v V- The Polk County News j the rt-jM ji?e on cinnus tue wu cum ww- PublheJ every Thursday. JOHN 0 BIERBAUM Editor Entered at the Post-office at Columbus, N, C, as eornd ciass matter. - .,.; , SUBSCRIPTION RATES. . OueTwr....... ...... Ji.oo 91k months.. Turt months 5 -25 Subtcrijiipns must be paid in advanct. Advertising rate furnished on PpU etion. . M'tke all checks, draft, and money or it re payable to Tite Poi,k County Nkws, Columbus. N. C, COLUMBUS, N. C, SEPT. 7- 9i- Hecsssity ol Grpnic Mailer In lUs Soil. No. 4. SOURING THE LAND. On one occasion a good farmer came to me and said 'Last spring I plowed under a heavy crop of crimson clover, planted my corn and got nothing. My land was .soured and my crop was killed." Another said he had plowed un der a heavy crop of peavines late in the summer, sowed wheat, and got no stand. The land soured and the wheat failed to germin ate. Still' another said he plowed under a heavy crop of vines and weeds which rendered the soil so acid he was unable to grow a crop for three or four years afterward. We could give a long list of names of men who by their own practi cal experience have proven to themselves conclusively that thex use of green manure positirely does sour the land and renders it infertile for a long time. Now, if one is out for a difficult job, just let him attempt to dissuade these men from the belief that their land has been toured by the use of green manure. They stick to the old idea as tenaciously as to their right-arms. They feel that their theory is based on practical experience (and what is better in the substantiation of any theory than practical experience? Noth ing, to be sure). Now, we have all had experi ences. We know that certain ef fects follow certain causes. More over, we instinctively assign some cause for every effect. Frequent ly without taking the trouble to investigate the fact on which our conclusions are based. Admitting that all facts are covered by some theory, one should always check his theory by his facts and strive to bring his facts in line with the correct theory. We often sustain loss by assigning the wrong cause to an observed effect. v The farmers referred to above plowed the green manure under, planted the crop and received no return. There was some cause, to be sure, for the failure of the crop. Some one guested the green stuff soured the soil and further investigation was generally thought useless. Some advised the use of lime to correct this acid condition. Few farmers,however, were disposed to buy enough lime to correct the large amount of acid they could imagine would be developed in the decay of so large an amount of green manure plow ed under. The result was that A they did not use the green n.an ure, fearing the detrimental ef fects on the soil, and the land has remained poor for lack of humus to this day. j.j No w, what really happens when ' a heavy crop of green manure is turned into the Jand? In order to make the explanation clear we ... will have to bring to our aid a few . terms and fundamental principles of physics but these are simple 1 and easily understood. , . "Fill a lamp full of oil, put the' wick in it and note what happens. The oil begins to rise iu the wick and finally reaches the top. The oil will continue to rise in the '.wick till every drop is taken out of the bowl of the lamp. The oil '. in the lamp bowl is called gracita tion oil; that in the wick is called1 ' capillary oil. ; The rain falls on ti e land and-gravi cation pulls it down. ; . several.feet below the surface. This is called gravitation water. When the sun shines this same , waier begins to climb up between t tinues;to .climb until it reacht s the surface .where it is dried up by the sun just as the oil isjaurn ed away by the flame. This is called capillary water. This cap illary water continues to rise to the surface of the soil until every drop is taken out of the subsoil and dispensed into the air as vapor. No farmer would hope to grow a crop with the water in the first six inches of soil only. He ex pects the moisture to rise to the surface from depths ranging from three to five feet below. Now, let us cut the lamp wick in twu and let" the two pieces come within l-16th inch of each other. At the same time we will put a wide thin board six inches below the surface of the soil. Let the lamp burn and let the sun shine on the - soil and see what happens. You have found that your oil did not rise above the cut place in the wick and your lamp has gone out while there was an abundance of oil in the bowl. You have found also that the six in ches of soil above the board is dry as dust white that is quite moist under the board. Why? Because the air space cut off the rise of oil in the wick and the solid board cut off the rise of moisture from the great reservoir below to the six inches of soil above it. But what has thi3 to do with the "souring of the land." Near ly everything. The phenomenon called the "souring of the soil" is nearly always based on the principles outlined above. Instead of using the board let us plow under a six or eight ton crop of green clover orcowpeas, eight or ten inches deep. Let this mass of vegetation lie during the month of August, say, then examine it after a hot, dry period of ten days or two weeks and see what has occurred. You might use some blue litmus paper and test for acid. If there is an appreci able amount of acid present you will get a red color in the litmus paper but be sure to tear up the vines and examine the soil just below, also examine carefully the eight or ten inches of soil just 8bove the mass of vines. Your litmus paper will not likely be colored at all because you are not4 likely to find any acid but you will find the soil just below the vines as wet as mud, perhaps, while the eight or ten inches on top of the vines will be as dry as dust. Here you have the explan ation of the "souring" effect of green manure on well drained lands. (To be continued.) J. L. Burgess, N. C. Dept. of Agriculture. BHIEFS TROH MELY1H HILL Corresponittnce of .The News. . A few of the people here have started to pick cotton. ; There was quite an electric storm here Sunday. Melvin Hill is listening for a; wedding sometime this week.' , Preaching here next Saturday and Sunday, at 11 a.m. Also Sun day night, at "early candle light ing." Messrs. Pink and Pervey Stacy of Copley Springs were the guests of Mr. J. W. Stacy Sunday. Tommy Peterson, who has been in the hospital for some time, ar rived home Saturday, all O. K. The Misses Canti'ell of Henri etta were the guests of the Miss es Head Saturday and Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. George Brans corn, and Dr. Head, who attend ed district meetings in Allegheny! county arrived home Thursday and report a pleasant trip. Dull times for the young folks. They have to go to work again, pulling fodder and. picking cot ton, and, oh, how they dread it!; Good luck to the News Thank yuu.-N.M. Gretchen '77 OR We have jusV received a large shipment of COOK STOVES and are prepared to sell you these at very low prices for cash. Will sell on installments at fair prices and weekly or monthly payments. man ! ADVERTISE n Do you take the Progressive Farmer? If not, look up cur clubbing offer and get acquainted with the best farm paper for North Carolinians. Have your office stationery printed by the Polk County News Job Printing Depart ment if you want neat, classy work at low prices. Your Horses, Cows, and Real Estate For Safe In the Polk County iVews THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Every day in the Year $8.00 a Ycar l The Observer consists of lo to 12 paes; tlaily and 2o lo 32 paes Sunday. It han dles more news matter, !ocal, stale, national;' ami foreign, than any other North Carolina newspaper. The Sunday Observer is unexcelled as a news medium, and is also filled with excellent matter of a unreel laueous nature. Address THE OBSERVER CO., CHARLOTTE. N. C. 1 ESTABLISHED 1890 SPARTANBURG HERALD SPARTANBURG, S. C. DAILY AND WEEKLY Spartanburg's Oldest, Largest, and besta newspaper. th last pnge. Entire t-legrapluc service. Associated Press! Wood's Fall eed Catalogue just issued tells what crops you can put in to make the quickest grazing, or hay, to help out the short feed crops. Also tells about both Vegetable trot) Farm Seeds that can be planted in the fall to advantage and profit Every Farmer, Market Grower and Gardener should have a copy of this catalog. ; v It is the best and most com plete fall seed catalog issued. Mailed free. Write for it. T.W.WOOD & Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. TRADE-MARKS and copyright obtained or no fee.. Sena model. Ptetoien or uoohw ana onm description, for FREE SEARCH and report on patentability. yearr experience Send 2-cent stamp for NEW BOOKLET, full of patent information. It wUibulp you to fortune. . . ... READ PACES H nd U before applying for a patent, wmeto-oay. D.. SWIFT 'ft: GO, fft i PATENT LAWYERS. . t ,303 Seventh St., Washington, D. C.JE Enameled Wctre and Tin Ware We carry the most complete line of enameled ware and tin ware to be found in Polk County. Crockery and Glass Ware Of this line we are most always in position to supply your requirements. We Are Kitchen Outfitters If you don't believe it, bring along the coin of the realm and let us show you even if you are "from Missouri." ryon Supply Co. GEO. A. GASH, Mgr. TRYON, N. C. 1 THE NORTH CAROLINA State Norma and Industrial College Maintained by the State for the Women of North Carolina. Five regular Courses leading to De grees. Special Courses for teach ers. Free tuition to those who agree to become teachers in the State. Fall session begins Sep tember 13, 1911. For catalogue and other information address Julius I. Foust, President, Greensboro, N. C. THE KORTK CAROLINA Collep ol Agriculture and Mechanic Arts The State's Industrial College 'Four-year courses in Agriculture; in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Full of news from the first to J Engineering; in Industrial Chemistry; in Cotton Manufacturing and Dyeing. Two-year courses in Mechanic Arts and in Textile Art. One-year course in Agriculture. These courses are both practical and scientific. Examiyia tions for admission are held at all county seats on July 13. For Cai-alog address Deeds FOR SALE0 l ;- ! ',. at the . Newsy i "Offices SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWS J and Progressive Farmer the two j papers for one year for the price I of one $E'oS. . j " THE, REGISTRAR, West Raleigh, N. C. Southern Railway SCHEDULE Schedules published as information only - Not guaranteed. EAST-BOUND TRAINS No. 14. Leave Asheville 7,00 am; leave 'Trvou 9.15 a m; arrive Spartaubur 10.25 -.. a ni. ' No, lor Leave Asheville 4.10 p m; leave Tryou 6.42 p m; arrive Spartanburg 8.00 . ..P I"- ,: ' ' i WEST-BOUND TRAINS No. 9. Leave Spartanburg. 10.30 a m; leave : Tryon 11.50 am; arrive Asheville 2. lo p in." . . No. 13. Leave Spartanburg 5. 25 p m; leave 'ryon 6.42 p m; arrive Asheville 9.15 - Subject to change witbour notice. J. II. WOOD, District Pass. Agt., ' ' v Asheville, N, C. J. H. RION, Local Agent, ' Tryon, N. C. - Ik For North Carolinians is The Progressive Farmer and Farm Gazette. If you are not already a sub , scriber to this excellent farm journal, send $1.00 for a year's subscription to The JPolk County News and receive The Progressive Farmer for one year free. Your county paper and the best farm paper for you, both for one year, for the price of one, 104 big issues $1.00. Progressive Fanner and Gazette. Pblk oisnty ews Job Printing Department Does A ass JOB Prices on the Ground floor