The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-08
SOUTHERN MOTIFS AND COM
MENTS.


that at least 500 bushels of strawberries
can be grown on each acre he Guilt
Yates. The growing of small fruits has
become quite profitable in that locality.
A yield of 200 bushels is common.
No planter can afford to raise &c. cot
ton who does not raise enough home
supplies such as potatoes, corn and
oats for home use on the farm. With
a fair supply of these, there will be fat
hogs for pork, cattle and sheep for beef
and mutton, to say nothing of a liberal
supply of poultry and eggs.
The key to the successful cultivation
of small fruits, such as the strawberry
and raspberry, in the Southern States
is to be found in mulching and the fire.
quent and thorough cultivation of the
surface. Apply the mulch of partly
rotted straw, leaves or other materials
as soon as freezing weather begins. In
the spring, crowd it aside from tho
space between the rows, cultivate
thoroughly, and then scatter so pounds
of nitrate of soda to the acre on both
sides of the row, and an equal amount
when the fruit is setting, 1UO pounds to
the acre is sufficient. Replace the
mulching after each application.
The repeated attempts and the re-
peated failures of cotton growers to
limit the acreage by passing resolu
tions to do it, ought to Iced to the dis
covery of a better method. 1t is wise
to urge the diversiication of crops and
it is being done. But there remains
much more to be done. Experience
has shown that fruit growing can be
made a paying success wherever up
land cotton can be grown. There is
one fact connected with fruit growing
that is too frequently overlooked. The
more trees that are set in orchards in
one locality, the more likely it is that
Northern or European buyers will visit
such localities and make their pur-
chases rather than travel over a wide
range of territory to procure a sum
cient supply Of fruit.
The farmers and fruit growers in
California, Oregon and Washington
have for several years been working
for the early completion of the Mica
ragua Canal. The heavy products of
the above States require water trans
p~ortation to render them prof liable to
the growers. In fact, the Sransporta
ton rates by rail are almost prohibi
tory. The leading cities On the Attain
tic and Gulf coast are equally interested
in the early completion of the canal.
At a recent meeting held in the Balti
mittee of five was appointed, of which
VIM. s. Young is chairman, to arrange
for a general meeting for furthering
the early completion of the canal as a
matter of vital Importance to the com
mercial and agricultural interests of
the nation.
The American Consul at Bradford, ]
England, says that there is an immense
market for prime fresh fruits especially
in the interior of that country. Good
melons such as are sold here at sc.
each, would fetch from 1S to 25c., as
those grown in English greenhouses
bring from 81 to 50 each at retail. All
kinds of melons would bear shipment
from our Atlantic seaport cities. 1t
is plain that we have paid more atten-
ton to growing than to the marketing
of our products. The best apples found
in the English markets are American
grown. The Albemarle or Newtown
pippin is the most popular variety. The
English people a grow their own
small fruits, but they do want and will
pay literally for our apples, pears,
fgrapes, peaches, apricots, nectaTines,
Watermelons, muskmelons and cante
loupes, as well as all the other varieties
of fruits grown In Florida. -FGirfGT,
in American AgricuItUrist.
The cats that remain all the time
around the house soon become lazyand
good for nothing as mousers. This Is
also true of the barn cat. Keeping close
to the fire, as most house cats do, they
soon become so worthless that mice
may be all over the house without their
noticing one of them. The cat was
made for activity, and its thick fur
coat always warmest in winter, is it's
best protection against cold.
CALIFORNIA STATE ALLIANCE
MEETING.
The Farmers State Alliance met in