The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-02-17
SIDE NOTES FROM A GEoLOGI.
CAL EXPLORATIoNDOWN
THE TAR RIVER,
Use of Mari and Lime in Eastern North
Carolina--Sweet Potatoes as
a Substitute for Corn.

Mr.. EDITOR During a recent geologj-
cal exploration down the Tar river I had
occasion to examine into many of the
agricultural features of the region, and a
few notes as to some Of these may be of
interest to your readers. I travelled
down the river from Rocky Mount to
Washington in a canoe, going ashore
every few miles in order to examine the
soils, mari beds and other agricultural
features. And during the trip / avsiled
myself of the pleasure and profit of ex-
aiming a few of the best known and
best cultivated farms in the State, such as
those of Capt. Turner Battle, near Rocky
Mount, and Of Col. Elias Carr, near Old
Sparta.
The former of these farms hes along the
north bank of the river about seven miles
below Rocky Mount It is a large farm
and has been long under cultivation. The
soil is a sandy loan. The general level
of the farm is about 20 feet above low
water in the river, the higher portion be-
ing nearest the river, where the fine old
residence stands, surrounded by large
oaks. A mile back from the mver the
land becomes sWampy.
I found that on this farm sweet pota-
.oes were used as a substitute for corn,
from August to January, in the feeding
of horses, mules, cattle and hogs. The
fields which produced but 10 to Is
bushels of corn would produce as easily
200 bushels of sweet potatoes. Capt.
Battle finds potatoes an excellent and safe
substitute for corn and would feed them
during the winter months also but for the
difficulty in keeping them from freezing
and decaying. The only precauti ons to
be observed are never to feed the partly
decayed potatoes; and it is wise to both
begin and stop off gradually in feeding
them, so as to avoid sudden changes in
the feed.
found number of farmers who are
beginning to use potatoes in this way, and
the practice seems to be one full of
promise for especially the sandy lands of
I'll coast plain region. On these lanGs
equally 50; but sweet potatoes can be
easily raised at the rate of 200 bushels per
acre, and with a little extra trouble I have
no doubt but that they can be kept, gen
orally, for winter feeding.
Col Cars Observation-Disclosures
the river on the south side, a couple of
miles below Old Sparta His low land,
with mostly a sandy and gravelly sell and
with an elevation of Is to 20 feet above
low water extendfrom the river bank back
for a mile, and more in places, when the
surface rises abruptly onto a level plateau
region which has an elevation of about
IS fest above the river, and As feet above
the town of Tarboro. 1t is on this ele-
waited plateau that the better part of Col.
Cars farm lies surrounding a grove of
fine oaks, which, in turn, surround his
handsome residence. 1t is often the case
that a public spirited man, in his atten
ton to public matters, neglects his own.
But such is not the case at Brac bridge.
Here one finds the improvements of mod
ern~ progressive agriculture in the way of
houses, sheds, siloe and farm implements,
and everything is kept is good shape, as
would be expected by those who know
of the push and energy and business like
way of the manag4 r of this farm, now
President of the State Alliance. | wish
every young farmer in the State could visit
this place and catch the inspiration OF
successful management on a farm.
I found mari all the way dowt the val
ley of Tar river, between Rocky Mount
and Washington-more abundant than on
other rive s in the State For half a cen
fury this mari has been used in varying
quantities and with varying success on
adjacent farms. At the present time,
however, it is but Ii tile used except on
the peanut crop, and ever for this lime is
rapidly taking its place. Fifty years ago
when lime was worth So to $12 a ton,
through the advice Of Edmund Ruffn, Of
Virginia, mari came into general use. But
nowadays, in view of the cost of dig.
ging nc distributing the mari, and the
worthless material (ssnC, clay and water
frequently making up more than half its
weight; and the ~cheapness ($2 so to So
per tom of lime, and greater ease will
which it is handled, the latter is coming
into more general use. So that the oyster
shell lime is now a substitute for mari. Il
is now burned in kilns at Washington
though many farmers purchase the shells
and burn them into lime in a log-heap on
their own farms. j. A. HOLMES,
University of North Carolina.