davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
VALUABLE WATER.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
SCOTLAND NECK. N. G..

Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
SCOTLAND NECK, N. @.
l feel it my duty to make known to
all whom it may concern the valuable
spring of water near the road leading
from Scotland Neck to Enfield, Halifax
county, N. O., and known as Fleming
Spring. Last winter when was first
taken with lagrippe 1 weighed about
2I6 pounds. I had chilis and fever
and night sweats, and 1 lost 66 pounds
of flesh. 1 suffered all the time with
my liver, indigestion and dyspepsia. I
was unable to do any kind of work,
and could hardly eat enough to live. I
tried every thing could get from the
doctors or anyone else. Two of my
friends had tried this water and ad-
vised me to try it. l used four gallons
and think it did me as much or more
good than any one thing that I have
tried. 1t gave me appetite and my di-
gestion is much better. have gained
about 18 pounds of flesh. I am still
using the water and have quit all other
medicines. The owner of this spring
is a poor man, but as good a man as I
know. I think he gives it free to all.
If you think it worth notice and give
it space in your very valuable paper, do
so and greatly oblige many sufferers,
Enclosed please find 81 in payment
for THE P PROGRESSIVE FARMER. could
send you many subscribers but for the
hard times and scarcity of money.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN L. WHITEHEAD.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
CRAB GRASS AT THE SOUTH.

I was recently struck with the great
value of crab grass (PanicaGn1 sGngoG69a-
GIe) in the market garden farms about
New Berne, N. c., where on lands Law
ishly manured for early vegetables it,
late in season, attains a luxuriance
which is amazing to any one who only
knows it as troublesome weed north.
Here when the early truck crops are
shipped the land is plowed and har-
rowed smooth. Only this and nothing
more, and at once the crab grass starts
as thickly as a newly sown oat field,
and easily cuts d tons of hay per acre,
on land which the same season has
given large crops of vegetables. Cut
as soon as in bloom, it cures easily, and
makes a sweet and nutritious food.
One market gardener at New Berne
told me he cut 400 tons last season
worth there SO per ton, but mainly
fed on the place, as he is also large
dairyman. On fertile sandy soils
wherever cow peas are soWn for forage,
this valuable annual grass comes in
thickly among the peas, and its growth
there is of the greatest Importance in
rendering the pea vines more easily
cured into hay, and adding to its bulk
matter which balances to some extent
it's too highly nitrogenous character.
In the improving agriculture of the
South this much-abused grass is des
tined to take high place.-W r. Mas
seq, N. c. Experiment Station, in
American AgricultWrist.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS.

A writer claims that thin coat Of
axle grease applied to the apple trees
in the late fall, with stiff brush, will
keep off mice and rabbits.
The painting of house and white
washing or painting of out buildings,
fences and CRATES, should be looked to
and renewed as often as needed, for
appearances sake, as we'll as for the
sake of preserving the wood.
Catch crops planted in the fall of the
year yield anywhere from $40 to $25
worth of green manure per acre, and
considering the small amount of work
required for getting in the seed after
harvest, this is probably the most
valuable way of enriching our soils,
There should be good walks leading
from the house to the outbuildings.
Plunging through the mud Of spring to
reach the barn or other building that
Is In constant use, is too disagreeable
not to 80 to the little trouble Of laying
= walk of one or two boards wide.
Many farmer buys the best stock
for his team, his dairy and his f1ocks,
but poor care, reckless feeding and ex
po8ure soon give them the appearance
Of scrubs, while he wonders why he is
not among the prosperous" The law
Of the farmers success is in good man
agement.
The farmers life may not be rich in
all those fancies of city life that the
dude" mind contemplates with salts
faction and regard, but nevertheless,
let the struggling thousands that in
these hard times are fighting the snarl-
Ing wolf at the door step, heed this
simple truth: "The farmer is the main
stay, the staunch sills of the great
Commercial fabric.
We occasionally hear of some writer
advocating ''rest'' for the land, claim
Ing that it needs to be left entirely
alone for a period, to enable it to digest
the food fed to it. This is true only of
lands that have been literally fed with
plant food that it has been unable to
olgest and assimilate. We find, how
ever very little of such land. Gener
ally the soil is suffering from the lack
0I sufficient food rather than from too
much.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
KIND WORDS.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
WARRENTON, N. c..

Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
WARRENToN, N, @.
l find that my subscription has only
been paid to Nov. 30, 1898 Enclosed
find check for 50 in payment to Nov.
90, 1895 Your paper is doing a great
deal towards educating and informing
the people. Enlightenment is all they
need to cause them to arouse from
their lethargy and hurl from power
those who stand for the interests of the
rich regardless of the people in the ma
tion, as they have done in many of the
States. All parties are beginning to ad-
NIT that our party was right when it
declared that the money question was
the great question, and that the pros
perity of the great masses of the people
depends upon its proper solution. Keep
the light turned on. What the people
need, in the words of Goethe, is more
light"
If can find time 1 shall write some
articles for your paper, beginning with
the new year. With best wishes for
the success of your paper, as well as
your personal success and happiness, 1
am Yours truly.
MALVERN Ell. PALMER
We hope Mr.. Palmer will excuse us
for publising a private business
letter. His kindness is duly ap
preciated Mr. Palmer is the law part
ner of Judge Walter Montgomery, of
the Supreme Court, and was one of the
first lawyers to take a bold stand for
the people. We trust that he will write
early and often.-EDITOR
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
No. 40

or their own commissioners, or at least
1t would give the machine more trouble
and would prevent the towns and cities
from controlling the country. The Leg
islature should enact law allowing
each township to elect tax-collector.
This method of collecting taxes would
cause all of the taxes to be paid, be-
cause the tax collector would know
everybody in his township. Let the
township tax-collector settle with the
county treasurer say twice month.
This method would bring about better
collection Of taxes.
Now, for proof, let us take this
county Cumberland We notice from
the Auditors report that in the county
q think it was in 1892 there were ], 200
colored polls and about 800 white polls
uncollected. If each township had had
a tax-collector Cumberland county
would have at least So, 600 in her treas
ury to help pay her $40, 900 county
debt.
Five hundred dollars should be the
limit of the homestead instead Of
81 500.
The Legislature should increase the
appropriation to the public schools so
that each district might have at least
four months school each year. The
big appropriations for the University
and other institutions should be given
to the public schools that the poor
children of our State could have some
advantages of education. There are
thousands of children in North Caro-
lima to Day who are destitute of an
education, and yet they are taxed to
give one who is in better cirCum-
stances than themselves a collegiate
education!
Let the University and other insti-
tutions that are feasting on the money
that should be given to the poor chill
dren in our State, be placed on equal
footing with Wake Forest and Trinity.
AS it now stands it is game of the big
fish eating the little fish.
The Legislature should on every
hand reduce expenditures and reduce
the big appropriations to Gov. Carr's
band box soldiers, for they are in part
leeches on the peoples backs.
D. @. DOWNING.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
IRRIGATION.

Judge J. s. Emery, of Lawrence,
Kansas, was one of the speakers at the
irrigation convention held last week at
Hutchinson, in that State. He made
several interesting statements about
the arid regions of the United States.
They include the half of all America,
save Alaska. They may be described
as bounded by the following lines:
From the 97Gh meridian on the west
end of the Gulf of Mexico, thence north
to the British Possessions, thence west
1000 miles to the 18th meridian at the
east line of Idaho, thence south 100
miles, thence west to the top of the
Cascade Mountains in Washington, 100
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18

miles from the Pacific, thence south
ward along the top of the Cascade
Mountains to 40 miles below San Fran
cisco, thence west to the Pacific coast,
which is followed to Old Mexico, thence
along the line of Old Mexico down the
Rio Grande to the place of beginning.
This immense tract contains only about
five or six million inhabitants, so that
1t practically is an unsettled country.
There are cities scattered over this
area and railroads cross it, but for
want of population and business they
pay nothing to the stockholders. Tt is
now admitted that this country must
be reclaimed by irrigation, if at all.
Government statistics show that more
than 100, 600, 900 acres of it may be re
claimed, which then will support a
population of more than 100, 900, O00
The United States has paid for this
land $15, 900, 900 to Mexico for New
Mexico, $4,000, 900 for the Gadsden
Purchase, and $4,000, 900 to Texas.
Judge Emery claimed that in this arid
America will be found hereafter the
highest and most perfect civilization
on the continent. It's climate is so
superior that Monies quieu noted the
fact, and says this superiority alone is
a sure guarantee of empire. The Judge
quoted approvingly the statement
made by the late Ben Wade that by
the close of this century every acre of
good agricultural land in the United
States will be worth $50.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
PRUNING GRAPE VINES.
D. @. DOWNING.

How and when shall prune my
grape vines9 asks the beginner.
Nothing easier if you will first under
stand, that fruit buds are never pro-
duced on old wood.
That this years growth is the only
portion of the vine that sends out
stems, on which fruit is produced an
other year.
Hence, in pruning, preserve supply
of strong young wood, and cut away
the old and weaker growth.
A one or twoyear old plant when
sent from the nursery may have only
one shoot, or it may have several.
In any event all are cut off but the
strongest, and that cut back to within
two eyes of the base.
These two eyes will produce shoots,
and when they have made a growth Of
a few inches, rub off the weak one and
let the strong one grow until Septem-
Der, when the end of the shoot is
pinched eff to mature and ripen the
wood.
Late in the fall cut this shoot back
to three eyes. All side shoots and
suckers should be pinched off,
The second year the strongest shoot
from these three eyes should be pre-
served as before.
Side shoots or laterals will appear on
same and as soon as leaf one inch In
diameter has formed the shoot should
be pinched off with thumb and finger.
: In q short time the leaf will become
full size and mature bud at its base
and send out new shoot, which should
be stopped
The third year two or more canes
may be permitted to grow, with
branches to compare with vigor Of
vine, and trained in various ways. A
few punches of fine fruit may also be
expected.
Trim all the vines in the fall, leaving
spurs or canes of new wood containing
two or three eyes for next seasons
fruit.
With strong growth at least three
quarters of the vine should be cut away.
With good care the vine will give
abundance of fruit under almost all
methods of treatment and should find
a friendly trellis in every farm and
village home.
A little study and care will enable
one to prune and train the vine cor
rectly.
The essentials are good varieties
suited to your locality, a warm rich
soil, well drained, clean cultivation,
severe pruning and, in Northern States
especially, winter protection M 4.
ThGyer's Bulletin.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
THE GREAT VICTORY.
Some Things That Need the Attention of
Our Legislature.


Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer
BUCKHORN, N. @.
The people have won great victory
in North Carolina by the overthrow of
the Democratic party-a party of per-
fidity and without honor. Everybody
knows that the new managers of our
State cannot bring about better State
of affairs nationally, but there are some
reforms needed in our State. The first
thing the people demands of the newly
elected Legislature is the unconditional
repeal of the present infamous election
law which has disfranchised so many
of the States best citizens by allowing
the chairman of the county executive
committee of the party in power to say
who the magistrates should be, and
county chairman, through his magis-
trates, say who the county commits
sioners shall be, and the chairman of
executive committee say, through the
commissioners, who the county super
intendent of public instruction and who
shall be the members of the board of
education, and through the county
commissioners this chairman of the
county executive committee says who
the judges of election shall be; and he,
through the judges of election, says
who our county officers shall be, also
the Legislature, Superior Court Judges,
Congressman, u s. Senators, Governor
and the balance of the State officers.
The people demand that this power
be wrested from rings, political rings,
composed of political scoundrels. The
people want an election law that will
give every man the right to cast his
ballot and that ballot shall be counted
as cast. The people expect the newly
elected Legislature to remove ''bull.
pens" from their voting precincts and
hold the elections so that Gods pure
sunlight may shine on it.
The question is: How shall we bring
about this matter of a fair elections
Now, Mr.. Editor, allow me to propose
plan: Let the Legislature enact a law
61IO"4uS UAO Cn6bA4 h4CsG VI VAO SONAVy
executive committee to recommend to
the county commissioners the men
they want appointed as judges, giving
the, party in power the registrar. Laws
should be enacted then to force these
men to do their duty. The voters of
each township should elect member
of the board of county canvassers, and
he should be elected by the popular
vote of the people.
The Legislature should throw bomb
into the Ipresent system of county gov
ernment.
The county board of education
should be abolished and allow the
superintendent of public instruction
and the county commissioners to attend
to the schools. The county superin-
tendent of public instruction should be
elected by the popular vote of the peo-
pie.
The justices of the peace should be
elected by the popular vote of the peo-
pie. Every township should elect five
magistrates, and those magistrates
should elect a board of county commits
sioners. This would prevent the ma
chine from electing a solid delegation
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18

The latest statistics given to the pub,
lie by the British Labor Commission
show that in the agricultural districts
the weekly wages of laborers average
So 35, and in many cases the hours of
labor are returned at IL per day. These
laborers live in novels and subsist on
vegetables, with meat once a week.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
EXECUTIVE BOARD.

II, L,oucks, Huron, s. D.; Mann
ooao m Brandon, Virginia; l. e Dean,
6a5oove TSs3, w Falls, New York; Ell. Q. Dem
nEng Elin@ Secretary, Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18

5erth Carolina Reform Press Association.
Ofcers-J. L. Ramsey, PrestdeTst;
aaFiOn Butler, Vice-P President; w. 5.
Barnes, Secretary,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
--1 ,,aT1oNAL FARMERS ALL
! aNCE AND INDUSTRIAL
UNION.

president-Marion Butler, Goldsooro,
n; N;vGic;e-President-J. Z; L, Gilbert, Cali
tornia. m-,ooo,,ror-ColDP DIM
AN Columbia, S. 9.
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
q T. Loucks, Huron, s. D.; Mann
Il IL Brandon, Virginia; l. e Dean,
IIsSooTe Tas~, Falls, New York; Ell. Q. Dem
L,ino nE11y Secretary, Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania. -
4 sotlthworth, Denver, Colo.
= ". Beck, Alabama.
ID. Davie, Kentucky.
,.o.ru CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLI-
ANCE.
prnsident-J. NJ. Mewborne, Kinston,
n; Vice T Presidential. G. 8huford, New
'Os' ss',caretary-Treasurer-W.s 8. Barnes,
Raleigh, n. Q.
O@5e[ @L5ee[caturer-Cyrus tut Thompson, Rich
lAft'9, fgtt'99,wardIJ. T. B. Hoover, Elm City,
~ ICS6aplain-Dr. III T. T. speight, Lewis
ID Door koeper-Geo. T. Lane, Green's
AS Assistant Door keeper-Jas. E. Lyon,
Durham, n. Q.
Sergeant-at Arms-J. r. Hancock,
Greensboro, n. Q.
State Business Agent-W. Il. Worth,
Raleigh, n. Z.
Trustee Business Agency Fund-W.
4 Graham, Machpelah, n. Q.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH
CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLIANCE.
Marion Butler, Goldsboro, N. c.. J.
], Long, Eoka, n. O.; A. +. Hileman,
Concord, n. Q.
STATE ALLIANCE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Jno. Brady, Gatesville, N. G.; DR.. j.
F, Harrell, Whiteville, N. q; John
Graham, Ridgeway, N. &.
4erth Carolina Reform Press Association.
Ofcers-J L. Ramsey, President !;
SqFiOl Butler, Vice-P President; w. s.
Barnes, Secretary,
PAPERS.
Progressive Farmer, State Organ, Raleigh, =. @
SrCssisn Colo sbOrO, n. {.
Ie-C1rv Hickory, n. Q.
5SffIer1 Whitakers, n. G.
1s1r Hcrne Beaver Dam, N. @.
The PonuIist LumbertOn, n. @.
The Pe6DIes PaD.r Charlotte, n. Q.
VHe TeStifuIe Concord, n. g.
The PIOv-BOy WadesbOTO, n. @.
UnslOW Blade, Peanut, N y.
Euch of the GboUe-Sa0nled papers are
ro0uested to keep the list standing on
ne first page and add Others, prOUided
heg are duly elected. A1y paper fGiL-
ing TO advocate the OcdLG platform tUEH
9e droDped from the list promptly. Oar
peCDle can nO1U see TUl1Gt papers are
pu6tfaI7ed in their interest.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18

decentralization Butler, Colds Ooro,
n; VTice-President-J. T L, Gilbert, Cali
tOdnl@, Gdnaln@r,otarv-Treasurer-Col.D D. P. Dun
can, Columbia, S. Q.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
JUDICIARY.

2 A Southworth, Denver, Colo.
r ". Beck, Alabama.
N D. Davie, Kentucky.
The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-07

John X. Marshall was thrown from his
horse, Monday, and received a severe cut
on the chin which was sewed up by DR..
Frank. The accident was due to the
horse becoming frightened at passing
train and the breaking of a stirrup.
Marshall was taken to the hospital.
The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-07


Along the Columbiathe crops have been
ruined, houses washed away and the can
ming interests have suffered heavy losses.
The Union Pacific will be the greatest
loser. The road has been totally oblit-
Grated in places and it is estimated that
millions OF dollars will be required for re-
building. Wallula is almost totally sub
mergei, while many other points along
the river are greatly damaged by the
foods.
On the Sound the losses are mainly
confined to the agricultural valleys, the
Skagit suffering the most, but the losses
along the White river, Duwsmish, Cow
litz and other streams are extremely
heavy, and some OF the farms are ruined.
The foods in British Columbia were still
greater and many lives were lost. Steam
ers are now plying over the farming dis
tricts of the Fraser river, and bridges,
trestles, tunnels and tracking along the
Canadian Pacific for hundreds OF miles
are gone. From Revelstoke to the sea,
a distance Of $50 miles is now a watery
waste, and it is feared that fully 100 set
tiers have been drowned or have persisted
from exposure. There have been no
through trains on the Northern Pacific
for nearly a week, the track being sub
merged for long distances in Idaho and
Montana. The Columb ia river bridge at
Kennewick is still standing and in use by
the Northern Pacific, but it has been much
weakened by the foods and the greatest
of care is used in rossing trains. Unless
the water rises several feet higher, which
now seeing improbable, no fear is felt
that the bridge will be washed away.
The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-07
New Era Irrigation Pump "a success.

New Era Irrigation Pump a Success.
THE HERALD reporter, on Monday, ac-
companied NJ. Schorn, behind his speedy
black mare, to inspect the workings Of
the New Era irrigation pump, the inven-
ton OF M. L. q. Wheeler. 1t has been
set up near the flume Of the Mckenzie
planning mill and there it has been viewed
by many citizens and others who are in
terested in irrigation and mechanics OF
this character. The pump was built by
Messrs. Schichtl and Schorn, who are as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Wheeler in the owner.
ship Of the patents, and being the first
one man ufactured the makers can see
small defects which will be overcome 10
future building. The pump is combi-
nation OF hydraulic cylinder and air COM
pressor, and almost any power can be
utilized in its operation. 1t can be To-
Gated on the bank or in the bed Of
stream, working with equal smoothness
and force in either case. The power for
the test of the first pump is furnished
from the planning mill, and with five
pounds pressure a stream OF water was
forced up six-inch stand pipe, fourteen
feet high, at an estimated volume Of 300
gallons per minute. The air compressors
used in the present pump are only a
quarter OF the size required, and Mr..
Wheeler claims that with perfect mechan-
ism and full-sized air compressors pump
OF the caliber OF the one on trial will fur. |
nish over 1000 gallons Of water per
minute The inventor and his associates |
are greatly pleased with the successful
working Of the "New Era," which is the
name given to the pump, and Mr.. Schorn
says they have assurances OF the sale OF
about thirty-ive pumps as soon as they
can be manufactured. Inquiries are
coming in from all directions, and a
number Of mining men are investigating |
the claims made for it with q view to |
using it in placer grounds. Orders have
been forwarded for material for making |
twenty-five small pumps for household |
use and in irrigating small tracts Of
land, and it is believed that before |
long great industry will be built up in |
Yakima through the practical utilization |
OF this invention.