davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Sheep on the Exhausted Cotton
Plantations Of the South.

Capitalists in this country are ex-
traordinarily ignorant of the e1-
tensive field now opened for specu-
lation in real estate, or they would
take advantage of the present OPP
porunity to possess themselves OF
the old cotton plantations, and
thereon grow mutton and wool, for
they could make ten times more by
wool than cotton, and get all the
mutton as an extra profit.
l am perfectly certain, If | had
the control of a tract of land, that
without the aid of a single white
man, and without any assistance IN
buying or selling, | could stock
these deserted plantations with
sheep and put them in charge OF
the ne groes, so as to have sheep hus-
bandry established on 40, 900 acres,
and III twenty years make more
money than A. Z. Stewart, Jacob
Astor and the Vanderbilts combi-
ned, for / would extend till mil
lions would be made annually.
There would be a great advantage
here over the English colony OF
Australia, yet there sheep are more
numerous than in this much ear
lier settled country.
Statistics have proved that in the
South during the last three years
wool has paid 60 per cent. for grow
ing, while cotton has not paid more
than five to sever per cent, and
then it must be recollected the
sheep have been managed Oh such
a poor, miserable system, that
double this amount of profit could
be made by an enlightened method
of treatment, and mutton of the
very best quality sold annually,
which would enhance profits far
beyond anything the present West
ern sheep-owners have any idea of
mutton and wool would produce
more millions than cotton ever did.
George GGrdner, az Rural New
Yorker.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

Bacteria in the animal system is a
fruitful source of disease, and ex-
actly how to attack these little sal
amanders is the one great problem
for practical science. 50 long as
we believe that disease was sponta-
neously generated-that IT was a
mere visitation of God IN q
sort of miraculous sense-medlcal
science had little ground to work
on. Minute germs, vegetable ana
animal, now being known to be
the agents, and it being clearly
shown that they r. not spontane-
ously generated, but have their
origin from the egg, and are amen
able to the same laws as other
things similarly created, 1t remains
only to discover the particular
agent to employ in their destruc-
ton, for there is no living thing in
nature but has its enemy continu-
ally on the watch to destroy it
Tkos. Meehan, IN Phila. Weekly
Press.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Cotton and Clover.

We take the following sugges-
tons from the Southern CuHirator::
1t is a good plan to make the
beds high, and then shave them
down with a harrow just before
planting. This puts out of the
way c%rusts, clods, and a crop Of
young weeds and grass, and if the
weather is very dry, affords the ad-
ditional advantage of a fresh moist
surface to plant in. Another very
good plan is to open drill, put in
fertilizer, and list it on with two
furrows-then, just before planting
time, finish bedding. The objec-
ton to the latter plan is, the dan
ger of being caught by dry weather,
and the ground getting too hard to
plough.
Top dressing grain, grass and
clover is a proper work for the
present month. For the first two,
a heterogeneous manure, and one
that acts quickly, is best suited :
the best of all, perhaps, is Nitrate
soda, or a mixture of that and
phosphates-say IS lbs. of the for
mer and so lbs. of the latter-per
acre. For clover, 100 lbs. plaster
or a mixture of plaster and acid
phosphate, half and half-pera acre.
Stipulated Peruvian GuanO is also
an excellent ~top-dressing for grain
and grass.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

Horses, like human beings, n
frequently attacked by disease
without any apparent cause. They
may be treated in the most careful
manner in every respect-in stab
ling, feeding, grooming covering,
driving, etc. Take the dangerous
disease of founder. Some horse
men wen think it is always owing
to %overeating when in a warm state
after severe service, or standing
when heated in a cold rain without
cover or oyerdriving WHEN in this
state. But We have known horses
to founder from none of these
causes. We have known them to
be moderately driven on one day
in pure, cool dry weather, well
blanketed when standing, and re-
turned to the stable as lively as
when taken out, eating their evening
meal freely, to be found next
morning completely laid up with
founder. Ask the farrier the cause
of it, under these circumstances,
and he will probably tell you that
they have taken "cold," by being
driven against or standing in the
wind.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Professor StOckbridQe on Barn
yard Manure.

The New York 1tldS having ex-
pressed the opinion hat Professor
Stockbridge, in advocating his the
DRY of the use of chemical manures,
underestimate the value of yard
manure, which he had denominated
waste products, and was injuring
the farming interest thereby, the
Professor replies
"Your remarks do not fairlvan
fully represent my oft-repeated
opinion of the value of yard ma
nure and the place it should occupy
in u system of fertilization, as
the following quotation from my
report on the use of chemical ma
nures made 1875 will show. After
speaking of the results of the use
OF chemicals, the report goes on to
say "Barn-yard manure in gem
eral culture will still be king. For
it is, and will continue to be, an
unavoidable waste product, incl
dent to many branches of farming;
a waste product Of every form of
dalrylng a waste product of grow
ing and fattening beef, pork and
mutton, and a waste product caused
by the necessity of keeping teams
to work on farms and other general
transportation. 1t would be the
acme of ignorance and thriftless-
ness not to preserve, husband and
use this and all the matter of our
slaughtering establishments, of all
our horn, hoof, hide, bone and glue
establishments of all our wooden
manufactures !; of all our fisheries.
and the sewage of country, town
and city. But after all this has
been saved and utilized by applica-
ton to u farms, a vast field will
be left for the profitable employ
ment Of chemical manures, and the
world Is asking for the increased
products. The fair and legitimate
conclusion to be drawn from the
experiments with chemicals is that
bard-yard manure, valuable as it is,
is not the best material, or in the
best form in which to obtain the
food OF plants, if that is to be pur-
chased at its ordinary price The
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Sources of Disease.

The spores, or b~ud-seeds, which
produce the PeaiciUium, or COM
mon blue mould in bread, can be
mixed with dough and baked in
the hottest oven, and yet, when the
bread is placed in a moderately
moist atmosphere, these bud-seeds
grow and the bread moulds. In
the same manner the little animal
cula, Bacteria especially, are found
to endure a considerable scorching
without being any the worse for it.
One thing has led to another until
it is now clear that the presence OF
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
What Clover Will Do

Several years ago We became
fully conscious of gradual decg
in the yield of our crops.
remedy matters, We commcuca
feed stock-cattle, sheep and Aa-
We not only fed in the gram
coarse feed the farm produced,
we bought a great deal Of corr f-
our neighbors. After pug.H
this policy for a few years We foa.
it not altogether satisfactory. "
could not depend upon bug
corn that left no profit in tee-
it, and what was worse, Win q
our feeding we could not -, l
nure enough to keep our Iana
to the productive STANDARD
wanted it. We next turned oaE
tention to clover. and the ge
has more than equalled our 1
sanguine expectations.
In the spring Of 1869 we -1.
twenty acres to clover, so".a-
with oats, putting 10 pound. 4"
acre. After the grain was clt
clover made a remarkable graa
it headed nicely, and much ~.
seed matured sufficiently u
On the 18th Of October folio"
we commenced to turn thu le
under; it took good team
good plows to 90 through IL.
next spring We planted ~ l.
and harvested sixty bushe.-
acre. The next spring W
the ground and sowed oats.
brought the seed plowcd u1.s
1869 to the surface. The
was We had the ground n.ee!
to clover again. The oat cE'-
as good as We ever handel.
next season we cut two bo---
crops of hay, then plo"el
ground in the fall. The -".
lowing years, 1873 and l''f' f.
produced large crops Of corn.
1875 We sowed 10 oats anu
seeded to clover, sowing ten
OF seed per acre, raising d
crop of oats and "A good stan
clover. In 1876 We cut u
crop Of hay the latter pert o. {.
also secured four bushels o. u.
the acre later in the scasoA'
are all satisfied that the ~
acres is all right, and IN col-- I.l.
to cut hay and seed crop from -
season.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

A telegram from IoeAru
the experiment Of hcat5u-
city by steam. BY the "lIo..s
tenn initiated there 1t the
ming of the present winter
proved successful. b. thrcr
of pipe, covered with non.cor5-
ing material, and laid under
through some Of the p-r
streets, about fifty dvcll.a-.
other buildings. including 4 M
public school. "haye been
oughly warmed all winter In
thus distributed, and turned
off, as required BY the tenant,
the facility of water or gas.
stated that dwellings mon
mile distant from the steam gems
tor, have been heated as read
those next door. Steam metre
provided. SO that the cor..
pays only for what he con,sr
and the rates, II Is asserted. al
exceed the cost Of coal and v
under the old system OF hcatns
fires. 1t is claimed that the
tenn can be developed so as 10
nish steam lat fifty pounds
sure, transmitted through ~
miles of pipe, thus supplying r
for engines and manufactorle>.
steam for cooking and ~laundrt
poses, for distinguishing coui4
tions, for cleaning streets Of Ig.
snow, or protecting hydrauts tr
frost"
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

A ton of coal yields about 5000
feet Of gas.
President Hayes receives 100 let
tiers a day.
New Orleans claims a population
Of 200, 600.
There are 1900 men on the
London police force.
San Francisco has about 100
gambling houses.
England fed coo, 1872 outdoor
paupers last year.
Tennessee's tobacco crop is esti-
tinated at 60, OOO, 900 pounds.
Europe expended for telegraph
messages last year, SIS, 400, 900.
One thousand polygamous mar
rlages took place in Utah in 1877.
TIE Cherokee Indians are enough
civilized to possess a public debt of
1897, 600.
OF 500 members of Congress
only 1913 are natives of the States
which they represent.
There were eighty-three murder
ers hanged last year among a popu-
lation of $4,000, 900.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
EpidemicS and AblutiGr

A short time ago were pUb.,
some remarks of DIR. Iitlu
Vienna, deprecatory Of the val.
of frequent bathing. \ dlame-
cally opposite opinion Is held
the eminent hygicnic reform.
Edwin Chadwick. {. H.. who cs
facts to prove that skin-clcan.t.
or, in other words, frequent al
ton of the whole person, l> "a ru.
erful preseryatlye against al, m5
tons and contagious diseases.
asserts that in childrcn's inns.
tons the death-ratc and cases
sickness have been reduced Cd.
third by regular head-to-foot =
tons with tepid water. Exp
enced, trained nurses, regu.a
attending neutrality-suspicious.. -
themselves regular head-to-foo.
buttons twice Il day, and Il caal-
Of clothes once a day. Nrae.
men of experience, who serve ans
plaques and the most terrible RI
denies. do the like. Mr.. Cha
wick adds: IF had again to
as a member of a general tu
and had to exercise authort,
providing defenccs against g
denies, | would propose reg
tons for the immediate and
eral tubing of the popu,a,
and have it seen to as sedulou,.r
vaccination for protection aga
small pOy."
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
and Night Soil as Manure.

Ashes and Night Soil as Manure.
We use ashes indiscriminately on
all kinds of crops and all kinds Of
soil. and get some benefit, but not
ALWAYS the full value, which Il
ONLY be realized when we combine
the ashes with organic, and partic-
ularly heterogeneous manures. |
have found, III experimenting, the
greatest effect from = union of
night soil with hard wood ashes
not only great plant growth. but
maximum yields of fruit. Never
have | had such success with toma-
toes, for instaace, as where night
soil was used to push forward the
plant, followed aiterward by ashes
to perfect the crop. But the ashes
must be plentifully applied, as they
are slow to dissolve, hence of great
er advantage on grass lands where
the time is extended. Used alone
on tomatoes, on poor soil, there
was a moderate growth, the plants
exhibiting a pale tiHt, bearing less
fruit in number, but of good size.
A touch Of night soil changed the
whole aspect of the plant. And
this response, where the two ele.
ments are united, is always prompt.
the ashes sure to prevent the vine
from getting the better OF the fruit.
The potato, among other things, is
benefited in the same way. On
poor soil, particularly on dry clay
loan with sod turned down, the
effect is wonderful ; but most Won
derful with the Early Rose, planted
as early in the spring as possible.
The ashes used are from hard
wood, principally maple, the leach
ed article almost rs good as the I'M
leached. In applying night soil it
may be done when entirely fresh,
with equal benefit. Thus, there is
constantly made, ready to hand,
one of the very best fertilizers, al
ways prompt and reliable, making
the poorest soil yield equal to the
best, and with comparatively little
expense, as only the ground imme-
diately occupied by the plants needs
the application. Here is a chance
for a poor family having a bit of
land to supply itself without cost
with the more important yields of
the garden, as the ashes and night
soil are the products of every house
hold, and always sufficient, the pro-
duct keeping pace with the size of
the family and their demands on
the garden. Where coal is mostly
burned, the effect will be less. In
such cases it is best to mix ashes
and soil !; this to the depth the
ground is worked, making the pro-
portion one of ashes to three of soil,
the coarser part of the ashes re-
moved. This should be done the
year previous, and at the latest,
early in the fall, S o as to give the
heat a chance to act on the COM
bined ashes and soil. Clay soil,
especially if rigid, should have this
treatment to improve its texture,
whether wood ashes are used or
not, or in the absence Of coal ashes,
vegetable material should be work
ed in. Then all that is needed in
the spring is to plant and apply the
stronger manure. Apply not all at
once, but as is needed during the
season, less when the plant is small,
always keeping the soil well stirred.
=. g., IN New York Iribune.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Thick or Thin ?

1nlCA oA
Col. r. III. Hardaway. of Ga,
replving to criticism OF his theories,
saws: Il simply repeat my e1perl,
ence that heavy manurlng n
thick corn planting has proved a
success with me. And further,
that the same rainy seasons have
produced as good results on my
land. that was so heavily manfred
and thickly planted, as on my
neighbours. who nanured and plant
ed on the old plan of wide dis
tances and a small quantity OF ma,
nure. Let him prepare 1t well ana
add rs per cent. more manure anu
% per cent. more stalks than is rls
usual custom, and test it. My land
IS lust such as he describes, COM
mon pine land 1t is true, | have
yearly enriched it for the past eleven
wears. and have kept 1t crOwded
with crops every year, and have
pursued a system of rotation annu,
ally. | always put back in the land
more manure food than | take
from it, and in pursuing this sys-
tenn, my land has been yearly I'M
proved, and it has not failed to
give me good crops every year: |
have endeavored to carry out liter
ally the Intensive System" OF
manuring and planting. | here
give my annual crop, to show that
my theory has stood practical test
of twelve years consecutlvely, and
has been a success
CROPs PRODUCED ON Is ACRES OF
LAND, ANNUALLY, VIZ:
1SGG-214 bushels corn, Z bales
cotton.
lS67-169 bushels corn, 9 bales
cotton.
1S6S-14 bales cotton.
1S69-15
1S71-16S bushels oats, 5 bales
cotton, 50 bushels rice, and 16S
bushels corn.
1S72-2OS bushels corn, 4 bales
cotton, and $50 bushels oats.
1S73-3O4 bushels corn, $50 bush
els oats, and 6 acres left uncultiya-
ted to rest.
1878 bales cotton, go bush
els oats, and 4 acres un~cultlvated
to rest.
1S75-525 bushels oats, 15S bush
els corn, and 3 bales cotton.
1S76-216 bushels oats, 15S bush
els corn, and 3 bales cotton.
1S71-397 bushels corn, 442 bush
els oats, 81 bushels rice, IA bushels
wheat, and 3 bales of cotton.
AS to the best time to plant, al
most every farmer has his own no
ton. l ALWAYS break up my land
thoroughly in November or Deem
Der. January | always prepare my
corr land, and put in the manure
preparatory to planting. | find 1T
best to broadcast and
plough it in, and to use manure in
the corn drills also. | break my
land with two-horse pillow usually,
ploughing just deep enough not to
turn up the clay. In working my
crop %(corn), | always plough deep
with a long scooter, the first plough
ing. All after work with the
plough is done shallow.
l will also say, that in breaking
land intended for corn, that | have
found it best to run a sub-sOil
plough Immediately behind, and in
the same furrow of the two-horse
plough.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

A New Jersey farmer is credited
with the statement that he "knows
by actual experience that "Lima
beans planted on the edge with the
eye down, will come up a week
earlier than if planted haphazard."
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14

Washing with fresh buttermilk
"a second time, if necessary-is
highly recommended as sure death
to lice on cattle.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
MARCH l+

foregoing quotation. ! trn.
satisfy Won that | have u,.. :.
term waste products, w.ts
fercnt meaning from tina,
YOU represented ne Il
and that | believe IN
using ward manure
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-01-16
Is ii Wise ?

We are strongly inclined to question the
wisdom of teaching Hawaiian youth to read
and write the native language In order that
we may be fully understood on this subject,
we will state in brief our objections. The
time spent by Child at school learning to
read and write his native language, is in our
judgment SO much time lost. The native Ian
guage is only useful to boy or girl, in after
life, as at present, as a medium of oral COM
munication, or occasional correspondence and
so far as speaking the language is concern
ed, it would be learned as matter of course,
without effort or spending time to acquire it,
but with the English language it is quite the
reverse. All business is transacted in Eng
lish, hence it is only necessary for the youth
to be taught a thorough knowledge of the
enable him or her, to compete with the for
eigners or English speaking citizens or So
jouners, in all the departments of trade, com
merce and official positions. The main reason
why the native Hawaiian is compelled to
abandon the field of competition to the for
eigner is ignorance of the English language.
This ignorance does not only cause the
native to occupy subordinate position, but
it takes from him almost every incentive of
ambition, which under different state of cir
cumstances would make him both ambitious
and industrious in the battle of life. 1t occurs
to US that it would be wise for the Legislature
to SO amend the school laws, as to dispense
with teaching the native language in the
schools, and confine the rising generation to
the acquisition of thorough business educa-
tion in the English language alone. Very
many reasons could be given in support of the
position we take on this subject, but we are
content to throw out the few hints contained
in this article, in the hope that the sub
ject may attract the attention of those
whose immediate duty it is to regulate such
matters for the benefit of the rising genera
tion, and the Hawaiian people in general We
have thrown out these few hints, not in spirit
of dictation; but simply, as suggestions for
the consideration of whom it may concern
feeling persuaded that to the thinking and in
telligent mind, every new suggestion on mat
tiers of public importance is alway welcome,
and never considered oficious.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-01-16
Inter-Islaud Telegraphic Company

This company has now pending before the
Privy Council an application for Charter to
authorize it to construct line of telegraph,
so as to afford facilities to planters and others
to communicate, and thus afford a means of
communication that will greatly aid the peo-
pie to transact business, that without such
facilities it can only be done at great expense
of both money and time. The Charter is now
before select committee of the Privy Council
for consideration, who will report at an early
day. We hope the report Of this committee
will be favorable to the applicants, as line
of telegraph wires to and all over the islands
of the Hawaiian group cannot be other than a
blessing and a benefit. With line of tele-
graph that would bring the people of these
Islands into communication with each other
we can easily see how valuable time would
be saved by telegraphing the time of arrival
at different points of the inter-island steamer
and other craft, which would enable the
planters to anticipate their arrival, and there
by enable them to have their freight ready for
shipment on the arrival of the vessels. In the
dDSelCe VI ldClllLleS On llbS6
no improvement would be so valuable to the
people as a line of telegraph We can also
imagine how valuable such an inter island
telegraph line would be if ever we are so for
tunate as to be put in communication with the
outside world by an ocean cable. This latter
improvement is but question of time, and we
think it the part of wisdom for our govern
ment to afford every possible facility to the
enterprising men who are willing to risk their
money in an Inter-sand Telegraph Company.
We very much mistake the character of the
men who are at the head of the Hawaiian
Government if they do not grant all reasonable
aid to the Telegraph Company now seeking a
franchise. Indeed, we know that there is
every disposition on the part of the King and
Privy Council to assist the Inauguration of
such company.