davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31
FARM AFT AIRS.
THE BLACK RIVER SECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
A Great Farming Region of Which the
Outside World Has Heard Little.

A Great Farmiug Region of Which the
Outside World Has Heard Little.
correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
Whilst the newspapers are discuss
ing the advantages and productiveness
of Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippine
Islands, they overlook the greater ad
vantages of soil, climate, society and
everything desirable for home that
lie right here at our own doors.
We have the trucking lands superior
to those around Norfolk and Ports
mouth, Va, adapted to the growth of
every kind of marketable vegetables
and fruit. We have good black river
bottoms that produce the finest corn,
sugar cane, rice, pumpkins and what
ever else usually grows on low lands,
Then ad oining these are healthy sand
hills on which can be grown corn, po
tatoee, peas, melons, bright leaf to
bacco and early truck OF every kind.
1 have lived in every section of North
Carolina, from Elizabeth City to the
foot OF the Balsam Mountains, but no
where have I found more desirable
country for the este blishment of per
manent year round residence.
Our climate in winter is so mild that
sheep and cattle remain out in the
fields Cr the woods all winter, and in
summer tis not so warm as in Raleigh.
Even during the past winter, while in
other sections the thermometer was
many degrees below zero, our sheep
and lambs were taking care of them.
selves in the field. Yet strange to say
this section of North Carolina is scarce
" known of ouMide of it's own borders.
While it is the healthiest region have
ever lived in, the people OF Piedmont
North Carolina imagine that the whole
country is infested with malaria.
Our drinking water is cool and purer
than that Of Hillsboro or Pittsboro,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31
NITROGEN AND POTASH IN FER,
TILIZERS

The marked tff9ct on the growth of
the wheat plant, which is usually OBJ
served after the application Of fertili
zers carrying soluble phosphoric acid,
such as acid phosphate or dissolved
bone black, together with the low price
at which plain acid pho sQha58s can be
bought, as compared with fertilizers
containing nitrogen and potash, have
led many farmers to the use Of this
material eloLe, believing that they can
supply suh 3ient nitrogen by growing
clover, and that potash is not needed.
On these points the field tests OF the
OHIO Experiment Station are beginning
to offer useful suggestions.
Since 1898 the station has conducted
two series Of experiments on the light,
somewhat sandy clay soil OF its central
farm at Wooster, in which fertilizers
of various composition have been used
on crops grown in rotation, the rota-
tion consisting in the one series Of corn,
oats and wheat, one year each, followed
by clover and timothy, two years, and
in the other of potatoes, wheat and
clover, one year each. Since 1896 both
these tests have been duplicated on the
heavy, white clay of the Northeastern
Slbstation in Cuyahoga county.
In all these tests every third plot, be.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31
RALEIGH, N. G.. OCTOBER 81, 1899.

make others prosper with yourselves.
whereas the holding stored cotton and
attempting to control crops and prices
Is OF another class of actions which are
not only negative in their character,
but undesirable to be connected with.
HOW THE FACTORY MAY BE STARTED.
Let as many farmers as can and will
take advantage Of this opportunity.
When they sell cotton put what they
receive above six cents per pound in
The Raleigh Savings Bank to their own
account for stock in the mill. Let this
be generally known that the fund has
begun TO accumulate. This knowledge
will increase the fund and il you come
IN and deposit for THE purpose openly,
others will do SO and it will accelerate
the movement toward the factory.
Have a meeting Of depositols called
Tor some date in the winter. Many of
you will have money on interest in the
bank, while others who hold cotton
longer will have it in storage ready to
apply the top Of the price to their sub
scrI0ed stock when they sell.
You can calculate how much cotton
factory stock you can pay for individu
ally by giving in five per cent. of your
crop each year. Reckon stock at $40
per share Then you can turn your
share Of income from the factory to-
ward pay Jog for more stock if you like,
but count now on what you have to
bank in cotton crops. Five per cent.
OF the crop at five cents per pound for
five years will be a moderate amount
which can be spared. Pledge this
amount, and more if you can.
Tnen organiz9 your CO operative
company. Elect the best business men
you have in it to directorsbips. The
business will then be in their handsa and
you have individually only to look out
to meet your individual obligations.
Three hundred farmers with q strong
organic alton and an average subscrip-
tinn of 10 shares of 80 each Will give
$50, GOO.
giving bonds payable in installments
ard covering a period of years and be-
gin to build the factory. The earneet
active support which three hundred In.
terested men can give will hurry the
erection and starting of the mill and
your cotton in 1900 should go into your
own mill.
We trust the farmers of Wake county
will try this, aud believe it will solve
the problem for all those who take part
in it. and if for them for others by
similar co operation, and there will
be no blocking trade or trust organ
ization among farmers to accomplish
the solution OF the price OF cotton by
this plan. We speak especially to
Wake farmers. If they succeed, the
movement will spread to other coun
ties. f. E E
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

gioning with No. 1, is left continuously
unfertiI ID, and the increase from fer,
tiliZ9rs is calculated by comparing the
yield of the fertiliz9d plot with that of
the two unfertilized plots between
which it lies. The plots contain one
tenth acre each. except in the short ro.
tation at the Substation, where they
are half that siz9.
In these tests Plot No. 2 receives,
during the course of each rotation.
plain acid phosphate at the rate of $50
pounds per acre, half OF which is given
to the wheat crop, while Plot 80 in the
long rotation, or Plot 33 in the short
one, receives instead mixture of 200
pounds acid phosphate, 300 pounds I'm
treated slaughterhouse tankege and 90
pounds muriate of potash 42O pounds
per acre in all-half the fertilizer in
this case also being applied to the
wheat crop. The wheat crop grown on
Plat 2 receives 100 pounds of plain acid
phosphate per acre, and that grown on
80 or 33 receives 210 pounds of the
mixture of acid phosphate, tankage
and muriate of potash per acre, while
previous crops in the rotation have had
like quantities.
The harvest of 1899 gives the six tn
crop grown in the long rotation and the
third in the short rotation at Wooster,
and the third in both rotations at
SErongville. Following are the aver
age results:
Bushels of Increase
per Acre.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31


NJ. Henry Stewart, of Highlands, Ma
con county, North Carolina, writing to
4r, n Y. Richards, land and indus
Eial agent of the Southern Rail way,
concerning sheep raising in Western
North Carolina, says:
This mountain regicn Is the most
favorable locality for various reasons,
as the cheapness OF lands, the larger
tracts that might be procured, and the
excellent growth Of grass possible, as
well as the most abundant supply OF
thepuyess water. Near here there is an
enormous quantity Of unleached land,
held il large tracts, that may be pre-
cured for very low prices, varying
IRON 81 to $40 an acre, on which the
timber standing is worth all the money.
These lands efford a vast quantity
Of the best feed for sheep, while the
Climate is we'll fitted for the summer
Pas.urage and rearing of lambs. So
lar during twelve years residence IN
This locality, 1 have not seen a winter
u which sheep have needed more than
So aggregate Of ten days hand feeding.
Up to March 1 my sheep last winter
Old 10. cost me ten cents each, and l
.sd little grain on account OF the
lambs, some Of which were two months
o1. The whole country traversed by
'ae Southern Railway is "a Ially we'll
adapted for sheep to be kept in smaller
Hacss on the farms, which may be pro
cured Tor q fourth Of the price Of those
u the North"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31
PRACTICAL FARM NOTES.
Written for The Progressive Farmer by
the Editors and Guy z. Mitchell.

Udtten for The Progressive Farmer by
the Editors and Guy z. Mitchell.
Fsmlin Garland's story, "Spoils of
OH,a published in 1892. by the Arena
Company, has an interesting word pic
., a Grange picnic This book, by th9
vsv. which does not picture conditions
"a accurately as it seemed to picture
them when it was published, still has
Lessons for thoughtful people. Follow
ing is a paragraph from the chapter
entitled The G. .ange Picnic"-the clos
inp sentences of Ida Wilbur's epef ca.
Il have a dream Of what is coming:
see a time when the farmer
will not need to live in cabin on a
lonelv farm. l see the farmers COM
ing together in groups. | see them
with time to Rad, aud time to visit
with their fellows. I see them enJoy-
ing lectures in beautiful halls, erected
in every village. l see them gather
Ike the Salons of old upon the green in
the evening to sing and dance. l see
cities rising near them with schools.
and churches, and concert halls, and
theatres. I see the day when the
farmer will no longer be a drudge and
bis wife b0nd slave, but happy men
aud women who will go singing to their
pleasant tasks upon their fruitful
farms When the boys and
girls will not 20 West nor to the city :;
when life will be worth living. In that
day the moon will be brighter and the
a:srs more glad, and pleasure, and
poetry, and love of life come back to
the man who tills the soil"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

and yet some people believe that be
cause hUckleberries grow wild in Samp
son, the whole county is one c0ntinu
Gus stretch of miasmatic swamp. Never
was greater mistake.
l moved my family from Raleigh to
lower Sam pson in the month OF July,
1896. We have been living at the same
place, in Franklin township, ever since,
and none OF US have had chill or a
case Of malarial fever. There hes never
been a case contracted on the place,
and yet my farm extends to within 100
yards Of Black River, and there has
been a mill pond on the place only IS
yards of the house. Just here and on
each side of Black River, there are
high sand hills covered with long leaf
pines and q climate as good as that
about Southern Pines or Pinehurst,
with rich bottom lands contiguous,
that produce CORP, Louisiana sugar
cane, wheat, oats, rice, cotton or any
other staple crop man needs to make.
Recent experiments have proven
that the sand hills Of Sampson and
Duplin counties produce as fine bright
leaf tobacco as the golden belt of Gran
vile, Walr3n and VaL CO, and the cost
OF cultivation is not more than half as
great. A farmer living near the rail.
road can have as many as Is different
money crops a year if he engages in
trucking, an then make his wn sup
plies of corn, beef, mutton, pork. &c
at home.
Scuppernong and other grapes, haws,
deg. tongue vanilla, and various medi
cinal plants grow wild in the woods
and we have bouquets OF wild fowers
in the vases from the time Of the trail
ing arbutus till the vegetation is killed
by the latest fros5s. In spring the
trees on the hills are festooned with
yellow je.samine, and now hairbells,
white and yellow daisies and a great
variety of other wild flowers give the
sand hills the appearance Of cultivated
flower gardens.
The more I see OF this section of our
State the more wonder that so little
is known Of it abroad or even among
our own people in other sections of
the State. Those who have lived here
all their lives do not appreciate it's ad
vantages and capabilities as they
should. No one has ever written about
it in the large editions of our daily and
weekly newspapers. A traveller on
the railroads sees nothing of it. He
notes the a osence of towns and factories
at the stations between Fayetteville
and Wilmington, and long stretches of
piney woods, wire grass, white sand
extend between the stations; but he
learns nothing OF the fertile lands and
beautiful hills and wales that lie along
the streams on each side Of the rail
road How can he, when no one tells
him of them9 N. B. COBB
Cottage Hill Farm, Sampson Co., N. Q.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

Ihe problem of raising tea in the
sOlIhera part of the United States has
Osen discussed for many years.
The growing of tea on the Pinehurst
estate at Summerville, 8. @, began
aOOuE ten years ago, and the crop for
sue season of 1899 amounted to nearly
5000 pounds.
q report on the results OF the expert
lent at Pinehurst has been prepared
" Dr. Charles q. Shepard, special
sent In charge Of lea culture investi-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

cations and will soon be issued by the
U. s. Department OF Agriculture as
Report 81, entitled, Tea Culture: The
Experiment in South Carolina"
The report states that, from the re
suits obtained on the Pinehurst plsnta
tion it seems probable that the cultiva
tion OF tea can be made profitable in
the warmer portions of the United
States In two ways. One is by estab-
fishing a plantation on the scale Of the
experiment at Summerville, with cap
ltal sufficient to carry the work TO a
point where the product cen be offered
on equal terms with tea holding an
established place in the markets of the
United States. The other is to grow
tea for home use in the farm garden.
In either case tea growing can be un-
dertaken safely only where the tenn
perature rarely goes below z9ro, and
whers a liberal supply Of water can be
depended upon. There is probably no
place in the United States where the
rainfall is sufficient for the best results
with the tea plant, and irrigation
should, where possible, be provided for
in growing tea. The Summerville ex-
pertinent was begun on q small scale,
but the planting has been gradually IN
creased until now over so acres are
planted in tea When the plants ar
rive at full bearing, the yield should be
at least 10, 900 pounds.
The problem of providing labor for
pluCking tea leaf has been solved 50
far as a steady and skilful band of
nimbIe fingered children goes; but its
COST is inor dinately high as compared
with the Orient. II was Indispensable
to secure reliable corps Of pickers
To meet this condition q comfortable
school house was built and competent
teacher engaged. The colored families
of the neighborhood were then invited
to send their children to the school free
of charge. They would be taught the
ordinary branches, and also would be
taught to pick tea, and so earn money
TO buy food end clothing. The offer
was accepted, and now there is a good
list of pupils to dra from.
The report also describes the build
ings az machinery used in making
the tea, and points out the most i'm
portant difficulties which confrcnt the
establishment Of this new industry in
the Southern States.
It will contain 9 plates and 4 text
figures.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

According to the New York World,
this country's grain crop of 1899
promises to be one of the greatest on
record. At the same time the short
ages in other grain producing countries
promise higher prices for our surplus
than have been known for years.
These are factors of national wealth
that nothing can disturb. They mean
money in the pockets of the people,
and as prices are high they mean a
vast deal of money to be spent in vivi
flying trade from top to bottom.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

1t will be observed that in every case
the substitution of tankage for part of
the acid phosphate has produced a
large gain in the increase OF crop, the
average for the fifteen crops Of Whea
being Sc bushels per acre on Plot 2
and 9 81 bushels on Plot 80 or 80, a
gain OF 3.78 bushels for the complete
fertilizer over the acid phospha te alone
At $15 per ton for acid phosphate,
$19 for tanksge and 23 cents per pound
for muriate of potash, these being the
prices actually paid for the fertilizers
used in these experiments, including
freight, the cost of the application to
Plot would be 81 % per acre, and of
that of Plot 80 or 49, 81 IS For IS
cents additional cost, therefore, we
have reaped in the average 78 bushels
irc ease of crop. This, however, is
only part of the gain, as the corn and
oats crops, preceding the wheat, are
showing a large gain in favor of the
complete fertilizer, as do also the hay
crops following.
1t appears, therefore, that the clover
is not furnishing sufficient nitrogen to
meet the demands of fall crop, and
that it is more economical to use fer
tilizsr containing a small percentage of
nitrogen (9mmonia) even though the
cost be somewhat increased, than to
use one which carries only phosphoric
acid,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

For it's practical value and as means
of education in the fundamental pro
cesses Of observing and thinking, no
work done in the country school is
superior to the accurate systematic
study of the weather and its effects on
vegetable and animal life, and through
these. on human industries. The child
should be taught the use of the baron
eter. maximum and minimum ther
mometers, and the rain guage. He
should learn to read the reports and
forecasts of the Weather Bureau, and
be made familiar with the principles on
which the forecasts are made. He
should also be shown how to use the
tables of comparative temperature,
moisture, etc. The farmer is more
closely related to the weather than any
other natural phenomenon, and the re
suit of his labors depends more directly
upon the weather than upon anything
else, the char acter of the soil not ex-
cepted.-N. @. Journal Of Education.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

This is what is said by dealer who
has had many years of experience at
one of the greatest horse markets of
the country. 'Never in the history of
horse raising was there wider differ
ence between plugs and good horses.
Farmers must give as much thought to
the selection Of both dam and sire as
they do to the breeding of cattle and
other 1--we stock. A coach horse that
will bring $500 is as easily raised as a
plug that will bring but $45. Such a
horse is useful en- the farm until the
time when he is ready for the market,
and can be used both to the pIow and on
the wagon. In case he lacks the style
or action necessary to bring fancy
price, he is still general purpose horse
and will bring a price that will be
prt f5abIe to the raiser"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

To keep posted read The Progressive
Farmer.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

such expression. The committee Of
nine may evolve something, and we
hope they will. But what can behope d
from storing cotton but a temporary
higher prics by thus taking advantage
OF the rise consequent on the shortness
of the crop2
Will not trying to do m0re, and to
control the crop as was proposed, be
actually an adoption Of trust methods
which most farmers and cotton grow
ers condemn9
Will not a general effort in this direc
ton result disastrously in long con-
tinued holding by adding interest and
storage charges until it may have been
better for the gro yer not to have held
it at all9
We are convinced that high pric9
this year accompanied by determine
ton to hold will secure the planting OF
q very large crop next year. Doyou
agree with us in this9 II 80, let US hear
from ou, and il not, tell US why it will
not. We wish to know.
We have proposed a Farmers Co
operatiUe Factory FOR WAKE COUNTY.
Why should not this factory be built,
equipped, and started to work in 19OOG
Can Wake county farmers count on
another fair price for cotton in the
next decade without this factory3
What can they count on for their
cotton with the factory2 We will try
to answer the last query IN a general
wav, briefly. We leave to others to
discuss the per cent. Of profit in cotton
factories. They are hands ]m9 profits
and you may, il you will, add the
manufacturers profit to the prlce you
will be able to get on the market for
your lint. This you can do BY START
ING THE COTTON FACTORY, AND IN no
other way we can conceive will you be
able to do it, or to do half as well as Oy
the factory plan. By this plan you
put into operation the progressive &C
operation principle which has been so
potent for good in other places and IN
dustries. You withdraw from the false
position Of condemning trusts while
putting one in operation. You will be-
come an active corporation helping TO
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-31

Money At our risk If sent by regisf cred letter
money order. Please don't send stamps.
"a sure to give both old and new addresses in
daring change of pOstOf1ce.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-26

has been for some time. Those who were
interested in the matter here have been
following il anXiousiy, and all of them.
even those whom the decision Is against
are glad that some end mas come, and that
the case Is settled.
The opinion of the members of the local
bar as TO the correctness of the decision
is almost equally divided There are not
lacking many. and some of these among
the leading and most learned lawyers in
the city. who contend that the decision
does not correctly state the law, and
that II is opposed to its plain provisions
and best established rules. They fortfy
this opinion with argument and the cita-
ton of authorities and are prepared to
defend the correctness of their view of
the matter anywhere except in the pub
lie prints. This they do not care to do or
to have what they SAG in regard to the
case and the decision of the Supreme
Court quoted by the newspapers. On the
other hand, there are many of the law
yers. of the same recognized stand
ing, who uphold the Supreme
Courts decision and say that II states the
law with absolute correctness. Amid such
an array of conflicting legal opinion,
layman may well afford to hold his tongue
and keep his own view of the matter 10
himself.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-26
BAILIFF A STATE OFFICER.
Election Day Means From Midnight
TO Midnight.

Atlanta, April 2-Under a decision OF
the Supreme Court to-day, in the case of
the Rose Liquor Company of Atlanta. the
point Is settled that a baiiff is a state
officer and that an election for bailff Is
within the act regulating elections.
Last fall saloons in this city opened
their doors after the closing of the polls
on the day when an election for bailiff was
held. They did so upon the plea that cleo
ton day closes when the polls are closed,
and that, therefore, they had a right to
open their doors.
The contention was carried to the SUI
preme Court as a test case, and il is.
therefore, of general interest throughout
the state, as Il affects the liquor business
generally.
The Supreme Court holds that an cleo
ton day is from midnight to midnight,
and that the closing of the polls has moth
ing to do with its termination.
Ii also holds that a bailff is state of
ficer, and the election for bailiff Is subject
to all the laws regulating elections for any
state officer