davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
JUDGING THE SOIL.

He is an expert farmer who can
rightly judge the soil. It requires ac-
cording to the Ploughman, long prac
tice to determine when the soil is just
right for planting, plowing or culti-
waiting There is physi property,
or a general appearance, which reveals
Ike time when all manipulation of the
soil should take place, but there are no
terms by which these characteristics
can be accurately described. They can
only be learned in the school of expe
rience. We have such terms as cohe
sion, adhesion and focculation, the
employment of which comes nearly ex-
pressing the rt rtquired conditions. There
is a general appearance that presents
itself in a birds eye view and shows at
once whether field or farm is in good
heart. The proper manipulation of
the soil not only increases its yield,
but hastens maturity. It is easy to
make weeks difference in the ripen
ing period of corn by different manage
ment Of cultivation. Irregularity in
cultivation always retards growth and
lengthens the period of ripening. The
poor stand that often occurs is occa-
stoned not by poor seed alone, but by
poor preparation of the seed bed as
we'll. The vigor with which young
crop rises from the ground depends
largely on the manner of contact of the
seeds with the soil and the uniformity
of the depth at which they are planted
Some farmers work at their soil with
out regard to weather or soil conditions.
Such farmers injure the reputation of
the State by cutting down the general
average Of crops.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
LIVE STOCK.
LIVE STOCK ITEMS.

We know of no way by which grass,
hay, and grain can be made SO valuable
as by feeding them to good cow.
Never neglect the calves. A calf
which is half fed when young will
never be the most profitable animal to
keep.
A child does not need more careful
treatment than heifer with her first
calf. Just a little bad treatment, lit
tie hurt, may may vicious cow.
If you have no thoroughbred bull,
buy a calf and raise him. In eight
months he will be ready for use. You
will at once notice the difference in
your calves.
The pot1ed breeds of cattle are still
on the boom, a great many farmers
preferriDg them to the horned breeds.
Ether one will do. Just so it is thor
oughbred animal.
Scrub cattle are dear at any price,
even as gift. The best thing to do is
to weed them out ard replace them
with a choice bred one. A thorough
bred is easily kept.
The owner has the opportunity from
the day the calf is dropped until it is a
full fedged COW to make it gentle.
Kindness is an important item of the
stock in trade on the dairy farm, as it
is everywhere else.
In raising beef calves, let them run
with the dam till they begin to chew
the cud. This rule is also best where
you are rearing purebred dairy calves
to sell as stock animals. The calves
must be fed beside-not to much, just
enough-sos soon as they are old enough
to eat.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
THE ONION CROP.

The largest and best onions are grown
for seed. While they can hardly be
considered a certain crop, yet when
anything like a fair crop is secured,
they are profitable crop to you. On
account of the work and the cost OF
keeping the crop clean, it is quite an
item to select piece Of clean land and
for the same reason only well rotted
and thoroughly fined manure should
be used. To get the best results the
land must be rich. It is always a waste
OF time to try and grow onions in any
but rich soil.
Wood ashes, poultry manure, guano
or thoroughly rotted stable manure can
be used as fertilizers, taking pains to
work it thoroughly in with the soil.
There is little danger of getting the soil
too rich.
It is important that the seed be sown
early. Securing the seed and manuring
the land should be done in good season,
so that the first favorable opportunity
in the spring the seed can be- soWn.
Have the soil as fine as possible when
the seed is soWn in order to secure a
good termination of the seed and a
vigorous start of the plants to grow.
Be sure that the seed is of good quality.
If the seeding is to be done by hand,
work out the rows about eight inches
apart and make the drills about one
inch deep. Sow the seed as early as
early as possible, two or three seeds to
the inch. It ia quite an item to get the
seed distributed evenly in the drills,
The advantage in using the drill is that
the seed can be sown and covered more
evenly with less work.
Some growers, in order to get the
plants earlier and to some extent at
least lessen the work of keeping the
crop clean at the start, SOW the seeds
thickly in bed or frame and, after
they are well up, transplant them into
rows where they are to grow.
When the seed is sQwn it is import
ant to have the soil in good tilth. Work
out the rows and then lay the plants
pot over two inches apart. 1t is better
to use plenty of plants and thin out
than to have vacant places in the rows.
If the land is not go rich as it should
be it will be good plan to scatter a
good dressing of wood ashes or CONNER
cial fertilizer over the surface. The
onion feeds very near the surface, and
the necessary cultivation will work the
fertilizer into the sol.-Massachusetts
PloWmaI.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
SoME CHEAP COARSE CATTLE
FOODS.

TIE Experiment Station purchased
last fall some corn stubble from a
neighbor at one dollar per two horse
load, and in another case has agreed to
pay what the stalks were worth for
feeding. When hauling the coarse
stalks at one dollar per load, the loads
weighed about a half ton for all that
could be made to stay on. The stalks
were cut down ready to be burned or
plowed under, and were gathered In
that condition. They were very dry,
and when cut make very fair absorb
eLt to be used in the stable. The other
lots were smaller and less bulky. They
were cut and piled. Buth lots were
sampled for analysis, but in order to
pay for one lot we calculated the value
on the digestibility of old corn stubble
as determined at the Maryland Station
and compiled in the North Carolina
Station Bulletin, No. 106 Values were
assigned to digestible protein and fat
at Al cents per pound, and carbony-
drates ct 9 10 cents per pound. Then
cotton seed hulls were calculated in the
same way, and proportion made be.
tween the calculated price Of the hulls,
the calculated price of corn stubble,
and the prevailing price Of cotton seed
hulls at the mill, which is s. per ton
for loose hulls. Surely this is a fair
estimate. Every corn raiser has his
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

be mentioned in this connection is that
stable manures when not properly
taken care of, become heated and dur
ing the process of fermentation the
ammonia escapes in the form of gas,
which of course greatly lessons the
value of the pile. This escape OF the
ammonia can be prevented by sprink-
ling kainit over the heap. The idea
would be to get about two or three
pounds of kainit for the manure of
each grown horse or COW per day. In
this way the ammonia is saved and the
value of the manure heap enhanced by
reason of the potash added in the
kRinit.
The Improvement of the soil should
Oe the objective point of the farmer.
no farming amounts to anything un,
less each succeeding crop leave the
land in better condition than it found
it, Kainit and acid phosphate, added
as aforesaid, will increase the value of
the manure immensely and conse
quently the plan can safely be relied
on as baeis for future improvements.
TO TURN PEA VINES
Secure, preferably by clasping,
portion of a scythe blade to either side
of plow beam, the right side believed
to be the best. The blade should stand
backward slightly; the point should
crook forward and ex tend into the
ground sufficiently to gather the vines.
II more convenient, the blade may be
constructed of steel and confined as
aforesaid. 1t is necessary to slant it
backward to prevent the vines from
slipping up to the beam and choking.
Vines, however rank the growth, can
thus readily be cut and turned. The
plan has been thoroughly ttsted.
BRYAN TYSON.
Long Leaf, N. @.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

The Western PloWman says: Good
meat products depend upon good pas
ture, and no pasture that is not well
nourished can be good. The scanty,
half developed grass is proof that some
thing is wanting in the soil. It may
be moisture, and if it is the plant suf
fers for food elements that the moisture
will supply or put into con dition that
will enable the plant to take it up. If
moisture is lacking, and we cannot irri
gate, we cannot supply it. But We can
supply by the application of fertilizers,
the elements which the soil otherwise
lacks. There is nothing in the healthy
plant that the animal system does not
need. Hence if the plant lacks the
fullest supply Of every element the ami
NAL must suffer. The old manure heap
is not only .unsightly, but its presence
may be dangerous to health. Cart that
out on the pasture and it will make
more perfec5 grass; more perfect grass
will make more nutritious meat, and
more nutritious meat will make
healthier and stronger people. In the
interests of the human family, the pas
lures should be kept at their best.
From a financial standpoint they GER
tainly should be, for there is no profit
in any meat except the best. We can
not make money on scrub stock pre-
pared far market in a scrub way. We
never could, and least of all nov, when
the public taste has become educated
80 that it knows what good meat is.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
WIDE VS.. NARROW CORN ROWS
ToTurn Pea Vines of Rank Growth.

To Turn Pea Vines of Rank Growth.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
Farmers in this vicinity frs Iently
plant their corD, for one stalk in hill,
four feet each way, thus giving an
average Of about sixteen square feet
for each stalk of corn. Thus arranged,
counting 100 stalks for bushel of corn,
an acre will produce little over 81
bushels.
Now if the rows be eight feet apart
and the stalks one foot apart in the
drill, we will have a stalk for every
eight square feet. Consequently there
will be double the number of stalks
with a capacity for over "a bushels per
acre.
It has heretofore been shown that
corn, planted in drills three feet apart
and seven inches in the drill on land
that was heavily fertilized and thor
oughly broken to sixteen inches deep,
cared well, producing 149 bushels and
quarts per acre. There was a stalk
here for every Il square feet (not feet
equRrt). At this rate en- acre will con.
tain over four and a half times as many
stalks as the feet rows, Conse qUently
corn should never be so planted as to
contain more than square feet for
each stalk of corn. As the land be-
comes richer the distance in the drill
may be reduced to inches, thus rails
ing the capacity Of an acre to 1O8
bushels.
An important advantage of the s
feet rows is that at least three times the
quantity of loose earth can be prepared
for each stalk of corn that can be if the
same number of stalks be planted in 4
feet rows. A strip from two to three
feet wide midwey between the wide
rows may be plowed deep at every
plowing, thus afording a much needed
protection against drouth. Conse-
quently, other things being equal, the
wide rows will produce more corn than
is possible with the narrow rows.
Another important advantage is that
peas can be drilled and cultivated, there
being alternately row Of corn and a
row of peas, which will reduce the rows
to four feet.
II the corn be planted early in the
season and the peas not later than the
10th of June they will, at most, be in
each others way but very little, and
consequently very nearly, or quite, a
full crop of each can be grown. In the
fall proper measures should be adopted
for turning under the corn stalks and
pea vines.
The corn, of course, will have to be
properly fertilized. All of the available
stable manure on the farm should be
utilized for this purpose. It must be
remembered, though, that stable ma,
nure, while an excellent fertilizer, is
not properly balanced. By this we
mean that the three essential fertilizer
ingredients, nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash, are not present in the
proper proportions; there is too much
nitrogen as compared with the phos
phoric acid and potash. This, how
ever, can be remedied 80 as to make 6
splendid fertilizer by applying in addi
tion to the stable manure about SOC
pounds acid phosphate and 800 pounds
kainit to the acre. Another point tC
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
POULTRY RID
HOW TO START,

A subscriber from @ larry, 8. O.,
who wishes to engage IN the poultry
business, writes to Home and Farm for
information on the subj 4ct. She, how
ever, does not state how the ground is
situated and the space to be allowed
the toWls-the first two and most i'm
portant considerations which the be-
ginner must carefully study.
In the first place, a poultry yerd
should be situated on high dry land
not necessarily a hillside, but of sufff.
cient slope to allow all the filth to be
carried eff.
In the second place, not more than
two hundred grown fowls should be
housed and yarded to each acre.
More than this number cannot, for
any length of time, be kept on that
amount of ground.
AS regards the breed best suited for
beginning, let your own fancy be
your guide.
The one you like most will be the one
that you will give the most attention,
but by all means select pure breed
and make no crosses. There is no
cross that will equal thoroughbred,
and as to the cost, it will be cheaper to
start with one pure breed and keep it
so, than to buy two and CROSS them.
The cross will in a few years develop
mongrels, while the pure breed by
careful mating, can be kept up to the
standard for indefinite length of
time.
The cross you suggest, Plymouth
Rock and Brown L9ghorn, will pro.
duce a black offspring which are al
ways Objectionable as table fowls. The
same may be said of Black Langshans,
though aside from the black pin feath-
ers. they are an admirable breed.
There has never yet been any breed
developed which excels in both egg
production and table qualities, though
some combine the two qualities
in a very great degree. Among
those which will, no doubt,
prove satisfactory to you, are
Rhode Island Reds, Buff, White, or
Barred Plymouth Rocks, and White
Wyandottes, either Of which are hand
some fowls of large size, good fall and
winter layers, and excellent mothers.
AS chicks they are hardy, rapid grow
erg, and areready for the market earlier
than any Of the other large breeds.
But again, no matter which you
select, let me urge the Importance of
keeping them in their purity. You
will find the demand for eggs for
Matching at two or three dollars a set
ting, or cockrell or pullet at from one
to five dollars each, will more than pay
for the original cost of the stock. A
trio purchased this fall will give you a
good start next year, unless you desire
to begin on large scale, though this is
not advisable. It is better to start in
a small way and learn all the details as
you proceed. Do not begin in July, as
you suggest, except it be to arrange
your hour house and yards. The season
for Matching is past, and chicks are too
small to judge of the quality. Wait
until fall and buy the stock you wish
to begin with next year. Give them
the proper care, and you will get eggs
during the winter and have early SET
ters next spring. W. H. CAMERON.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
.GRICULTURE.

. the hot weather of this month see
. the horses ere not neglected.
er them regularly, and see that
8 have coed rest about noon. Give
self q rest about noon and work
Pc lg cooler hours.
On the time Of cutting and manner
ring largely depends the feeding
sof the hay secured. II the clover
ass is cut too soon it will be de
t IN nutriment and be light in
1t. If allowed to get too ripe, a
per cent. Of the nutriment in the
turns 60 woody fiber and is indi
Die and is of no benefit to the stock.
laking of the little worries, an ex-
ge says that the missing fence
5ni Of the broken wire will give the
42r trouble before he is aware OF it.
g no loss of time to attend to these
g at once, for If left unrepaired
Will require more time; and when
ock fad the breach the loss will
Gather.
person will take the trouble to
Jgate the matter, he will find that
rosperous and successful farmer
educated farmer. About a cen
go the most of the people thought
grubbing hoe and jumping shovel
were about all the tools necessary
farmer to possess. And if he
@ la owner Of a wagon and a yoke
- lie, with which to haul his pro
market, that he was fright in
recession" Such farmers with
ID Ideas and ways are fast falling
rear Of the procession when they
d competition with the educated
: The old time farmer will
thus inregard to his boys: Now
IN don't seem to take an interest
farm, so 1 guess I'd better send
'senool, give him a good educa
ID make lawyer or doctor out
While John sticks to the farm
0ee to a sweet clover blossom, &c
not be worth while to waste any
sending him to school as he will
Emer just like his dad.-Ex.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

A writer In the American Agricul-
turist speaks in behalf Of the crows.
He says they can be poisoned but they
should not be. Sow few quarts Of
corn on the surface about three days
before the planted corn appears, and
keep plenty on surface for about six
days thereafter, and the crows will not
trouble the corn plants. But they will
labor for us in our fields the remainder
of the IL months, devouring worms,
insects, carrion, etc. In some OF the
middle Western States there is heavy
penalty attached to the killing of crows
and black birds. I would shake boy
as severely for killing these birds as
for killing robins. We should not de-
stroy our benefactors.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

Our thanks are due DR.. 81. B. Battle
the efficient Director, for a copy Of
The N. g. Agricultural Experiment
Station during 1896" We are glad to
see that so many of the bulletins seem
of practical value to the farmers, and
it is equally pleasing to learn that these
farmers recognize them as such. Over
/ ZOO of North Carolina's tillers of the
soil have written endorsing the work
of the Station and giving the bulletins
the highest praise. Nor are these thou
sand farmers alone in expressing their
approval of the Stations work. People
from SO other States and from Ave
foreign countries have joined in the
praise, declaring the bulletins to be Of
great value to all interested in agri-
culture.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

p Sossamon, Charlotte, N. Q.
rarolin Y. Poore, Bird Island, MINI.
: r Peirsol, Parkersburg, W. Va.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
.uATIoNAL FARMERS ALI
sNcE AND INDUSTRIAL
UNION.

Mann Page, Brandon,
100 President-C. Vincent, Indian
sl9, sc2etary Treasurer-W. P. Bricker,
an Station, Pa.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

sch o. the Gb0Ue-TaTsed papers are
ssted to Beep the list standing on
jss$ page and add others, provtded
gre d15ly elected. Any paper JG!sE-
Q gGvccIte the OcaLG platform tGsA
'9uDsd from the list promptly. Oar
e can aotD see iUbGt papers are
isEad in their S51teTeSt.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
,,r1oNAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

ann Page, Brandon, Va; r. A.
tbworth. Denver, Col; John Bre-
W Va. a. B. Welch, New York ;
A Gardner, Andrews Settlement,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
LECTURERS,

LECTURERS.
D Sossamon, Charlotte, N. @.
.or,Iin Y. Poore, Bird Island, MINI.
h. Peirsol, Parkersburg, W. Va.
uT1oNAL EXEOUTIVE COMMITTEE.
onr Page, Brandon, Va; r. A.
tbworth. Denver, Col; John Bre-
w Va: a. B. Welch, New York /;
- Gardner, Andrews Settlement,
JUDICIARY.
4 Southworth, Denver, Colo.
( ". Beck, Alabama.
:. D, Davie, Kentucky.
,,.s.F7 CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLA-
ANCE.
resident DR.. Cyrus Thompson
: ice Ir President-Jno. Graham, Ridge
= 5.!',r4est;aTry-Treasurer-W. 4s; n 8. Barnes,
5sboro, N. @.
i.s lscturer-J. 7. B. Hoover, Elm City,
s. Issesward-Dr. ,ts V. N. seawell, Villa
= Ic1iapiain-Rev. = P. H. Massey, Dur
8 T.5or, i ,koeper-Geo. T. Lane, Greens-
isS s3Ssistant Door -keeper-Jas. e. Lyon,
Durham, n. Q.
herfordton, n. Q.
ate Business Agent-T. l7ey, Hills
+ 1stse St. Business Agency Fund-W.
irahan, Machpelah, n. y.
= UTrvE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH
r. eOI.TEA FARMERS STATE ALLIANCE.
f Hileman, Concord, n. O.; n.
,nglish, Trinity, N. c.; James ID.
borne, Kins on, n. =.
= ALLIANCE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Inn Brady, Gatesville, N. c.; DR..
+ s., aarrell, Whiteville, n. u; l. -
J. ldler, Acton. n. Q.
th Carolina Reform Press Association.
1sgcsrs-J L. Ramsey, President I;
T:075 BsetLeT, Vice President w. y.
res, Secretary,
RAEEHSs
sasstve Farmer, State Organ, Raleigh, =. Q.
60 Raleigh, Il. O.
~ Hickory, II. @.
AZ Whitakers, n. Q.
1orne Beaver Dam, n. Q.
50D1ifst LumbeTtOn, n. 9.
oS6TIa7s PaDeT. Charlotte, n. O.
yszti61le Concord, N. Q.
oI0E-S0V WadesbOro, n. @.
E. ina Wafchmau, Salisbury, n. &.
sch o. the GboUe-T1aTsed pGpeTs are
ssted to Beep the list standing on
3. iss5 page and add others, 0ToVtded
are dlslg elected. Any paper tGtk-
Q 0aGvccGte the OcaLG platform tGstI
9gped from the list promptly. OisT
Z can 19ot1 see iUbGt papers are
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

"The Progress
siVe Farmer 10 q
good paper--faE
above the aver
age--and possibly
the best RdvertiS.
ing medium in NJ,
c." Printers Ink.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
JUDICIARY.

. 4 Southworth, Denver, Colo.
". Beck, Alabama.
D. Davie, Kentucky.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

th Carolina Reform Press Association.
1Ecsra-J L. Ramsey, President; )
F:o9 Butler, Vice President; w. y.
res, Secretary,
PAPERR.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

WThe Progress
.Ive Farmer Is 3
sood paper---far
sbove the aver
STe--and possibly
he best advertis-
iog medium in NJ.
20 Printers Ink,
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-20
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