The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-30

tHf votes of - and-o wQDr~ larIar,
IN favor OF aholishing the crop fenc.
>Nstem. The existence - Sucn Lax
would eyok" reflects n. discussion and
~se>earca. which would doubtless re-
suit IN a decision that would best sub
serve the true interest, of the people
Another matter intimately connect.
fd win nus SUBJECT. aai which | re-
spectiully submit a. well wotthv tn.
Of our Legislature. - the
damage done bv mi>chl.Xou> stock
q lowed 70 run AT la-". The owner
OF st'ck which NAV DC adiud red upon
proper evidence TO be % habituallS
inl>chIevous habits. should be required
70 Keep II confined 10 his own premi
ses Especially is this demanded by
the pres mt peculiar condition OF on.
farmers. Not only the large PLANTER
upon the liberation Of his 4 ~ f,und
himself with "a large au mnsicIdIy
piaDt.tion. which b has since been
unable [ keep fenced properly but
the statistics show that all oar ueaple
had more lana fenced than they were
able to keep up hence. since the war
the fences have been gradually de.
terlo ating, and are generally in a
very dllaplda'ed condition throughout
the State and with mIschievous stock
rowing at large, II Is a fruitful source
u p~erpieNlty, lass and litigation.
That u people must have a ney ns-
tenn, that Will either lessen tae cost or
dispense altogether with fences
around their crops. Is only "A question
of Tune and until then ii Would be
the dictate of policy and wisdom To
alleviate, as far as practicable. the
evils OF the present system.
NEw CROPS
This country imports annu div over
10000, 900 pounds of Jute. and in addi-
lon TO the vast amount required for
the sacklng of gram and for covering
cotton. IL now enters Very largely into
the manufacture of various articles of
commercial Importance. In India.
over 900, 900 acres OF land is devoted
to It's culture. giving employment to
over 1,25O, 600 of its population.
If our soil and climate be adapted
to its successful growth, not
only the cheap cost of its production.
but a ready market at our doors.
should give it that pr minence on our
list Of products hat lis commercial
value demands. \ small lot of seed
procured and distributed in the Spring
of 1877. to farmers in five of our east
ern counties, were planted and the
results induced the belief that it is
well adapted to the moist loamy soils
throughout our coast section. 1t grows
luXurlantly. and matured at a height
of ten TO fourteen feet in about eighty
days from the time OF planting. 1t is
to be hoped that the heavy import
now imposed. and which SO
dlScOurageS It's manufacture in this
country at present will have the effect
OF stimulating a more earnest and ell
larged effort to produce the raw mate
rial at home, aud thus give the rich
soils OF our coast region another pro
duct that would soon become next in
to cotton.
Several hundreds Of our farmers
been supplied with seeds obtained
from the Department at Washington
and elsewhere, for purposes of expert
ment. Only two crops, however. as
yet, seem To meet with general favor
among our farmers: The Golden or
Miillet Is especially priced by
may as a forage pant it grows finely
and yields abundantly on most of our
soils. Chufa, a root crop for hogs, is
being very generally introduced and
adopted. and is reg rded by many as
more valuable in producing meat than
even any of the Cereals.
In 1877, we distributed two varieties
Of Sugar Beet seed, in twenty-five
Owing to the late date at
they were sent out, and viii IA
was unavoidable, and to drought, we
were unable to procure a fair test OF
their sacharlne properties, but they
were again distributed last spring with
full instructions from our Chemist as
to their culture, &c. He has received
for analysis, and you are
referred to his reports Tor
results.
In this connection the feasibility and
Of establishing in connection
with tins Department an Expert
Farm presents itself. Our work
improvement, PROFESSOR it
means nothing and to iniu5e new life |
into our energies as a people, by intro
improved methods. in all our
of industry-with our
to test our seeds. to analize
soils, to prescribe formula for differ
INT for our various crops -
IN brief, if at all practicable we should
bring Our work up to the full measure
Of its usefulness by giving to the
actual demonstration by ex-
pertinent. of whatever theories we
may promulgate. 1t is to be greatly
regretted that the limited means at
your command will not allow YOU to |
an enterprise of such vast
practical Importance TO our people
properly established and equipped. |
and conducted under YOUR su oervis-
ion. its value would be incalculable.
Several States have these Farm, in
successful operation and in some Of
large humble 5 of young men are
provided for l~aborers, and thus they