davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
ITEMS OF

"A new gold country is said
have been discovered by a sbi 70
wrecked French sailor in Pataoon;?'
between the Straits of MagelIan an;
the river Gallegos. The mar H"9
collected from the sands a LITTLE ea
tune when taken off the coas hU
steamer. ="
] Great rivalry as to speed exist,
amongthe sailing ships that %annuaIt,
take grain and -four to England fro.!
Oregon and California. The da
lance is $4,000 miles and three craol
ships competed this year, the WIN
ner, Lucknow, making the vovan.
to- Southampton in 100 DAYS. aST
the second best reaching Qeenstown
in 116 days.
-The wealth of Alabama's cool
mines is to be estimated from tba
statement that the available coal of
Alabama collected in one hmm
would be forty-fve miles long br r
twenty-five miles wide and ten feat
thick. A breaking Of 5000 tons
daily from the lump would leave ,
part of it untouched at the expira
ton of G, 1000 years.
Ordinary whitewash, as fire.
quently used, has very little effect
except to disfigure the trees. To
destroy the insects and eggs hidden
in the crevices Of the trees very
much stronger applications have to
be used. Soft soap reduced to the
consistency of a thick paint, with
the addition Of a strong solution Of
washing soda, makes one of the most
lasting washes. A solution of one
pound of commercial potash, in from
two to four gallons of water, is GOOD.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
MING CORN.

A correspondent of the Detroit
Free Press gives her receipt for can,
ming corn, with which she says she
has had great success: "Use Mason's
glass jars. Take nice green corn,
cut from the cob with a sharp knife
with the back of the knife scrape
the cob to get all the sweetness pos
sible-see that your jars II perfect,
nj cracks, put in the corn with the
small end of you potato masher and
pack it in. A quart jar will take
twelve or thirteen ordinary ears.
When the jar is plump full, put on
the rubbers, crew on the covers
almost perfectly tight. | screw
it as tight as l can with the thumb
and finger. Put hay or cloths on
the bottom Of your wash boiler, lay
in the cans any way you please
put little cloths in to keep them
from hitting each other-fll the
boiler as full as you wish, cover over
with cold water, set it over the
fire. When it begins to boil, boil
three hours without ceasing. Then
take out and with your tightener
make as tight as possible immedi-
ately. After they are cold, tighten
again if you can. Put away in a
dark, cool place. | keep mine in a
dark closet in the cellar. Peas and
succotosh + fine put mp the same
way
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
THE w O r

Although something may have
been applied to give the corr a start,
the most important period is when
the ears r "springing up" Hence,
an application of200 pounds of super
phosphate and fifty pounds of nitrate
Of soda, at the last working, will
largely increase the yield and ena-
BILE the corn to produce heavy, we'll
filled ears. On many farms the plant
food does not decompose as fast as
it is required by the corn, which is
a gross feeder, and those farmers
who find the crop backward will be
greatly benefited by giving an APP
plication of fertilizer as suggested
above. The growth of the stalk re-
quires a large amount of material
from the soil, but if a small quantity
of fertilizer be applied at the last
cultivation it not only serves as an
in%vigorator, but supplies just the
kind of food required.-Farm, Field
and S0ckm0n.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
.cR1cULruRAL EDUCATION.

The agricultural colleges and the
departments devoted to agriculture
in the severalInsttutions of learn
ing, endowed bX Congress, have &C
complished a fNrly good work in
the years that Nave passed since
their establishmenA The Michigan
Agricultural olleg& stands as the
pioneer in this direction, having had
an independent existence since 1868.
This was some years prior to the act
of Congress donating lands for ag-
ricultural education 1t still leads,
and has furnished many professors
to the later institutions. Iowa early
developed this education at Ames,
and Prof. Budd is nov considered
an authority in all that relates to
trees and plants in the continental
climate of the West. At Champaign,
Prof. Burrill has made important
discoveries in vegetable physiology.
At Cornell University, Prof. Law
has done much to elevate veterinary
science. Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska,
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana
in the North, and Kentucky, Ala
bama, Mississippi and Georgia in
the South, are among other colleges
that come to mind as doing good
work in the direction Of agriculture.
Colorado has an excellent agricul-
tural college at Fort Collins, and
Oregon at Corvallis. Canada has
but one agricultural college, that
near Guelph. The school is prosper
ing we'll and s~ustains a high reputa-
ton. With the thirty-seven institu-
tons Of like character in the United
States, by concert ofaction, by which
experiments do not run in the same
channels in each, very much valu-
able work outside the training of
students is yearly accomplished.
This will be broadened and become
still more valuable with the increase
of true experiment stations at these
several seats of learning. Mistakes
have been made-may possibly be
made in the future-but these schools
are yearly rising on the plane of
valuable achievement in the direc-
ton Of progressive agriculture
Farm, Field and StOckmdn.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
A T is F~ATTENING.

1t has been observed that waters
fattening, and that those who drink
large quantities Of it have a ten
dency to fullness and rotundlty'
That there is considerable truth IN
this observation the Medical ana
Surgical Reporter fully s~ubstantiates'
That excessive inhibition of very
cold (iced) water Especially when
one is very warm) is not to be com
mended, yet we have reason to BE-
lieve that the unlimited use OF pure
spring water, at it's natural tempera-
ture, is not only conducive to health,
but has an actual tendency to favor
a fullness and roundness of body
Whether this is the result Of a better
action or the part Of the digestive
assimilative, and d~epurative tunc,
tons, owing to the internal clean
ness or flushing Of the human sew
ers produced by large quantities Oh
water, Or whether water has some
specific action in producing this iull,
ness, we do not know, neither does
it signify, since observation confirms
as a fact that the free use of water
does have this effect.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
SPIDERS AND

s - -L&ZlZHE t-8#.HZ
DR.. G. Keller, Of Zurich, claims
that spiders perform an Important
part in the preservation of forests
by defending the trees against the
depreciation of aphides and insects.
He has examined a great many spi-
ders, both in their viscera and by
feeding them in captivity, and has
found them to be voracious destroy
ers of these pests; and he believes
that the spiders in a particular for
est do more effective work of this
kind than all the insect-eating birds
that inhabit it. He has verified his
views by observations on c~oniferous
trees, a few broad-leaved trees, and
apple trees.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
SUGAR BETS.

There is no better food for stock
than the sugar beet. No root is
more certain of a crop, and none
yields more food. They are excel
lent keepers, nutritious, and great
promoters of the flow of milk in
both COWS and ewes. The seed in
the Northwest should be sown in
drills two to two and a half feet
apart. About four pounds of seed
will be sufficient for an acre, and it
will sprout quicker if put in boiling
water before sowing, and afterwards
rolled in plaster to dry. They are
best sown by means of one of the nu-
merous seed-drills o w to be found
in every implement store. The seed
should be sown thick to save the
trouble and necessity of transplant
ing to fill any vacancies, and after
wards thinned so the beets may
stand about eight or ten inches
apart. To grow the crop the land
must be deep, rich, and we'll cultiva-
ted. The soil best adapted to them
is a good, strong loan, just such as
abounds all through the Northwest.
The ground must be kept light and
well and deeply stirred. We have
often urged the Importance of rails
ing more root crops in this section,
and only refert to this matter at this
late season of seeding SO that those
who have IN acre or two Of unoccu-
pied tillage land can make the expe-
riment. While the seed should be
sown as early as practicable, we be-
lieve with the proper care and cult
walton the crop would reach matu-
rity if the seed is deposited in the
soil by the Goth Of this month
Farm, Stock and Home.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
THE DYING.

A leading physician says that q
patient who is lying dying OF ca,
haustion is generally dying Of star wa
ton. We give him beef tea, an
foot jelly, ~seltzer and milk-tha' IL,
a small quantity of the sugar OF Nun
and some fat; but the jelly, is tno
poorest sort of food, and the beef 1ea
is a mere stimulant. The popui"a,
belief that beef tea contains .l'o
very strength of that meat Is
terrible error; it has no food value
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, july 4, 1886:

which used to be only an incident
in farming, has become with may
their entire avocation. WheVever
caught the chicken thief shQdld be
given the full penalty of thSf law.
H1v1Na BEES. =
Old beekeepers learn to handle
bees without fear, and more espec-
tally at swarming time, when the
bees are engorged with honey, and
not likely to sting unless attacked.
The avoidance of fear is the best
means of avoiding danger. A timid,
nervous person soon enrages the
bees by parrying fancied assaults,
while one who keeps cool soon
learns that the thousands Of bees
buzzing around him are on no hos
tile intent. If Il new, or at least
clean, hsve is offered the bees, and
the swarm shaken down in front OF
the entrance, few swarm will refuse
their new home.
FARMING IN SCOTLAND.
Winter-feeding hill sheep was in
troduced many years ago, and as
the practice gradually became known
SO did the severe Winter losses grad
ually pass away. Until within the
last few years, dairying as a branch
of farming was rather looked down
upon by the farmers Of the greater
portion of Scotland. Recent years,
with their accompanying simple APP
paratus and low prices, have dis
PEELED that idea. Dairying for the
production of butter is principally
carried on outside a six-mile radius
of GLASGOW. Around Ayr and Kill
marnock considerable quantities of
butter are made. In almost all cases
the butter is absolutely fresh or but
very slightly salted. Considerable
cheese is also made in the county of
Ayr.
ENsILAGE IN SCOTLAND.
The result of inquiries issued by
the Highland Agricultural Society
of Scotland on ensilage is very favor
able to the system. As regards ensil-
age for dairy stock, those who have
used it as fodder for the purpose
speak very strongly in it's praise.
The almost unanimous opinion is
that while it may or may not in
crease the quantity Of milk, it has a
marked effect in increasing the guam
tity and also the quality Of cream
and butter. The quality of the lat
ter is considered little, if at all, infe-
rior to summer butter. With proper
precautions no faint is commune
Gated to milk or butter from the use
of ensilage. Ensilage, it is thought,
is the coming winter feed for hill
sheep.
TURNIPs NOT A RENOvATING CROP.
We do not grow sc many turnips
as do English farmers, nor is it neces-
sary to good farming that we should.
1t has been said, and truly, that tur-
nips were the basis Of good farming
in England but this IS mainly be-
cause they require, or at least admit,
the feeding of SO much else. Turnips
may furnish the bulk of winter feed
for sheep and fattening cattle, but
oil cake and more lately Indian meal
make the fat and the manure pile.
A poor farmer might grow turnips
forever without enriching his land.
More than most other crops they
take from the soil it's scarcest ele-
ment of fertility, phosphate Of lime.
In fact, English farmers commonly
use phosphate on their rutabagas,
and have the second use of it for
wheat. M
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14

There is a family in Glascock
county consisting Of a man, his wife
and three children, whose aggregate
weight is less than 200 pounds.
There is another family that alto
gether weigh just 1000 pounds more
than the first family mentioned
AUGUSTA (Ga.) Chronicle.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
SEED CORN FOR PLANTING.

Mr.. Powers writing to the COun-
try Gentleman concerning the proper
selection ofseed corn, maintains that
that which has been exposed to
severe freezing is not reliable, espec-
tally that which has not been kiln
dried. | want, says he, an ear that
is heavy in the hand, rather long,
with straight rows of kernels (for
crooked rows seem to denote mon
grelism, or poor breeding.) not ta-
pering, but nearly of the same diam
eter throughout, we'll filled and
rounded over at the ends, kernels
long, smooth and thick, whether
broad or not, and not too finty or
too soft, and rough or denied at the
outer ends.
Corn is probably the most variable
Of cereals, hence [ consider it impor-
tan to aim for uniformity. This is
more necessary to be sought after
than in any other kind Of grain.
The best crib of corn will be the one
which has the greatest number of
ears exactly or very nearly alike.
The farmer may pronounce an ear
Of corn a good ear, and be disposed
to pass it in his perhaps hasty in
spection of seed, when it may be a
wide departure from the standard
which he should keep before him
self. 1t may be a deep kerneled and
with long cob, yet be decidedly OBJ
iectionable on account of its sharp
taper and its rough kernels. Years
ago, while / still followed, the now
abandoned practice Of selecting seed
corn from the crib in the spring, |
used to search out an ear which OK
actly suited my ideal and lay it
before me as a model for constant
comparison.
Some persons will tell you that
seed corn should be selected which
produces two EARS to the stalk. This
is an error which the practical far
mer will soon abandon, if he has not
already done so. The type of the
race is a one-eared stalk, just as the
type of the Ovine race is to bring
fourth one lamb. Now every exper-
fenced shepherd knows that it is not
desirable to breed twin bearing sheep
as his standard. What he wants to
do is to e a race SO vigorous that
they shall frequently flower out in
twins as a sort of symptom of re-
dundant strength, but to choose
twin bearers specifically is undoubt-
eddy an error. So | do not want a
two cared variety Of corn, but l
want a variety which shall grow so
strong that a stalk nov and then
I do not care if one in ten does it
shall develop n good a and a
nubbin.
The point to be considered is this:
A uniformly two-eared variety Of
any kind of corn desirable for our
iatitndcs cannot be developed. We
shall have either an ear and a nub-
bin or two nubbins. Popcorn will
produce two ears or more; SO will
sweet corn. But a robust, powerful
field corn which shall be the
ter-part in vegetable life of the short
horn in animals as we'll as the feed
er of it, will not be found in a two
cared Cor two nubbined) variety.
This is no bare assertion with me.
-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14

Or the $4,000 acres in the town
of Newtown, Long Island, 1,849 are
occupied by cemeteries. A million
bodies are now buried in these places,
n the annual interments amount to
$4,000.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14

In Walla Walla, Washington
Territory, may be seen eighty miles
of wheat fields along the foothills of
the Blue mountains. sti ~ piYks
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
CHICKENS.

Fortunate are those farmers whose
poultry yard Is not exposed to the
predatory excursions by lawless BIZ
peds intent on plumber. This is one
of the drawbacks to success in many
cases where otherwise all the condi-
tions are favorable. There are no
meaner p~ilferers than those who
steal chickens, and since so many
have made poultry breeding a bust
ness this sort Of petty larceny
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
BREEDING SHEEP.

The ram must be keptfrom breed
ing ewes from now until the time
for them to commence breeding. II
this is not done fOckmasters will be
having lambs at all times during late
Fall and Winter, and it will be i'm
possible to properly care for them
as could be done if lambs were drop
ped when expected, and after proper
arrangements had been provided for
them.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14
PLANT PEAS AND BEANS---A
TIMELY SUGGESTION.

"Can't you advise your readers
to plant peas and beans beforeit istoo
late for this season? There is more
money in them than in cotton. There
is machinery now to gather them at
a nominal cost-at least the cotton
and corn crop should be largely sup
plimented by them.
Yours, &c,
J. w. MAYO.
Whitaker's, July l, 1885,
Our esteemed correspondent will
find elsewhere some suggestions on
the above subject, which were in
type when his communication was
received, and we are gratiied to
know that they accord so we'll with
his views.
The corn crop, on much of our
richest bottom land, is ruined by ex-
cessive rains. AS soon as these lands
a be plowed they should be put in
peas or beans, or both. 1t is not yet
too late for these crops to mature,
and the farmer who will be short in
corn will find fifty or one hundred
bushels of peas or beans a wonder
ful help next winter. Do not neg
lect it-raise all the peas you can
and take care of them. 1t will pay
you in more ways than one.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-07-14

Excellent as pasture is for many
purposes, there are others for which
it is inferior unless supplemented by
something else. 1t is doubtful
whether alone it is a perfect ration
for any stock excepting milch cows,
and then only for a brief time.
Early in the spring the grass is too
watery. Late in Summer the seed
stalks appear and then it is coarse
and hard.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-11-13
Y, IDAHO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1886.

doubled with Skinny on his line fly
to Little Red, and Dicky Bird gave
up the ghost on a swift bounder to
Plunkey."
"Plunkey?"
EYES," said the boy with a grin,
"that's me-"
"And you took it in," cried the
father.
"Out of the wet" said the boy,
placidly.
"Come to my arms, my son y
exclaimed Plunkins, springing to
his feet and embracing him pleas
antly. "Iwas afraid you was foolin'
away your time at school an gettin'
no edication, but l see l was mis-
taken. Why, boy, you are fit to
enter college this very minute
Come right along into the house
and tell about the rest of the game
to your mother and me-" and they
went in together locked in fond
embrace.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-11-13
CLAY AND DCClIANAN.

Henry Clay used to take especial
delight in annoying Mr.. Buchanan,
who had, he believed, started the
report that he had made bargain
with John Quincy Adams by which
he secured the election of the Mas
sachusetts statesman as president,
receiving in turn the appointment
of secretary of state, which had
been up to that day the stepping
stone of the presidency. On one
occasion, as Mr. Buchanan was de-
Tending himself against the charge
of disloyalty during the war of
1912, he having been "an old fed
eralist," to prove his loyalty he
stated that he entered company
of volunteers a. the time the British
attacked Baltimore, or al the time
of the battle of North Point, and
marched to Baltimore. "True," he
said," he was not in any engage
ment, as the British had retreated
before he got there"
Mr.. Clay-You marched to Bal
:imore, though?
Mr.. Buchanan-Ycs.
Mr.. Clay-Armed and equipped9
Mr.. Buchanan-Yes, armed and
equipped.
Mr.. Clay-But the British haG
retreated when you arrived?
Mr.. Buchanan-Yes.
Mr.. Clay-Will the senator from
Pennsylvania be good enough to
inform us whether the British re-
treated in consequence Of his val
iantly marching to the relief of
Baltimore, or whether he marched
to the relief of Baltimore in conse-
quence of the British having already
retreated?
The senator's and the occupants
of the galleries roared with laugh
ter, and Mr.. Buchanan, red with
anger, prudently made no reply.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-11-13
Evidence Of Innocence.

"Have you looked at all the
iurors?" said lawyer to his client.
"Yes."
"Did you observe that most of
them are bald?"
eyes, l did"
swell, from personal knowledge
l know they are married men. l
suppose you have observed that the
Judge also is quite bald?"
II have"
"He's d married man. Gaze at my
head you notice l am very bald?"
II do"
"Well, I'm q married man, too.
Now, you're charged with bigamy,
aren't your"
II am"
"Do you want to 60 to the peni-
tcntiary or clear yourself and be a
free man"
"Why. l want to clear myself,
of course"
"Well, then, we'll offer your head
Of hair in evidence. It's thick,
heavy and glossy, and the jury and
Judge will know in a moment you
are not even a married man, say
nothing of a bigamist."
The accused was acquitted.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-11-13

Several weeks ago, at the request
of leading democrats of East Ten
nessee, Major l.. II. Wagner was
appointed United States pension
agent at Knoxville. The new APP
pointee was gallant Union soldier,
major of the Thirteenth Tennessee
cavalry. On his appointment anum-
Der of democrats came to Washing
ton and urged Lamar to recon-
mend to the president the revoca-
ton of the appointment, on the
ground, that as a member of the
legislature of 1866 Wagner voted
to disfranchise ex-confederates, and
also voted for a resolution to offer
a reward for the arrest of ex-GOv.
(now senator) Isham &. Harris.
Secretary Lamar made the follow
ing manly response, in rebuke and
refusal of this request:
The secretary Of the interior de-
clines to recommend the revoca-
ton of Major Wagoner's commits
sion as pension agent at Knoxville,
Tenn. Maj. Wagner was appointed
upon the recommendation of the
leading and best citizens of Tennes-
see of all parties, who represented
him as man fully qualified in in
tegrity, intellect and character, for
the duties of the position, and as a
man endeared to the people by his
consistent support during the past
twenty years of their highest and
best interests. The fact brought
out against him since his commits
sion was issued, that he had given
an unjust and unwise vote for dis
franchisement when he was young
man not more than 81 years of age,
Immediately after the war, when the
passions of both sides were reused
to the highest pitch, should not
now be used to ostracise him from
public trust among a people to
whose rights and interests he has
ever since been true and loyal. We
have all been contending that the
Issues of the war aud the passions
growing out of it should not be