The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-25


been offered proves conclusiveIy that
our cultivation is little else than a
mockery.-E. T., Iowa.
AS this is the time of year for curing
bacon, will give my plan, hoping it
will prove benefit to others.
First, salt at the desired time. Then,
as you take it moist from the brine be
fore hanging, dust on it just as much
finely ground black pepper as will ad
here to the bacon.
Rub the pepper in we'll, then hang
IN the usual way. The flies will not
bother where the pepper is, hence tits
useless to smoke the meat.
Besides the absence of danger from
fire, the bacon tastes better when
treated this way than when smoked.
Some use borax, otherssaltpetre, but
1 use pepper alone.-R. O. Whitener,
Morganton, n. Q.
Bulletin 139 of Ithaca IN. " Station
is the third report of that station on
Japan plums. Like the two preceding
reports, it is richly illustrated with
photographers of the trees and fruits
of several varieties of these interesting
plums. Its author, Prof. Bailey, closes
his discussion of these pIums with the
following interesting paragraph:
Correspondents are asking what
varieties of Japanese plums recon-
mend. In reply will say that never
recommend varieties Of any fruit for
anyone to plant. The merit of vari
ETY. must be measured by the uses to
which it is to be applied and by the
tastes of the planter, quite as much as
by its intrinsic characters. The CORE
spondent rarely specifies whether he
wants red plum or a yellow one, an
early or a late, for dessert or for mar
ket. 1t is like asking a man at a dis
tance what fence the questioner shall
put in his back lot, without saying
whether it is to be a pig fence, hen
fence, sheep fence, cow fence, or
fence merely to mark off his premises
from his neighbours. can state what
varieties might plant for myself, but
my selection might not be such as
would please my neighbor. For my
sely, should still adhere to my list of
four varieties of two years ago-Red
June, Abundance, Burbank and Cha
bot. l should place as second choice
Douglas, Berckmans, Satsuma, Hale
and WIckson, and should expect that
the last two would rise, upon further
acquaintance to a place in the first
rank. II I wanted a yellow plum,
should take Georgeson, with Ogon for
early. If wanted the earliest varie
ties, without respect to size or quality,
should choose Berger, Engre, Earliest
of All and Willard, lone Star.
The American Agriculturist a few
years ago offered $500 in prizes for the
best acre of corn, and same for wheat
and oats, and there was thoroughly
substantieted yield In one of the Caro-
linas of 255 bushels from an acre, with
equally extraordinary yields of wheat
and oats, and the surprising yield of
l. 900 bushels of potatoes from one acre.
And all this was accomplished by
the adoption of the best methods, and
in the absence of the great advantages
of seed development.
Now let every one who reads this go
to work and
1. Select the best portion of ground
obtainable- portion large enough to
grow the seed for the crop of the com
ing season and several bushels to sell
to less lucky neighbor.
| 2 Select from the best that can be
got, a sufH ;ient amount of seed and
plant this portion of ground.
8 PloW this ground extra deep and
with narrow burrows so as to break up
and fine the soil as deep down as~Pos
sible.
AS soon as the season arrives plant
this extra fine seed on this extra well
prepared ground and give the best shall
low cultivation.
5. Plant three and a half to four feet
between rows and hills, two feet or two
feet six inches apart, and allow but one
stalk.to grow in a place. The ground
should be thoroughly fertilized, either
with home fertiliz 9rs or the best the
market affords, and in sufficient guam.
titles, provided this can be done, but
if not, then and in any case cultivate
two or thee times each week until the
grains Of the ears begin to harden.
If the best seed, that is the very
largest ears, has been used there will be
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