davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

The constant calls upon the Depart
ment Of Agriculture from farmers and
others regarding the condition in
Puerto Rico has caused Secretary Will
son TO send an agent to that island to
investigate its conditions aud prepare
a Systematic report on the subjects
which the farmers of the United States
are desirous of knowing. This agent
has had the beet sugar subject in hand
during the past years and he will make
special note as to the sugar industry IN
Puerto Rico, the possible cost of sugar
production, the price OF labor, the cli-
mate, etc. A good portion of the South
side of the island is semi arid, the rain
clouds passing over that section and
condensing on the mountains, which
run the length of the island. Later
methods may develop some plan for
irrigating this southern strip, in which
case a considerable capacity will be
added to the island. Reports constant
ly received, however, including the
letters from the U. 8. Consular officers
on the island, go to show that the
country has not yet reached a stage OF
development when it is advantageous
from a business standpoint, for Ameri.
can merchants or farmers to move
down there.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
RALEIGH, N. c., FEBRUARY z, 1899.

ever, from various standpoints. Prob
ably most farmers believe in this sort
of seed distribution. On the other
hand a party who is employed in
making up packages for the congress.
sional free seed distribution of turnips,
radishes, beets, etc, objects to the
small wages allowed for this work, and
complains that only part of the appro-
priation allowed by Congress for seed
distribution is employed by the Secre,
tary for the Congressional quota, but
that he uses a whole lot of money in
sending off to foreign countries to buy
all sorts of stuff with.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
CHEAP COTTON AND OTHER
FARMING MATTERS.

correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
There are two sides to all questions,
assuredly. And while the majority of
the farmers are reaIizingtha there is no
profit in raising cotton at and cents,
some one who knows, and has made
the experiment, can tell you that it can
be produced at 2 cents; and it can-no
doubt of it. But the one who does it
does not do the work or make his liv-
ing by that cotton. Don't forget that.
These two-cent cotton producers are
not farmers any more than the Queen
of England. Because a man owns a
piece Of land does not make him a
farmer. These would be farmers will
buy. a piece of. .land, five or six old mules.
put up as many huts, get as many
negro families and crop it on shares. y
Each family is required to plant two.
thirds OF his crop in cotton and to get
at least eight bales of cotton and each
mule brings his owner four bales and a
years provender. Take eff the tax
about so cents on the mule and 75
cents on 80 acres of land valued low
DOWN, then the interest on the invest
ment $15, and this would -ba farmer
takes an inventory, counts up his costs
and says, -four bales cotton, 1000
pounds lint, cost me $16 25, or less than
one cent. Fair wages for myself would
be one cent more. I do positively as
sert that cotton can be proftably raised
at 2 cents" He is a farmer, and one
who sees fortune in farming; yet he
never farms. wonder how he would
like to live as those negro troopers dot
Does he ever think Of their condition
or care anything about it9 Any per-
LcoHZI!IlIII.-I aA @ ]
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

Prof. W o. AJwater, the sgent OF
the Department of Agriculture, who
has been making some extensive beef
analyses states: Il have it from high
authority within few days that state
ments now being circulated in the pub
lie press IN the United States are being
used by foreign governments in defense
CT the restrictions they have attempted
to put upon the Importation Of Ameri
can meats, and that the injury done to
the trade is very great"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

present session are so few, however,
that there is little likelihood Of the bill
being so reached and while it's friends
are hopeful of success at this session,
the chances are that it will again fail
OF enactment. Unless it should be so
reached in it's regular order the only
way for it to get before the Senate
would be to give it special preference
which must be by unanimous consent.
This is not likely.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

The meat investigating business OF
the war commission has called atten,
tIon to the vest amount of meat pro
Quced IL the United States, not only
tor home consumption, but for export.
The Importance of the meat industry
ls' IN fact, much greater than is com
monty supposed. According to the
Commissioner Of LABOR, meats form
our largest manufacturing products
next to textiles. The value of the an
nual pEooucUs Of slaughteripg and
meat pack. .ng IN 1890 had reached IN
round numbers 1865, OOO,OOO that OF
textiles oI all kinds being 1922, 600, ,OOU.
Next below meats come -four and mill
Ing products at 1914, 100000 and iron
and Steel at F451, 600 600.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
THAT THREE CENT COTTON.
What Progressive and Practical Farmer
Says.

What Progressive and Practical Farmer
Says.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
In your paper of January 24sh is an
allusion to a cultured farmer of Iredell
county who raised a crop of cotton last
year at a cost of less than three cents
a pound.
We have many ignorant farmers
who have never kept an account Of the
cost of any crop, and if such were to
see the above article it might lead
them to believe they, too, could live on
cotton if it fell little more in price.
I have been farming in Craven
county for more than fifty years, and
half century ago we raised a little
cotton, what was needed for the old
spinning wheel and loom, to make
clothes for the family.
We have been raising little cotton
ever since, and I know the items Of
cost of most of the crops raise, and I
have never learned yet how to raise
less than a five hundred pound bale of
cotton to the acre at cost of less than
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

Southern planters may be interested
to know that the Department of Agri
culture has received from Japan or
China q large consignment OF rice
seed for experimentation in the South
ern fields. Some two hundred sacks
have already been reported as landed
of a meo ium sized, rather short chubby
grain, which the Departments agent
seems to think the most advantageous
variety for trial in this country. The
grain is of course shipped in the husk
paddy. Prof. KpRpp, of Iowa, who
has been making a specially of rice
varieties, has been during the past
season in the Orient studying the sub
ject, and while no accompanying word
has yet been received from him, this
short grained variety is probably his
preference, though other and smaller
samples are expected from him for
trial. 1t Ia not, however, probable
that any thing like sufficient quantity
Of seed will be available 20 meet the
demand of Southern planters, as many
applications have been already re-
celved, one man stating that he would
like to have sixty bushels in order to
experiment in a modest way. II the
Department can, by introducing i'm
proved varieties of species, increase
the yield or acreage of American fields,
it will be doing a good turn to the
farmers, and this sort of seed distribu
tion is what was contemplated in the
original provision to allow free seed.
Various people look at subjects, how
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

The Agricultural Department estl-
mates the value of exports Of American
meats during 1897 at about 1927, ,OOO,-
600, and that during 1898 1t rose to
$198 900, 600, but the fear is that owing
to the meat controversy and denuncia-
tions now progressing, the values for
the coming year may be reduced in
stead o. increased.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
pRACT1CAL FARM NOTES.

Written for The Progressive Farmer by
the Editors and Hon. Guy z. Mitchell.
The retentive power Of soils for
water and for fertilizing constituents
declines rapidly with a decrease in its
humus content. Herein lies the value
of a manure containing some body as
against a concentrated fertilizer.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

The agricultural committee Of the U.
3. Senate " Iii probably, by the time this
reaches print have reported the pure
tood bill TO the Senate with favorable
recommendation. AS soon as so re
ported the bill goes on the Senate
calendar to be taken up in it's regular
order. The working days left to the
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
$118 95

S41O 30
This shows net profit of -. .$38 81
It will be seen from these items that
this cotton, though more than a 500
pound bale per acre, cost abOnt cents
per pound. 1t will be seen that no
charges we're made for wear and tear
OF farm implements neither for rent of
land, as consider both these items are
more than paid for in the increase in
value of the land properly fertilized
for cotton. This plot was checked 4
feet by 80 inches and pIowed twice
the narrow way, which saved much
hoe work. do not always check cot
ton, but when there is large crop of
truck planted in our midst, / check
my cotton, for I know labor will be
scarce, as hands here will not WORK by
the day when they can get job work
that pays more.
If cur Bro. BrawIey from Iredell.
when he weighs and markets his COT
ton, will give US his items of expense
and profit. some of us may learn a USE
ful lesson in farming, but the mere
statement Of three cent cotton ia mis-.
leading and may induce some one to
further bankrupt himself trying to
raise cotton for three ceDts.
Ny opinion is that the farmer who
cannot raise 500 pounds lint cotton to
the acre on ordinarily favorable years,
had better retire from the business, as
the less he makes the more it costs
him, and the reverse.
I mix all my fertilizers end use,
where I supplement guano, after my
compost Is exhausted, from three to
four hundred pounds of fertilizer 8 per
cent. ammonia, per cent. phosphoric
acid and to per cent. potash per
acre. Corn follows cotton, generally,
without additional fertilizing. NV
land is all cropped in something every
year, and rests by rotating crops.
D. L.
Bellair, N. c.. Jan. 90, 1899.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

~ an standGng gOSO rust behind the
,vrtain, and if1 fGH gLOtU Of the coming
,.fnSst. Behind me are the SEGdOtGs on
iEs track, before me lies the dark GALLEY
srd the TtUeT. When I RIiTSgIe tCtth ste
G1-L ,gaters 1 ECdHt to cast one LfTggeT-
Igo look upon country IUhOse govern
u,srt IS Of the people, for the people,
md by the people. "-L. L. Polk, july
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
Has the L argest

Has the Largest
Circulation and IS
the oldest, LaTg
est, and only all
Home rinC Farm
Paper in that Rich
arm in e and
TruckIr e section
9etW e e n ktch"
mond, Va and
Savannah, Ga.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
No So

tour cents pound. have averaged
600 pounds of lint to the acre at q frac-
tlon under four cents a pound. AS I
am quite small farmer CSC acres in
all crope), only cultivate ceres in
cotton, and wiH, if you will allow the
space, itemize the cost and returns
from my acres for 1898:
Four acres cotton. DR..
To breaking and narrowing. .S5 90
running rows both ways. 100
40 loads compost, hog lot
sCraPings and ! ton cotton
seed. d...............,.. 900
6OO pounds fertilizer. ....... 90
:" putting manure in drill l...... 90
" bedding land. ................ 80
" 2 bu, select seed and planting Q 90
ploWings. Observation-Disclosures. 10 90
" hoeing twice. ce.............. 8 90
picking $3.50 pounds at 4Oc.. 95 40
ginning and bagging bales II So
g marketing bales. .... 200
879 68
Or.
By 2,129 lbs. lint cotton 81O2 3b
two tons seed. ... Is 90
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

Has the largest
circulation Of any
family agricultu-
raj or political
paper published
betWe cen Ric b.
m0ud ard Atlanta
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07
PUBLISHED WE KLY

Dro,ev at our risk if sent by regis cred letter
So1sv order. Please don't send stamps.
=Ra sure TO give both old and new addresses in
,r5ering change of pOstofice.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

p.sIs of Advertising Rates: ten cents per agate
1y1s Liberal discounts for time and space.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

The Edition. are not responsible for the views
4 Correspondents.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

CONTINUED ON PAGE 81
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER is the Official
Organ of the North Carolina Farmers State
Alliance
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

Or.
By 2, 129 lbs. lint cotton $102 36
two tons seed ...... is 90
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
CHICKEN PHI,
Our folks h:

Our folks nave Jest cleaned UP a chicken
pie,
An Eommynated me to tell the tale.
Wen, asst We ketched a hen that he'd her
eye
On settin'-when her egg desires got
sale;
Vi course. we didn't do a thing 70 her,
But chcp her head off-she was butter fat,
But scrter aged, If you judge her spur,
But chicken pie, seq /, vii, settle that.
ihey cut her up from wing way dow to
heart,
The women f~olks-they soaked her over
night.
And then they billed her till she fell apart.
An so'St the flavor would come out Jest
right.
They billed an onion an a lemon, 100,
Right with that c~hicken-then the chill
Gren gnawed
Inc bones 10 start our appytite anew.
Ma lined the dish with pie crust, then she
drawed
cup OF cream. an beat an egg up white,
with two big spoons OF fiou--;hey laid
the meat
Inside the diSh-it made a hungry sight.
linen mixed egg cream and -four and soup
complete
An poured it in-then put a crust OF top.
An baked it till the smell jest seemed TO
fill
The kitchen-but / guess IL have to stop;
4Iy mouths a-waierin' so my tongue
stands still.
Rural New Yorker.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
WHEN TO CUT hay.


As a general proposition it is best
10 cut hay just as il is blooming: but
this rule may be subject to moditica-
tons according rs we want the hay for
feeding dairy cows, horses or other
stock. For horses it is probably bet
ter to have the hay well along toward
maturity. Storer in one Of his books
SAP that "one strong objection that
works against the early cu:c-g of hay
is the tendency OF hay made from
immature grasses to loosen the bowels
of animals hat feed upon il. This
fact alone precludes the use of such
hay for working horses. All newly
made hay has a laxative and loo>cning
effect upon animals. Such hay cannot
be sold to the keeper of Il livery stable,
because. as he would say, he has no
wish to soften down his horses. Horse
keepers are of the opinion that this
laxative quality of new hay endures
until the hay has passed through a
process of sweating. which occurs in
the mow. No matter how dry the hay
is at the time it is put in the barn. it
Is held that it Will always sweat some
what in the NOW. BY October the
process is completed. so that tic" hay
is fit for use, provided it was ripe
enough when mCwn. But in the ease
of hay made from young grass. as
rowen. for example. the medicinal
quality persists. and such hay is
thought to be always unfit for horses
that are kept at work, since il is apt
to weaken them. to make them sweat
easily. and to render them liable to
stumble"
Such is the opinion of Storer. How
far it is borne ont in the experience of
western farmers is rather difficult TO
say.-FarmrrS' Review.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
FARMING.
Better Than u Large Farm
SuperGciaiiy Titled.

As soon as We learn in this country
that fewer acres better cultivated are
better than many acres Carelcssly cul-
tivated, the greater VIII be the profits
OF farming. The great extent and
original CheaPHeS~ Of our farming lands
have been Il de;rimcnt 10 us acricui-
t~urally. Thousands got their farms at
$l.2j an acre. and even less. added 10 the
original claim as rapidly as possible,
and engaged in farming all out dours.'
Almost necessarily such farming is
~loCscly done. When there are but few
acres under cultivation. they must be
made to prodlce what We need. and
they can he with less expenditure of
time and effort. The English farmer
corlpe.S his few acres to Weld as much
OF our many acres do. because his sys-
TEN is more perfect. The farms OF the
future will be smaller. The time will
CCme-aftcr we are gone-whcn herds
will not rove over great fields. but will
be soiled; when tine wheat and corn
crops Will be made to more than double
the present average weld. and when
farming VIII lie less irkSoI>e because its
operation will he more contracted in
every respect. ii these things will he
profitable and desirable then. why
would they not be profitable and &C.
sirable now?-Westcrn PlowGnan.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
HE WAS SAVAGE.
Being Contrary and Dis
agreeable.

AS | boarded the summer car ! no.
.iced the man in thc back seat scowled
at me as il" hung tight to the standard
and let me scramble over his feet. but
| thought nothing ui il. FOR | had par
ticuiar reasons for fcclin" clatcd that
morning. At last I could no longer
keep my chuI!icnt JOY of things in gen
cral 10 myself. and turned to him with
the remark that il was beautiful
weather.
"Ieautiful." said he, with Il savage
snarl. I'd like TO Eno" how you maze
it ont. Don't YOU scc that dust coming
along in clouds? I:y the time you get
downtown it viii he all over your
clothes, ground into your face and
hands. and Your lungs Will be full of
it. Now. will you just tell me why you
think this is such fine w~ca:her??'"
We'll" said l.. the sun is shining
brightly and-cr-the-thc flowers are
III bloom, and-cr-. all that, you
know"
oh, it is. is it." he snapped. Don't
you know that lovely sunshine will wilt
your collar and curdlc the last drop of
your milk of human kindness? And as
for flowers. you can't eat en-
- suppose said !. somewhat net
tied, that you prefer rainy OF wintry
weather.
He glared at me with absolute fcroci-
". but that was the only reply | rot.
| stole two or three curious chances at
his darkling ~coun-cnance, but present.
" | reverted To the glceful thoughts
which had possessed me since last
night, and forgot his disagrccabIeness.
As we stopped a the car barns a mo-
mcnt my eve lit on the new sign the
street car company has put up for the
benefit of the lady passengers, and in
an u%nguardcd momen remarked they
were a good thing.
Good thing" he gruntcd. Don't
YOU know what those signs are for!
They are to make Il damage case de-
Tense strong when a malicious motor
man jerks a car mp when a m is
getting or. That's what they are for"
Ky this time ! was rather on my met
tie. and resolved TO thaw him out if
possible. but it was time wasted. |
venturCd the assertion hat our hovs
in the Philippines Were GOVERN" them
selves with glory. and he howled in
vicious dissent. I tried him on the
wireless telegraph and found it was Il
humbug. There was nothing in the
whole created universe that was not
cxecrably bad. and he even sneered at
the deeds of Dewey. That Was the last
straw, and I lost my temper.
Sir" said l. you are the most disa-
greeable human porcupine it has been
my lot TO meet. What is the matter
with you. anyhow? Isn't there any
thing in the world that suits vou?."
No" he roared. I've got a tooth
ache. a jumping. pounding ID Of a
tGothache. and l don't give a who
knows it,"-Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
FOREIGN GOSSIP.
The Tyrol has Go5 licensed A.lpir

The Tyrol has to- licensed Alpine
guides.
New South Wales contains more flow,
erin@ plants than all Europe.
Hawaii has asst Mormons. of whom
4,36o are natives OF the islands.
The ~scabbards worn by Russian Of
fcers are made OF papier-mache.
Japan has considerably more than
half as many inhabitants as the United
States, though II country is % times
its area.
\ remarkable feature of India is the
number OF deserted capitals. There are
no fewer then three old Delhis, all close
to each other, and south of the present
city.
During the last 60 years 10000 Ital-
ians emigrated via Genoa to South
America-an average of $1,000 4 year.
Within the same period at least 100000
of these returned to Italy.
Sandwich men in London are not
permitted 70 parade on the sidewalks.
They nus keep close to the curb. how
ever, and not nearer than 30 feet from
the next man bearing a placard.
Mistrials rarely occur IN criminal
cases in Germany. y VOC of six TO six
acquits the prisoner; Il vote of seven to
FIVE leaves the decision 10 the court:
and Il vote of eight TO four means con-
viction.
Fire is an essential in some wedding
celebrations. In Persia the service is
read in front OF n fire. In Nicaragua
the priest. taking the couple eachbvthe
little finger, leads them to an apart
ment where n fire is lighted. and there
instructS the bride in her duties. ex-
tinguiShin% it by way of conclusion.
In Japan the woman kindles Il torch,
and the bridegroom lights one from it,
the playthings OF the wife being burnt
then AID there,
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
REMEDY FOR P
1t Is Always Effective and Can Be
Applied Without DanGe to the
lounges Birds.

There are several remedies for
sapes, but the difficulty is that some
times the chicks must be handled. The
difficulty occurs mostly on farms upon
which fowls have been kept for Yeas.
1t i caused by a collection Of small,
~threadlikc worms in the windpipe of
the chicken. To kill these worms and
not injure the chicken is laborious.
Take Il glass tube with Il small rubber
bulb (Which aPothecGrics sell for a
"medicine-Gropper'D. half fill il with
camphoratcd oil, and inserting the tip
III the windpiPe, discharge the oil. \
small oil can used for sewing machines
may serve in place of the medicine
dropper. Operate as follows: Place the
chicken back down between your knees
and hold it gently; open the bin and
draw the tongue. Seize the lower man
dibie and tongue thus drawn out Ee-
tween the forcfiUTer and thumbrail OF
the left Hand. This Will bring into view
the opening into the windPipe at the
base OF the tongue, into which gently
insert the tube and discharge the oil.
using about II drop. Close the bill
and hold the head still for u few sec
onds. Then let the chicken 90. and it
VIII cough, scattering some Of the Oil
out. but enough remains TO destroy the
worms. and they will be coughed up
and swallowed. The @apcs continue for
some time after the treatment. but the
remedy viii be effcctual in every case
if properly applied. and it may be read
i'll repeated, if considered worth while.
as often as necessary. After 4 little
practice it is very easily applied and al
ways succeeds. \ LreaGcrumb upon
which is n or two drops Of a mixture
OF camphorated oil and oil of turpen-
tine forced down the throat is some
times ctfectual. but it does not always
reach the windpipe. Pulling cut the
worms with the strip of a feather is
painful TO the chick.-Farm and Fire.
side.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-06-17
Ants and Their Effects.

Small. soft and feeble as the white
ants are. yet by their numbers and
powers of destruction they have infiu-
enced to some extent both the arcEi-
lecture and ais" the civilization of the
country. TO ;neir ravages. which pre-
vent much the use of timber. is in a
great measure due the massive solidity
of the grander Indian edifces. and by
their devouring of paper and docu-
ments they have restricted the cult
walton of literature; they have rem
dered the preservation of books diff
cult; they have continuously destroyed
the records that would have thrown
light on the history q the past
"Haunts of an Indian Official"