The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-08-18
PROGRESS ON THE FARM.
Changes In Agricultural Conditions
During Recent Times.
MORE TO LEARN EVERY YEAR.

NEVERTHELESS INDIVIDUALITY AND
COMMON-SENsE IN HANDLING LAND
ARE JUST AS NECESSARY Now
AS THEY EVER WERE.
Philadelphia Record.
Every farm differs in some respects
from all others, and rules governing
the methods in certain localities may
be inapplicable elsewhere. Climatic
influences and diversities of soils make
it imperative that the farmer study
the characteristics and surroundings OF
his farm and improve according to his
opportunities. The farmer must con-
tend with changes of seasons, drought,
rains, heat, cold and enemies which de-
stroy his crops. He cannot adapt the
soil OF his farm to the crop, but must
select the crops for the soil, although
his neighbor may be fortunate in the
effort to grow some crop which tails
on an adjoining farm. Plants thrive
best when the conditions are most fay
orable but the conditions suitable for
one crop may not be favorable to an
other. Crops that flourish on heavy
clay land may make but feeble growth
on light sandy locations, and the early
and late frosts may put an end to crops
that were apparently thrifty. There Is
more to learu on a single farm than
any farmer can master if he keeps pace
with progress. Systems OF farming are
changing. The reduction of the cost
OF labor by the use of improved 1mple-
,nents has done much to revolutionlze
farming, and the cooperative system
is gradually working its way into farm
methods, as with tbs creamery system
of butter making, the use Of traction
engines and the shipping of milk, fruit
and other produce by associations yet
the individual farmer is not suppressed,
but is attached more securely to his
farm.
FORWARD STEPS.
While the advance in labor-saving
implements and machinery has been
marvellous, yet much greater progress
has been made in the growing of crops.
Fifty years ago but few farmers knew
of any fertilizer (other than barnyard
manure) outside of bone meal, the
bones being pounded (not ground) and
sold at cost of about $50 per ton.
Then came Peruvian guano, which
was largely used alone, but which
would have given much better results
had farmers then understood that
potash and phosphoric acid were neces-
sary adjuncts to the guano, as the
guano would enable the farmers to Sc
cure good crops for a year or two, but
exhausted the soil OF potash and phos-
phates, which fact was not fully under
stood for many years. With the dis
covery that the refuse from gas works
contained a valuable heterogeneous fer
tillzer, and that there were mines OF
potash in Germany, a great advantage
resulted to farmers, followed by cheap
er phosphates from the rivers and rocks
OF South Carolina, Florida and Tenn
essee. Fertilizers became cheaper,
farmers studied their composition, ex-
pertinent stations grew into favor and
agriculture rose to be science.
THE FARM A LABORATORY.
On every farm the manure heap is
receptacle for raw material that under
goes chemical changes, and more
changes occur therein than in any
laboratory under the control of chem
lists. The food for plants is therein
prepared, and is the same as that pur-
chased in the form of artificial fertili-
GERS. Even in the soil constant changes
occur. We now know that minute
bacteria work as agents In preparing
food for plants and in some cases are
capable OF utilizing the free nitrogen OF
the atmosphere. Every plant after its
kind performs certain duty, assisting
in Its way to benefit some plant that
follows, and every process of growth,
every effort put forth by the farmer,
and every beast that exists on the
farm, are all aids in farm laboratory
work, thousands of combinations being
created and hundreds OF compounds re-
sultlng. To succeed on the farm every
farmer should study these things In
order that he may more lntelligently
assist in deriving the most from his
farm. No farmer should be content to
follow others, but should lead. There
is room Tor hundreds of experiments,
as agriculture fs yet in it's infancy COM
pared with what Is possible In the flu
ture, as every year demonstrates that
there is more to learn.