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a : Ss - CO f 5 ; e mum (11 I. ft i THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUS PEOPLE PAIIAIIOUNT 10 Mj C0SSJD22A1I0IS 0? STATE POLICY. vol. 1?. Raleigh, N. C., June 24, 1902. No. 20 Agriculture. MB. HEDGEFETH ANSWERED. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. I am a reader of your valuable pa per. I would not try to farm with out reading The Progressive Farmer, as I find it to be a great help to me. I think all farmers should read good agricultural papers and exchange views and ideas. I find that the most imorant person has good ideas some times. If you will allow me a short pace in your paper I will try to give in readers a remedy that will prevent callage from dying, as Mr. Ira Hedgcpeth requested in a recent issue. I must say that where vegetables are dying now, I know of no immediate remedy that will prevent them from dying this season. But if those farm ers that are having this trouble will sow peas broadcast in their gardens this year about the first of July and plow the vines under just before frost, this trouble will disappear for a while, some times for several years. I am not able to tell why the peas stop the trouble, but they will surely do it. If you see fit to publish this letter you can do so, for it will greatly benefit those who try it. J. A. HAYWOOD. Cumberland Co.. N. C. PARIS GREEN OF TOBACCO. In last week's Progressive Farmer we published an article from the Southern Planter on the use of Paris green to kill tobacco worms. Here is what Mr. Franklin Sherman, State Entomologist, has written a Forsyth (bounty farmer as to the matter: "Tobacco sprayed with the Paris green solution is not dangerous if proper precautions are used in the application of the material. The strength at which it should be used is one pound of green to 160 gallons of water, with as much lime added as there is Paris green. The plants should be sprayed once while they are very young, and at least once more when they are one-fourth or one-third grown, and if this is thoroughly done, there will not usually be need of furth er applications, but if there is. anoth er application when half-grown will suffice. Tobacco should certainly not le sprayed after it is two-thirds or three-fourths grown, for it is likely to mark the leaf so as to reduce its value, though the actual danger to human life is not worthy of consideration. You can easily see that at the very diluted strength here mentioned, only a very little portion would be put on any plant, and one would have to be a miniature volcano to use sufficient in sni king, or an elephant in appetite, to chew enough to do any harm. "Tint I am quite sure that there are th-.if. W1G d0 use this material in such a u"ay that it is dangerous, for some it dry mixed with lime or flour, at a strength very much greater than it should-be, and that when the plants arc about full grown. When used at fruit strength, it is likely to blister the leaves, also. I send you under separate wrapper copies of two of the Bulletins of this Department, and in them you will find considerable about various pests and r(i.i lies for tbem, though the tobacco w"rns are not here discussed. We are always glad to receive inquiries about in-r-ct pests, and especially encourage tl f ;-( nding of specimens of all insects f'l!Jr: l to be injurious in any part of tho State, for in this way only can we c - a true idea of the pests that are frt-valent in the various sections. At fl'.v time that I can be of further as- 'anee to you, do not fail to let Ir''- know." I' inUr Chronicle: Judging from t!- proportions that tobacco culture is f on in the Maple Hill commun- rv- it can no longer be classed as a r- experiment. There are, in a very Sll'ull radius, eight barns; over half Tti" number having been built this , H-ring. Mr. Gibson James, the pio rf r tobacco cultivator of this sec jtirn, has about seventeen acres of the ' H-d on his place this season, some of kich is very fine. WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CHEMI CAL FERTILIZERS ARE USED. Long Island Method Described by Mr. Hol ljster, a Soil Expert. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. Outside of the trucking centers of the South it is probable that Long Is land is the heaviest purchaser of chem ical fertilizers in the country. It is quite common there for a number of farmers to join together and through a purchasing agent contract for from 300 to 1,000 tons, taking advantage of all the discounts by paying cash. While a large amount is purchased on the above plan, it by no means covers one half the business. It is quite common for a Long Island farmer to purchase one or more cars of fertilizer for his own use and the grade he purchases is not a cheap or ordinary one ; they have a standard or what is better known down there as the "club fertilizer" which usually contains 3 to 4 per cent of nitrogen, 7 per cent, phosphoric acid and 7 per cent potash which is used mostly for potatoes at the rate of one ton to the acre. The headquarters of these clubs are at Northport, Northville and Southold. The plan adopted by these elubs has been to elect a purchasing agent who acts in connection with a board of di rectors who by authority of the club secure a chemical analysis of the soils and, on the advice of the experiment station, select an analysis to meet the soil conditions and the demands of the crop to be raised. This same commit tee then corresponds with the leading manufacturers of chemical fertilizers. After securing a satisfactory price it contracts with one of them to deliver within the time stated from 100 to 500 or 1,000 tons, as the case may be, in carload lots at the different stations within the club district. The purchas ing agent is usually paid 25 cents to 30 cents per ton for making the pur chases, looking after the delivery and making the collection (it is a cash transaction the farmer pays the pur chasing agent for his fertilizer as soon as it is taken from the car). The purchases are usually made in Jan uary and goods delivered during March and April, very few in May, which gets this matter off the minds "of the farmers early in the season. At Orient Point, Southold and Mat tituck where potatoes, cauliflower, as paragus, tomatoes and cabbage seed, are all extensively planted, we think the grades of fertilizer in use run higher than at other points on the Is land. At Orient they use 4 per cent ammonia, 8 per cent phosphoric acid, and 10 and sometimes 12 per cent pot ash; this is used mainly for potatoes and Brussels Sprouts at the rate of one ton to the acre, which we under stand gives splendid results in both the yield and quality of the crops; at Southold and Mattituck for tomatoes, asparagus and cauliflower they use 41: per cent nitrogen, 8 pcr cent phosphoric acid and 7 per cent potash, in all cases not less than one ton to the acre, and in the place of mixed fertilizers quantities of ground rock and fish scrap are used with kainit and muriate of potash. The Long Island farmer is to be congratulated on his progressive methods generally. His intelligence is leading him forward, helping him to overcome the difficulties attendant on the cultivation of thin soils, soils that eat up humus and wear out very fast. The reconstruction of his soils is taking his attention very much at present and he is now investigating what to use for cover crops that will meet Long Island conditions better than common clover; crimson clover, rye or oats and cow peaswill be tried. He also seems fully alive to the needs of the plants and understands that to meet these needs he must first have physical conditions brought about by the use of yard manure or green crops ploughed under, which enables him to use larger quantities of high grade commercial fertiliser with safety and profit. E. J. HOLLISTER. Roanoke-Chowan Times : The poor stand of peanuts, and the short crop planted on account of the drouth is likely to affect the market next win ter as peanuts are produced in a lim ited area. HARBY FARMER'S TALKS. LXXVIII. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. "We go on the railroad a good long distance, then are carried by a star route to an office in the country. Here comes a little boy with one sus pender on, his feet and legs are cov ered with dust' and so black you could not tell by looking at them whether he was black or white; his nose and face is as speckled as a guinea or turkey egg. He, has a light heart and is happy. No cares ever weigh him down. He can tell you the best place to fish and where the birds have their nests. Sometimes there is a sore on top of. one of his toes where he hit a root, stump or rock and occasionaly gives it a second lick against some thing and has put it to bleeding. How it does hurt! He hurries to his humble home. The farmer here had no education. He has sent his, children to school and Mary has learned to read. Since she commenced reading, she has begged her father to take some paper, and as The Progressive Farmer has so much news and nice reading matter in it, he decided to take it. Now the whole family wants to hear everything in it read out. Mr. Jones tried some of the things that she read in it, and has found that his farm is improving. He is not a lazy man, but has done a great deal of hard work that gave him no returns. One mistake he has made was in thinking that the more acres he plow ed over, the more crop he would make. He thought that a large horse or mule ought to plow 40 acres. Year after he cleared more land but his pile of corn did not increase in proportion. As Mary read how some farmer made so much on their farms he did not see why he could not do it too. The large stumps that were in his field when lie cleared it were there still except a few he took up last winter. He had done work enough keeping the weeds" and frrass from around those stumps to have taken them up long ago. Put he began to think more about his work. There was also a bottom in the field that never made any thing and he con cluded to cut a little ditch, which real ly surprised him. It only took a day and a half to but it, and he got extra corn enough to pay fory cutting several ditches. He wondered why he did not do it before, but could not tell. He has made up his mind to do many more things that will improve his farm. He sees now that it does not pay to scatter your labor over a big place, but put it on a little place and get more profit out of it. He thinls he has been asleep. The great object of the farm paper should be to stir up farmers; and when you have done this, success will be theirs. HARRY FARMER. Columbus Co., N. C. THE IRRIGATION RILL. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. After two days' cfebate the House of Representatives passed the Arid Land Irrigation bill by a vote of 146 to 55. The bill developed unexpected strength during its discussion, showing a strong sentiment throughout the entire coun try in favor of the reclamation of the arid lands. The discussion brought forth the fact that most of the East ern members of Congress believe that the opening of the lands of the West will bring prosperity to Eastern sec tions. Representative Turrell of Massachusetts made a strong state ment showing to what extent the New England factories depended upon Western markets, and that when the factories of New England are pros perous, 'her farmers are prosperous. The question is of a good deal of in terest since the Grange has been work ing against the bill, and a number of Congressmen took the ground that the government should not spend money to provide Western farmers with ad vantages over those of Eastern States. On the other hand, the idea was set forth that the irrigation of the arid lands was simply and actually an ex tension of the homestead act; that it was no longer possible to, get a good homestead since all lands in the States where crops could be grown through rainfall had been taken up, but that the improvement of those lands, by making a water supply available,would enable home-seekers to take them up under the homestead law. The bill provides what is practically a loan from the government for build ing the irrigation works." The cost of the works are to be added to the land and the settlers who enter the land are to pay that cost back to the govern ment. As one of the Representatives illustrated in discussing the bill, "Sup pose a certain reservoir costs a mil lion dollars; it reclaims one hundred thousand acres ; that makes every acre cost $10; that $10 an acre is paid back to the government by the homestead ers who take up the land" GUY E. MITCHELL. Washington, D. C. TWO AGRICULTURAL JOKES. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. The irrigationist with a plentiful supply of water is never at the mercy of the elements, and in connection with the irrigation bill which has just passed the House, the story is told of an Arizonian, the owner of a large ir rigated farm in the West, who went to visit his brother in one of the Southern States a short time ago. He happened to reach the brother's farm in the early spring and found him sit tiner leisurely smoking his pipe on the. veranda surrounding his house. "What are you waiting for, Si?" he asked. . "Waitin' for some rain to make my 'taters grow," he said. In tho fall of the year the Arizonian agpin visited his brother and this time too, he found him sitting smoking his pipe on apparently the same spot as before. "Why Si," he said, "Why don't you come out to Arizona where the water is plentiful and we never need to wait for rain. Haven't you had rain since I was here last?" "Oh, yes," Si said, "we has had some rain and them there 'taters have grown fine." "Well, what are you waiting for then?" "Well, yer see, John, they say as there is plenty of earthquakes bound ter come and I thought like as not some quake would come and shake the potatoes ou'j, of the ground for me." In one of the rural districts in Vir ginia, during the periodical county fairs in the fall of the year, there is a "razor-back" hog about as lean and swift of foot as a greyhound, which in variably attracts much attention. Last fall, according to Representative Swanson, a gentleman from Pennsyl vania exhibited some very excellent, fat, sleek, Berkshire hogs. They ex cited the attention of a Virginia "moonshiner" who asked the exhibi tor: "What kind of hogs are them there, pard?" "Berkshires," was the reply. "Well, Berkshires or no Berkshires, I ain't much of a jedge of hogs, but down in this here country a hog thut can't run no faster than a nigger ain't worth a darn." G. E. M. Elizabeth City Tar Heel: We have often called attention of our readers to the importance of cattle raising bul have withheld the citing of incidents where such has proved a paying busi ness. In Perquimans County there is a young man who saw the golden op portunity and grasped it in time. We have reference to Mr. S. M. Parker, of Hertford, N. C. Mr. Parker takes advantage of his poor deluded neigh bor who lets his cattle roam among the woods and swamps for its feed. He purchases cattle at a small price. When they come into his hands they are unfit for market. He places them in his stalls and gives them the right food in right quantities to soon have them in condition for market. Last year Mr. Parker made several ship ments of cattle to Norfolk and it is true that he always received the high est market price. In the Norfolk mar kets Mr. Parker's stock is a synonym for the very best. The Poultry Yard. SHADE AND WATER FOR POULTRY. Cor. of The Progressive Farmer. In hot weather we cannot do better than to provide artificially good, cool shade for the poultry. Many ranges are located so that the shade of trees V furnishes all they need in this way, but if there are not trees or buildings to give shade construct some protec tion from the hot rays of the sun. One should really begin to transplant trees to the poultry yard at once if they are not there now. It is better to trans plant young trees than to attempt to raise them from seeds. When put in the yard guards of wire netting should surround them to keep the poultry from doing injury to them. After a couple of seasons of growth the young trees should be sturdy enough to grow in spite of what the fowl3 can do to thfem. Under the shade of the trees or arti ficial protection, the soil should be turned over fresh every morning or night. It is better to do this at night time because the soil will not dry up so quickly as in the day time. The poultry will then revel in this cool, moist soil early in the morning, find ing comfort and health therein. It is an easy matter to turn over the soil each day, and in very dry weather it may pay to throw a little water over it to increase the moisture. Nothing else will tend more to keep the fowls healthy and in good laying condition than this. Water is one of the chief essentials of good health in hot weather, both in men and animals. Cool, running wa ter is always the best. Stale warm water left standing half a day in a hot tin basin hardly furnishes the de sired results. In supplying the poul try with water one should consider his own desires and inclinations on a hot day. We willnot go far astray if we treat the poultry exactly as we would like to have ourselves treated. It is not always possible to have running water in the poultry yard, but often a little ingenious invention will help us out. No harm can come in trying to find some good way to water the poul try. At the very least we can give the poultry fresh water several times a day, and to do this on a large scale a hose should be employed, or pipes should be run from the well or pump to all the watering troughs in the yards. A little flushing of .these every hot day will do no harm. Even sprink ling the hot ground "of the poultry yard with water will cool the atmos phere and help the chickens to pass the days more comfortably. . ANNIE C. WEBSTER. HOW TO MAKE HENS FAT. Mr. Edward E. Higgins, of Jackson County, W. Va., recently furnished the Country Gentleman an article on the above varied subject, on which the Southern Planter comments as fol lows: "The following article, which we take from the Country Gentleman, is so full of valuable information which we can fully endorse from our own experience, that we are glad to have the opportunity of republishing the same. In cpnnection with the raising of broilers in this State, we would say that, if properly carried on, it cannot fail to be profitable. Broilers have, during May, sold for thirty-five cents per pound in this city. This is not the price for single birds but for wholesale lots. We know of one sale being made of nearly $100 worth at that price." Mr. Higgins's article follows: It may be that a few things which I have picked up in my few years' ex perience with poultry would be of some interest to those who keep poul try. The first thing that should be de cided in the fall ishow many can be properly cared for; overcrowding should be studiously avoided. It is an invitation to failure and. disaster to crowd 50 or 100 hens into a small room where they barely have space to roost. In arranging a house for hens, a feeding place should be provided; this wilKgive them an opportunity to exer cisfe freely by scrat'sy-rT-fr.-fhe litter, or wallowing in the dust ; it should also be built so that it can be easily cleaned out. Cleanliness is essential to success in the poultry business. Ver min and disease always lurk in a foul, ill smelling hen-house. In construct ing our hen-house, we should not im agine that we get them too warm. I have never yet seen one that was too warm; if enough air should not enter the poultry house during warm weath er, some of the windows can be opened. The walls of the house should be doub led, with building paper between the two thicknesses of plank, or better yet, studding may be used, leaving a dead air space in the walls, making the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter; sonte people fill this space with sawdust. I believe that this is a good idea and mean to try it next winter. The roosts should be so arranged that they can be removed when clean ing the house out ; it would be well also to have the nests so that they can be frequently taken out and cleaned. A filthy nest is one of the best harbors for lice. After you have decided how many you can accommodate, sort out your flock, using great care in the selection of the individual birds that make up your bunch of winter layers. Select the most vigorous and best developed pullets, rejecting undersized and un developed ones. The flock of winter layers should, as far as possible, be made up of early hatched pullets. Next after these I would select yearlings; all over this age I would dispose of, as an old hen, except in rare cases, will not pay for her feed through tHe winter. The pullets, if of the Mediterranean stock, should be hatched in April, or early May to make good winter layers ; if a heavier breed is used, they may be hatched in March. These, if properly cared for, will begin to lay in the fall when the price of eggs is advancing. It should be the aim of every farmer to have his hens in good shape for lay ing when the prices paid for eggs are highest. The moulting process usually occu pies about three months, and this pe riod will be prolonged into the winter, if the hens are not properly cared for. A hen that does not shed her feathers until November or December will not pay for her feed through the winter. In order to encourage early moulting the hens should be fed rather heavily of feather producing food; meat-meal and a little sulphur twice a week will be beneficial. , Sunflower seed is an excellent feed for moulting hens. Corn should be fed rather sparingly through the warmer months, although a small quantity each day will do no harm, and in the fall it will be of great benefit, A bran mash is greatly enjoyeg" by the hens at any time of year. All table scraps should go to the hens, while a great many other things that woul4 be otherwise wasted, such as offal at butchering time, wheat screenings, sorghum tops, and various other by products, if given to the hens are quickly converted into a cash-bringing commodity in the shape of eggs. One of the greatest mistakes mado by farmers is in not giving their hens a sufficient quantity of feed; another is in not .providing proper shelter, while there is a limited number who recognize the importance of providing grit for the poultry. Without grit the poultry will have poor digestion, and a flock of hens with poor digestion is usually an unprofitable flock. When a flock is confined for a few days during a cold snap the first few feeds of grain that are given are readily eaten. Then they will eat but very little. Some may imagine that they have been overfed, but this is rarely the case; it is us ually because they have not been pro vided with grit enough to digest their food, and the poultry are starving, while we are comforting ourselves with the belief that they are well fed. We are shocked when a young man dissipates, - in rioutous living, a for tune left him; yet, at the very same time, we may be throwing away capi tal more precious by denying ourselves the sleep which restores and freshens all of our powers, by wasting our time capital, or by letting golden opportun ities slip through our fingers unused- worse than wasted.-0. S. Marden, in "Success" for. May. V I i - r.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 24, 1902, edition 1
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