The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-12-11

gla IA, Alabama Is, MISSISSIPPI D,
Louisiana 9 Texas 10, Arkansas 3.
Florida, owing to tho prevalence of
the yellow fever, in her midst, unfor-
tunately could not reach us in this
way, with one single exception, how
ever; the reply in this case having
successfully passed a strict quarantine
barricade and had been perfumed by
the operation with some patent fumi-
eating process.
The replies, with but few solitary
exceptions, showed that great care
and much thought had been taken in
their preparation. Coming, as they
do, from the cream Of our Southern
agriculturists, a consideration of them
cannot but fail to be instructive and
valuable az furnishing the best collec-
ton of Individual opinions on live and
important subjects, such as all farmers
should and must ponder over Com
ing, too, from the best citizens in every
Southern State, and in each case re-
hecting the experiences and opinions
of the neighborhoods, these replies
may be we'll said to embrace the
length and breadth of the South. [
know of no other means by which
opinions so extensive can be procured
at this time.
A summary of these opinions will
be found instructive, and is here in
serted. A detailed statement will
possibly be furnished at some future
time, in some other form. For an
article of this size it will be entirely
too ponderous.
In answer to the first question:
Are commercial fertilizers used to too
great IN ertent by the people of yow
State ?
Virginia, 10 replied in effect yes,
8 replied no. The qualifications to
some replies will be interesting and
were: On too much ground but not
enough per acre. No, if any intelli-
gence is used; otherwise yes. Yes, if
no rotation of crops including clover
and grass, no if such a system is not
carried out. Yes, if grass is not sown.
Tennessee, 5 replied yes. l replied
no. North Carolina, yes Is; no Is;
qualifications: Not when soil is of
right quality. Not if proper attention
is given. South Carolina, yes 7; no
7. Not if used in the right way.
Georgia, yes 10; no 4. Florida, no /.
Alabama, yes 9; no Is. Mississippi,
no 4; yes unless they are used more
intelligently. Louisiana, no 8; not
intelligently l. Texas, no 10; none at
all, l. Arkansas, yes 10; no 4. The
South, yes IS; no rs.
In answer to the second question ::
Does the quality Of commercial fertile
sers used depend upon the natural fertility
of the soil?
Virginia replied no 5; yes 10. Ten
nessee, yes 6. North Carolina, yes II;
no 20. South Carolina, yes 4; no g..
Georgia, yes 9; no 9. Florida, yes l..
Alabama, yes IL; no Is. Mississippi,
yes 5. Louisiana, yes 7; no 2, Texas,
yes q; no Arkansas, yes 2. The
South, yes IS; no 81.
Does a remedy for the too free use of
commercial fertilizers enist9 If so what?
Virginia, no |, yes Is. Remedies:
Saving manures and turning under
grass and clover. Do not waste on
rich land. Change of crops. More
grass and more sheep. Clover, rye,
etc. Clover and peas. Green manur-
ing. Good supply of vegetable mat
ter. Small farms and more stock,
with the use of ensilage and soiling.
Saving and applying the barn
yard manures. Thorough cultivation.
Clover. Buy for cash, Deeper plow-
ing and turning under clover. Black
peas. Tennessee, 2 no; 2 yes. Barn
yard manures. North Carolina, l no.;
Al yes. Good mari, Education. Bet
ter education to the farmers. Com
post. Green manuring. More COM
post. Stock raising. Rotation of
crops. Sow peas compost heap. Not
enough work. Flowing under green
crops. Cow peas before commercial
fertilizers. Make our own manures.
Use muck on the soil. Green manur-
ing. Stock Raising. Clover. More
well-fed cattle. Raise stock. Use
more vegetable matter. Greater in
telligence. Agricultural Education.
Saving Rotation of crops.
If farmers would make composts ::
South Carolina, 4 no; s yes. More
homemade manures. Grass. Rest
your land. Teach the proper use.
Georgia, 10 yes. Raise more stock.
Put more organic matter in the soil.
Turning under clover. Plant COW
peas. Composing. Education of the