OUR COUNTY MMTS DEPARTMENT
Stne Tfcndj Tttks tcKPdk cunty Farars, and others, on Timely Sub-
jscts, by County Agent, J. R. Sams.
To Ths Fcrmers of Polk County
According to a statement in
Extension Farm News, T. R.
Hodges, of Washington, N. C.
procured H5 bu. of corn on one
tails as to how it was done. 1st
He had selected seed i corn from
the field for seven years. 2nd
It is a white, two ': eared variety,
Hodge Prolific. : 3rd Alfalfa has
been grown, on the land Jive
years. 4th Glover and oats
were grown for hay on this land
5th Last year irish potatoes
and soy beans were grown on
this land. 6th Land was plow
ed and harrowed last fall. 7th
300 lts. 8-3-3 put under corn,
400 bbls. 16 per cent acid phos
phate was used as side dressing,
and 400 lbs kanit and 300 lbs.
nitrate of soda. The land , was
surveyed and the corn gathered
and measured by three disin
terested men. If Washington
could do that way; why can't it
be done in Polk county. ?
I don't want the farmers of
Polk county to get the wrong
impression about what I am try
ing to help them do. Some ap
pear to think I am advocating
a system of agriculutre that will
' leave cotton entirely out. I am
not, for cotton is one of the
greatest, if not the greatest and
most useful of fall the cash crops
of the south; but here iswhere
the trouble liesthe" cotton " crop
has been grown too much to the
exclusion of everything else.
What we heed in Polk county is
a well planned all around crop
ping system, . consisting of the
wain; vegetables, and fruit crops
" for feed and food. Then we
want to grow legumes, clovers,
vetch, alfalfa, cow peas, soy
beans, velvet beans etc, to keep
up farm fertility, and feed for
livestock. Then we want to
grow the grasses for hay and
for livestock. Then we want to
grow cotton as a surplus cash
crop. I do not advocate quiting
cotton all together; but I do advo
cate growing less cotton and
more livestock. Neither do I
advocate a radical or abrupt
change. I insist on a slow grad
ual chancre from a worn out de-
cayed system of all cultivated
crops, to a system of rotation of
IVK. Llll 117. V I rfl VLIIII 1.II1LI V ITLLiVU.
.grain and cotton crop, that will
preserve the farm fertility "and
give the farmer better returns
ior less labor. Neither do 1 m
sist on farmers bulging into the
livestock business without first
preparing for it, and the way to
prepare for growing livestock is
to first prepare to take better
care of what you have. There
are very1 few farms in Polk
county that can decently take
care of a single milk cow. Now
wnat 1 am;msiting upon, is ior
every farmer never to rest a day
nor night until he prepares some
good pastures for milk cows first.
mi . . .
1 1 nen enlarge so that you can
raise a calf which will enlarge
the herd, just add a little more
every year to your pasture, clean
up some good rich land and sow
to grass while fresh and see what
it will do for you.. Then clean
up some old fields and cover the
galled off land and gullies wjth
brush and litter and scatter
little err ass seed under it and
after a year or two, see what an
improvement of the land and of
of your pasture. No, - we
don't ask anyone to tear up
their farming - plans; but we
do ask and insist on farmers to
study their business - as ; other
business men study theirs and
improve their methods as other
business men improve theirs.
Just a few years ago a prize of
$10,000 was offered by a French
man to any aviator who would
make a flight around the top of
the Eff ell tower. Now men , are
flying 100 miles per hour, many
thousand feet in the air. Every
conceivable industry and busi
ness is makiug rapid progress,
and so is agriculture in all parts
of the world. If so, then why
not'in Polk county. Let us be
gin with what we have, make
better pastures and crops and
ana men oy introducing pure
bred sires of whatever breeds of
livestock suits best, in a short
time, marvelous improvements
will come. v
Ccunty Agent Work For 1921s
We regret to learn of a dispo
sition in a few counties to try to
get along in 1921 without
county agent, or with a less effi
cient county agent.
Such a policy is like dropping
the pilot just as the ship enters
the most dangerous seas. It is
like shutting ; up the lighthouse
just as the storm comes on.
The farmers of the south will
need the help of the county
agent more in 1921 than ever be-.
In the first place, they need
his help about production. How
much , the cotton crop average
will be cut is problematical, but
it is certainly going to be cut.
Farmers are going to grow
diversity oi crops, ano tney are
going to need guidance in new
fields of effort. ! They are also
going to grow more livestock,
and here especially they will
need the help of a thoroughly
equipped agent.
No less urgentjy in fact, even
more urgently farmers will need
the help of the county agent in
problems of marketing, Big and
promising plans for reformed
cotton marketing (as well as to-
bacco marketing" and peanut
marketing m sections growing
m . .
those crops) already under way.
The f county agent is the man
who must do more than anyone
else in bringing success to these
plans for scientific and profitable
marketing. Then, too, in grow
ing corn, hay, hogs, and cattle
fanners will find their diversifi
cation program of small profit
unless .plans for cooperative ship
ping and selling are worked out.
They naturally look to the county
a crent for leadership in these
matters.
For ahthese reasons the best
investment your county can make
is to pay enough to get a superly
qualified man to lead your farm
ing rforces is county accent in
1921. '
Don't be content with a cheap
man. Get a man: whose training
is such that farmers know he
can give them real help in ;al
the intricate problems of soils,
fertilizers, crops, livestock, " live
-stock diseases, a man who has
enoucrh ability not only (1) to
help farmers diversify wisely
but also (2) to help them market
cotton and other 'money crops
more wisely; and (3) who" wil
help v farmers in cooperative
shipping and selling of the corn,
nay, nocrs, and cattle tney are
going to raise.
We shall indeed need county
agents and the year than ever
before. From The Progressive)
warmer.
Program Fcr Pc!k Ccunty Fanners
Fcrl921
1st. Soil improvement and
con
servation. . . ' -
; - J
a By sod crops and permar
b By making and applyingl;
barn yard mauure. . ;f.
c By wise use of lime, phos-1?na Wltn JWfipf, Awards.
phate and complete fertilizers.
d By use of legume crops.
e lse of winter coyer crops,'
2nd. A wise and safe crop rota-
tion. V -11
3rd A better garden on every j
farm.; . :v-
4th Improvement of farm poultry
a Pure bred on every farmi
b Better housing. , ;
c oetter leeomg m and care
generally. . m
5th Community organization.
a For general betterment,
b For fair work.
p Fnr f m'r wnrlf
6th The better keeping of . the
familv cow and her nura bred-
My dear farmers; if you -will
carefully study and work out on
every farm the i foregoing pro
gram, it will be a long time -be-
tore you will be pinched hard
financially as you are just ; now.
Suppose you lay this paper aside
and, read and study this program
and put it into practice, -and
many farmers san add to it as
conditions may differ on different
farms, but by all means adopt a
regular farm program and go py
it.1 We are living ; in a crlorious
age. Last year was a glorious
vear.;- Farmers vl clorified ith"irl4
Tlmbv : crivmc1 a ?stawm?T' It is'said ihaHfbrturtet knockS
world' an abundant harvest,
What if cotton, corn, wheat, fete.
are low in price.? We have? the
consolation that we have done
our duty, fed the world in a
time of need and distress. And
let us look with" pride to ; the
future with joyful Ihope that ! the
incoming year will be. one of the
brightest and best for the" farmer
ana an tne woria. i
Important to Polk County Farcers
Remember .. that as a general
thing from February 15, to March
15, is the best time of year to
sow grass and clover seed: for
pastures and for hay, of course
sooner or later will do, and some
times will'do better; but the rule
is the time mentioned above. So unbelief, ejudlceness, selfish
it is time to think it over and let ness and nomprogressiveness
no farmer however small or large refuse this opportunity the door
fail this season to (prepare and may be closed sand the offer
sow some grass, and clover seed
for pasture for the family cow.
Then every: year; sow just a
little more for the j family cow's
calf and in a 'few years you will
be in the livestock business to
that extent you should be. Try
it for three or! four vears and see
how it will turn out and how
easy it is-to do so. The best
thing you can do is to write for
a seed catalogue and price, list
from some reliable seed 'house.
Where you a re I in doubt
about what you should sow on
particular land drop me a postal
card and I will call and advise
with vou at first! onnortunitv.
, ' f j . ;! xr j: f
Many farmers just now are cal
ling on me for, my ; time: but if
otherwise let
me xKnow 1 can
make calls on
the country.
my way tnrougn
Call for me I am
your servant while in the COUnty
and want to serve all to the best
of myability and in the best way
possible. i -l
Atmospheric Action
The atmosphere of ' the earth acts
very much in the same way as does
the glass of a greenhouse It allows
the ' rays of the ' sun to pass through,
but Imprisons . tbe liieat. :,Thus tt ; is
cooler on .the top- of a mountain than
at the sea leveV because, though the
mountain top Is nearer the sun, th
atmosphere- Is much less fissrs. .
Mill Spring Rente 1
J. It seemed like winter last week
but this week isjnbreyiike sum
mer. . '! v , ;
-Arthur Thomson and wife,
spent last Surjday with the
Iatter!s parents iu A. Edwards
Wlllle vvites;de,ot near
Vn;mney kock, ipent ,the week-
il. Ralph Mwardy and wife, visit-
ed the latter s wftle; . JohnTlvnn.
last Sunday ,wh is rquite sick.
rWe are socry tb say that John
Clyde and Knoft Womacks are
missing . ..school (on ? account of
pneiimoniaTl'Whope that they
will soon be baclg at school again.
Miss Mattie Me Williams was
the guest of .'Maggie Sue and Gil-
reath . Edwards last Saturdav.
p t. n nillt . rf,;
nis lamny neari ttutnertordton.
Talmage . Allemwas a welcome
caller on Uree list Sunday.
The -Misses : lle of Fair
v lew, visitea tnir , sister, ivirs
r 10??yer'nl iast :wfieK.
Ar A. Edwards and wife, visit
the rnaer W father J. :: Ed-
wards last Satumay. ;
I ' Several; girls Mid boys went
hiking - on the f Chimney Rock
road . last , Sunday. They all
reiwrt a nice time, even if it was
muddy.
, Little . Panthi- Edwards was
the afternoon playmate of Sallie
Und Hattie Sue IWhiteside last
Sunday. ! '
ti" ;
?GH SCH00L m White oak town.
, : SHP;
at every man's dW sometime m
life. It seems o be also true
as to community, township,
county, state aijii nation. The
mam trouble ist rejecting the
opportunity offeied. It is a la-
mented fact andis often spoken
of ; that. Polk C would have
had better railway facilities had
it not been for te rejection of
uc wj dwiuc uijwic uiu ocuiwo.
Now the countv and state schoo
officials are offering to spend a
large, sum of moiey m the e$tab-
lishment and maintainance of an
upto-date high school somewhere
in the center of .White Oak town-
ship.. They are waiting to see
an outstretched iand from the
people. If the people through
given to the people elsewhere.
Our children woiwd grow up m
ignorance and hant us for being
the direct cause -off 1 their misfor-
time. Now th. red blooded
citizenship of this banner town-
ship will not staijjd for a thing
like that, they Mve too much
ambition and high aspiration for
the betterment oil their children,
We have confidqnee in our state
and national administration and
we;are looking inward to some
good school and road legislation,
I Lets inquire Iff our county
school officials wlat they would
have us doj and f$p it now. s
. I 1 V A Citizen.
Wonderful Vatican Library.
The Vatican llbrllry Is the most
sumptuously; housed of all libraries.
i ana "nia,ps some nui. uhmhv
sen pis id eusicucciiuc pnuicuuwu
include over: 2,500 tplumes Issued in
theFifleentn ceptuyV many of, them
vellum copies.
library is said
to contain over
volumes and
30,000 manuscripts.
4 , New Fishinfjj Methods.
A Liimoni man vo is charged with
having taken a fish ijrom a private fish
pond declares the tsh were so tame
that one of them wa() eating out of his
band, and he slmplyJ dosed his fingers
uu it. quu uirneu-.-iBwajf. vu wwu
method has: always )een to whistle ta
the 'creatures from iacross the fence,
and walk . way, inpocent-llke. whfle
they ; trot down theft road after us.
Detroit News.
mm ommmm
i r-
tcms sf ; Interest Gathered Freni Vaicas Section f Pc:k -Cestar bt Czr
. Ccrps of Faithful Correspondents.
; ..-isewfiran..-
We have been having some
lovely fair .weather for several
days. r '
Prof. Kreider and . wife (the
Melvin Hill teachers) attended a
teachers' meeting ' at Greens
Greek last Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Branscom's health: seems
to be, better at present.
Neddy :Huntley of Spartanburg
Spent last , week with his brother
Germane Huntley here and they
improved' their time hunting.
Don't know . what, luck they hadl
;Mercury registered 74 degrees
here last Saturday.
This town was shocked by the
death' of? Mr.-. Charley ;Hender-
son, v.of Collinsville. ; Mr. Hen
derson' was around among us but
a short time ago selling the Raw-
leigh medicines, and looked so
well that we remarked thatX he
looKed petter tnan we had . ever
seen!,HimJ; but alastHe next time
we saw his face.it was pale and
cold in death. He ' was . well
thought' of and had niany friends
here. . ' - , 1
: Mrs Simp', Johnson has had a
very bad eye for some-, time.
. Mr. r Branscomvand wif e,; visit
ed Emeline Henderson, at Collins
ville, who .is. very sick- Sunday
evening. - ' ! v -
; Elder John Jackson, of Ruthejr
fordtook jrdihner -; wfth itlie
BranscbmslasFhlirsayr
Regular preaching service here
every second Sunday at 11 a. m.
Sunday school every Sunday
at 2 p. m. Young men's meet
ing every Thursday night.
Everybody welcome, to these
meetings. V
Correspondents all come on,
let everybody hear from every
part of Polk. To our way of
thinking that is the way to make
a good newspaper. I k
Tryon Route 1
Some of us were sorry we were
deprived of hearing the excellent
sermon delivered at Bethlehem
Sunday. Rev. W. W. Womack
will give us a good old time ser
mon next Sunday at Bethlehem.
Come and see.
.Lindsey Owens is with his
aged parents for a few days;
Rulf Waldrop of S. C. pur
chased the mother of the twin
calves from J. D. Carpenter.
Mrs. Brown Nance, of Spar
tanburg, is spending a while
with her son F. B. Nance. :
Niss Sallie Carpenter was an
afternoon caller of Mrs. Jessie
Rice. Sunday.
Hugh Edwards cut his foot
with an ax last 'Saturday, while
cutting wood.
Roscbe Hall and wife are re
joicing over the birth of a son,
guess they will call him "Martin
Welcome : :
Success to the News.
Mill Spring Route 2
The teachers of Red Mountain
and Sunny View schools attended
the singing at Big Level last
Sunday! . : '
Rev. Tiner preached at Big
Level Saturday. There was no
preaching on Sunday.
J. M. Green is on the sick list
at present with Dr. Stacy attend
ing him. : -v - '
The Sunny View school house
was varnished inside last Satur
day under the auspices of the
teachers and - commit tes of the
schoob
m the cootimv
This seems to be orchard jrun-
ing -v season - as everyone r is . at
work in the -orchard" while ; the
weather is . .mild . and pleasant.
J. W. Pitts and W. B. Mills,
are at work with E. J. Bagwell.
. Friendship Items
We are glad o say we are hav- .
ing some fine weather- now and
the? farmers are preparing for
farming.' - , -
T. J. Metcalf , wife and ' father
spent Sunday, night at ; Mrs.
Forest's. They report a nice
time. ' , ,
J. R. Sams was a caller at G. .
Foster's Saturday, he also
spent some time with his nephew :
Ned Anderson. - : r , - ,
John Anderson was on his
farm last week ior a few days. ,
;;i'MG;Wpster spent a few
days last week with her 'brother
John-.Edwards in Tryon; ' ' She .
reports a nice time. : : V
John Metcalf will soon com
plete his work and return to his
home in Madison. " -;
The R Y. P. TT i crmW nr
nicely - at Friendship. Every
body is invited to be with .us on' .
Sunday nights. r "'.:". :
; The public is cordially ; invited'
to antertainment "A , county '
school" followed by a box. supper
Lto ,be given aft J Stearhi n'High '
ocnooi, oaxuruay eveniiig v : o
We were glad to haverMiss
Stearns,; who js spending V the
winter in Tryon visit ouxr school
which is a memorial to her father.
A very interesting basket Fall
game was played on the Colum
bus ground last Saturday- after-
noon between the girls of Colum
bus and those of Landrum. The
game was (played . fast and
showed good training bh-ooth
sides but Columbus lost with a
score of 13 to 21. i'u '
The boys of . Columbus chal
lenge any basket ball team . in
thexounty f or a game.
Misses Mae and Odessa Mills
spent the week-end in Spartan
burg visiting friends and rela
tives. v
Our new principal, Prof
W. D. Loy, has organized a
Christian Endeavor society which
meets every Sunday evening at v
7:30, The public is cordially in
vited. The Teachers' Reading Circle
of Columbus township met at
Columbus Saturday afternoon at
2 o'clock. This circle will have ;
its next meeting at Fox Moun
tain on Friday February 4th.
The teachers will observe the
work in this school before moon
but the afternoon will begiven
to a round-table discussion.
Every teacher in the township
is requested to attend each meet
ing in order that credit for the .
Reading Circle Work may be se
cured. ' " .
Supt. E. W. ' S. Cobb is in
Raleigh this week on business.
Thf Northwest Indtaus nearly al
mays made their totem poles . ont of
wstrn' rpj cdar. hot this choice was
. iu morn to the fact rhat'
is easy to work . and ex
tremely dnrable, rather than to Its
fragrance, says the American Forestry
Magazine, of Washington. , It maj b
ta ken as a rery . good general rnle that
woods thalf are scented are resJstsst
to decay and Insect, attack. - and fears
good cabinet qualities. A -
7 -.Remarkable Biblical Verse. .
The .Book of Ezra, chapter 7. . verse
21, contains all the letters of the Eng
lish alphabet except "J," which was
formerly written