for July: Will it pay to continue strawberry beds more than one year? That de pends much on the condition of the beds at the close of the fruiting season. If the ground is rich, the rows well filled out, the crop light, and nearly free from grass and weeds, it will then usually pay to continue one, two or more years.- If, however, plants are exhausted by a large yield, and grass and weeds have been allowed to grow, it will be more work to place old beds in condition than to prepare new ones. If to be discontinued, plow at once and sow some late crop for feed or fer tility. To renew old beds, mow off plants. As soon as dry, burn over, reduce rows to six or eight inches in width with spade or cultivator. Remove all weeds, every particle of grass, apply a liberal dressing of fine manure, cultivate and keep clean, tame as with new beds. Right here is one of the benefits of keeping new beds perfectly clean. It caves a largo amount of . labor when beds are continued more than one year. Old beds produce berries a little earlier and second year is often better than the first, when treated in this manner. The bearing canes of raspberries and blackberries should be removed imme diately after fruiting. Cut out all small weak canes, leaving only five or six in the hill. The- removal of old canes leaves no hiding place for worm or bug, or eggs for same. It also allows the free cir culation of air and the sun penetrates the center of the bush, making canes strong and vigorous, with a good de velopment of fruit buds for the follow ing season. The removal and burning of dead, weak and surplus growth is the best preventive against disease. In berry growing, remember that good work for two or three seasons is necessary. First, the most important, to grow, develop and mature strong, healthy canes and buds for the next season's fruit. Second, to mature the fruit, which depends very much on the care and growth of the previous year. Favorable seasons for fruit are of lit tle avail if the preparatory work has been neglected. GROWING BLACKBERRIES. " In a soil reclaimed for timber and affording sufficient moisture, viz : not subject to drought, blackberries will do well. Most people plant them too closo in the beginning and they do not grow. Rows six feet apart are none too wide. If the ground cannot be spared one may for a year or two cul tivate corn, or better, potatoes or bush beans between the rows. The greatest drawback is the red rust, which should on no account be permitted to get a foothold. These red tinged plants grow very rapidly, but are easily pulled up. Elyery bit of rust must be burned as soon as seen. Of course, very dry weather juEt before or in fruiting will be disastrous. When the plants are well up cultivation should" be by"hbrse or hand hoe. As soon as possible after the plants are well started a good mulch of wet straw should be applied. This, when done properly, need not hinder the growth of potatoes for a year or two. Subsequently the bush( s will have to be cut back severely to admit of horse cultivation. The Wil son, the Early Harvest, Ancient Briton, Eldorado, Taylor, Lucretia, Dewberry, are some new varieties. Some nurser ies make a specialty of berries. C. W. M , in Si. Louis Republic -THOSE TOMATO PLANTS It is a common thing to see in many farm houses at this season of the year a box or two of tomato plants setting in some sunny place, says B. A. Wood in a contemporary. This fact of itself is nothing remarkable and is commend able in every one who has such a "flower pot," but there are other facts connected with this one about which I wish to comment. There are but few who so plant seeds who ever think of transplanting the plants more thin once, and that once is from the box directly to the garden. Many are not aware that frequent transplantings make earlier fruit as well as stockier and healthier plants. Seeds are apt to be sown too thick in boxes, and, if good, the plants will be too close together. If these are not transplanted so as to allow more space for each plant, they will grow up s ckly slender. My plan has been to transplant to larger boxes as soon as the third leaf ii well formed. I set the plants nearly to the seed leaf that the stems may be short and stocky. When they are about three inches high I again trans plant into berry boxes, planting four in a box, one in each quarter ; when the weather and soil are suitable I finally remove to the garden. In setting out I break the boxes apart and with a sharp knife cut the earth into four equal parts, so that a plant will be in each piece. This leaves the roots of each plant undisturbed, and they will continue growth unchecked. As the tomato plant is a gross feeder, plenty of well rotted manure should be placed below each hill. The plant should not be set directly in the ma nure, but there should be six or eight inches of earth between. There are several ways of training the vines Any way is good enough, only eo that the fruit is off the ground and has plenty of eunlight. LIYESTQCK LIVE STOCK ITEMS. The early Iamb catches the biggest , price. Poor pasture will not make good mutton. It ia the worst kind of policy to breed from weak ewes. Wherever the mutton eheep is grown to perfection, the feed is the very vest. One man says that eheep always pay and we are not sure but that he is right. Wool to be good must have no weak spots in it, but will have if the sheep is not kept in good condition all the time. Don't stunt the calves. See that they are well cared for. If you don't expect to attend to them, better kill them at once. A poor cow should not be very highly valued as an ornament to the farm. When she ceases to pay her way, bet ter dispose of her. The dog is entitled to protection, if he attends to his own business. But " when he goes sheep hunting, his "hour" should come. People are becoming more and moro shy of buying poor mutton; and, there fore, farmers are paying more and more heed to the raising and feediDg of good sheep. It is a most foolish and absurd prac tice to stint an animal in food And water. There is no time from the birth of a cow until she is difrsftsed of that starvation will pay. It is said that exclusive corn feeding is the cause of more losses of hogs than any other thing. It is because corn is one of the hardest grains to digest, un less ground and cooked. Salt is one of the greatest aids to di gestion. It should always be kept in reach of all the stock on the farm. Hoes and horses, as well as cows, must have it, if you intend to secure the greatest profit from them. It matters, not, says-an exchange, whether the farmer is breeding for beef or butter, he cannot afford to ignore the principle which runs through all breeding operations that like be gets like. One. may soon buildup a herd of great merit merely through a selection of good cows bred to the best build, or may stay at the tail of the procession. VALUE OF SHELTER FOR STOCK. Prof. Georgeson, of the Kansas Agri cultural College, thus sums up results of three experiments: As regards the value of shelter dur- J M J.1J a tug vviuici iui iat.cuiug ewcro wuutiVU made three experiments, comprising in all thirty head, of which fifteen were sheltered and fifteen fed in the open yard. They were fed alike in all re spects. It should be stated that in the first experiment the indoor steers fret ted much under the confinement for sometime, until they became accus tomed to it. In the second case the ex periment did not begin till the steers had become quiet, and in the third case they did not offer objections to the con finement, having been reared in that manner. "The figures show that the steers which were .liieltered ate moro than the steers sheltered in the barn, but that the gain was practically the same; that the cost per pound of gain was greater for the outdoor Pteers, and that in the final settlement of accounts the sheltered steers brought a profit of $6.34 per head, while the steers not sheltered caused a loss of 85 cents per head, making an actual difference of 17.19 in favor of shelter. But this takes account of the production of of beef from the feed consumed. There are other factors which should be con sidered before we pronounce in favor of sheltering as a practical measure. These are the cost of providing ade quate shelter, the largely increased amount of labor in car in c: for ctccro tied up in the barn, and the important feature .to the Western farmer, who feeds mostly whole corn, that hogs can not follow barn-fed steers as they can those fed outdoors. When thece things are considered, shelter ia of question able value for the Western feeder. On the other hand, to Eastern farmers who would probably feed a balanced ration of ground feed, and who would value the manure more than the ccct of cleaning the stable and handling tho feed, barn feeding would, dcubtlcca commend itself as tho more profitable method."
July 6, 1897, edition 1
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