The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-19

iho0io1 was unanimously duOpleu.
S. B. Alexander, Chairman of the
committee on Public roads, submitted
a verbal report on the subject, which
vas full Of we'll digested and progress
i've thought. The subject was so broad,
and SO important that the committee
found it impracticable to submit a
written report in the time allotted
them, and hence had asked that the
Association accept a verbal report.
The subject was ably discussed by S.
B. Alexander. President Crowell Of
Trinity, Gen. R. Barringer and others.
DR.. A. B. Mobiles, Chairman of the
committee On Homemade manures and
Composing, reported as follows:
Your committee, to whom was referred
the consideration of this subject, beg leave
to report:-That the subject IS too great
and too far-reaching to be treated satisfac-
tlously III a report of this character. and
especially in view Of the great scope of
climate, soils and crops to be found in u
State. Just here at the very threshold of
this subject, we are impressed with the
absolute necessity of a higher grade of in
telligence among our farmers of a higher
and broader education among our farmers
that they may understand better the prin-
cipleS of fertilization of SOILS the neces-
sary elements of plant-food, the deficiency
IN soils and the requirements of the vari-
Gus plants. The figures showing our an
nual loss by the neglect and ~mismanage-
ment Of our home manures, would be
startling. In the eastern section of our
State the mari and phosphate beds are of
immense value. In the central and west
ern portions, we must depend largely on
stock and to do this we must cultivate
more extensively clover and the grasses.
Nothing on the farm y better than
composing, if properly done. A good
compost may be made as follows:
600 pounds stable manure
600 pounds cotton seed
1000 pounds phosphate mari. In the
absence of the phosphate mari use acid
phosphate 800 pounds containing 81 per
cent phosphoric acid.
500 pounds COW lot manure.
100 pounds kainite. This to one acre
to be used under cotton or corn.
We cannot recommend the hauling of
100 cart loads of poor dirt to the acre, as
is the practice of some, but we do insist
that every farmer should make all the
manure he can at home.
We cannot recommend an indiscrimi-
nate use of commercial fertilizers. These
have cost our farmers vast sums of money,
and in many cases have been the cause OF
the farmers failures financially. We
need to be thoroughly informed before we
can use them to much profit. We are
thoroughly impressed that our farmers
must be educated for this profession.
On motion, the report was adopted.
Thad. Ivey, chairman of the COM
mittee on the State Department of
Agriculture, reported as follows:
The committee on State Department
of Agriculture, appointed by this Asso-
citation, beg leave to report that the De-
partment of Agriculture was established
for the benefit of farmers, and we believe
that to some extent the agricultural in
terests have been benefited. BY the
analyses of fertilizers, phosphates, marls,
etc, farmers are not only protected from
ignorantly paying for worthless fertili-
zers, but the natural resources of the
State are being developed and farmers
are availing themselves of the wonder
full manurial deposits which lie at their
doors. We recommend as a further pro-
lection that cotton seed meal, kainlt,
marls and all substances placed upon the
market as fertilizers be subjected to the
same law as regulates the analysis of
commercial fertilizers.
We further recommend that, as soon as
practicable, some action be taken to de-
tect and expose all adulterated articles of
food, and that such investigation as may
be deemed necessary be required of this
department, and that only such appro-
priation as will be necessary for the eff
cient prosecution of the duties of this de-
partment be asked for.
We also recommend that the expert
ment farm be transferred to the Agricul-
tural College.
T.. IvEY, Chm'n.
S. B. Alexander, Gen. Barringer
and T. Ivey submitted remarks on the
the report.
DIR. II. Battle submitted an address
on the work and value of experiments
in connection with the subject, and
the report, on motion, was adopted.
I'll. E. Norris, for the committee On
immigration, submitted the following
roDOrt