The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-09-05
RALEIGH, N. G., SEPTEMBER 5, 1899.

SSAH uaNO B64 hCE0S Al Oh Sa46F0 COEDS
then If near railroad have some truck
crops, not to exceed ten acres. After
all things grow what cotton you can
and you will find fifty acres all you
can manage and this will be a clear
profit.
Poultry and fruit are both much
neglected aud from these a good in,
come can always be gotten il man,
aged intelligentIy and carefully. The
times of ten cent cotton, one dollar
peanuts and high priced tobacco have
passed, so we must change, but we
must go home and study out our plans
each man to- suit his surroundings. Go
slow, but change slowly and gradually.
Try a diversity of crops to make them
all success, and il there be any chance
for success you will have it.
For years we have tried cotton at a
low price. A part of the farmers have
made some money by making tobacco;
others by turning their attention to
stock, and dairying, while others have
made money by going in the truck
business until now all seem to be over
done or approaching that point, and q
dismal future stares US in the face, yet
we must not despair. We have fac
tories springing up all around US over
our Southland. Towns which have
been insignificant are becoming cities.
and the clamorous cries for food will
be heard calling for the produce OF our
land.
Shall we not be ready to supply
these demandsG Certainly we shall;
80 get your crops so diversified that
you may be aole to sell anything
wanted.
I would like to present to you a
change from the present system to a
system of rotating the crops grown on
our lands.
There are fields in this county in
which cotton has been planted for pos
sibly twenty years. Do you not know
this is all wrongs
There are certain elements in vege
table matter which cannot be derived
from guanos, aud you have not stable
manure enough to supply it; 90 you
lind it necessary either to rest part of
your land every year, or plant part of
your crop in cotton, oats, corn, tobacco
or peanuts, and each crop should be
planted on a different field each year
or two. This years crop of cotton
should next year go in corn, the next
year to oats or rested, and the third
year go back to cotton or tobacco or
peanuts, then to cotton again. II you
will follow this plan you will find high
manuring to pay we'll; but if you do
not rotate you will fail to make pay
ing crops year after year, I have seen
cotton on land which the previous year
was in corn grow and make far bet
ter crop than another field, even bet
ter land on which cotton was grown
the preced ing year. The same rule of
rotation applies to corn. tobRc3o or
peanuts, and all grain crops.'
I would suggest change OF manur
ing our lands, by the use OF the COW
pea. Try any field you may in any
crop; let it be sown down the preced
ing year in peas, and ploughed under
in November or December, and select
some of your other land upon which
you have housed a crop Of cotton, to
bacco, and watch the results.
It is absolutely necessary to keep our
lands in high state of cultivation,
and this is one OF the cheep3st ways
possible. I should judge a good coat
of peavines worth from 300 to 500
pounds of guano on each acre. Soyou
put this improvement to practical use
for poor, worn out or over cropped
land Get your lands then manure
heavily, and whether seasons are wet
or dry, cold or hot, you will do better
than your neighbor, who merely ploWs
up his land, and plants seed regardless
of previous condition or cultivation.
Let me call ; our attention also to the
compost heap; you cannot neglect
this. Haul woods mould out of swamps
all through the summer up to the yard,
and mix with lime or kainit, and apply
on truck crops especially, or any crop
you wish broadcast, then plow or dig
in thoroughly to give good results.
Try every means in your power to
increase production, if you can make
increased production pay the expense
of Improvement. Do not rely entirely
upon guano; while it is necessary and
you can't succeed without il yet sup
ply the soil with plant life in some
other way. There is another thing,