davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Salt as q Fertilizer.

The value of salt as q fertilizer for GER
tain crops must be limited by the nature of
the soil, and lack of attention to this fact
has been the means Of bringing considera-
BILE discredit upon the mineral as a fertili-
ger. A liberal supply of salt will kill any
vegetation. but. like many other destruct-
i've minerals small quantity, rightly ap-
piled. stimulates and improves vegetable
growth. On soils that are lacking 10 salt
300 pounds TO the acre is most liberal sup
ply, aad $50 pounds to the acre has proved
quite destructive to all plant growth. Some
soils naturally contain more or less of salt,
and 300 pounds to the acre of such soil
might be the means of causing untold in
jury to the plants.
Salt has not yet taken any permanent
place among manurial agents, for its appli-
cation on some soils produces great results,
while on Others it seems to have no good &C
ton at all. The true value of salt must be
understood before it can be intelligently
used. Salt does not enter into the plant life
or growth, and plants may be grown sue
cessfuly on soils where this mineral is en-
tirely absent. But the true benefit of
the salt comes from the fact that
it acts directly upon the vegetable matter in
the soil, and makes it available for the
planlo W oUhOED. many SOILS can
thus be greatly benefited by salt applica-
tions especially where heavy barn yard
manure has been applied annually, or thick
quantities OF vegetation plowed under for
fertilizers. On such soils continual appli-
cations OF manure, superphosphate and nj
trate OF soda stimulate the plants, but they
do not prepare the plant food in the soil for
ready use. The salt, however, acts in a diff
ferent way, and on soils of this nature its
results have been so marked that it has been
unhesitatingly praised as the best fertilizer
that could be used. The mistake was not
realized until successive uses of the salt de-
veloped all the plant food in the soil, and
its effects was steadily decreased.
The application of the salt may be made
in the winter or spring. but If made in the
spring it is probably more beneficial. When
spread over the land in winter the plant
food may be made available before needed
by the crops. and winter rains would wash
it away. When applied early in the spring
the seeds take advantage of the chemical
change, and thrive rapidly.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
The Aielilotus.

The following embraces the remarks Of
Mr.. Dantzler. referred to by Gen. Lee:
'DEAR SIR-Yours relative to Melilotus
to hand. In reply would state that have
had five years experience with it. Il
should be planted in February, but will do
as late as April 10. There should be three
.fourths bushel of seed sown per acre to Sc
cure q thick stand, but one-half bushel does
very WE'LL The land should be broken up
broadcast and narrowed well before sowing.
The plant seeds the second year, then the
roots debut not until it goes TO seed. 1t
has but one superior as hay crop, which is
our Lespedeza and it should be cut for hay
when it is about fifteen inches high, after
that time it is too woody for good hay ]
have moved it three times in one year, but
generally twice.
Il find it TO be a better fertilizer than
either peas or red clover. ] appreciate red
clover very highly, but have abandoned IL
entirely since l found the advantages Meli-
lotus had over 1t, both as a fertilizer aud
hay crop. l had a cut Of poor land which
would not produce more than ten bushels of
corn per acre. l sowed IL down in Melilorus.
then put corn back in it after running ID
In Melilotus two years, and gathered
tweny-eight bushels per acres. Cotton land
whicn made 600 pounds cotton to the acre,
makes now LOO pounds after two years in
Melilotus. / find 1t stands the drought and
cold better than any other clover. IL Is adapt
ed to our black aud wornout white lands. ]
don't think it Will prove a success on our red
post oak land, although have not given IL
fair trial. Any information can give you
about this grand plant write me and will
cheerfully respond. z. &. DANTzLER"
We shall have more to say concerning
this valuable soil improver and forage pro-
ducer, and in February will make free
distribution of small quantity of seed tc
those who desire to make an experiment
with it.
1t Is certainly worthy of q trial,
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20

in his affairs that will surely bring him TO
the consciousness that farming does not,
cannot. consist in growing only corn and
cotton. Now or never he will be led into
seeing there are other things he must grow
besides cotton and corn IL he Is 20 get any
satisfaction out Of his ia ming.
Even admitting that the foundation Of
southern farming will continue many
years to be for the mass OF the people what
ii has been for a century or more-viz. /:
cotton and corn, the "superstructure" can
be made TO show a very great diversity Of
products in the way Of ''side crops,n a score
or more Of which may be named as follows:
Oats. rye. wheat, barley, sugar cane, to-
bacco, nut trees, sweet potatoes, water
melons. ground peas, poultry, eggs, grapes.
Strawberries, peaches. apples. pears. milk and
butter, beef, hogs, hay, field peas. onions,
Irish potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, honey
and, finally, good pastures-of course,
without which stock raising need not be at
tempted. Without diversified farming
there can be no hope Of a prosperouscondi-
tion for the mass Of southern farmers-the
majority Of whom are either one or two
horse farmers that must either "live at
home" or have a very poor living, and q
very uncertain one at that.
The small farmer that risks bis all on
simply cotton and corn is not likely to in-
prove his condition very much from year TO
year,
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Side Crnns

To certain extent the southern farmer
may just now be represented by an interro-
CATION point ~, which stands for the ques-
ton: What shall do to better my condi-
tionG What policy shall inaugurate that
will tend to mitigate If not undo the evil
consequences that have attended my attempt
to be a "planter" when should have been a
farmer-of trying to provide my family
with every needed thing by simply growing
cotton and corn. A farmer remarked to us
few days ago: 81 have followed this plan
year after year, and for some tune after be-
ing convinced that it was wrong, and it
proved to me the sowing of the wind the
harvest is a whirlwind of disappointment
and regret"
There are, doubtless, thousands of Georgia
farmers who are actually burdened with
the consciousness of golden opportunities
slighted-slighted oftentimes, too. without
sufficient cause.
len years ago experience had accumulated
all sufficient evidence that progress and
prosperity was not the probable sequence to
s'cotton and corn" growing-that is these
two crops half and half, and to the exclu-
sion Of everything else.
south had been able to determine quite &C
curately the cost OF producing both corn
and cotton, and it was shown that, taking
the years as they come, the selling price OF
either is rarely much above the cost of pro-
duction-at any rate, not enough so to make
1t constitute prosperous farming
Most of them, however, went on keeping
their eggs in the one basket-relying on
cotton and corn instead of prom pity
entering upon that diversified system that
was plainly indicated as imperative if they
would place their farming upon a safer
basis
There were various side crops that could
have been resorted TO that would in few
years have proved an additional source OF
Income when overproduction of cotton had
been reached, as it seemed inevitable few
years ago that it would. This has come tc
pass and, unfortunately, the majority Of
farmers still have no money-yieldine
meadows or pastures or orchards Of fruit OF
vineyards OF nut-bearing plantations: nc
STOCK OF any kind TO sell-nothing, in fact
put some cotton and a little corn perhaps
not much of the latter if they would dc
justice TO their own stock
Ane southern farmer has reached q crisi:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Rose Culture.

Tender roses, and all such as are pot
grown, should he planted in the spring or
summer in this or similar climate; the
hardy sorts, If dormant. can be planted
both in the fall and the spring. Ellwagner
& Barry say, "If the situation be not too
much exposed where the roses are to be set
out. We prefer fall planting for all hardy
kinds" Dormant plants set out in the
spring should be planted early, for no plant
suffers more from being set out late than
does the rose. The tea-scented, and Others
that are pot-grown, should not be planted
until all danger OF spring frosts are past.
There need be no hurry for these, since roses
that have been grown in pots are sent out
With the balls of earth, and the roots not be-
ing disturbed. or only TO slight extent the
plants go right on growing. The plants
should be put in friable, rich soil, and firmly
pressed 10 with the foot, or-if pot~grown
plants-with the hands, taking care not to
bruise the rOOts
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
THE MELILOTUS

ASS Forage Plant for the South.
Some months ago we gave description
Of the Melilotus, and advised Its planting
by our Georgia farmers.
In recent issue Of the Southern Stock
man and Fdr1ner Gen. S. D. Lee. presi-
dent of the Mississippi Agricultural College,
contributes the following comments on this
valuable plant. He says: "In reply 70
your recent note, as to my experience with
Melilotus as a forage and restorative crop,
take pleasure in inclosing a letter of
Fmmel Daatzler of Noxubee county, who
has charge of my planting interests in that
county. He is a gentleman Of large expert
encs. and in the six years he has been asso-
ciated with me, has not made q single fail
ure in crops.
He protested vigorously against plant
ing Melilotus, but now. after five years ex-
perience, he is a thorough convert, and is
gradually substituting it for red clover
both as hay and as a restorer Of fertility to
worn lands. The backbone Of my planta-
ton, which was about worn out, with this
crop (Melilotusl is now about the most pro-
ductive land on the place and is making
LOO pounds seed cotton to the acre, whereas
it only made 900 pounds three years ago,
aud thirty bushels of corn, whereas it only
made ten bushels three years ago. 1 con-
slider Melilotus 25 per cent. better in restor-
ing fertility than red clover. They have
been tried side by side for five years. My
mules and cattle prefer Meliotus as a hay TO
clover, and it does not slobbsr my mules. II
furnishes two aud sometimes three cuttings
the first years planting and one good cut
ting the second year, when it goes to seed.
The roots are larger than the roots of red
clover, and consequently when they rot the
second year, drains the land better. Nell
lotus stands drought better than red clover
and it grows on poor land, whereas it re-
quires pretty good land to insure a catch Of
red clover. Mr.. Dantzler has had from
fifty to 100 acres each OF Melilotus and red
clover for five years. He is now dropping
red clover and increasing acres in Melilotus,
as all the conditions for hay, restoring fer
tility, drainage and more certain crops are
on the side of Melilotus.
These facts are true to our prairie lands
and are vouched for only for these lime lands.
regard Melllotus as the 'godsend' for re-
storing fertility to our worn prairie lands,
and in laying the road for changing from
cotton to stock in our system Of farming.
cannot too earnestly urge our prairie land
owners to try it. Ny plan has been for five
years to keep one-third of my place in red
clover, Melilotus and Lespedeza. and change
crops so as to gradually get all my place il
grass every four or five years"
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
GettinR Out OF Rnts.

The farmers who are following in the old
ruts do not generally want to get out. 1t
involves effort to which trey are not &C
customed. In the rut they are not required
to think, and thinking is what they least
like. 1t usually requires more capital, and
this, also, is beyond their reach. The lack
of ready money is indeed the chief cause of
Door farming everywhere We never saw
a poor, shiftless farmer who did not know
better than he did. If be had more money
to do with he could make more money than
is now possible. But the old rut is followed
because it is easiest, and there is no change
until death removes those who have been
obstacles to an improved system of farm.
ing.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Cayuga Ducks.

The Cayuga is a noted breed of ducks,
says an exchange, yet 1t has failed to re-
ceive the recognition its qualities deserve
When it comes to a question of merit it is
indeed equal to any other variety. and when
in full plumage it is very handsome. 1t is
in nearly every respect the same as the
small variety Of Black East Indian, the ex-
ception being in point of size, for whereas
the East Indian is a very small duck the
Cayuga is large, ranging from seven to ten
pounds Ia weight, according to the sex and
the manner Of feeding. They are very
hard prolific layers, good feeders, and have
the very obvious recommendation Of being
"stay at-home" birds, mot having the predi-
lection for wandering away. which charac-
teTizes some of the other varieties The
plumage is a brilliant black throughout.
and in carriage shape and general appear
snce they are regarded as one of the hand
soonest races of the duck tribe. The
Cayuga duck is a good setter, but a sone-
what careless mother and therefore it is re-
garded as the better plan to use hens for
patching their eggs.
We can recommend this breed to all lovers
of ducks. being good fowl and worthy of
more attention than has been accorded to
them.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Farm Work for Winter.

1t was one advantage of the old-time sys-
tenn Of farm work that it made plenty for
the farmer to do in winter. If nothing else
there was at least always the clearing Of the
forest and its preparation for cultivation to
be done. 1t did not pay. much, hu: it in
creased the value Of the farm, and so indi-
rectly gave better wages than one farmer
In ten can now make. 1t is the do-nothing
policy in winter that is running thousands Of
farmers. They simply consume all that
they produce In summer. To get ahead I'M
der such plan OF operations is simply inn
possible. Every farmer should by feeding
stock or in some other way calculate to
earn something in the winter. II more
farmers did this, farming would be more
profitable than il is
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Christmas Day.
UNCLE SETH LoQUIrUR.

FROM the CHTtSEul0S century.
A good, old-fashioned Christ mas, with the logs
The table filled with feasters, an the room
a roar with mirth,
With the stockns craninied to Dustin, an the
medders piled 18th snow,
A good old-fashioned Chris mas like we had so
long ago.
But Christmas in the city here-its different,
o, myl
With the crowded hustle-bustle of the slushy,
An the scowl upon the faces Of the strangers
that you meet.
o, there's buyin'. plenty of It, of lot O. gor-
An it takes a mint o. money to please modern
Why, / mind the time a jack knife an a toffy-
lump for me
Made my little heart an stockin' JUS chockful
OF Christmas glee.
An there's feastin Thiukin' o. feedin' with
these stuck up city folk
Why, ye have to speak in whispers, an ye dar's
MT crack joke.
Then remember how the tables looked all
crowded with your kin,
When you coudn't hear a whistle blow across
the merry din!
You see I'm SO old-fashioned like 1 don't care
much for style,
An to eat your Christmas banquets here
wouldn't go mile;
I'd rather have, like Solomon, a good yarb-dn-
ner set
With real old friends than turkle soup with all
the nobs you'd get.
There's my next-door neighbor Gurley-fancy
how his brows 'u'd lift
If I'd holler Merry Chris mas Caught, old fell
low, Christmas gifti"
Lordy- Lord, I'd like to try it! Guess he'd nearly
have a fit.
Hang this city stiffness, anyways, I can't get
used to IL.
Then your heart it kept a-swelIin' till it nearly
bust your side,
An by night your jaws were achin' with your
smile four inches wide,
An your enemy, the wo'st one. you'd just grab
his hand an say:
''Mebbe both of Us was wrong John. Come
let's shake. It's Christina dayr'
Mighty little Christmas spirit seems to dwell
tween city walls.
Where each snowflake brings a soot-fiake for q
brother as it falls;
Mighty little Christmas spirit! An I'm pinin'.
don't you know.
For good old-fashioned Christmas like we had
SO long ago.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Clover for Pigs.

The phrase ''pigs in clover" has long stood
as representing the highest point of animal
contentment. When pigs have plenty of
other food they will still eat sufficient clover
tokeep their digestion good, and thus thrive
better than under any other conditions. But
1t is the other food mainly that makes the
increase. Pigs need concentrated food for q
considerable part of their diet. Good as
clover hay Is for cows and horses, it is not
readily eaten by pigs unless starved to it.
These facts, which fully correspond with the
experience Of farmers, are made more plain
by recent experiments at the New YORK
state experimental station at Geneva.
Where pigs were forced to eat a coasidera-
bic portion Of clover they gained very little,
and might have starved had not a small
amount Of corn meal been added to their
ration. The conclusion was that clover for
pigs was worth no more than its value as
manure and this is expressing its feeding
value for pigs at even less than we had sup
posed
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20

A certain cloak-like cloth wrap which is
extremely comfortable ard looks stylish,
has a collar very much like those which
we're worn last wear. Indeed the collars
that are worn upon wraps and capes are
quite as high as they ever we're. 1t Is only
upon coats and jackets they are abbreviated.
The cape in question has very high collar
lined with astrakan; the astrakan is OF a
fine quality so that the collar does not pro-
ducea wild appearance around the face Of
the wearer.
The yoke Is plentifully braided and
around the edge OF it there is a very deep
band of the astrakhan. Gathered in at the
back are several folds of cloth, and the
front is also fastened rather closely TO the
figure. The sides are long and loose How-
ing. The entire garment is an extremely
pretty one. and is one OF those useful things
which may be worn in either rain or shine.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
The Common Housefiv.

Prof. Bickmore has a good word for the
common househy, which, although NUS
ance when it has become old enough to 60
about and alight on human flesh, does val
liable service to humanity as scavenger.
There are, he said, IN North America alone
over 10000 different varieties of flies. The
young ones in their larval state consume
large quantities of decaying vegetable and
animal matter, and it has been computed
that were it not for this work foul odors
and poisonous particles would so predom-
innate in the air as to breed disease of a
TYPHOID or malarial nature. The service
thus done to mankind by the larvae of the
flies could not well be calculated.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20

There was q time when the making even
Of needless fences cost only little labor,
and so important was it deemed to have the
the farm well fenced that even when the
fence was not needed it added materially to
the money value of farm. Now need
less fence is regarded as an incumbrance.
What cost money whom the farm was
bought now costs money to get rid of. This
is especially true Of stone fences In rare
instances they are salable for building ma
terial But unless the farm having such
fences Is near a city or village they are apt
to be regarded as they are, as only incum-
brances, to be got rid of In any way posi-
BILE at least expense.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
The Question Box.
CABBAGE GROWING

"R. NJ. c.: have had only limited ex-
perience in raising cabbages. VIII you
please state the chief essentials In securing
good crop Of heads. large proportion of
plants set out 90 not make headsn
Granting that your soil is adapted to the
successful growth of cabbage-either from
being naturally rich or from a proper apph
cation of suitable manures, the chief
requisites to use seeds that have been saved
from perfect heads of variety suited TO the
climate. Well-bred seeds are essential to
best results, and one had better pay $40 a
pound for such seeds than to use
seeds of doubtful character at 81 a
pound. Much OF the seeds sold at retail in
local stores are worthless. There are reputa-
bic growers of cabbage seeds who use great
care in saving seeds from perfect heads that
have been carefully selected for years, and
from these you should procure your seeds
One variety would suit your soil and cli-
mate there another would not.
We have never found q cabbage that
gave better satisfaction than the short
stemmed Brunswick. The Surelead and the
Florida Header are too good kinds. The
Winningstart and the Flat Dutch when well
bred nearly always give satisfaction to
southern growers, but for a medium early
there are none superior to the Brunswick
Robert Buist, Jr.. Philadelphia, Pa. sell
choice seeds of these varieties, description
Of which you can get from his catalogue)
The soil being suited, proper variety
used, the next essential is good cultivation
frequent borrowings or sweepings given
while the dew is on the plants If practical
bic. Examine every plant when you come
to transplant. aud throw aside all that
have imperfect buds" At least 50 per
cent, if not more, of the plants set out
should make heads. and this will be the case
il good strain of seeds is used. 1t is q
very profitable crop when properly grown.
as it is 80 easily harvested
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Roup In Fowls,

Roup, says writer in an exchange, is un-
doubtedly caused by damp houses and runs,
and then communicated from one to the
other by tho fowls drinking of the same
vessel. This discharge from the nostrils of
the sick bird contaminates the water as it
drinks, and the disease thus becomes con>
tagious. Fowls that are suffering from
roup should thus be isolated from the 9TH
ers at once, and warm, dry lodgings, with
stimulating foods, be given to them. The
discharge from the nostrils aud eyes should
not be allowed to cake upon the heads, but
should be frequently washed away with
warm water There are many medicines, TO
which are effective in their results But IL
they cannot be isolated from the other
fowls Of the yard while being treated, they
should be killed at once TO prevent conta-
gion.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Groom Corn.

To grow broom corn requires rich and
clean land. The plants grow so slowly
while small that if the soil is full of weed
seeds it is q great labor to care for the crop.
The stalk of brown corn is Of little value as
feed, and the price of its hurl or brush
varies greatly with seasons and demand
Where help can be obtained oheeply in
winter to make up the crop into brooIns. a
good profit can be ge orally obtained for it.
The crop is one Of the few in which the
grower can also combine the profits of the
manufacturer
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
Dlstemper in DOGS.

Give a tablespoonful Of spirits of
turpeutine to each dog, as soon as you are
sure of distemper. says writer 10 an ex-
change. II the one dose does not cure, give
the second dose in two or three days, and
don't think you will lose any more dogs with
distemper. Give small d ses TO young dogs,
according to age. To give the dose, hold the
dogs head up and pull his mouth open until
you know it's gone down. The dose is pretty
severe but it will not hurt him. l speak
from experience, from boyhood up, and I've
never lost a dog with distemper.