The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-05

thing worth their attention in this issue.
They do the largest business in the South
in their line, selling al kinds of seeds that
are tested and acclimated to the soil and
climate Of this section. They are issuing
a splendid catalogue for this season that
contains valuable information for South
ern farmers and gardeners and we advise
our readers to send to them at once for a
copy, which they will cheerfully mail to
you free Of charge. Write them. cen
The Farmers Institute held in Tarboro
on the 10th ult. was presided over by Col.
Elias Carr. Mr.. Frank Powell was made
Secretary and Mr.. r. c. Powell Assistant
Speech of welcome by Hon. w. R. Co..
The State Grange was invited to attend
the sessions of the Institute. Speeches
We're delivered by DR.. r. II. Lewis of
Raleigh, w. r. Williams, Master of the
State Grange, DR.. II. B. Battle, Y. G Vel
lowby, NJ. J. Battle, and a paper on
"Grasses' was read from Capt. S. B.
Alexander. The Sontherner says that such
was the success of this first Institute in
Edgecombe, that it was determined to have
another on a grander scale,-perhaps in
the spring.
United States Commissioner of Agri-
culture out and favors the abolition
of the seed division of his department, to
which hundreds of thousands of farmers
will say, amen! Now let the govern
ment do the sensible thing and distribute
these seeds to the farmers through the
State Boards of Agriculture or through
some medium by which the farmers may
get them. Hitherto these seeds have
been placed largely at the disposal Of
politicians in and around Congress who
have used them to promote their political
fortunes. Experiments should be made,
seeds should be distributed, but let it be
done in such way as to place them in the
hands Of farmers and not in the hands of
our politicians.
Rev. Sam Small, the "Old ST of the
past, delivered his lecture " From the bar
to the Pulpit" to a good audience in
Metropolitan Hall on the evening of the
Odd inst. Raleigh is said to be a hard
place on lecturers, but Mr.. Small held his
audience at his will for two and a half
hours. The soul-stirring details of his
varied and terrible experience, related in
the simple earnestness and frankness of
an honest heart-the wonderful and al
most miraculous display of the mercy and
grace of God in his conversion-the elo-
quent and thrilling portrayal of the evils
of intemperance, as Illustrated by his past
life-the poignant, pungent sarcasm and
powerful demolition Of the popular de-
fences of liquor drinking-the sparkling
wit and sledge-hammer blows-the easy
sway which he welded over the emotions
of his audience, showed him to be no
ordinary man. We cannot explain, but
we were made to feel his power.
The United States Supreme Court has
decided a Kansas case reversing the de-
cision Of the District Court to the effect
that the State was restrained by the
United States Constitution from prohibit
ing the manufacture Of beer and ale. JUS
tice Harlan rendered the opinion, which
is exhaustive and conclusive. The argu-
ment of the beer manufacturing firm was
that State prohibition took away their
property without due process of law as
required by the Constitution. BY pro-
hibition all their buildings and materials.
for making beer became Of no use. But
the Supreme Court decides that it is en-
tirely within the police powers of any
State to prevent such use of property as
will interfere with the rights of others.
And by a recent decision of our Supreme
Court, in the case of Gierch, it was de-
cided that beer and wine are spirituous
Hence, wherever local option
prevails in this State, these intoxicants
cannot be sold.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE