Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-04-09
PLANT BED COVERING.
COVER YOUR PLANT BEDS AS U.s.
UAL, AND PAY NO ROYALTY.
Various Methods Followed by Tob-
acco Planters In the Past Decade or
More, and the ShaHowness OF Claims
for tsPatents.o
by MAI. r. L. RAGLAND.
trou. the Hesterp Tobacco Journal

from tfe feSteTn Il O0dcc0 journal.
The question, whether planters
ought or are liable to pay royalty for
using canvass covering over their
plant beds, has beeu pretty thorough
ly discussed by the editor of the YES
tetn Tobacco Journal, and his argu-
ments are irrefutable and his advice
should be followed.
Unfortunately, too few of that class
mostly interested in this subjact are
subscribers to this excellent journal.
Its ability, worth and fairness ought to
procure hundred thousand planter
subscribers, and this is written to stir
up tobacco NELL, warehouse men, COM
mission men, dealers and manufactur-
ers. To issue circulars to their pat
rons advising them what to do in the
premises, tor very many who intended
using the canvas covering are unde-
cided what to do, since hearing that :.
patent is claimed and royalty will
be demanded for using the plant bed
cloth. The necessity for the canvas
covering was never greater than now.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE.
1t is well known to all intelligent
tobacco men, that in the preparation
of the Tenth Census the Government
instituted most thorough and ex-
haustive inquiry into tobacco culture,
etc, and appointed Col. j. B. Kille-
brew, ex-Commissioner of Agriculture
of Tennessee, as special agent. to do
this work. most excellent appoint
ment. Col. killebrew, with the aid
of assistants in several States, compil
ed and reported to the Superintendent
of Census the most exact, thorough
and valuable treatise on this subject
ever before made, Notwithstanding
the curtailment and excision made
thereon i'll the Cencus Bureau
TIE GOVERNMENT PATENT PLANT
PROTECTOR.
The following is an extract from the
report made by Col. Kiilebrew and
transmitted to the Hon. Francis A.
Walker, Superintendent of Census,
October 10, 1881. Page 257, chapter
Xxx, General Information
"a hundred methods are practiced or sng-
gested to prevent the ravagcs of the flea bea-
tie, but only one plan has proven really
vass or unbleache1 cotton cloth. A frame
is first made around the bed of planks eight
or ten inches high, care being taken to
close every crevice between the planks and
the ground. A few wires may be stretch ed
across, the better to hold up the cloth,
which is stretched over the frame and closely
tackled upon the edges. In place of the
wires; small quantity oflisht brush thrown
upon the bed will help sustain this wright
80 ~ 81. L.
construct number of smaller frames, of
proper width and not more than six or
eight feet in length, upon which the cloth
may be stretched and neatly fastened, q
sufficient number Of these frames being pro-
vlied to cover the intended plant bed.
Such frames, with their covering, could be
removed when no longer needed and stored
for future use. If the cloth is trest3d with
a single coat of white lead aud oil, such as
is used for the first coat of outside work on
wood, it will last several seasons with ordi-
uary care. Still another plan may he found
more economical. The frames may be
made and properly braced by cross pieces
let in flush with the upper edges of the
planks. The cloth or canvass may be
some three inches longer and wider than
the frames, and hemed upon the edges, and
! eyelet holes may be worked along the
| edges, two feet or less apart, in which cords
may be fastened by which to stretch the
cloth and tie it down closely over the
frames to nails, hooks, or wooden pegs
| driven into the outer faces of the frame
planks, three or four inches below the upper
edges. Other devices will suggest them
selves to the intelligent planter, by which
he can make the cloth covering effective,
easily handled, and economical.
Now mark you, the Government in
stitutes the inquiry, publishes the in-
formation for the benefit of the To-
bacco industry, and gives it gratui-
tously. And all this is done years be-
fore Mr.. Garrard is awarded patent
for what the Government itself had
furnished free to the planters. -
Is it reasonable then that the courts
| of the United States will exact royal
ty from any one of its citizens for
practicing what the government had
taught hin? We might test the case
right here.
WHAT IS THE GARRARD PATENT?
He claims AS follows: sIn plant pro.
tector the combination uf frame, textile
I screen or cover stretched upon the same, Sc
curing strips arranged in folds at the edges
! of such textile covering and suitably at
tached to the outer side of the frame at the
/ upper edgesof the latter, and transverse sup
porting cords across the top of the frame
under the covering of the same, substantial
ly as and for the purpose herein set forth. Z
Issued January 20, 1855.
You will observe that this is "com
bination" patent; and granting thai
the patentee could enforce the pay
ment of royalty from any one using
precisely the combination, as specified
in the patent (and this is not coneed-
ed) he certainly could have no cause
for action against any one using some
other combination any mode laid
down by the special agent of the Cen
sus as heretofore given, or any Other
4 which ingenuity might devise.
4 In this connection the following ex
tract, taken from an article by DR.. j
NE. Blanton, Ex-C Commissioner Of Ag
riculture of Virginia, in the Rara
Messenger, and published .bef ire dan
uary, 20, 1885. Is given as one, ant
doubtless the best, device for arrang
ing the plant protector which. lik.
4 Col. KiHebrew's, is given free to th'
public:
Afaer tile bells are prepared TO the tast