The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-14
Col Polk's Third Annual Report
Colti,ue1 from Last T.T
NV Eor

crop Tor iattenIHR hogs. II uoW attFd.'-
ing attention among our farmers M
different sections 81 the State. IL vas
grown very successfully In fourteen
counties the past year and tie chief
points 81 merit claimed by those Win
raise it ar. its simple and cheap cultl-
walton. its prolific yield and its supc-
rior fattening properties for hogs, a.
determined 10y comparative tests with
other TODD.
As forage plant, it is asserted b.
those who have given it a trial, that
oar people. cannot, in many respects,
T." egualIed for cattle. especially milch
COWS. ami hat the yield IS enormous.
An intelligent and practical farmer Of
Loncir county gave an opinion found
ei ON experiment, that on suitable
soils the yield could be brought ~ to
I 70 to 50 tons per acre.
The experiments with the Jute seed
sent ont last spring were very s~atisfac-
tory, all the results Justify the belief
tina this plant, whose fibre now enters
So largely IN the manufacture of vari-
on. articles Of commercial value, aud
which are now imported into this
count-r al an annual cost OF several
millions. ct. &c successfully grown on
ALI the a,!uv5al soils OF the middle and
eastern sections Of our State, and it
J-.+.,t H. J.. ~, itoa,,y.-
taut crop 10 our people.
The experiment with Sugar Beets
was by no means such as To fairly test
the a~daptability OF our soil and climate
to its profitable culture, but is suffici-
emily encouraging to Justify a renew
ed effort. The seeds were not distrib-
uted in time for the proper growth
and maturity of the plant, and in many
instances those taking them in charge
had to grow them under many disad-
vantages. We have on hand a suffici-
ent quantity OF seed to give it a full
and fair trial during the present year.
The beets grown in ten counties were
sent to Dir. Ledoux, who analysed
them. and the results are given in an
able, elaborate and interesting report
from him. and which is herewith sub
mitted.
WOODS. MARBLES, &C., OF THE WEST.
Mr.. c. ID. Smith, of Macon county,
who was employed by your Board to
make a collection of specimens of the
Ores, Marbles and principal kinds of
Woods of the Western section, has
sent in to the Department several spec
linens of iron ore, n box OF miner
ais and sixteen blocks of marble, rep
resenting eight different varieties. and
specimens of sixteen varieties of wood.
as follows: Black and White Walnut,
Linden, Shingle Oak, Black and Vel
low Locust, Yellow Buckeye, Hicko-
~, Crab-appie, B~lackgum. Beach, Ash.
Red Buckeye. Birch G~Iahogany), Sour
wood and Broad-leaf Cucumber.
These specimens will be properly pre-
pared and placed on exhibition in our
Museum. The specific work for which
he was employed having been per-
formed. and the time allotted having
expired, / did not feel authorized to
retain him in the pay Of the Depart
ment without further action of the
Board.
AND y MINING REGISTRY AND IMMI-
GRAFTON.
To organize properly this very i'm
portant branch of our Department,
has been with me an object of much
care and labor. A good class OF I'M
migration Is n of the great needs of
our State. but with our surroundings
the process with which it is TO be Sc
cured must necessarily he of slow and
gradual development. But it were
better for US. perhaps. that it is SO.
Apart from that reaction which,
through various influences. would
inevitably follow a sudden and heavy
influx of a heterogeneous population
into Our State is the fact that we do
not need OF desire it. We donecd and
desire only that class whose industry
and character will give the assurance
that they will certainly not clog, if
they cannot enhance the general pros
perity of our State. TIL, field embra-
ced within the limits Of the Southern
States is now one of peculiar interest
to the enterprising Immigrant and
Capitalist. OF the causes and induce
ments that conspired % flood the
Northern and Northwestern sections
of the country with augmentlnS
waves of Europe's surplus population.
it is not my purpose to speah-but it
is a part of wisdom to accept what
ever lessons the results ma present.
The food gate ha~ been shut down and