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THE INDUSTRIAL : AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUE PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. : . : : . Vol. 15. t 2 Raleigh, N. 0., September 4, 1900. Ho. 30 Aj iculture. h STJMMABY Or" RESULTS OF WHEAT EX PEBIlIEJfTS. The following is a resume of wheat experiments at the Tennessee Experi ment Station, the results of which are set forth in a bulletin (referred to in The Progressive Farmer of August 14th) which is now being dis tributed, and which can be secured free of cost on application. 1. The results secured in small plots are relatively correct when compared with field trials. 2. The early and thorough prep aration of wheatland is of the utmost importance, as this secures a deep and friable seed bed and an ample supply of moisture for germination. 3. Fulcaster made the highest vield per acre, with 41.66 bushels; followed closely by Early Gennessee Giant, with 41.35 ; and Improved Fulcaster with 40.25 bushels. In ad dition, Niger, Fultz and Poole aver aged more than 40 bushels per acre. 4. Considering the weight per measured bushel, Velvet Chapp heads the list with 61 pounds. Fultz, Poole, Harvest King and Deitz Am ber were all equal to, or above the "standard," though yielding more than 39 bushels per acre. 5. The best milling varieties of wheat are Fulcaster, Niger, Mediter ranean, Improved Fulcaster and Deitz Amber; while the poorest milling varieties are White Golden Cross, Early Gennessee Giant and Fultz. 6. The weakest strawed variety was Egyptian, and the stiffest strawed, Early Gennessee Giant. 7. In general appearance, Fulcas ter was unsurpassed. 8. Such varieties as Buck "Wood's Hybrid, etc., should not be used by onr farmers until they have been given further trials at the station. y. The best results from the use of twenty-two combinations of fertili zers were made with ten tons of barnyard manure, which increased the yield over no fertilizer, 11.72 bushels. 10. Barnyard manure used at the rate of five tons per acre, increased the yield over no fertilizer 7.71 bush els, at a cost of 26 cents per bushel. The results emphasize the fact that more stock should be kept, and the manure saved and returned to the soil. 11. A complete home-mixed fertili zer " used at the rate of 50 pounds nitrate of soda, 100 pounds Tennes see acid phosphate and 25 pounds muriate of potash, increased the yield over no fertilizer 8.07 bushels, at a cost of 27 cents per bushel. 12. A ready-mixed commercial fer tilizer as sold on the local market, and used at the rate of 150, 300 and 450 pounds per acre proved unsatis factory. 13. Commercial fertilizers do not influence soil texture favorably, and by their continued use alone, the oil will be exhausted. The humus of barnyard manure improves the texture of the soil, and aids in the disintegration of useful plant f ocd. 14. Nitrogen is chiefly stored n the leaves of the cowpea plant, and not in the nodules on the roots as many suppose. 15. The best time for seeding wheat is between the 1st and 15th of October. 1G. There was a gain of 2.13 bush els per acre from sowing in wide as compared with narrow rows, and cultivating with the Breeds weeder. 17. The rate of seeding made but little difference in the yield of wheat, though as a rule, it would be safer to vie two bushels per acre. 18. The results of growing winter wits, rye and barley for grain, are vory satisfactory. U. The question of seed selection i of vital importance to the farmer. ; I'se only good, pure seeds, of such varieties of what as the millers want,' ;;nil which are. guaranteed true to i.ame. Andrew M. Soule, Agriculturist, Tenn. Exp. Stat'n. In the course of time no respect able newspaper will have to depend for life upon the election of -any one man or any set of men. Galveston Xews. THE FABMEB'S CREED. Something over three years ago the following well-written "Farmer's Creed" appeared in The Progressive Farmer. It was written by Prof. Ben j . Irby . It -is worthy of re-publication : We believe in small well-tilled farms ; that the soil must be fed as well as the owner, so that the crops shall make the farm and the farmer richer. "We believe in thorough drainage, in deep plowing, and in labor-saving implements. We believe in good fences, barns conveniently arranged, good orchards and gardens, and plenty of home raised hog and hominy. We believe in raising purebred stock ; or in grading up the best to be gotten until they equal the thor oughbreds. We believe in growing the best varieties of farm crops, and saving the choicest for seed. We believe in fertilizing the brain with phosphorus as well as applying it to the soil. We believe in the proper care and application of the barnyard manure. We believe that the best fertilizers are of little value, unless accompa nied by industry, enterprise and in telligence. We believe in rotation, diversifica tion and thorough cultivation of crops. We believe that every farm should own a good farmer, and that every good farmer will eventually own a good farm. We invito regular readers of The Progressive Farmer to write us about any purebred stock that they want to buy, and if there are no advertise ments in the paper of the particular breed wanted we will take pleasure in referring our correspondents to some reliable breeder. All that it need to cost you to get full informa tion about any stock is to drop us a postal-card and tell us what you want. We will put you at once in communication with a good party to deal with. N SEASONABLE NOTES FROM MY FABM CEOPS AND VEGETABLES. Correspondence of The Progress! ve Farmer. As truckers or gardeners, and farmers, too, we are a wasteful peo ple; The hasty rainfalls carry off the soil to the swamps, creeks and rivers. We let it go for want of a small amount of proper preparation, most of which could be done by horse power. We do not want land cut up in small narrow ditches. Make valleys with large plows so as to have no missing rows ; these valleys may be so arranged as to let the water pass slowly. The next waste is in gathering and saving our manures. Here is the big secret. Many articles have been written about manures. It takes good practical and common sense to save labor or manure. When ma nure is ready, put it at once to its work in its proper place for vege tables. My time for putting out ma nure is in late fall or early winter. Put-it on land if it is rough in wide beds and then throw up to higher beds so as not to wash. By spring it is thoroughly decomposed and the land is in fine condition for early vegetables. There is waste, perhaps, but you get fine vegetables to pay for waste. The waste of labor and manure to keep it over to spring is greater. By this plan vegetables do not burn in dry weather so badly. Keep land as much from puddling in winter as can be and throw in as great freezes' as possible. The early bunch Lima or butter bean should be grown extensively, both for summer and winter use, and also for market. Children can gather and shell them; it is light work. They bear until frost. The white and colored may be grown ; the white are preferable. I have grown them for many years and much prefer the bunch to the large running kind; they are nearer a never-failing vari ety. I grow them on sand or red clay land. They feed better on land prepared as above described. They are a much better paying crop than corn. Crab grass and weeds should not be allowed to grow on garden land in fall after the early vegetables are taken off. Sow cow peas either broadcast or in drills. The cook is much pleased when she can have something to boil every day in the year. More vegetables and less fat hog meat. My June-sowed beets are quite a success. On the same land where winter cabbage were grown and sold, now am selling beets at 10 cents per dozen or 20 cents per peck. It has been said there is no man so far from market as he that has nothing to sell. There is often great waste in gathering and handling of tender vegetables, especially for , market. Let there be no waste by neglecting time and place. Kindly, R. R. Moore. Guilford Co., N. C. ... We grow a great many winter oats here, and find best results from early seeding. We sow in September, the earlier in the month the better. If the Hessian fly is not present, some times we sow the last of August ; but the danger from the fly is greater then. We do not like to have the eggs of this pest deposited on the young oats, as thoy do much damage the following spring, unless we have a cold winter to destroy the eggs. We - prefer a pea stubble in our sec tion, but have had good success after corn; when the corn came off early enough. In either case, the land should be put in the best mechanical condition possible, and never sow when land is too wet. The oats should be plowed under to the depth of four inches, then harrowed and rolled. There is not much danger of winter killing when covered this depth, in this latitude. The white winter oats will stand much more freezing than will the black or red. T. J. Wat kins, Anson Co., N. C. C0EN HARVESTER AND SHREDDER. The Progressive Farmer has been discussing the question of shredding corn for some time. Considerable interest in the subject has been shown. In this connection, the fol lowing item from the Burke County News may prove interesting : Mr. J. H. McNeely has just re ceived a corn harvester and shredder, the first machine of the -kind ever brought to the county. Besides har vesting the corn, it husks it and sacks it, placing the shattered corn, cleaned, in a separate sack, and shreds the husks and fodder, which, it is said, makes excellent feed, stock preferring it to the best hay. It is claimed that there is also a great saving by the use of this machine. Mr. McNeely bought the machine principally for his own use, on his farm on Johns river, but he will probably also operate it on neighbor ing farms where his neighbors de sire it. Keep plenty of clean pure water where the fowls can easily get it whenever they want it. FARMING AND FRUIT GEOWING IN MOOEE. People in Chatham and other coun ties adjoining Moore will bear out the Sanf ord Express in the assertion that it used to be thought "that the Southern Pines section wouldn't sprout peas and that s razor-backed hog had a hard time making a living there . ' But the falsity of such ideas was long ago demonstrated. Now the Superintendent of the Van Lind ley Orchard Company of Southern Pines informs the Express that since the opening of the season they have shipped six thousand - crates oi; peaches to the Northern markets. Besides this they have marketed six hundred bushels of blackberries as well as large quantities of grapes and plums. They recently pulled a watermelon which weighed 75 pounds. The Company grows feed for all their stock and a surplus to sell. This year they planted 75 bushels of cow peas, as well as a good many acres in corn. They have'oO acres in peach trees that will commence bear ing next year. THE NAMING OF FAEMS. Walter Williams, one of the liter ary editors of the Globe-Democrat and editor of that model country weekly newspaper, the Columbia (Mo.) Herald, comments as follows upon the above subject : "One of our exchanges rightly urges the naming of farm homes. It adds to the standing of the farm, makes people better acquainted with it and increases the owner's pride in keeping it up. A name chosen be cause of location, environment or f or other reason may be selected. There's something in the special name, but any name is better than none at all. "We should like ,to print the names of all the farms in Boone county. It would be an interesting and sugges tive list. Walnut Hill, The Elms, Eminence, Sunny Crest, Clover Leaf, Gray Gables, The White House how much more appropriate these names sound than simply the farm of John Jones or Tom 'Thomas. If. then the farmer placed over his front gate or in other conspicuous place the name of his farm so that passers by might read there would be added attractions to the country road and higher opinion of the owner of the land," An exhibit of fruit from the Vine mont colony, near Cullman, Ala., in cludes sixty-five varieties of grapes. USING THE LAND. Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer. Well-fed land is never so well off as when kept in active operation. It is much like a strong, healthy man. It suffers more from idleness than from hard work. First see to it that the soil gets plenty to eat rich barn yard and chemical fertilizers, green manuring and similar food and then work it and use it. The more it is cultivated and planted the bet ter will it be able to produce crops. Feed land with heavy fertilizers and only half work it and it grows sour and the plant food cannot be taken up by the plants. It is just as bad for the land as it is to feed a boy with rich, nourishing food and then let him lie around idle and do noth ing. We take food into our systems to make strength, which in turn must be exerted in or(Jer to produce the necessary good results. There is no danger of overworking land provided it is fed liberally . The abandoned and run down farms that we read so much about owe their condition to poor management. The trouble has not been in the soil, but in the farmers, who have generation after generation robbed the land. They did not understand how to manage it. Some farmers have an idea that robbing the soil means raising too many and large crops on it. Not a bit of it. Robbing the soil is simply taking from it and never putting anything back. Now on good soil you can raise two or three crops a year, and if properly handled it will not be robbed of its fertility. On the contrary Its power of produc tion will even be increased. It is all in knowing how. The knowing how is simple too, It is merely a matter of feeding and cultivating. Put back the barnyard manure, rotate the crops, cultivate thoroughly, and the secret of success is yours. Tho more we use our land the more productive it becomes, be cause by constant stirring and culti vating we improve the mechanical conditions of the soil so that it is better fitted to furnish the right conditions for seeds and growing plants. The more the soil is culti vated the easier it is for the moisture to penetrate it, arid the underground springs prove a source of perennial moisture for the plants when the air around is dry and parching. At the same time the fertilizing elements of the subsoil are reached by plant roots which are enabled to penetrate far down below the surface. Finally nearly all of our fertilizers that we apply to the soil need stirring up oc casionally to do their best good. They need to be brought into more direct contact with the atmosphere, sun and rains to make them imme diately available as plant food. W. E. Farmer. " t - - : p , AN INVESTMENT THAT PAYS FAEMEES HANDSOMELY. Something of the Benefits of a Good Farm Paper One Little Item That Saved a Thinking Farmer Many Times the Sub scription Price. Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer. I wish everybody would read The Progressive Farmer. I get so much benefit from it over and above the subscription price that I would part with almost anything I have rather than do without it. -. Did you ever think of it in this way, Mr. Editor ? It is similar to the five loaves and three fishes with which the Saviour fed the multitude. You can let everybody have some and still have .some left, and no one need stint at tha't. Suppose a man hasn't the money to pay for it : he could sell a few chickens and get more than the worth of his chickens from the poultry columns, to say nothing of the other good features of the paper.' Another could sell a bushel of corn, peas, wheat, oats, rye, or a few cab bage or melons and learn enough from the agricultural department of the paper.to more than repay him for those articles. Still another could sell a sheep, a goat, a pig or a calf and feel after reading the stock column that he is still indebted to the paper, and more information at hand which he can read "free, gratis, without pay.' I often hear of the profits in some business, enterprise, '. and some of these are enormous ; but they don't pay like The Progressive Farmer. You see, Mr. Editor, it's something that lasts so long, and no one can take it from you ! I can leave the doors wide open these hot nights and not even put it under my pillow, and when morning comes it's there. No thief can get it, yet everybody needs it. . I tried to figure .up the profits I get from it, but the thing was too big; it busted the multiplication table and I had to stop. It matters not what I want to ' know about progressive farming, I can get it from its col umns ; and it is so strange that so many of our farmers will not read. The politicians keep posted on cur rent news; the doctors read the medical journals; the lawyers, the law book ; the merchants the trades journals and prices current ; but the farmer, whose business is the most intricate and beset with the most hindrances, is the only one that feels that he needs no information except what he can discover within his own small realm. I can ride twenty miles from my home, in any direction I may choose, and stop at every farm within two miles of the road and not find a dozen agricultural papers! And some of these would very likely be sample ' copies sent out by some editor in the hope of inducing them to subscribe. Still every farmer imagines he knows as much about , farming as any one else. I have a neighbor who claims that he can make "des as good craps sidin twice as he can sidin three times or four times, and use a turn plow at that." And his broth ers think they are a grade better than he ; and as for one old colored man, on agricultural science, he can knock out Professors Massey, Emery and Irby the first round, and not start out till 10 o'clock, either, These men cannot read and are to be pitied ; but there are nearly as many who can as who cannot read that do not take any paper giving in formation about their own occupa tion. If these would study and adopt new methods, those who can not read would be benefitedby ob servation, thus spreading the useful ness of the paper. I am aware that money is hard to get under our present financial sys tem of robbery and destitution, and rwhen a farmer gets a dollar he needs it in so many places that he of ten finds it difficult to know where to put it to do the greatest good ; but if I were called on to decide the case, I should feel safe in saying put it where it will bring information that will enable you to build up the waste places cheaply and quickly and make heavier crops at the same expense crops now cost ; that is, when you compare the income from the better crops with that from crops under the present system. Men vary in talent as much as the soils do in requirements ; and even should every farmer study along the same line of thought, results would differ, and if a farmer waits to make all his needed discoveries himself , it makes progress too' slow, and death will overtake him before the ac complishes much ; but The Pro gressive Farmer and other agricul tural papers reach out amongst the farmers and gather from each a bit of information and send the whole to each subscriber, and thus put him in shape to move off in new methods and with now ideas ; and in this way the reading man accomplishes in a short time results which, he who does not read could not accomplish in a life-time, To illustrate: Some time ago I re'ad in The Progressive Farmer the results 'of an analysis made by the chemist of some experiment station showing that poor sandy soils con tain a larger amount of phosphoric acid than stronger soils. This ap peared unreasonable, but I supposed that the writer was as honest in what he give the public by way of infor mation as I am, and -as chemistry is a science based on correct principles, I accepted it as true, and began at once to see if I could, not apply the discovery advantageously Jo my farm, which is sandy with clay from two to four feet below the surface. The guanos usually .sent out by manufacturers showing analysis 2-8-2, do not give good results on my lands ; therefore, acting upon tho principle noted above, I began to look up some guano of higher grade and of proportions different from 2-8-2. The nearest I could find to suit me was this: Ammonia, 3; phosphoric acid, $ ; potash (K2O), 5 Probably much less phosphoric acid would do as well, but even if the amount in my soil is sufficient it may be best to use some upon the prin ciple that a "little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" and renders active that which is already there. The agent, as is usual with men who sell, wanted to advise me about something he did not understand, and said, "This is for tobacco." I said, "I do not grow tobacco, but this is what I want;" and notwith standing no rain of much conse quence has. fallen since May, if he had any doubt about the wisdom of of my purchase, results will quickly dispel them. And the 200 pounds per acre cost less than 300 pounds of 2-8-2, each giving the same quantity in the aggregate of three ingredients, showing that the advantage lies in using more potash and ammonia and about the same quantity of phos phoric acid, which, as stated above, could, I think, have been much less with as good results. If tho farmers owning sandy lands could have known this when they first began the use of guanos, thou sands of dollars Would have been saved and the lands built up much faster ; yet, all this time the discov ery was not made and it was left for The Progressive Farmer to an nounce it. The practice of using any and every guano offered by agents must be abandoned and every farm must become an experiment station bo that each farmer can know with cer tainty the proper proportions for the different classes of soils. This can not be accomplished until farmers learn to buy the ingredients in some form separately and combino them in suitable proportions on the farm. Then why not begin correspond ence now to ascertain ' prices so that we may not next spring be at the mercy of the manufacturers as was the case last spring? Let some one in each neighbor hood take the initiative and ascertain as nearly as possible the quantity and kind needed by his neighbors, the -terms upon which' they want 'to buy and write several wholesale dealers in chemicals for prices. On receiving reply call a meeting and arrange de tails so that the goods can be shipped at proper time. An old adage, but a true on is, "Take care of the cents, the dollars will take care of themselves," but in this case the cents become dollars so rapidly as to make one think he is really taking care of dollars. More anon. Wsr. A. Barbrey. Sampson Co., N. C.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 4, 1900, edition 1
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