davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
LIME AND CLOVER.

The New England Farmer has a dis
sertation upon lime and clover, from
the pen of one of the staff of the Rhode
Island experiment station. This writer
claims truly that lime is as important
as potash and phosphoric acid in
''briDging in clover" and that the last
two are entirely INSULT Gent to encour-
age the growth Of clover on some
Rhode I-land soils; but where lime is
added clover grows as vigorously as
formerly. Some farmers said clover
winter killed in late years, others aver
red that the soil had become Glover
sick, without ffering any explanation
as to the cause of clover sickness. It
our grsnitic, and perhaps some other
soils where clover orca fourished, but
will not now, the supply of lime in the
soil has been exhausted, and what il
needs to make it produce clover again
is to apply lime. Any one who has
clover sick soil can easily test the mat
ter. Gypsum, or land plaster, was once
celebrated in central New York for it's
beneficial action upon clover, but in
late years it is of so little value that
farmers have almost entirely ceased it's
use; but just as large crops of clover
are grown as ever. The fact is, plaster
is nearly, all carbonate of lime, and 80
much of it has been used that large
surplus remains in the soil, and, of
course, an addition to it is of no benefit
to crops. Wood ashes are excellent to
apply clover, but where there is lack
OF lime in the soil, the thirty. FIVE per
cent of it In the ashes does more good
than the remainder of the commodity.
DIR. Galen Wilson, in Farm and Fire
side.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
POSSIBILITIES S OF SOUTHERN
SOIL.

AfaFmcr in Decatur county, Georgia,
has sold his tobacco crop this season
for $6 OO0 A trucker near Plant City,
Florida, this year realized 1876 from
one hundred hills of pepper. o E.
Ringland. of Doolys county, Georgia,
made fifty bales of cotton On fifty acres
and gathered three hundred bushels OF
corn off Of SIX acres. R. Q. Hall, Of
DeLand, Fla, gathered and s5id 16, SEQ
lunches OF green and ninety six bush
Ella Of onions from one twelfth of an
acre. A Mitchell county (Gaorgie)
farmer last year made 500 bushels Of
sweet potatoes On one acre, and this
year made forty barrels Of syrup per
acre. This is an object lesson, teach
ing that the possibilities of Southern
soil are very great, and adapted to g
large diversity of productions.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
BURNING CORN IN NEBRASKA.

We frequently read in the political
papers that farmers in Kansas and
Nebraska are using good corn for fuel
in place of coal. A friend in Lincoln,
Nebraska, sends us the following note
concerning this practice. We shall be
glad to hear from other readers con
cerning it:
Little, if any corn is being burned
in this part of the State. 1t seems to
me very evident, however, that there
must be many locations where it would
be economy to burn it. Corn is selling
here in Lincoln for about 13 cents for
Is pounds of ears, some times as low as
II cents At 13 cents this would be
about So so per ton of ears. Pennsyl-
vania hard coal now sells at IS so per
ton, while thero are some very cheap
soft Goals that can be got at, perhaps,
So 50 to S. per ton. Farther west in
then State the corn is worth less, prob
ably not over 10 cents in some places,
while eastern coal, at least, must be
higher. Now the problem depends
upon the heating value of corn, and
that don't know, neither have I found
any satisfactory answer, though have
talked with those who have burned it
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

to limited extent I suspect that lit
tie, it any, corn will be burned near
the railroads, but suppose that you
were 10 miles away from the place to
sell your corn and to buy your coal,
and had to make two or three trips to
effect the exchange! I am inclined to
think that it would be only the part Of
wisdom to burn the corn.
For my part, I sec no reason why
there should be any more hesitancy in
using for fuel a material which the
consumer can replace at will, than in
using a decreasing supply of one that
cannot be replaced. 1t appears to me
merely a business problem.
Farmers get one cenG less for shelled
corn than for unshelled. Cobs form
the staple for kindljng wood and light
fuel OF this section, and are sold by the
elevators. Loads of them stand on the
street corners every day in the year, I
suppose, We usually pay 81 80 per
double box load for them delivered .
Rural New Yorker
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
LITTLE FARMS IN JAPAN.

Japan and not France CT Belgium,
would appear to be the land Of petite
culture. According to a recent Ameri
can bulletin a couple of acres is consid
cred large tract for farming purposes.
Most of the farms are smaller, and on
little plot surprising variety Of crops
is cultivated-a few square feet of
wheat, barley, maize and millet; a plot
of beans, perhaps 10 feet wide by 20
feet long, a similar area of potatoes and
and peas, and a patch of onions ''about
as big as a grave" beetroot, lettuce,
turnips, sweet potatoes and other crops
occupy the rest of the area. The farmer
examines his growing crops every
morning, just as an engineer inspects
his machinery. and if anything is
wrong he puts it right. II weed ap
pears in the bean patch he pulls it up;
if a hill of potatoes or anything else
fails it is at once replanted. When he
cuts down a tree he always plants an
other. AS soon as one crop is harvested
the soil is worked over, manured, and
forthwith resown to another crop. 1t
is estimated that nine tenths of the ag-
ricultural land of japan is devoted to
rice, and as this is a crop requiring
much water, the paddy fields are
banked up into terraces, one above the
other, and divided off into small plots
25 feet to 80 feet square, with ridges of
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
THE VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL
PAPERS.

OF our Improvement in methods to the
Influence of the agricultural press. He
who reads and profits by the informa-
tion given from time to time in good
farm papers, whether he o~ns a gar
den spot or hundreds of acres, is sure
to be benefited thereby. 1t is not only
the immediate profit, but the inspira
ton and pleasure that adds value to
tbs paper.
Agricultural periodicals will not, In
the widest sense, teach one how to
farm. Farming is so varied in differ
en5 localities that very few methods
are universally applicable. For in
stance, in my native C unity the quality
and condition of farm lands is so varied
that what would suit one man would
often be entirely unfit for his neighbor
More than this, the capacity and in
chnation OF the individ :8l needs consid
Grafton. One man may be a huge sue
cess at what his neighbor could but
fGil. II a man fancies horses, let him
raise horses for success; If be fancies
Hwine, let him raise swine for success
No one will ever be 8 real SUCCESS in a
line fer which he is not suited. We
have known scores of men whom we
believe have made fl 4t failures, not be-
! cause of Incidence or general capacity,
but because they did not reach the line
for which they were especially suite1
However, let our line of farming be
what 1t may, cannot fail to be bene
flied by the visits Of good agricultural
| papers. One or two will be sufficient,
if the right kiId. We have often
| noticed that man who reads one Or
| two papers carefully is informed bet
| ter than one who receives half a dozen
and reads none carefully. Read and
learn what others q: doing then win
now the chaf from the straw, and
finally, after due consideration, act &C
cordDg to your Judgment
One will get Sd occasional receipt or
suggestion for treatment OF sick ami
NAL that will much more than repay
the cost of papers. Some perplexiDg
| question arises. We are at less to
know what TO do. Pen g postal TO pub
fisher, stating want, and in q few days
question is before tens Of thousands of
persons. These are only few of the
helps that the paper 6ffords.
We might mention among other
things of value the market reports, an
that of the ''scrap" correspondence,
and, most valuable of all, special de
partments for each branch of rural
effort.
We make it point to preserve our
pepers, fling them away carefully,
each publication to itself. Most pub
fishers supply an index once Or twice
a year. These indexes are very vRlu
able, as by them any information thar
has been read once and forgot.rp can
be readily traced up when wanted.
Again, by their use one can find all that
has been said on a given subject for
years past. We think it very essential
to thus preserve papers, as their value
is by no means spent when once read
and thrown aside. H. E TWEED.
Brown county, Ohio.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
FARM NEWSPAPERS.

Hon. Il Bingham, Master of the
National Grange, says in a recent ar
ticle:
There are many journals In circu!e
tion among the farmers, which are
especially devoted to the agricultural
interests. We should make use of
these important agencies to aid US 10
advancing to higher plane those who
till the soil. Extend their circulation
Farmers should use their columns for
the purpose of forming g closer &C
quaintanceship with each other @. d
give and receive help in their work.
We can thus bring the problems we
wish to have solved to the attention Of
thousands Of Intelligent farmers OF
wide experience on the farm and in the
home. We can talk with our brother
farmers of questions which interest US
as tax payers and citizens. These dis
cussjons should be carried on for the
purpose Of receiving and imp8rting in
structiOn. inexperienced writer's and
undisciplined thinkers may some time s
feel inclined to reflect upon those who
do not agree with them upon public
questions, but time and discussion will
give experience. And when the dis
covery is made that there are depths
which have not been sounded by the
superficial thinker and writer, he will
become more guarded in expression
and will soon learn to respect the opin-
ions of others. The editors of these
papers may usually be relied upon to
exercise a wise supervision over the
matter that finds a place in their col
umns, and thus prevent proper discus
sion from sinking into unfraternal
wrangling, to the injury of the writer's
A fraternal spirit and wise forbear
ance will strengthen our cause and
hasten the time when all shall know
the truth"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
AN ECONOMIC QUESTION.

Under this title, John Gould writes
IN the Practical Farmer as follows:
While the prices of dairy products
are low, the man with the farm and
dairy Is getting a living, and of this
there ls little doubt; but what is to be
said OF the man who is dependent upon
shop or mili work, with it's strikes, lock-
outs and threatened collapse, or the
man with small capital threatened by
a receivership in sight7 OF course,
there is no fortune to be made now on
100 acre farm and stock of 20 COWS,
but there Is living, clothes, and no
fear Of pincbing want, as is the case on
the opposite hand. Much Of the distress
OF today Is from the fact that money
is not made as it once was, and still it
is not greatly different now than from
30 years ago; the few only climb into
great accumulations of wealth, but not
more are made happy by these abnor-
nal acCumUlauOns of wealth than by
the more moderate gatherings that ims
ply no rents, abundant food, freedom
G9 come and go that is unknown to the
shopmRn, and so on through the list.
An economist has figured out that il
the actual production OF the country
was divided pro rata, it would only
give each person less than half dollar
day. In an able article from ar. J.
McLain Smith, in the Farmers Home,
and what he has to say in general, ap-
plies with equal force to the dairyman,
that if we are not getting as much now
as we once did, it is possible that we
secured rather more than the average
share of As cents per day in the past,
though IL is hard to admit that any
dairyman ever-even in the wettest
weather-obtained anything more than
was by exchange his just due. To
quote Mr.. Smith:
'Ambition-the desire to get on and
eXcel-is we'll enough in it's wGy it is
essential to progress. But the ccumu-
lation of money is not the highest am
bition and, success, to any marked de-
gree, Is only possible, even in the best
Of timss, to very few. The total an
nual production of the country is ell
there is TO divide It ia physically inn
possible that the heaccumulaUions of many
can be large, and the only possible way
to increase them is to increase the total
product, or reduce the average waste,
and the average expenditure for imme'
diate consumption. Every man VIII Sc
total income exceeds 40 cents day for
each member of his family is getting
now more than his proportionate share
of the total product; and if this were
equally divided his receipts would
necessarily be cut down. How many
farmers fall below this if all they get
from the farmhouse rent, fuel, meat,
poultry, eggs, milk, butter, vegetables,
e*c-was valued at the market price
Very few, think. There are very few,
therefore, WHO are not getting more
than their proportionate share of the
| Total DrOducE
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
APPLYING MANURE.

U0on the returns from the manure
he b p alIes, the farmer must mainly de
pend for his profit. It is therefore ex
tremely important for him to use it
where it will do the most good. Not
merely the present crop, but future soil
fertility must be considered, else while
getting large interest on his capital the
farmer will fl that it is insensibly
disappearing. Manuring must not be
applied exclusively to the crops sold
from the farm. If it is, the crop is sure
to take away something more than is
given to the soil by the manure. It is
the characteristic Of manure on which
its value largely depends that it makes
more available the fertility Of the soil
in contact with it. Hence the necessity
with grain crops of sowing either grass
or clover which will use part of this
fertility and retain it in these in their
roots, and on the farm, in the manure
from stock to which they are fed
Where clover is seeded when manure
is applied it does even more than retain
fertility. It decreases the nitrogen in
the soil by decomposition of air by it's
roots, and the long deep tap root of
clover reaches down into the subsoil
and takes then mineral plant food that
no grain or vegetable crop could reach
and use Southern Farm,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

earth between them to prevent the
water from flowing away when they
are flooded. All farming lands art
irrigated by a system that is 1000
years old. Some of the bitches are
walled up with bamboo wicker work
and some with tiles and stone. Nearly
half the total population of Japan is
engaged in agriculture. Silk and tea,
the two chief exports Of the country
ere raised almost by the work Of wo-
men. London Times.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
WINTER ON The FARM.

There is no such thing as an end of
the work on the farm. 1t is a round
without break Whilst this is true,
it is also true that at some seasons OF
the ear the rush is greater than it is
at others-greater in the midst Of the
gro wing than it ls during the season of
dormancy for vegetation in general.
On the farm during the longer nights
and shorter days of winter there is
great opportunity for thought and cul
tivation of the mind-opportunity for
revision, for adding to the fund Of in
formation, for planning for the future
in the light of all past experience.
E-oh f@rnn ia a problem by itself the
problem changing with the crop. 1t is
a problem that has to be solved in prac-
tice, yet out Of thought constantly ex-
ercised. So that from mistakes well
considered often come the most marked
successes. It is in the midst of such
conditions that to the reading farmer
the invaluable suggestion from without
often appears.
So more and more the farmer is be,
coming a student, a reader, profiting
often by what he is told Of the expert
ence Of others and learning definitely
of his place and relationships in the
world as a producer. No one, except
in empty phrase, talks any longer
sneeringly of book farming, for all good
farmers now look more Or less to the
books, and no one who is making a
business of farming, ID 80 knows that
the farm, and even the field, is some
thing to be regarded by itself and in its
peculiarities, follows them to the letter
or Dlindly.
It is only in vague way that the
wholesomenegs, mentally as well as
physically, of the home life on the
farm is mostly viewed. The extent to
which the best we have, or as good as
the best we have, in all the depart
ments of mental activity springs di
rectly out of that life is no3 sufficiently
realized as a truth generally.
The books in the farmers home are
not usually numerous, out they are
sure to be good and wholesome and are
read in the manner best calculated to
make for mind strenk. 1ening they
are read often and carefully enough to
be substantially mastered.
It is the memory of a country home
on this order that causes many q man
who has made his fortune in city pur
suits to go back to the farm, and who
ever has such a memory has blessing
that cannot be taken away.
The winter on the farm has, Of course,
it's hardships. This outline picture
that we have sketched is Of the bright
side, and it is the side to develop and
make the moat Oft is the side show
ing the time for reading, discussing,
planning, tracing causes to effects or
effects back to causes. It is the time
for the sunshine of home to be at its
brightest and best.-Home and Farm.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

There are some pastures, or portions
of them, that should never have been
cleared Of timber, and where practic-
able it would be better for such places
to grow up again to woods as a means
of renovation or of future income
What robbers we have been of our vir
gin frCsts
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
Brown county, Ohio.

There is more than one reason why
we should strive to procure large per
centage of lean in our pork; perhaps
the most important is that we may in
crease the consumption of our pork,
while one almost as important is that
it enables us to increase the vigor and
stamina of our herds.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

So important has the potato become
in all parts of the world that its great
commercial value has developed the
highest skill of the experimenter and
grower in the improvement of the vari
eties and in the culture, together with
labor-saving potato machinery. Vari
ETY., soil, planting, manuring, cultiva
tiop, disease, digging, are each study.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

CO little out Of the way this fall to
overhaul your machinery in general; {;
see that it is we'll cleaned and we'll
oiled where needed. II not put away
in proper shape it cannot be expected
to do service year after year. In this
regard Zine upon line, precept upon
precept" seems necessary.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
KEEP THE BOYS ON THE FARM.

We will venture to assert that if
each boy is given flock of fowls, if
only Bantams, and he alone have the
management, and the receipts-a very
important adjunct the flock of fowls
will cause the boy to take an interest
in farming from the start. Let him
become accustomed to the breed and
be will soon learn the points OF ell
breeds. And he will not stop there.
He will aim to know the breeds Of cat
tie, sheep, horses and hogs. He will
look forward to the exhibitions of the
country fairs, and strive to win prizes.
He will have love for the farm bred
in him from the start, and when he is
a man he will yearn for the happy
days spent on the farm. and will get
back to it if he can, should he be in
duced away. When one becomes in
terested in poultry on the farm, he be
comes educated to an interest in every
thing else. As soon as your boy can
manage them, give him few Bantams,
and after he is older start him with
some pure breed OF standard size. 1t
is the best plan for teaching the boy to
remain on the farm.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

There is a positive must in feeding
the hogs something more bulky and
less concentrated than cora if the feeder
expects to keep them in healthy con-
dition for any great length of time.
There is nothing more better or cheaper
than pumpkins to feed with corn, and,
when thus fed, they viii fatten quicker
than when upon corn only.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
EXECUTIVE BOARD
s0gFE OARoLIEA FARMERS STATE ALLI-
AECE.

President ! DR.. Cyrus Thompson,
Richlands, Y. Q.
Vice President-Jno. Graham, Ridge,
Fay, n. Q.
Hi,lsbOro, II. ..
Lecturer T. B. Hoover, Elm City,
y. Q.
nOw, n. =.
Chapiain-Rev. P. H. Massey, Dur
ham, n. 9.
Door-keeper-Geo. 7. Lane, Greens
zero, n. Z.
Assistant Door -keoper-Jas. E. Lyon
Durham, n. Z.
Sargeant-at -Arms-A. D. Z. Wallace,
Rutherfordton, n. Q.
State Business Agent-T. Ivey, Hl Is
Trustee Business Agency F'lnd-W.
4. Graham, Machpelah, II. =.
gz.CUTTvE COMMITTEE oF THE NORTH
CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLLAEOE.
A It. Hileman, Concord, n. c.; n.
c. English, Trinity, n. O.; James III
Bewborne, Kins on, n. 9.
srATE ALLIANCE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
John Brady. Gatesville, n. c.; DR.
If. HarrelI, Whiteville, n. c.; I. j.
Gambler. Acton. n. Q.
sarsh Carolina Reform Press Association.
1fcers-J. L. Ramsey, Pres*de'at (;
sgTto4s Butler, Vice President; ~. >.
sarnes, Secretary,
PAPERS.
grsgyssgive Farmer. State Organ, Raleigh, =. Q.
EsrCTfr. hickory, y. =.
FbitakSrS, n. =.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

II you want to buy a farm, you need
ut 90 outside of North Carolina TO get
It. If you can't do we'll here, you can't
do we'll elsewhere.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24
gaTIoNAL FARMERS ALLI-
agCR AND INDUSTRIAL
UNION.
pragident- Mann Page, Brandon

President Mann Page, Brandon,
'2 ice-President-H. Q. Snavely, Leb-
Sec Secretary Treasurer. A. South
rorth, Denver, Col.
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
al. Loucks, Huron, 8. D.; W. P.
Pricker, Cogan Station, Pa. J. T. VIII
let's. Kansas; W. L. Peeke, Ga.
JUDICIARY.
3. a. 5outhworth, Denver, Colo.
2. ". Beck, Alabama.
y. D. Davie, Kentucky.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

"The Progress
siVe Farmer is q
good paper--far
above the aver
age and possibly
the best advertis-
ing mecium in N.
e." Printers Ink.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

"The Progress
Ice Farmer is a
ssnod slSSd paper---far
sSove the aver
ss1Dss.,.-and possibly
.5s best advertIs-
isg sng medium in N.
RS H Printers Ink.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-24

ssrsh Carolina Reform Press Association.
1f5cers-J. L. Ramsey, Pres*de7gt !;
saTto4s Butler, Vice President; ~. 5.
sGrnes, Secretary,
PAPERS,