The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-12-18
FARMERS ALLIANCE INSTI-
TUTE.

he Il W. OoOAAL3
the scope and purposes for which the
Wake County Alliance Institute"
is intended. The regular routine work
demanding the attention of the meet
ings of the County Alliance consume
all it's time to the exclusion of any
matters pertaining to 'home reforms"
and of a necessity, the County ALI
ance has established this Institute, as
an auxiliary in carrying out it's great
mission. The County Institute then,
is a creature of the mother Alliance,
and has no authority outside of that
specially delegated by the County ALI
ance. All bylaws showing authority
or regulating the delegations of the
County Institute, are giving it by the
County Alliance. Its purposes relate
more directly to the third section of
the Alliance declaration of institu-
tons, 4. e. "To develop a better state
mentally, morally, socially and inan-
cially." Its purposes are to reach the
ireside of every farmer in Wake
county-let his condition be ever so
oXdlUou OF ONOI 81 Hul1Ulo, IL LIS 1dGCu-
string hangs out at the door.
The doors of this Institute will be
thrown open to all who feel an inter
est in improving the condition of the
laboring classes; and all such are ear
nestly invited to cooperate with us in
this much needed reform.
AS is j implied in the name given this
organization, it is intended to teach
by practical methods, the reforms de-
sired to be obtained. To the twenty
eight hundred Alliance men in Wake
county, we do assert that our mode of
farming can be improved; but it rests
on the Individual effort of each farmer
who desires to be benefited, and if any
there be who entertain the deluslon
that help will come without a consid-
Grafton on their part, let me urge you,
for the comfort and happiness of those
depending upon you, to grope no
longer in darkness, but come out and
be a man.
We must pull out of the old ruts
and get on a sure foundation, and to
do this, we must encourage the dis
heartened farmer by making his work
as intensely interesting as possible
his interests are at his home and his
heart and mind must be kept there
also. Practical results are the aims
intended to be obtained-reforms in
reality and not in theory are demanded
for the relief of this people. An in
telligent comprehension of the situa-
ton of our farming interests is first to
be considered, and there we formulate
a remedy and make its application
practical. The custom of planting all
cotton to the exclusion of making
home supplies, has not only impover-
ished pockets, but our lands also,
and hence the bane of all our troubles.
A large number of acres to the pillow
regardless of preparation and cultiva-
ton, has been the rule rather than the
exception. Diversified farming then,
is the reform, intended to be C
aged by this Institute. A thorough
preparation of the soil-judicious ma
nuring-rotation of crops, and resting
the land, is the formula intended to
be adopted.
1t is intended that each sub-Alliance
in the county shall take the initiative
in the coming year, in the manner OF
competitive crops. This is the begin
ming, and our first lesson will be a
short one. Let each member of a
Sub-Alliance take a small area, say,
one, two or five acres, as may be
agreed upon by the competitors-en-
couraging every member who will, to
join-and plant in corn the coming
year-the preparation and cultivation
to be left to the skill of each competi-
tor. We must make this work as in
teresting as possible, and to do so, a
premium for the largest yield should
be offered. 1t is suggerted that one,
two or five bushels, as may be agreed
upon, be contributed by each competi-
tor out of his crop for this premium.
In like ANN we will have our "brag
patches" of cotton and other crops In
this season, Is well as "brag hogs -
but it is no part of our intention to
encourage the %cuztivation of dogs.
1t is expected that each competitor
will keep a correct account of the
mode of preparation-manuring cult
walton and measurement of his crop
when harvested, together with the en-
tire costs, and report the same to the
fall session of this Institute, through
the regularly elected delegate from his
Alliance. These reports, from actual
experiment, are intended to teach our