davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
THE FARMERS CONVENTION.

The Farmers Convention, held at
Greensboro last week to consider mat.
ters for their good, was largely at.
tended, and that too by the represen.
tative men of North Carolina. 1t was
different in many respects from other
a~ssemblages, in that it was represented
more by the gray heads and those who
were sober in thought, wise in council.
1t was by no ear a political body,
and it's proceedings are worthy of
weight. Gen. Barringer, a man of
good and sound Judgment, was
one of its foremost men. He submit
ted a report on Industrial Education,
which was adopted. Resolutions were
adopted protesting against the State
Agricultural Department bearing the
exclusive expense of the immigration
Agency. They desire also a modiica-
ton Of the homestead law, so that the
lien and mortgage system may be done
away with, and thus restore the debtor
class to "the only just and equitable
basis of credit-honesty, integrity and
industry" They do not intend to
seek relief except through the two
parties now existing. The Conven-
ton has thus given out what they de-
sire, and their reports and resolutions
will doubtless find a hearty response.
The evils they now labor under may
be hard to remove, but the effort they
make is a worthy one.-FayettevtM
Observer
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
THE CREDIT SYSTEM A c,,pc.

The credit system is the curse If +ho
age, and is the mother of usury, theft
arson, insanity, Lying, murder and
lewdness. 1t blinds the people to the
true character and use of money. II
we could get rid of the credit system
through a necessary supply of circn.
lating money, it would soon be sean
that the proper functions of money is
to exchange wealth, and not to ICON.
troll wages" and that the amount Of
money should be governed by the
amount of wealth to be exchanged. Il
would not be difficult to ascertain
what per cent. of our wealth chance
hands annually, and then it would He
easy to e that we would need a vol.
ume of money equal to our present
volume and all the credits used in orr
business transactions beside. 1t wouId
then be seen that the real governor Of
values is the ratio Of the money vol.
ume to the wealth of the people, and
not the deified unit the hard money
fools worship.
The people would soon see how
deeply they have been wronged by the
system of contraction that is so ponn.
lar, and at the same time so myster;.
Gus, in the so-called upper circles.
The people would then see the follv
of depending on the yield of the
mines to furnish an instrument for
their exchanges; and the mysterious
veil that hangs about the money priest
would then be rent in twain from ton
to bottom.-Cub, IN Ark. Dispatch.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
NEW DISCOVERY.

A large deposit of peculiar stone
has been discovered at the base OF
Bear Mountain, half a mile from Tay-
louisville, that is likely to bring wealth
to the good old county Of Alexander
The stone is very soft when first taken
from the quarry and polishes easily
and beautifully. After exposure to
the weather it becomes very hard.
Recently, Mr.. Linney, a prominent
lawyer of Taylorsville was walking
over his farm after a hard wind.
Where a large pine tree had blown
down and torn up the soil to some
depth, he found a peculiar looking
stone which he found soft, similar to
firm clay or putty. He found that
it would polish easily. Some days
after this he found, to his a%stonlsh-
ment, that the soft substance had be-
come hard as flint. The rocks varle-
gated. Mr.. Linney has several hands
at work getting out this stone for a
residence 60x30, which he says VIII
cost much less than brick or WOOD
The people of Taylorsville are hoping
for great things from this new dis
covery.-PiHsboro Home.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
LEVEL FARMINE~

A farmer called our attention to the
highly enlightened system of farming
employed in one portion of Edge
combe. This was to have the land,
according to the CONFORMATION of the
surface, divided off into sections as
neal level as possible and convenient
to make it. Of course attention is
first paid to drainage by hill bitches
and burrows, then between these
drains the guide row is run-it mat
ters not how crooked it may be and
the others should be run by it. If
necessary let them run around hills,
go serpentinely, but the level should
be always preserved. It can readily
be seen that by this method the land
will retain all the manure that is pla-
ced on it. The farmer said that it
was noticeable how vastly beatter the
crops were on land cultivated in this
way than by the old method where all
this was neglected. He thought this
method must give place to all others,
if we would get the best results from
our lands.-Idrboro Southermer.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
CORN-MAIZE.

A writer i'm the February number
of the Maryland Farmer has this to say
on the subject of raising Indian corn:
Considering the great variety of
uses-to man and beast-to which
our Indian corn can be applied, to-
gether with the ease with which it can
be grown and the rich yield which it
affords, it is a most interesting and
one of the most important crops which
the farmer can produce. 1t is of the
first importance that he should under:
stand and practice the best mode of
growing it.
The first point to be attended to is
procuring or securing good, sound
seed, of the best varieties known to
the farmers.
Of course it is now too late to Sc
cure from his own crop the best seed
for the coming summers planting, but
the best and soundest that a be had
should be used. The trne way to Sc
cure most prolific and early seed, is to
90 into the field, about the time the
corn is ripe; select the earliest stalks
and those that have two or more
good-sized ears to the stalk; thus, the
most prolific and early seed will be Sc
cured; pick off these ears, with husks
On, wreathe them up in punches of
three or four, hang up in a dry place,
free from attack by rates, frost Or
dampness, till the time for planting.
Then shell and soak the seed one
night in salt brine-roll in lime or plas-
ter to dry it for planting, when it
should be covered n to two inches
deep. This soaking in brine will cause
it to terminate and come up two to
four days sooner than if planted dry,
besides causing it to grow more vigor-
ously, free from destruction by worms
and other insects. Some farmers pre-
fer soaking in coperas water or coal
tar waterfall of which are good-but
my experience has been most success
full with salt brine, and rolling in lime,
in many trials. And then I have had
best results from deep, fine blowing.
With deep pulverization there will be
less damage from drought as moisture
will more freely rise from below in a
dry time, while also the roots of the
grain a run deeper for moisture and
sustenance. The really best prepare
ton is deep, sub-soil blowing in the
late fall, and then liberal, heavy har-
rowing in the spring before planting.
Then the oftener the ground is cult
waited or worked, the less the crop will
suffer from drought and the stouter it
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
T

Some Of the problems of life may be
easily answered, if we can content our
selves with a practical solution. Facts
may be less satisfactory, on the sur
face, than spread-eagle oratory, but
they will sometimes persist in thrust
ing themselves forward.
"Why haven't [ a six-hundred-acre
farm as well as that man riding by in
his carriage ?" yelled a red nosed an
archist orator, as he glared at the
crowd.
because he saved six hundred dol
lars, and bought his farm when it cost
him one dollar IN acre, and you
poured your six hundred dollars down
your throat" responded a man on the
back seat, and the orator asked no
more conundrums.-CA Chicago Tribune.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
give the dog the advantage Of the be-
ING that God has made i'm his oaUn image,

give the dog the advantage of the be-
ing that God has made in his oaOn image,
and that in self-defence? for when
a man defends his means of support
for his family, he is defending their
lives. If a mans horse, COW or any
thing else trouble us, the law will pro-
tect US, but if good-for nothing suck
egg dog troubles US, the law protects
the dog, and the much-oppressed
farmer is helpless when called upon to
produce his hard earnings or to be
conducted to the workhouse, away
from his family and neglected farm:
to pay the cost and fine of Kidding
himself of this nuisance.
Now if the dog is not too sacred a
creature to be mentioned in your
paper, l would like to receive some
information through it's columns on
this subject: Why the dog has more
protection by the laws of our country
than any other living creature.
Very respectfully,
MRS. F. S. HOGAN.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL
CLEANLINESS.

Very many people do not keep the
skin active and healthy as they ought;
the fear of catching cold leads them
to neglect to maintain perfect cleanli-
ness of the body, and as the functions
of the skin r impaired, the work of
throwing out waste material, which
rightfully belongs to it, falls upon the
internal organs. They will bear the
imposition for a time, and will labor
to do the work forced upon them, but,
sooner or later, they become weakened
by the strain, and then the waste of
the system accumulatss within the
body and assists in depressing the
vital forces. Thus, by neglect to keep
the skin in a healthy state, many a
person becomes dull and sluggish and
disinclined to mental or bodily effort;
all the organs concerned in life share
in the disturbance, and become indo-
lent and torpid. The need to main
tain perfect cleanliness of the body is,
if possible, greater in winter than in
summer, a fact which but few appre-
ciate; and to the neglect of this essen
tial may be attributed much of the
sickness prevailing in the cold weather,
which really ought to be the healthiest
of the year.-Bostom Journal of Health.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
MONOPOLIES AND TRUSTS

Business divided among the many,
creating a degree of brisk, sharp COM
petition, remarks the New York
Herald, results in popular contentment
and prosperity. The larger the num-
Der who do business on their own
hook, the better the interests of the
community are served.
On the other hand, the mor bust
ness is concentrated in the hands Of
the few, the worse off we all are. That
is plain to every one, and needs no
argument.
When small dealers in beef, NUT
ton, nails, lead, copper, paper bags or
what not are driven to the wall, that
is, into bankruptcy, by pooled capital,
which aims to control the market and
pocket all the profits itself, that mo-
ment the character of our society be-
gins to decline. A democracy, which
means all avenues of trade wide open,
gives way to an aristocracy, which
means enormous fortunes for a score
and no chance whatever for the tens
of thousands. That gives us a mon
archial twist at once, and it is mighty
poor satisfaction to be told: otis
English, you know"
It is that very condition of affairs
which has given birth to socialism
and nihilism in Europe, and if we
wish to choke off the result, we must
begin by taking the III by the
throat. We want NO high-handed
monopolies in this country, for they
are a menace to the democratic quail
ity of our institutions, and it is, there
fore, full time for the people to Crap
pie with this problem and devise
means of relief.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16

We are pleased with Mr.. Colmans
suggestion, that the seed division Oh
the Agricultural Department OF the
General Government be abolished anu
this work be turned over to the eA-
perimental stations subsidized by inc
government. We are not pleased tha'
he should oppose the making OF Inc
head of the Agricultural Department
a Cabinet officer. The objection ne
makes that it would intensity Its Po,
litical character is not valid. Inc
degree Of political consideration en-
tering into this department would ue,
pend, even as at present, upon 'no
character of the man at the head
Star.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
For THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
RALEIGH, N. c., Feb. 6, '88.

NALE1Gh, ~. ", EeO. o, 90.
Being a farmers wife, I am not in
the habit of writing for the public
prints, though in this instance I regard
it in self-defence, a necessity. I have
been reading in your most excellent
paper, The PROGRESSIVE FARMER, a
great deal concerning poultry raising,
and which 1 heartily endorse, and as
lam very fond of it, have been trying
to make some progress in the business
myself for the last two years, and as l
have had no disease among my fowls,
/ have all reason to believe that 1
would have succeeded but for trouble
some dogs, which break up the nests
and destroy the eggs at such a rate as
to make the business almost a failure.
Our premises, it seems, is a meeting
place for the dogs of our neighbor-
hood. We do not think enough of
dogs to have one of our own, and would
like to be protected from others, hav-
ing already been tried in the last court
at Raleigh for killing a worthless dog
that had troubled us for two years,
doing considerable damage, and not
before using every reasonable means
to keep it away. So you see, besides
the damage the dog inflicted, the only
mean by which we could get clear of
him cost us the worth of nearly five
bags of cotton at nine cents per pound,
besides the time lost attending court
and a strict charge from the Judge
to kill n 10 more dogs; that a dog had
a right to go where it pleased. In
the times of inspired writer's, dogs
were numbered first with sorcerers,
who're mongers, murderers, idolaters
and whatsoever loveth and maketh a
lie. But at this age, when everything
is said, written and done to encour-
age agriculture that a be, not to
mention dogs, the dog is num-
6ered with the angels Of
Heaven. How much milder could
II De put when the laws of our country
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16

pepper, ground ginger, saffron, chloride
of potash, salt and powdered rhubarb'
mix them well; after thoroughly mix.
ing add three tablespoonful OF
hyposulphate of soda, and mix TO-
gether well. incorporate this with
one ounce of assafoetida, working 1t
together until the whole is completely
mixed, occasionally softening it, when
ever necessary, with castor oil. This
a be made into pills and given to
the sick fowls two or three times per
day, two at the time until well, which
will be from two to three day from
the time the pills are given.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
GOVERNMENT TAxEs-RoADs.

It Is often said, in a kind of super
fetal way that farmers bear the bur-
den of all the taxes. This is not that
they are as individuals o~vertaxed; but
because of their numbers and from
the fact that all their property is Wis
ible, and also that their tools, nipple
ments and machinery are all costly
with the great additions made to that
cost by the government monopoly
given to manufacturers.
The government has hundreds of
millions of dollars, received directly
and indirectly from its citizens as
taxes, laying idly in the vaults of the
treasury. This is so much money
taken from the people and not allowed
for legitimate purposes of traffic and
for those pursuits which distribute
money among the masses to their
comfort and prosperity. The Presi-
dent has recognized this fact in his
message to the present Congress and
suggested notifications to prevent a
further plethora of the treasury and
further robbing of the people.
1t seems to us that a few of these
millions of burdensome taxes might
profitably be returned to circulation
by the prosecution of such public
works as would benefit the country,
and diffuse as widely as possible
among the masses the money which
has been gathered from them.
In no particular is the contrast
greater between the United States
and Europe than in our public roads.
We believe that Congress might very
proftably expend a few hundred mil
lions in ~perfecting a system of roads
of the very best character throughout
the length and breadth of our land.
All the material needed for perfecting
such roads, as would be monuments
of wisdom to the coming generations,
are within our borders, and a series
of great highways thus opened would
prove an incalculable blessing to all
future inhabitants of our country.
Farmers and farms need good roads,
and superfuous taxes spent for this
purpose would reach the very parties
who have thus far contributed them
to the overlooking treasury.
Other interests may doubtless be
mentioned where money may be spent
to great advantage; but we believe no
other could be devised where the ex-
penditure would reach so many who
have actually contributed it to the
government, and where the amount
of permanent good would result that
would from these systematically built
highways.
No difficulties can be in the way of
appropriations for this purpose, even
though accompanied by the strietest
rules of expenditure and methods of
building the roads. No one thing
needs more to be methodised and
placed on . permanent basis. The
farmers of the country will heartily
endorse this method of getting rid of
the present treasury burdens.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
An Egg Train.

We see from the Fancser Review,
published in New York, that a special
egg trainof twenty four cars passed
over the Grand Trunk Railroad for
New York via the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railway. These
trains we're guaranteed to make the
run from Hamilton to New York in
twenty-eight hours. The shipment
was a single consignment from Strath-
roy, Canada, and the total number of
eggs in the consignment was over
3l,OO0,0 900 or more than 2,5S3,333
dozen.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16
POULTRY

eve are pleased to announce to the readers of
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER that we have been 90
fortunate as to secure the efficient services of Mr.. r.
II. Weathers as Editor of this Department. He is
one of the best informed men on this subject in the
South. He desires that all communications and
questions designed for his Department be addressed
"Poultry Column, PROGRESSIVE FARMER, Raleigh,
N. c." He will most cheerfully answer all ques-
Write him. -EDfroR PROGRESSIVE FARMER.)
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18

an An October morning How do you keep your
brasscs in such beautiful condition IT. must Keep 1p
one person busy oil the time,' said Keeps thu ne
foIsskecpcr passing through tho hall at sns :.
moment, and She hailed her How long shc" 'n1 he
brasses were polished, Mrs. --f' said she Inc
housckecper stopped moment and thought, sne Is
q conservative woman, and wished 10 oe aco"'"''
9 Inst Two wears ard a half ago. was the reply.
Then II was explained to me that every pollsnaoo (,
article that came Into tho house was at once sem CIV
After that they required no polishing, only dus
the same as any other pioce OF brc-a-brac thougnu
NJ tho weary hours my maid had spent In rubbing up
my brass and copper pieces and still they never oonea
bright moro than day or two got INC ora ,
founders address and made up bag OF brass canuIe
sticks plated candelabra coasters, copper tea
coffee pots and the like, that looked very much Ike
collection of booty from pawn-shop and sent II on
to that brass founder just As fast as messenger co"
IL
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
TELEGRAPHING FOR COFFINS.

WILD TALE TOLD BY REFORMED COWBOY
Charlie Netcalf is a cowboy who has reformed MS
habits and settled in New-York. 1t is only the
reputation OF recttude that he has built up Tor MN
self by the exercise Of diligence and the pracuce Oh
morality which allows him to tell this story anu se'
live:
"some years ago. whls at my cousins place
In the West his mother-in-law died. She had been
a thorough and able mother-inaw to him; but had, IL
generally conceded, attempted too much IN tniS
direction when she sought to be motherih-ia"
large all the mon around. 30 the tears shed ior
her death were limited by the relief that always
attends the cessation Of pernicous activity.
"Corrses were 50 scarce at that time In our neigh
borhood that no undertaken could exist In 1t. So my
cousin sent to the telegraph staton-nine or ten
miles away-to wire to the nearest city for CONN.,
He gave me all tho measurements-and his mother-in-
law had been a woman Of uncommon dmensohs-
and set out confident that neat tit In the article
desired would answer my message But as sooh
/ struck tho village I some Of the boys knew'
and told them what had happened So they TOOK
me up to the saloon and soothed my sorrows with
some spiritual consolation. Then We all went OUT
together, and telegraphed for a coffin. That made
us thirsty and we got the telegraph operator to
Join and went back to the saloon ana Drank 10
the memory Of the virtues OF the deceased MOI
wishing to have any doubt about the CONN business
we went and telegraphed again. Then we sought
the saloon again ana uiduh W tno t"'o
laws innocuous desuetude. We had four or i've
rounds on that and this inspired with such zeal
for the decent burial of my cousins relative by mar
rIage that 1 telegraphed for coffin once more All
the boys went with me- Of course, to see that ala
t correctly. That meant drinks and the drinks
manifested their effect In new impulse OF zeal ana
a new telegram We Oscillated between the saloon
and the telegraph station till of knew whose
coffin we telegraphlng for, or remembered what
was the matter with my cousins mother1n- law
Next morning my cousin drove down TO the village
to look for me. and found about twenty-five cohns
waiting for him. Several undertakers were with
them and some reporters and doctors, who wanted
10 Investigate the epidemic.
The collins of all sorts and sizes, and none
OF them fitted my cousins motherin-law. So he got
fellow who could carpenter a little to put rough
wooden box together, and the old lady had to De
buried in that IT. hot weather and she couldnt
wait until proper coffin was sent for. Besides, my
cousin thought he had invested as much money IN
did with the collection. He Stored them up in an
clubhouse and talked Of using them for winter fuel
But long before winter left those parts abruptly and
came 10 Eew-York.n