The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-09

thousands of homemade composts
have been made by farmers i'm every
section of the State, and the farmers
have learnt that every pound of COM
post put up meansNSo much money in
their packets. T6 further aid in the
work, these cornposts have been, when
requested, analysed by the Station.
Over three hundred of these and other
home materials, from waste products
have been examined and their value
to the farmer shown.
5. The phosphate beds of the State
have been explored and mapped.
These beds though not now worked.
on account of the existence of South
Carolina rock, of higher grade will
undoubtedly prove valuable in the fut-
ure and thus be very profitable to the
State.
6. The marls Of the State have been
examined and no less than three hun
dred beds analysed. A stimulus has
been given to use them, which will
prove of i~ncalculable value in materi-
ally improving the soil.
Z. On account of the proper control
and regulation of the sale of fertilizers,
the acreage in cotton has been largely
increased and the western limit of the
cotton belt is now fifty miles farther
westward than formerly. Tobacco
has likewise increased in acreage.
Now where soils are worth for tobacco
growing $500 an acre then were
worth less than $500
8. Frauds in the adulteration of fer
~tilizers have been. discovered and
stopped. In 1881 adulterated nitrate
soda containing IS per cent. common
salt was detected. In 1882 hair,
leather, and horn we're found mixed
with ammoniated fertilizers. In 1888
adulterated kainite and Peruvian
guano were exposed. In these and
other instances were the farmers pro-
tected from various frauds and
swindles.
9. AS a further check upon the
trade and in order to educate our
farmers on this subject, the Expert
ment Station makes analyses of sam
piles of fertilizers, chemicals, composts
&C., for actual North Carolina Farm
ers, free of charge, provided the sam
Piles are taken and forwarded accord
ing to our directions.
10. The Station has stimulated
home growth Of industries in such a
way that while in 1878 there was
only one fertilizer factory in the State,
now there are ten. Cotton Seed Oil
Mills have increased in number from
none in 1878 to 9 at present. Many
waste products have been utilized in
the manufacture of waste products
for making standard fertilizers-for
example, tobacco stems, cotton seed
meal, refuse from fish factories, &c.
IL. When the coal exploration was
made by the Department of Agricul-
ture in the Deep River and Dan River
Sections the Station analysed for this
survey all the samples of coal obtained,
and so, largely aided in this work.
II. Hundreds of mineral waters
have been examined, and large mum
bers of ores identified and assured.
Is. Deeds have been tested as to
their purity and terminating qualities,
and several authorizations detected.
Ia. Investigations have been made
in the growth of the sugar beet and
hundreds of analyses made from sam
pies sent from every portion of the
State.
Is. The Station has made according
to law all analyses for the State Board
of Health, such analyses embracing
many hundreds of portable waters,
articles of food supposed to be adul-
terated and similar other articles.
l6. The Station has made an explo-
ration of the pyrite deposits, investi-
gated every bed of Importance, and
analysed samples of each. These de-
posts will at some future time be
used for the manufacture of sulphuric
acid largely used in the manufacture
of acid phosphates. For this purpose
Native Sulphur is now used, every
pound of which is brought from
Europe 1000 miles away.
% II. The officers of the Station have
aided largely in the displays of the re-
sources of the State in Boston in 1883,
at u own Exposition in 1884, in
New Orleans in 1885. These exhibits
have done incalculabie good in adver-
Using North Carolina and her mate
rial resources. 5000