The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-09-29
SOME PLAIN QUESTIONS.

SOME PLAIN QOES IONS.
Especial Correspondence Home and Farm
Do you know that the farmers of
North Carolina have spent three mil
lions of dollars this season for COM
mercialfertilizers?
Do you think that the increase in the
crops of cotton and tobacco will pay
the bill?
Do you think that the value of the
land in the State has been improved a
dollar by this enormous outlay?
Did you ever know a farmer to grow
rich by raising crops for sale, by means
of fertilizers?
Don't you suppose thai more than
three millions of dollars worth Of home
has been wasted this year that
might have been saved?
Don't you know that, in this summer
of drenching rains more fertility has
been washed away from lands in clean
culture in cotton than has been added
in fertilizers bought?
Don't you know that that field you
are resting" by allowing it to grow
up in weeds, is ripening seed and max
ing ~nut-grass roots to bother you next
year?
Don'tyou know that if you had sown
that field in peas you would 10Y have
a big crop of peavine hay to feed to
stock, and make manure?
Don't you know that the field would
be better crested" after giving YOU
this crop, cleaner Of weeds and in bet
ter filth for q crop?
Don't you know hat on this pea
stubble you could now SOW crimson
clover seed that would give you good
winter ~pasturage and a crop to turn
under in the spring hat would make
more cotton or tobacco than five times
it's cost in commercial fertilizers?
Did you ever hear Of a crop of pea
vine hay OF clover hay getting a man
in debt to a commission merchant?
Don't you know that somebody,
somewhere, is making money by rails
ing the pork you send your cotton
money to Chicago for?
Don't you know that somebody,
somewhere, is making money on the
OleOmargarine you buy and eat for but
ter, out of this same cotton crop?
Don't you know that peavine hay or
ensilage in winter would enable you to
make real butter for yourself and to
sell?
Don't you know that somebody,
somewhere, makes money by raising
the wheat for the flour you pay for out
Of your cotton crop?
Don't you know that, right here in
North Carolina, wheat on a p~ea-fallOw,
has made over twenty-five bushels per
acre, for the past three years in success
sion, on the same land, without any
bought fertilizers?
Don't you know that you raise all
these things you are buying, and make
a profit in doing it, and yet raise more
cotton on acre than you car raise
on three?
Don't you know that an intelligent
system of cultivation, and a different
mode Of using commercial fertilizers
would make your farm rich?
Do you suppose that if your farm
was rich you would be any poorer?
Don't you know that, as a rule, fer
tilizer makers get rich?
Don't you know that, under the pres
ent system of cultivation, farmers don't
get rich in using these mixtures?
If you know these things, why do
you continue in the old ruts which
bring wealth to other people and pow
erty to you?
Is it any matter of rejoicing to you
that cattle and hogs are advancing in
price and wheat is on a boom, while
cotton is low, and you have all the rest
to buy?
Did you ever know any one to make
abig pileOf manure without any cattle?
Did you ever know any one to make
anything with cattle without plenty to
feed them with?
Did you ever hear of a COW well-fed
and sheltered in winter dying of "hol-
low horn" in the spring?
Did you ever know Of a good fed and
comfortable shelter making COWS give
less milk in winter?
Did you ever know of a scrub bull
improving a herd Of cattle?
Did you ever know a herd where
only a thoroughbred bull was kept
that did not improve in value?
Did you ever know of q lawyer or a
doctor making a success, who did not
read what other men have found out
and written about his business, and
who did not give his whole time and
energy to his profession?
Did you eve know a farmer who
gave as earnest and constant attention
to his business as a successful doctor
goes who kept himself posted on all
"haC other men in the same line r do