The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-10-06

prOprlatlng their sap. The frulG grower
should follow in the same line, picking
off all but the best where two or more
apples grow in a cluster. What are
left will be worth more than the whole
would be if allowed to grow.
PHOTOGRAPHED APPLE TREES.
The preference of nurserymen for
root grated apple trees comes from
the fact that by taking very small
pieces of roots they a multiply stocks
of new varieties much o rapidly
than they can by top grating where
a young tree, however large, makes
when grated only a single stock. Root
grating is also largely done in winter
or at other times when outdoor work
is impossible. The young natural seed
ling makes at first usually a larger
growth the first year OrtwO. Here the
advantages of top grating end. The
rOOt-grafted tree, from the fact that it's
roots are more compact, bears trans
planting better, and in a few years the
| variety is on roots of It's own, so as to
insure a symmetrical growth of the
tree above ground. Old top-grafted
trees usually show where the union
was made by larger growth either
above or below it, and if the top is less
| vigorous the trunk below is filled with
suckers produced by sap for which
there is no other outlet.
DRIPPINGs FROM CORN LEAVES.
Look closely at the growing corn,
and you will find most valuable hints
about cultivation, and where most of
the feeding roots lie. When only a
| few inches high it's leaves bend out
ward each way from the hill. A light
rain falls and the pointed leaves carry
the water down to their points and
drop it on the thirsty soil. Just under
this dripping you will find thousands
of little white threads that come from
the roots, and with mouths Upturned
| to catch the moisture as it filters
through the soil. By the time the
leaves bend over to the middle of the
rows fine roots will have penetrated
every portion Of the soil between the
hills. There will be comparatively
few feeding roots in midsummer with
in a few inches of the hill, as very little
of the water that falls on a growing
field of corn mOistens the hill that issO
often made around the stalk to make a
mellow feeding placefOr the corn roots.
SELLING PART OF THE FARM.
There should be no superstition
against selling land if the owner has
more than he can prOtitably cultivate.
In such case this is often the wi6est
thing to co. 1t is far wiser than run
ming in debt to buy O land, which
has ruined more American farmers
than any one cause in the long cate
CORY of farmers mistakes. 1t makes
much difference also who you sell to.
There is little advantage in selling to a
neighbOr who already has more land
than he "a manage, and will probably
lose both farms if he tries to grasp too
much. In such case your farm is likely
to be badly managed and rapidly de
te~riOrates in value. Sell if possible to
some young, enterprising but landless
farmer who proposes to settle down and
make a home. Such a one will not
| often fail, and though you may never
have the chance to buy back the acres
you now part with, you need not regret
it, as everything done to improve the
land YOU part with will make what
YOU keep more valuable. Cutting up
farms, increasing the population and
compelling an intensive style Of cult
walton increases the value of land in
any country community faster than
any other policy can.
Low PRICE OF COTTON.
The price of cotton is now lower than
it has been for many years, and it is
said that not for fOrty-fOur years has
it touched lower than present figures.
The incoming crop is estimated at up
wards Of 5000, coo bales, or a full mil
lion larger than the large crop a year
ago. The South will get a good deal
of money from such a crop even at low
figures, and probably planters can
make both ends meet quite as well as
Northern farmers could with wheat
and corn at the prices that prevailed
two or three years ago. But the high
price of grain and provisions this year,
| combined with the low price of cotton,
will lead to more diversified industry
in the South. Next year that section
may not grow so much cotton as it has
this, but it will grow more corn and
pork, and thus be really more self-sus-
tanning than ever. Cotton for two or
three years past has paid better profit
than any other farm product North or
| South grown in large amounts, 1t has
made the Southern farmers more pros
porous than the majority of those in
| the North. Now there will be a change,
and the balance of greatest prosperity
will again incline to the Northern
farmer,
OATMEAL O REFRESHING Rim
During the severe labors of the hay
and harvest field it used to be a com
mon practice to serve liquid stimulants
to men hard at work. These probably
did less harm then than they would
at other times, as the stimulation was
generally worked off in muscular
force without much effect on the brain.
Cold water, though good as a beverage,
is alone not enough for men at severe
labor. Milk and water is somewhat
better, but does not agree with all
stOmachs, as milk is difficult to digest.
One of the best harvest field drinks is
made hv nnttinp a small n~nantitu of