Tt Prefix 3
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bcit advertis
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"A I I
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the EfEusnmii aitd educatioial estebests of oue peofls PAHAiiomrr 70 all otiei o)isideeatioe3 ei eiati roHor.
Vol. 13.
RALEIGH, U. C. FEBRUARY 8, 1898.
ITo. 1
1 z-i
f
f r L
fC2 RATIONAL FART". ?.' ? ALLI
ANCE AND IlIDGi vf AL
UNION. I ,
president Mann Pa! Brandon,
Vice President O. VineunV Indian-
S?Sx5etary ; Treasurer W. P. Brickcr,
Oogan Station, Pa.
lecturers.
j p. Sow'amon, Charlotte, N. G.
Hamlin V. Poore, Bird Island, Minn.
F. H. Peirsol, Parkersburg, W. Va.
5ATI05AL SXCOUT1VIS OOHIHTTEH.
Hann Page, Brandon, Va. ; John
Bre lis. w- Va B- WeIch, New
York; A. Gardner Andrew's Set
tlement, Pa.
JUDICIARY.
W. Beck, Alabama.
II. D. Davie, Kentucky.
SOBTH CtABOLEJ A ffAEirESS' BTATB ALLX-
President Jno. Graham, Ridgeway,
N. C.
Vice-President W. B. Upchurch,
Morri3viile, N. O.
Srcretary-Tres surer J.T. B. Hoover,
Hillsboro, N. O.
State Business Agent T. B. Parker,
Hillsboro, N. O.
Lecturer Dr. V. N. Seawell, Villa
now, N. O.
Assistant Lecturer w. u. jtJriCK
house. Maekev Ferrv. N. O.
Chaplain W. 8. Uereer, Moyock,
N U
boor-keeper Goo. T. Lane, Greens
Assistant Poor-keeper Jas. E. Lyon,
u jrnam, N. U.
Bergeant-at-Arms A D. K. Wallace,
Kaleign, N. U.
Trustoo Business Agency Fund W.
A. Graham, Machpelah, N. U.
EXECUTIVE 001CUTTS3 OF THB HOBTZX
OAB 3 LIN A. VAnrfTTjC 8TATB AXLIAZICC
J. W. Denmark, Chairman, Raleigh,
John Graham, Warrenton, N. C.
W. B. Fleming, Ridgeway, N. 0.
A. H Hi'pman. Oonoord. CI. O.
Dr. J. B. Alexander, Charlotte, N. C.
Thomas J. Oldham, Teer, in. u.
STATE AULXAJ703 JUDIOIAHY 00MHXTTT2.
Dr. J. E. Person, Pikeville, N. O.
W. 8. Barnes, Raleigh, N. O.
T. Ivey, Cary, N. O.
A.&BICXJITXJRE.
THE FARMER'S LETTER BOX.
K7 We hope every on of our eub
ecribsrs will contribute a brief letter to
this department. Keep us informed as
to what i3 happening among the farm
ers of your neighborhood. If you have
either by experiment or by any other
method discovered anything which you
think cin ba of interest to North Caro
lina farmers, tell them of it through
our eclumna. Don't think "111 wait
until others start the ball rolling," but
jump in and help U3 yourself. Let us
hear from you. before next week.
Henceforth we hope to make this a
permanent feature of The Progressive
Farmer. Always give your real name
and address, even though you wish
soma other name signed to your letter.
I wiah to let the farmers know how
I hav- ben cheated. I bought a sack
c!corcn s:ed meal from Durham on
the 20 n cf January, and it is adulter
ated wich eand. Farmers, beware of
all such cheat. Can give the name of
mercb n if deeired. M. R. Upohurcb,
Elm Giove, N. C.
01 i Da pi in is coming. Mr. John
Burnan killed a hog last week that
weighed 682 pounds, and Mr. Culm
Powell killed one that weighed 784
pounds. Bath men live near Falson.
I hops Bro. Seawell will stop at Faiscn
anl try to re-organize Grove Alliance,
and al?o Gohan Alliance. W. B.
Hargrove, Faison, N. C.
A Sonoma correspondent of the
Way nesville Counier says: J. F. Jus
tice, one of Sonoma's most energetic
Kuns men, has sold 12.000 pounds of
tobac-M that he grew Hst year, for the
5 - ,
neat sum of $2 000, making and aver
sg cf iterlv 17 cents per pound. Wm.
coro ha also eold 3500 pounds at 17
cents pe r pound. Within the radius
m cn q itire mil o there has been more
l worth of tobacco, of last
Jen's crop, sold.
FarmaM Rjme says: Farm pros
care;u! y i:qUred into by the State
Jja a . - - h - i t? r o f Labor. Returns from
355 re::r ntative farmers in the 96
oouaH o, th3 State are published in
tha io .h annual report of the labor
bureau. Theee reports showed a de
cline ia the value of farm land in 60
cucties, and in 84 counties there was
a tendency toward pmaller farms. An
improved mode of living was reported
in 71 counties. Cost of living increased
in 3 counties, decreased in 65 counties,
&Qd in the remaing 23 counties no
change was reported. In only 29 of
the 96 counties was a decrease in wagea
reported. In 63 counties labor was. re
ported abundant, in 28 counties scarce
and in 68 counties laborers could find
employment all the year round. Iu 18
counties an improved financial condi
tion waa reported. The average price
paid per month for farm labor waa
1 8 50 for men, 5 for women and 3 for
children.
THE TQBACOO PRODUCTION.
Washixotow, D. 0., Jan. 31 The
final estimates of the tobacco produc
tion in the United States for 1896, made
by the Agricultural Department, place
the total yield at 403,004.320 pounds,
valued at $23,258 070. The area culti
vated amounted to 594 740 acres.
Seven States produced a crop valued
at mora than a million dollars, vix:
Kentucky, 16,032,202; North Carolina,
$5,490,334; Virginia, $3,013,986; Ten
nessee, $2,464 816; Ohio, $1,066,000;
Pennsylvania. $1,299,542; Connecticut,
$1325.668.
STATISTICAL 020P STATU! EXT.
WABnmaTOir, D. 0., Jan. 31. The
final estimates of acreage, production
and value of the crops in the United
Etates for 1S97 made by the Statistician
of the Department of Agriculturo, ara
oa follows:
Com, 80,095,101 acres; 1,902,967,933
bushels, $501,072,952 value.
Wheat, 39.465.0C6 acres; 530,149.168
bushels; $428,547,121.
Oats, 25.730,375 acres; 698,767,809
bushels; $147,974,719 value.
Rye, 1,703,561 acres; 27.363,324 bush
els; $12,239,647 value.
Barley, 2,719,116 acrei; 66,685,127
buthels ; $25,142,139 value.
Buckwheat, 717,836 acres; 14,997.451
bushels; $6,319,188 value.
Potatoes, 2,534.577 acres; 164,015,964
bushels; $89,643,059 value.
Hay, 42,426,770 acres; 10,664,876
tons; $401,390,728 value.
Having found out on eaay method in
which to trap insects, I wish to teach
others. It is easily dons by suspend
ing in the garden wide mouthed bottles
or jars, half filled with thin molasses
or very sweet water. I have tatted the
efficacy of the insect trap, and have
found it all that can be desired for
trapping the butterflies, millers end
beetles of every species of insects that
infect fruit traes and vines, vegetaVies
and flowers. The worms on gr.pe
vines, worms on tobacco, on tomaties
and Irish potatoes, can readily be
trapped in this way. Every fruit tree,
every evergreen and deciduous tree,
every Derry Dusn and fruit bearing
vine, and every vegetable cultivated
in the garden is attacked by a species
of noxious insect which flourish only
where their appropriate species of
trees or fruit is cultivated ; and strange
to say, every one of these foes spring
from parent insects in the form of but
terfliee, moth, millers, beetles or bugs,
every species or wnicn will Jaazra
much for the sake of getting a taste of
the contents of the bottle. Tou will
readily find that in this way the insect
ravagers can be most successfully
fought. E. J. Rayburn, Ccffeeville,
Miss.
Every shipper should investigate in
advance of the shipping ssason and de
cide-on one or two good houses in each
markets ho expects to us. He should
correspond with theee houses, posting
them on ths character and quality of
his expected crops, and he should ship
to them regularly throughout the
season. In this way the dealer and his
customers become acquainted with the
quality of the goods, and, if they come
regularly, it is often possible to sell
them in advance of arrival. A dealer
takes an interest in a regular shipper,
and will look cut for his intersts. It is
never good policy tcjship to one man
to day and another to morrow, acting
on the whim of the moment, or yield
ing to the persuasions of the last solici
tor who asks for your shipments. It
is equally bad policy to scatter a small
shipment among half a dczon house? in
the same market. Make your trade of
some importance to the commission
man, by sending good goods regularly,
and it will be to his inttrest to see that
you aro given satisfaction. Kesp your
dealer posted in advance of the amount
and character of your shipments and
of the total shipments that are going
to hid market from your locality. In
cist on h's keeping you posted as to his
market and on his making you prompt
returns. Do not let him send you
weekly or monthly statements, but de-
mand account sales and check for each
lot cent, on the day that it is sold. Do
not be afraid to spend a few dollars in
telegraphing. Send a night rate xnes.
sage notifying the dealer of the amount
and quality and amount of each ship
ment made him, and require a daily
wire from each market you aro usivg
giving quotations, frcm actual sales.
This will cost something, bus no pro
duce shipper can afford to consign h!a
goods without this necessary informa
tion. F. 8. Eirle.
POUR DOLLARS A TON FOR CORN
STALKS.
"Thdespised corn stalk, which for
all theso years the farmers have burnt
as of no account, just as-the cotton
planters used to throw aside the seed
of that plant as valueless, at last turns
out to be of such worth as to pay hand"
eomely for marketing," mid Mr. D. 11.
Frank, of Kentucky, at the Riggs.
"Our farmers are selling it readily for
$4 a ton, and on an acre producing forty
busheh of corn thsre will be at least
two and a half tons ot stalks. The u&e
to which the stalk is being put is one
of the m03t extraordinary agricultural
discoveries of this day. At present
there are but two factories in the ooun
try that are equipped for making cellu
lose out of this material, one of which
islocited at O wensboro.Ky. Ollulose U
the pith of the corn stalk ; its uaes are
varied and wonderful and it has a mar
ket value of $400 a ton. War vessel
are lined with it, and whenever a ve
eel so lined is punctured with shot, the
contact of the water with the cellulose
causes that to swell, closing the aper
ture and preventingthe water from en
tering between the chip's inner and
outer walls.
'Besides, the railroads have found it
to be for superior to cotton waste for
packing journals, as it requires less oil
and obviates hot boxes. As a covering
for steam pipes it is the best known
substance. For making paper it is
found superior to wood pulp, and from
it kodak films, frescoes, and all papier
macais articles can bo made. This
docs not begin to exhaust tha list of iu
marvelous possibilities, and from what
I Jiave seen and heard I believe that
dozens of other useful articles, as liny .
ltum, water proof garments, patent
leather finish, and the like can be pro
duced from this simple material of the
fields." Washington Post.
TOBACCO vV. CO TTON.
(jar ioreratners, it is said, away
back yonder, carried corn to miil in
one end of the rack with a rock in the
other end to balance it. A'tcr awhue
they learned that they could carry
corn in both ends and save the extra
load. The present generation, up to
the last few years, seemed to think
they could rais nothing bus cotton.
No bacon, no corn ; but all cotton ! But
this had its day and cur farmers began
to use their good common sense by
railing their home supplies hog an,d
hominy."
'Hog and hominy" first. Then cornea
into consideration what shall be raised
to bring in moncj !
Heretofore most of our farmers have
depended on cotton as money crcp
The immense territory that will pro
duce cotton and the immense quan
tity produced has made the price of
that slaple low. Texas' and other
States further South can produce it
cheaper than this section. There ia no
longer any profit id cotton to our farm
ers. If a big crop is made this year,
as is likely, the pries will not be over
4 or 5 cents a pound.
The culture of bright tobacco for
many years has been gradually ex
tending further east, until at last many
farmers of this section have gone into
tobacco culture and made money at it.
Go in tt oold cotton counties of Edge
combe, Wilson, Green, Pitt and a num
ber of others, and you will find the old
gin houses gone down and tobacco
barns erected in every direction ; the
farmers paying eff their old cotton
mortgages and moving forward with
new life and vigor !
The raising of flno bright tobacco is
largely confined to the territory of
Eastern Carolina, and the demand is
muoh greater than we can fill.
It i3 stated that a pound of tobacco
can be made at considerably less cost
than a pound of cotton. If the farmer
will plant a few acres in tobacco and
attend to it properly, he will probably
make more on it than on a big acreage
in cotton. Good tobacco will always
command good prices, and even orai
nary tobacco pays better than cotton.
There is only loss, of course, in mak
ing poor tobacco, as there is in making
a poor article of any kind.
This section it well adapted to the
growth of fine tobacco and we believe
the farmer who fails to plant some to
bacco will make a great mistake To
bacco Culture.
A COTTON PLANTERS' TRUST.
Letter From Fred- Turnbnll to the Gov
ernors of North Carolina and Florida.
The editor of The Progressive
Fariier has been shown the original of
the following letters. The cotton plant
era of the South certainly need some
thing like that of which Mr. Turnbull
speaks, and if sound business men
were placed at the head of the institu
tion, it could . doubtless be made of
great value to the South. Governor
Bus sell's delegates will doubtless do
their best to promote the establishment
of an institution of this kind:
Philadelphia, Pa,, Jan. 29, '98.
Hon. Daniel L. Russell, Raleigh, N. C:
Dear Sir: I take the liberty of en
closing you a copy of a letter which
I eent to Governor W. D. Bloxham, of
Florida, after having read his invita
tion to the Governors of the Western
and Southern States, to attend a con
gress which is to meet at Tampa, Fla,,
on the 8th, 9ih and 10th proximos.
thiak it will be to your interest, and to
tha intrest of the State you represent,
to freely discuss thii matter.
Since writing the letter to Gov. Blox
ham, I find that the wool men have
passed a resolution, embodying the
smo principles for their protection,
with regard to wool, and as wool is
raised, more or less, in every State of
the Unioa, you can readily understand
how much more easily tha ectton
planters can control their product than
the wool men can theirs.
I shall be glad to hear from you, if
you have any questions to ask on this
subject, or, if you see any dtiBoulties
in carrying out such a scheme.
Yours truly,
Fred. Turnbull.
No. 180 West Walnut Lane,
Gem.-an town, Pa., Jan. 20, 1898.
The Hon , W. D. Bloxham, Tallahassee,
Florida:
Dear Em : I road, in to night's Even
ing Telegraph, a letter from you, invit
ing the Governors of the Southern and
Western Suites to attend the Fifth
r Annual Session of the South and Wtis-t
Commercial Congress, to convene at
Tampa, Florida, on February Sih, 9th
and 10th, the object of said Congress
being to consider the means to increase
the interchange of all merchandise and
articles, between the South and West,
and to promote the movement of grain
and all other products of the Western
States to Southern distributing mar
keta, and, through the Southern ports,
for export. In other words, sir, I infer
that it 13 the general desire to bring
prosperity to the South, which, for
many years, has known naught but
destitution and poverty.
Having married into a Southern
family, I am somewhat familiar with
the conditions of that section of our
county, and I d&eimthis is a fitting op
portunity cf bringing to the notice of
jour.wlf and the Congress, which shall
shortly convene at Tampa, Florida, a
scheme which occurs to my mind, of
rehabilitating the South, causing the
smile of fortune to spread itself in
every direction, circulating money
and making sad hearts glad. You
must admit that "Cotton is King" in
the Southern States; it is the staple
product of that section of our country,
and the price it brings in the markets
here and in Liverpool, determines the
prosperity or adversity of the South.
Why the Southern planters hae
quietly folded their arms these many
years, allowing others to value their
crops, while it has been in their power
to place their own value .thereon, is a
question I cannot understand. Pre
suming that the cotton crop of the
South last season was 10,000,000 bales,
(the exact figures, I bslieve, are 9,250,-
000), and sold there at an average price
to the planter of 4 cents per pound, this
means that $200,000,000 found their
way into the avenues of Southern
trade. Presuming; however, that the
crop had netted the planters an aver
age of 8 cents per pound, equaling
$400,000,000, and that thi3 sum was
now circulating through the avenues
of Southern trade, do you think that
the Southern people would.no feel the
difference! I understand that there
are three or more grades of ."cotton let
the lowest grade be rated at 8 cents,
and the others proportionately higher.
Now, sir, this condition of affairs
can readily and easily be brought
about it would require only the ser
vices of a few shrewd business South
ern gentlemen, of standing and known
ability, to effect this metamorphosis.
In the North, we have pools of many
industries, then whj not organise, (if
you please bo to name it), "The South
ern Cotton Pool," which would control
every bale of cotton raised in the South,
fix the market prices, effect all sales
and control the acreage planted with
cotton from year to year.
The first thing necessary in the for
mation of the pool, would be money to
be used in organizing it. With this
end in view, a levy of say 10 cents per
bale would be made, on every bale of
cotton raised, and, presuming that the
crop was 10,000,000 bales, (taking last
so Avon's statistics), this would produce
$1,000,000. If the levy were $1 per
per bale, the resulting sum would be
$10,000,000. It is a question which
could bo subsebuently decided ; I mean
the amount of the levy. Of course, the
pool would require sufficient, (no more
or no less), to pay its contingence ex
penses; namely, c nice and warehouse
rents, clerical force's and manager's
salaries, and something in the way of
reimbursement to the President and
Board of Directors, who would require
to meet at stated periods, and also to
carry through the winter months the
small, impecunious planters, with ad
vances in cash upon the cotton they
may be raising, (instead of being com
pelled to deal with stores, as at pres
ent). Eich cotton growing, county in
each, State, warehouses would be re
quired to be rented, or, if necessary,
built, and in each such centre, the pool
would require to have a representative
or agent, (thoroughly competent to
grade and classify cotton), whose pay
would be adjusted in proportion to the
number of bales that passed through
his hands during the season.
The cotton crop, when harvested,
would be stored in the pool warehouses,
and 75 per cent, of the market price
would be advanced to such as required
cash, or any such percentage as may
be determined upon later, the pool be
ing empowered to raise all necessary
funds from the banks, giving
them a lien on the cotton in storage.
The head offices of the pool might be,
let us eay, in Atlanta, Georgia, or in
any other town considered 'more cen
tral AH sales of cotton would be
effected through this office only, and
shipments would be made from the
various county warehouses. Each
planter being a member.of the pool,
with his name appearing on the pool's
ledger, would be credited with the vari
ous quantities and grades of cotton de
livered, at the fixed selling price there
of and he would be debited with cash
advances, and also with,, the fixed
charges of the pool, which Jn .this ex
amplification, is 1 5 cent a pound. The
books of the pool would ba; balanced
each year, duly audited, and each
member would, be rendered a state
ment of his account.
Now, sir, presuming that the ex
penses of the pool are $10,000,009 per
annum, it would leave a surplus of
$290,000,000 for the planters, or, in
other, words, their cotton would net
them 7 8 10 cents per pound. If they
have managed to exist all these years,
getting only starvation prices for their
cotton, imagine what it would mean to
them, if they received 8 cents or 9 cents
per pound, and what difference would
it make to the ultimate consumer of
cotton goods, whether the manufac
turer paid fi cents or 10 cents for his
raw material! If a man bought a suit
of clothes, all cotton, there would not
be more than 4 or 5 pounds of cotton
in the suit, and who would grudge the
difference of 20 cents or 25 cents cn a
suit of clothes? I am alive to the fact
that the mill men, the cotton brokers,
the cotton merchants, etc., would op
pose this scheme to the death, but
what if they did, when we consider the
vast boom it would be to the whole
Southern eection of our country!
Now, sir, I am not egotistical enough
to imagine, for ona moment, that I
have formulated a plan to put this
scheme in motion. There are, how
ever, men peculiarly suited to carry
out in detail such a scheme as I have
outlined, and I believe that every busi
ness man will agree with me that there
is not any insurmountable barrier in
the way, to prevent its being carried
to a successful issue, with its ooncomi
tant blessings, for a most deserving
people. If -you think of any barriers
or difficulties, after reading thi?, I
shall esteem it a great favor if you will
communicate with
Yours respectfully,
FRZD. TURIfBTLL.
If you want to be miserable, think
about yourself, about what you want,
what you like, what respect people
ought to pay you, and what people
think of you. Charles Kingslsy.
DOES IT PAY ?
Doeqit pay to buy expensive mach
inery and tools and allow them to lay
out in the field or barnyard all winter
for want of a shed !
Does it pay to buy fruit trecb of
agents when you can obtain the samo
grade of etock direct from the nursery
at less than one half the prices tho
agent will charge you!
Does it pay to continue feeding
dunghill fowls when you can purchaso
a few settings of eggs from purebred
fowls at a email additional expenss!
Does it pay to spend several doll aro
each year for political newspapers and
at .the same time refuse to cubecribo
for an agricultural or livestock paper!
Does it pay to fill your library with
trashy literature because it ia cheap,
and not own one volume that pertains
to farming!
Does it pay to allow your chickens to
roost on trees and fences and do with
out eggs in the winter time or have
none to sell when the price is high!
Does it pay to hire a teacher to in
struct your children and condemn him
if your children do not like him, or
praise him if they do, and you not
visit the school once during thff termt
Does it pay to give your boy a colt
or calf and sell it when it is grown and
pocket the money yourself !
Does it pay to allow the manure to
accumulate about your barns and sheds
and cause you to wade about in tha
mud all winter!
Does it pay to leave your corn out ia
the shock all winter, to be husked
next spring after the rats and mico
have worked upon it and the snow and
rain have spoiled the fodder!
Does it pay to allow your fences to
get out of repair, thereby causing your
stock to become breachy and you to
less your temper!
Does it pay to allow the seeds of nox
ious weeds to ripen and seed down your
place!
Does it pay to cut your wood just a3
you use it, thus having green wood to
burn all the time!
Does it pay to buy or do without
fruit and berries just because it takes
some time and toil to raise them!
Does it pay to waste the long winter
evenings in idleness when with a littlo
determination you might carry out a
course of reading that will aid you in
your profession!
D0&3 it pay to purchase things at
public sales that.you have no use for'
just because you can get eight or twelve
months' time!
Does it pay to put off repairing your
tools, greasing your harness, planning
your work until next spring that can
be done to a better advantaga now !
Does it pay for a farmer to dabble ia
politics and neglect hi3 farm work to
get an office! .
Does it pay to allow the briars, vines
and shrubs to keep crowding you out
into the field each year and cause tho
fence to rot! -
Does it pay to purchase everything
you eat, wear and use of your homo
merchants when you can in many
cases save from 10 to 25 per cent, by
purchasing direct from the manufac
turer or wholesale house!
Does it pay to farm fields that aro
covered with stumps'and stones rather
than haul them off !
' Does it pay to wait until time to
make garden or plant your spring
crops before purchasing your garden
and field eceds!
Finally, does it pay to go along year
after year in a slip shod manner, there?
by disgracing the profession you fol
low! J. C. Kimmell, in Farmers
Guide.
A VALUABLE RECEIPT,
Warts on Horses. A correspondent
of an Enghsh agricultural journal
many years ago, gave the following
simple remedy for curing warts of dif
ferent kind3 on horses, mule3 and cat
tle: Anoint the wart three times with
clean, fresh hog's lard, about two days
between imea. I have had warts cn
my horse3 bleeding warts of a largo
size, rattling warts, and seed warts to
the number of more than one hundred
on one horse's head. I have never been
able to find tha warts after the third
application. For cuts, bruises, galls,
eta, the application of fresh lard
either for man or beast is worth mcro
than any patent liniments in use. It
will remove pain instantly, and docs
net irritate raw flesh, as liniments do.
How often do large fortunes ruin
young men I I snould like to to
ruined, but I can get on very well as
I am. Artezau3 Ward.