r Our Farm Department |
Devoted to the Interest of Those Who I
W Till the Soil M
f CONDUCTED BY J. M fclATY |
The Egg Trade of the United States.
The Bureau of Animal Industry of
the Department of Agriculture has t
just issued a circular by Milo M. [
Hastings presenting the resvlts of a t
study made during the past year of 8
the conditions surrounding the pro- *
duction and marketing of eggs, with
a view to determining the causes of r
deterioration in quality and conse- c
quent loss. It uppears that there i
Is an euormous loss due to the \
spoiling of eggs, which could be c
largely prevented by improved meth- r
ods, and in this article the causes t
of such loss are poiiited out and sug- t
gestions made for remedying them. 1
According to Mr. Hastings, the c
bulk of the poultry wealth of the e
United States is to be found on the f
general farms of the Mississippi val- I
ley. Some idea of the growth of t
the poultry industry on these gener- I
al farms is shown in the case of r
the state of Kansas, where exclusive e
poultry farms are practically un
known, yet the value of poultry, and f
eggs sold has increased over a mil- *
lion dollars each year for the past t
five years. 1
The total loss to the egg trade I
caused by needless deterioration runs I
into large figures. The causes of t
the losses and their estimated pro- i
portion to the total crop value are I
summed up as follows: Dirty eggs, I
2 per cent; breakage, Z per cent; <
chick development or heated eggs, '
5per cent; shrunken or held eggs, I
6 per cent; shrunken or held eggs, <
moldy or bad flaver, 8.5 per cent; I
total, 17 per cent. I
The loss from thick development I
or heated eggs is probably greater
than from any othe? source, and is i
especially heavy during the sum- I
mer in the south and west, where i
It amounts to 25 or 30 per cent of I
the eggs produced during the heated
season. The responsibility for heat- I
ed eggs Is almost wholly with the
farmer, although the rural buyer and
the freight handler are In nowiBe in
nocent.
"To save the millions of dollars
which are carried down our sewers
In the shape of bad eggs," says Mr.
Hastings, "we must have, first, a
campaign of education among egg
producers that will show every far
mer's wife that when eggs are al
lowed to remain In damp nests, un
der broody hens, or In hot kitchens,
there is a loss in quality which
means an actual loss in money to
herself and to her neighbors; and,
secondly, a system of buying eggs
that will as nearly as possible recom
pense every producer who sells eggs
exactly in accordance with what
those eggs are worth. Above all
else, the infallible rule concerning
the marketing of eggs is for the
farmer to sell his eggs as soon as
possible after they are laid."
The profits of the city retailer are
by far the largest item In the mar
keting of eggs. An approximate idea
of the profits of the various handlers
of eggs may be obtained from the
following figures showing the ele
ments of cost of a dozen eggs pur
Chased by a New York consumer.
Cents.
Paid to the farmer in Iowa.. 16.00
Profit of the country store.. 8.00
Gross profit of the shipper....00.75
Freight to New York 1.6
Gross profit to receiver 00.5
Gross profit to jobber 1.25
Loss from handling 1.6
Gross profit of retailer 4.6
Cost to consumer 25.00
Id the opinion of Mr. Hastings,
the greatest handicap to the egg
trade is the general store, with its
custom of bartering merchandise for
eggs. The storekeeper reckons his
profit on goods as more than his
loss on eggs. He does not try to
enforce Improvement upon his pa
trons by buying on a quality basis,
and with the advantage his peculiar
position gives him he keeps the oth
er egg buyers from doing so.
The circular discusses quite gener
ally the various phases of the egg
industry, and may be obtained free
of charge by addressing a request to
the Bureau of Animal Industry,
Washington, D. C., for a copy of
Circular 140.?A. D. Melvln, Chief
Bureau of Animal Industry.
Smashes All Records.
As an all-round laxative tonic and
health-builder no other pills can com
pare with Dr. King's New Life Pills.
They tone and regulate stomach, liv
er and kidneys, purify the blood,
strengthen the nerves: cure Consti
pation Dyspepsia. Bllllousness, Jaun
dice, Headarhe, Chills and Malaria.
Try them. 25c at Hood Bros.
Lunar Superstition antj Potatoes.
After exhaustive experiments in po
ato planting, the United States l)e
>artment of Agriculture has to say
bat, in season, one time is as good
ls another to put potatoes in the
;round.
Almost everyone, even if he were
lot reared In the country, has heard
if the idea about planting potatoes
n the dark of the moon. The field
trorkers of the Department of Agrl
ulture have been investigating the
natter, and have found that seven
y-five per cent of the farmers of
bis alleged enlightened country put
n their crops and do a good many
ither things about the farm govern
?d solely by the moon's phases. Many
arineri will tell you that If you
ilant potatoes in the dark of the
noon they will run to tubers, and if
n the light of the moon they will
tin to tops, and crops are planted
Lccordlngly.
There Is usually a basis In fact
or any superstition; and the moon
luperstititlon ls so deeply rooted,
hat a number of experts from the
Jepartment of Agriculture, while go
ng up and down and across the land,
?ave made It their business to study
he question, and see whether there
night not be a germ of truth or, at
east some reason for the general be
ief that the moon's phases have an
;ffect on animal and vegetable life.
They have concluded after patient
nvestigation that the moon myth Is
>ne of the comparatively few myths
that date back to pure savagery, and
las absolutely not an atom of scien
tific foundation on which to stand.
The agricultural experiment stations
ill over the country have been defy
ing this superstition for several years
mid raising Just as good crops when
the moon was one way as when It
was the other. Therefore, once and
For all, it Is conclusively decided that
there ls nothing to the theory that
potatoes should be planted In the
dark of the moon.
All of this may not seem very se
rious investigation for a great gov
ernment to undertake, but the work
nevertheless has been Interesting to
the scientists, and If they have suc
ceeded In weaning a few from ' ihe
old superstition about planting po
tatoes, they have been well paid for
their work.?Scientific American.
A Renter of the Right Kind.
Many renters think they cannot af
ford to use fertilizer liberally on an
other man's land. The best way
would be for them to farm just as
thouKh the land was their own.
While over in Anderson county we
learned of a renter named J. E.
Reynolds who made it profitable to
pursue the course of deep plowing
and liberal use of fertilizer. In 1907
he came to the man whose land he
was cultivating and asked him if he
would pay his share of 600 pounds
of guano per acre. On being told
to go ahead he used 600 pounds per
acre on ten acres of cotton and made
eleven bales weighing 500 pounds
each. Of course ho broke this land
deep with two-horse plow. In 1908
he proposed to his landlord to use
1,000 pounds per acre, and though
seasons were not so good as In 1907,
he made thirteen bales on eleven
acres. They believe in deep plowing
and a liberal use of fertilizers over
in Anderson, and renters in other
sections can well afford to follow
Mr. Reynolds' example. In fact few
things please us more than to see
a renter doing good farming. We
know the demands upon him of rent,
guano and family expenses, and we
like to see him have something left
to show for his year's work. As to
how Mr. Reynolds fared we have on
ly to say he is now plowing two
good mules of his own instead of
his landlord's stock.?Southern Culti
vator.
CHILDREN WHO ARE SICKLY.
Mothers who volue their own com
fort and the welfare of their children,
should never be without a box of
Mother Gray's Sweet Powders for
Children, for use throughout the sea
son. They Break up Colds. Cure
Feverishness. Constipation. Teething
Disorders, Headache and Stomach
Troubles. THESE POWDERS NEV
ER FAIL. Sold by all Drug Stores,
25c. Don't accept any substitute. A
trial package will be sent FREE to
any mother who will address Allen
S. Olmsted, LeRoy, N. Y.
Mr. Isaac S. London has bought the
Slier City Grit. He is the youngest
son of MaJ. H. A. London, who for
thirty years, has been editor of the
Pittsboro Record.
Terracing?The * ' 'ation of Amerl-1
can Fartrs.
Referring to "8oll Erosion," or
washing of soil, as set forth on page
82 of ?he Year book, issued by the
agricultural department, we see that
It is estimated that 1,000,000,000 tons
of sediment is poured into the seas
off the farms of the United States
annually; also that this erosion, or
washing away of the cream of our
farms, exceeds in value all the land
taxes. If this is true, and no doubt
the above estimate is very low. Is it
not time that the American farmers
stop and begin to think along on
these lines? In fact would it not be
wise on the part of the agricultural
department to ask for an appropria
tion to put a corps of demonstrators
in the field to show a few farmers
In each county in each State how
to prevent this wholesale waste of
our source of wealth?
The people of Georgia, Alabama
and South Carolina learned how to
prevent this washing away of their
source of wealth many years ago.
About 25 years ago the editor of
the Southern Cultivator, Itev. J. B.
Ilunnicutt, and the writer, each own
ed a farm in Coweta county, Geor
gia, and both of us terraced our
farms about the same time. Since
coming west, about twenty years
ago, the writer has visited Georgia
several times and watched with in
terest the progress made.
Recently on our way to Washing
ton we passed through Alabama,
Georgia and South Carolina and
noticed from the car window that al
most every (arm was terraced.
We made it a point to talk with
dilfirent farme-a that got aboard nt
various stations. \Ve asked ilioio
how this system o! terracing spread
so rapidly In those States. They
told us that they used on an average
of $3.00 per acre of fertiliser on
thiir crops, and that tliey discovered
thht when th<;y had heavy spring
ih ns, that a 'argj per cint. of these
fertilizers wer?) leached out of the
soil and they lost largely. Many of
tnese farmers to!d us Mint this
racing and rlov/ing had bertn
the salvation of fill that country.
That lani* that wo':lil not produce
more than on ? iiuarier of a bale of
cotton to the a<r? was now making
a bale to the acre. Frnm my own
experience and observation along
these lines we have come to the con
clusion that all who own lands that
are undulating and inclined to wash
have not good title to their land
that do not have them terraced.
The cost of terracing is very small.
Two men with a theodolite or level
ing instrument, and a man with a
team and good plow can terrace 100
acres per day. In order to dissemi
nate correct Information, would ask
all who read this to write this pa
per very briefly, giving information
as to how they lay off their terraces,
how they make their terraces and
how they lay off their rows to make
each row a terrace, the benefits ter
racing has been to their farms, etc.
This matter of terracing to save
the source of our wealth is of such
vast importance that we believe the
national government should take the
matter in hand Just as they have tak
en in hand the enterprise of irri
gation and teach our farmers that
every drop of muddy water that runs
off his farm impoverishes his laud,
and that when he utilizes the water
before leaving his farm he thus en
riches that farm. Untold millions
of dollars can be saved the Ameri
can people annually along these
lines.?Southern Cultivator.
What Aro You Doing Aboil* Pasture?
What are you dolnr, about pastures
for your cows this summer? Have
you made any provision for them to
have a pasture worthy of the name,
one where they can find enough to
eat without having to go miles and
miles after It? Is there a fence
about this pasture so that they can
not get out and stray off or damage
the crops? Don't you think it would
pay to have a pasture the cows could
find shade and water and grass and
thus increase their production of
milk and butter?
What aro you doing, too, about
pastures for the pigs? Are you go
ing to try to make pork this year
by letting the hogs run wild until
"fattening time" and then feeding
them altogether on hlghprlced corn,
or by keeping them in a little filthy,
ill-smelling lot or pen and risking
their dying by disease before the
summer is over? Don't you think
it would pay to prepare some lots
where they can eat cowpeas and
rape and soy-beans and sorghum and
peanuts and corn and fatten all sum
mer long, so that there will be need
for only a few weeks of dry feeding
next fall??The Progressive Farmer.
Easily Explained.
Miss Chatters?"It surprises me
to see what a small man your broth
er Is. He's no more than half your
size."
Mr. Patters?"?e?; but he's only
my half-brother, you know."?Judge.
the Summer's
Cooking
No kitchen appliancegives tuch
actual satisfaction and real home
comfort as the new Perfection
Wick Blue Flame Oil Cook
Stove.
Kitchen work, this coming
.summer, will be better and quick
er done, with greater personal
comfort for the worker, if, instead
of the stifling heat of a coal fire,
you cook by the (tnctHlraltd
a < .u _
NEW PERFECTION
I^Wick Blue Flame Oil Cook-Stove
Delivers heat where you want it?never where you don't want it?J
thus it doet not overheat the kitchen. Note the CABINET TOP,
with shelf for warming plates and keeping food hot after cooked, also
W convenient drop shelves that can be folded back when not in use, and
J two nickeled bars for holding towels.
Three sizes. With or without Cabinet Top. At your dealer s,
or write our nearest agency.
>
The T A 7VT 7J never disappoints?safe,
economical and a won
derful light giver. Solidly made,
beautifully nickeled. Your living-room will be pleasanter
with a Rayo Lamp.
If not with your dealer, write our nearest agency.
STANDARD OIL. COMPANY
v Incorporated)
fmmmmBmamamBmBmmmmmsm
g GO TO _? v ?3
| Booker's Shop f
^ For P
| Tobacco Flues and Trucks 1
? r? Prices to Please ^
1 O. V. BOOKER, Prop., |
p Smithfield, N. C. ?j
Legal Blanks at Herald Office
Headquarters For
Heavy and Staple Groceries,
General Merchandise, High
Grade Fertilizers, Buggies
and Wagons, Furniture,
Coffins and Caskets. . .
Compare our prices before you buy.
Cotter-Un icrwood Company
Smlthfleld. N. C.
THE JNO. A. McKAY MFG. CO., Dunn, North Carolina.
Machinists, Iron and Brass Foun
ders, Castings of all kinds. We make
the best Swing Saw Machine in the
world for the price. OLD MACHIN
ERY MADE GOOD AS NEW. High
grade work guaranteed. Agents for
the leading makes of Machinery.
Good stock of machine supplies al
ways on hand.
Agents for the celebrated Farquhar Machinery. Agents for the Des
mond Injec'or and Phillip Steel Split Pulleys.
jJUSHtSSISSSSSSSSiSSS KsSMSSHMSSSSS
I 1
J Something EverylHouse Keeper in the County is
interested in at Cotter-Underwood Company's
ft Furniture Store. All the ladies in the County JC
^ are respectfully incited to call and see it. . . . |?
* *
M *
| A Bank Accent J
Jj Saves You A
I Loss of Money and Loss of j|
| Sleep.
ft Saves You ft
* Time in making settlements j>
Q and disputes about them Q
> afterwards. ?
Saves You
Q And your family risk of 0
I life oj personal injury
? And Makes i
Q a written receipt of all your Q
9 payments and business 2
transactions. ?
a 6
* 4 per cent per annum compound- m
M ed quarterly paid on Savings De- M
H posits. ?
Branch
Banking
Company
Q WILSON, :: North Carolina jj|
Do Not Fail to
Get a Bottle of
Rice's G. G. Liniment, For Rheuma
tism.
Neuralgia and all pains it is the
best remedy sold. Try a bottle and
you will never be without It as thou
sands are ready to praise It. Manu
factured, by the Goose Greese Com
pany, of Greensboro, and sold by
Johnston & Holt, Smithfield, N. C.
Tobacco Flues
9
Do you want the bast flues?
If you do get them from S.
B. Johnson the old reliable
flue maker. He has been
making them 15 years. If you
need flues bring or send your
order and he will make you
the best flues at lowest
prices.
If you need roofing I have
the best at very low prices
S. B. Johnson,
Smithfield, N. C.
Selling the Goods
You Want!
?
We now sell Hardware, Mill Sup
plies, Paints, Coffins and other
undertakers goods.
If you are going to build and
need anything in the way of
building material, we think we can
suit you. Flooring, Ceiling, Weath
er-boarding, moldings, Mantels, Win
dow and door frames, Doors, Shingle*
Laths and brick. We sell Parold,
Neponset and other prepared roof
ing, screen doors and windows.
CALL TO SEE US.
John I.Barnes
& Bro.
Clayton. N. C.
Tombstones, Mon
uments, and Iron
Fence For Sale!
Write for prices. Fair deal
ing to all who patronize us.
Dunn Marble works
M. B. WILLIAMS, Prop.
Dunn, N.C.
Moved
arket
1 have moved my Meat Mar
ket and Fancy Grocery store to
the new Odd Fellows' building
on Main Street where I will be
glad to serve my customers
with the best of everything in
my line and prompt delivery.
1 appreciate very much the
liberal patronage I have re
ceived and respectfully solicit a
continuance of same. In my
new place I am better prepared
to serve you.
Mrs. L. L. Liles,
J. W. LILES, Manager,
Selma, N. C.