davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-09
SOME ESSENTIALS OF WHEAT GROWING
A Successful Virginia Farmer Tells What Ex-
perience Has Taught Him.

Successful Virginia Farmer Tells What Ex-
perience Has Taught Him.
In the first place wheat should be
sown on stubble land. It is import
ant to recognize at the outset that a
very large percentage of farming
land of this section is not adapted to
profitable wheat growing. Less than
fifteen bushels to the acre will not
pay at the present price of wheat.
Some of the land especially insult
able for wheat is land from which
the nitrogen, humuS, and other vege-
table matter has been exhaused, and
land filled with briars and sassafras
bushes and like filth. Farmers hav-
ing such land should get a small
flock of Angora goats and have it
thoroughly cleaned by pasturing
them on it before trying to grow
wheat on it. Wheat grows best after
clover, peas, soy beans or some of
the legumes or nitrogen gatherers.
Still if the land is properly fertilized,
good results may be obtained after a
corn crop, but the yield of wheat can
usually be increased by sowing a
crop of peas at the last cultivation of
the corn, and if the corn is cut off
as soon as it is glazed, and shocked,
which is really the only economical
method of saving fodder of the peas,
will make a very good growth before
frost, but if the corn is left on the
ground and the blades pulled off and
tops cut, the pea crop will be cut
short. The stalks will be in the way
and at least one third of the value of
the fodder lost Next to the right
selection and proper fertilization of
the soil, comes the preparation of
the seed bed. The land should be
deeply plowed and finely pulverized.
1t must be remembered that all the
cultivation that wheat gets, it must
get before it is sOwed, and in order
that the roots penetrate the ground
property ~ do AOU w OC easily uIL1-
aged by winter frosts, and that the
soil absorb and conserve the moist
ure, it is highly important that all
clods be broken up and thoroughly
pulverized. This also renders Il value
to all the latent plant food within
the soil. This can best bS done by
blowing the ground as early as pos
sible then harrow and roll it several
times until it is in proper condition
before seeding. In sowing corn land,
the old method of sowing wheat
down on the stalks and plowing in
with shovel plow is a very poor one
in several reasons. In the first place
the land is never gotten into proper
shape for the reception of the seed
bv this process. Much of the seed is
covered too deep and rendered un-
productive, and the whole job is a
botch from start to finish. The re-
suit is, even on land fairly we'll fer
tilted, usually a poor crop of wheat.
Robert Poteet, Bland Co., Virginia.
To the credit Of the Alliance it
can be said that rarely, if ever, has
an Alliance appeared as defend
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-09
FILLING UP THE sILO.
JOEL SHOEMAKER

Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
Not only for winter feeding but for
summer also is ensilage one of the
best and most economical food for
the dairy COWS. 1t looks as if the
Old-time pasture fields We're con-
demned in localities where farming
land is expensive. believe with the
owner of a large fancy dairy, that
where land is worth as much as 800
an acre it is a losing game to pasture
it. Indeed, believe itIwOuld prove
so in nine cases out of ten where the
land is worth only $65 or $75 per acre.
Such land is usually located within a
pretty reasonable distance of a large
city and good dairy market.
Now if it is to be made at all profit
able for dairy purposes it must be
done so through the silo. You can
raise so much more food on an acre
in this way, and extend the feeding
period over such a long season that
you are bound to make a profit if
there is any in the business.
Ensilage produces a higher and
richer quality of milk through the
summer season than most pastures.
OF course rich, succulent June grass
furnishes the best food for this pur-
pose, but June is with US only
short time. After that the June
grass grows larger and the. pastures
dry up and lose the qualities that
made the milk so rich earlier. Corn
ensilage produces the very best food
for the COWS, and it is better to turn
the pasture fields into corn fields for
filling the silo, pnd raise the hay for
additional feeding in another field.
With good hay, ensilage for coarse
fodder and fair proportion of grain,
we can raise the finest dairy herd in
the world, and make the milk flow
not only large but unusually rich.
These seem like artificial conditions,
and l do not doubt but the COWS
would miss the clean, sweet pastures !;
but the dairy COW today is machine,
and we treat her as "a machine. We
feed her for the purpose of getting
the greatest returns from her. There
is no sentiment in the matter. 1t is
purely a business proposition. Some
people may keep pet COWS for the
sentiment, but farmers and dairy
men give the very best treatment to
their COWS because they expect to
make money out of it. They have
found that kind treatment, liberal
feeding and good care of the COWS
pay in the end. Therefore every
wise dairyman adopts these rules and
practices and enfOrces them on his
farm. E. p. SMITH.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-09
THE FARMER AND THE RED SPIDER
Laurinburg EXCHANGE.


A few weeks ago some samples of
"Red Spider" cotton were forwarded
from this section to the Agricultural
Department at Washington City.
The following letter to Hon. John/D.
Cellamy, Congressman from this
district, is the result Of this action.
AS this is a subject in which all the
farmers of this community must be
deeply interested. as the principle
crop seems to be doomed by this in
sect we gladly make room for the
entire letter:
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Division of Entomology,
Washington, D. c., Aug Is, 1900
DEAR SIR Il am in receipt of let
ters of July 24 and August II, which
have been referred to this Division
by the Division of Vegetable Physi-
ology and pathology, together with
accompanying specimens.
The stalks of cotton which you
send show the presence of what has
been termed the cotton mite CTet-
ranychus g1ouerj Banks. It is a
near relative of the so-called red
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-09

To the credit Of the Alliance it
can be said that rarely, if ever, has
an Alliance appeared as defend
ant in the criminal courts.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
Aftermath of storm.

Norwich, March 2.-The aftermath of yesterdays heavy rain was apparent to-day in the swollen condition of the river. which has raised it to the high est point it has been for several years. In the lower portions of the city the water backed up lso that many mer- chants had their cellare flooded before they were enabled to remove their goods and considerable loss was sus- tained. The several mills on the She tucket and Quinebaug were obliged to shut down to-day on account of the high water and the 5000 or more oper- atives will probably have until Monday for a holiday. At the junction of the Shetucket and Quinebaug at Taftville the river overhowed its banks and the orchards and meadows were submerged to the depth of two feet in some places. It is considered fortunate that there was no ice, as otherwise appalling ef- fects might have resulted. The reser- voir which contained the city's water supply is to-day filled to it's limit, al- though six weeks ago it had reached the loves. point since it had been built and a water famine was threat ened to q degree.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
popEREcEIvEs IN THRONE noom
Addresses Prelntes of Sacred College
 Spraks Of the War.

Rome, March 2.-The pope this after noon received in the throne room the members of the Sacred college and the Roman prelates, who presented his ho- liness with congratulations upon the oc- casion of his birthday. The pontiffs reply was read by Monsgnor Misciatel- H. After thanking the prelates for their wishes as to his health the pope dwelt on the divine mercy (which sometimes makes use of the weakest to guide, dur ing many years, Peters bark" He re- ferred to the Holy Year celebrations and the demonstrations in honor of Gi ordano Bruno (the Italian philosopher), attributing the latter to the work of Satan, and concluded with expressing his keen desire that blood would cease to flow in South Africa, "where two peoples, although brothers, are elaugh- tering one another" and hoped they would soon meet and embrace in the kiss of peace.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
RELIEF CoLUMN,s APPEARANCES.
How the Troops Under Dundonald
 Pushed Through 10 Lndy smith.

London, March 3.-Winston Churchill who accompanied the Ladysmith relief column, telegraphing his experiences, says:
 During the afternoon of February 2S the cavalry brigades pressed forward under Colonel Burk- -Murdetch toward Bulwana Hill, and under Lord Dundon- aid in the direction of Ladysmith. The Boers fired on both with artillery from Bnlwana. About o'clock Major Coughs regiment, which was in the advance, found the ridges surrounding and concealing Ladysmlth apparently unoccupied, He reported the fact to Lord Dundonald, who determined to ride through the gap with the Light Horse and Carbineers
 "The rest of the brigade was sent back to General Buffers picket line. It was evening when we started. About an hour of daylight remained. We gal loped on swiftly, in spite of the rough ground, up and down hill, through scrub and rocks and dongas until we could see the big guns flashring from Wagon Hill, but on we went faster until suddenly there came challenge from the scrub Who goes there?' The relieving army" we replied, and then the tattered and almost bootless men crowded around, cheering very feebly. Even in the gloom we could see how thin and pale they looked, but how glad they were.''
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
PUTNAM POISON MYSTERY,
James Manson Now Believed to be Out
 of Danger.

Putnam, March 2.-James Manson, who was brought to the Day -Kimball hospital Saturday, suffering from mer- curial poisoning evidenced such mark ed improvement this afternoon that all danger of any fatal result is removed. The man has recovered from his de- lirium and talked at considerable length despite his weak condition. However, his mind seems to be blank with reference to the alleged poisoning. For the past few days the attending phy- sician has not apprehended any fatal results. While gossip has been fruit full in rumors the fact that the parties who have been suspected of possibly being involved in the affair have evil denced no intention of concealing their whereabouts from the police officials ad have talked the affair over very freely with the properly officials has led to believe that the case is devoid of the sensational features that have been ex- plotted.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
TnIe-EOIumbta Meet.

New York March 2.-Columbia and Yale held dual gymnastic contest in the gymnasium of the former university tonight. In addition the local collegi- ans had Cornell as opponents in several bouts with the fois The competition between Columbia and Yale was for a banner and included work on the hori- zontal and parallel bars, flying rings, club swinging, side horse and tumbling. Aside from the points of individual ex- ceIlence scores were made for the tro- phy on basis of five for first, three for second and one for third. The gymnasium was crowded by admirers If uollAeidte sports. The work of all the athletes was clean cut and well en- titled to the applause it received.
 Yale started gathering points by cap- turing first and third in the horizontal bar event. Eliason's work for the blue was particularly strong. The summa- ries:
 Horizontal bar-Won by E. l.. Elia- son. Yale, 27 points; second, Delafeuntie, Columbia, 26 poinths; G. Alvin, Yale, third, 24 23 points.
 Parallel bars-G. H. Whipple, Yale, won, 2S points; Eastmond, Columbia, second, 26 points; Eliason, Yale, third, 20 points.
 Flying rings-De Young, Columbia, won, 261a points; Earl, Columbia, sec ond, 23 1-6 points; Delafeuntie, third, 20 5-6 points.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK
TO SPEAK AT THE OHIO SOCIETIES
 BANQUET TONIGHT.
An Experience With Drunken Man on Ferry Coming from New Jersey. Fellow Shakes Hands With Mckinley Before His Condition is DiscOvered- Taken Away by Detectives.

New York, March 2.-President Me- Kinley and his party reached Jersey City at 4:50 o'clock this afternoon. They were met by the presidents brother, Abner Mckinley, and Mabel Mckinley, his niece. The'whole party entered car- riagee and boarded the Twenty-third street ferryboat for New York. On board the ferryboat, coming from Jer- sey City, a well dressed man approach ed the presidents carriage, shock hands with MT. Mckinley and commenced to speak. His voice betrayed the fact that he had been drinking and the de- tectives who were guarding the presi dent led the man away.
 Upon the arrival of the party in this city the carriages were driven through West Twenty-fourth street to Madison square, where for the first time the president obtained a view of the Dewey arch. The party at 5;30 o'clock reached the Manhattan hotel. Special prepara- tions had been made at the hotel in hon. or of the distinguished patrons. The presidents flag hung from one of the windows of the state apartments. Over the entrance of the parlor was an Amer ican flag artistically draped. The apart ments to which MT. and Mrs. Mckinley were escorted were artistically decorat- ed with La France roses, azaleas and lilies. During the evening Mrs. McKin- ley went to the Empire theater and witnessed production of Brother Off, cers."
 During the evening President South erd of the Ohio society, General Burnett and ex-Mayor Strong of the banquet committee called on the president and conferred with him on the dinner plans for tomorrow night.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
LONDON REVIEW OF SITUATION.
Location of Osfonteiu- Roberts Has
 Ample TroOps to Meet BOtrs.

Location of Osfonteiu- Roberts Has | Ample Troops to Meet Botrs. 1 London, March 3-4:15 a. m.-Lord
 Roberts at Osfontein, six or eight miles east of Paardeberg, faces the reformed Boer army from five thousand to six a corps of observation, ready to retire on prepared positions. Doubtless it is receiving accretions from the late be- siegere of Ladysmith and from other points. Whatever the force may be, Lord Roberts has ample troops to cope with it. As heavy rain is falling on the veldt and the grass is improving this will be a good thing temporarily for the Boers.
 Lord Roberts has surprised observers by the excellence of his transport dur
 ing the first advance; and he is likely to do so again, although military men here think he must wait for some dave be- fore going much farther.
 The Boers, presumably, will use this delay for all it is worth pulling all their resources together. pr. Leyds gives out the opinion that the British entry of Bloemfontein is daily expected, as Com mandants Dewet and Delarey had been instructed to retard the advance of Lord Roberts only until the concentration under General Joubert had been accom- plished.
 No adequate explanation is yet made of the fifty thousand endorsements that are preparing for Lord Roberts. Such explanations as are advanced ten tatively suggest either that the Cape Dutch have become more restive of' that the imperial government has hint of foreign suggestions as to the future status of the allied republics.
 The admiralty board has telegraphed to the Cape commander an expression of admiration and thanks on the part of the lords of the admiralty to the ma rines and bluejackets engaged in the war for the splendid manner in which they have upheld the traditions of the service and have added tQ it's reputa- ton for resourcefulness, courage and devotion.'
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
CrOnjc's Military Genius.

London, March 3.-The Times pub fishes the following from Paardeberg dated Wednesday,: ''It will always remain a puzzle how General Cronje, although an undisputed military gen. jus, kept control of his retreating and undisciplined hordes, while the other Boer leaders were unable to bring more than half their commanders from Ladysmith to Paardeberg. Burnham, the American scout, after creeping many night around the laager, re- ports that very few Hoers escaped, perhaps not more than twenty" The correspondent expresses admiration for the Canadians, of whom one com- pany is composed entirely of French men, unable to speak English. He es- pecially mentions Colonel Otter, Lieu tenant Colonel Kincaid and Captains MacDonnelly, Stairs and Bolieu for conspicuous gallantry
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
M,FADDEN WHIPS SWEENEY.
Latter's Seconds Throw Up the Sponge
 in the Twemty- first Round.

New York, March 2.-Patsey Sweeney of Manchester, N. H., met defeat at the hands of George McFadden of this city in the arena of the New Briadway Ath- letic club tonight but he put up one of the game3t and manifest fights ever seen ill the ring, It was an interesting contest from the first clash of the gong and up to the final moment, when Sweeney's seconds were compelled to throw up the sponge in the twenty first round, Patsey was always in evil dence. McFadden was a big favorite in the betting, 100 to 40 being freely laid on him, but att times during the bout Sweeney showed up to such good ad vantage that several wagers at evens were made. McFadden showed very few marks of punishment, but Sweeneys face was a sight when he left the ring.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
Clark Bribery Hearing.

Washington, March 2.-Just before the adjournment of the senate committee on elections to-day by the prosecution and the defense in the investigation of the election of Senator Clark of Mon tana, announced that they had conclud- ed the presentation of testimony in that case. There are some papers yet to be examined and the argument is still to be heard. Arrangemnts for this will be made tomorrow. The commit tee also reserves the right to call wit nesses in it's own behalf All witnesses called by either side have been excused and many of them left tonight fer their homes. The investigation began on January 5 and up to date a hundred witnesses have been examined. Their testimony will fill between 2,100 and 2,500 pages. The expense to the govern ment has so far been about $27 000. A number of witnesses were examined to- day but the only one who gave impor- tant testimony was James w. Kemper of Butte, whose statement bore upon the purchase of State Representative WOod,' ranch.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
PORTO RICAN BIzL IN SENATE.
Quay Case Also oDiscussed--Senator Hour
 Favors Seating.

Washington, March 2.-Interest in the Porto Rican tariff measure has now been transferred from the house to the senate. Consideration of the bill, em- bodying substantially the provisions of the house bill and in addition providing for a temporary form of civil govern ment for Porto Rico, was begun in the senate to-day, MT. Foraker, rep, of Ohio, chairman of the committee on Pa cific islands and Porto Rico, being in charge of the measure. Two amend mentt were introduced and discussed. An hour and a half of the session was devoted to consideration of the Quay case, MT, Hoar of Massachusetts pre- senting an able constitutional argument in favor of the seating of MT. Quay on the ground mainly that it was the in- tention of the framers of the constitu- ton that the senate at all times should have its full quota of members.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
ON fl FLYING TRIP TO CUBA.
Secretary Root Leaves Wnshington--TO
 Confer xttth Gen. Wood.

Washington, March 2.-Secretary Root left Washington to-day for a fly ing trip to Cuba. With him were Mrs. Root, Miss Root, Edward Root his son, Colonel Carter, assistant adjutant general; Private Secretary w. S. Coursey and Arthur Brooks, attendant. The party had special car over the Southern railroad. It is expected that the trip will occupy about two weeks. The party will embark on the army transport Sedgwick tomorrow for Ha- vana. The main object of the trip is to enable Secretary Root to confer person. ally with General Wood. It is gathered from communications received here that, notwithstanding the apparent se- renity of the conditions of Havana and Cuba generally, General Wood is ap prehensive as to the future, owing to the extreme gravity of important ques- tions that are pressing from all sides for immediate decision.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
1RIAL OF TO UNG CROSS.
Defense Begins in the Case of Stnm fortl's
 Boy Murderer.

Bridgeport, March 2.--After two days proceedings in the trial of Charles Cross,
 the seventeen-year-o lad who is charged with the murder of Mrs. Sara King, an aged woman who lived in the outskirts of Stamford and who employ ed Cross as chore boy, the state rested it's case this afternoon and the defense commenced immediately. Insanity is the claim made'by the defense, and rel atives of the boy and medical experts gave testimony on that line this after noon. Mrs Augusta Cross, the boys grandmother, said that there was never any doubt but what the boy was insane. She told of several instances of insanity in the family, and how the boy had epi- leptic tits when young. Louis B. Cross, an uncle, also testified that the boy al- ways acted queerly. The medical ex- perts were pronounced in their testimo- ny that the boy was insane. It was also brought out that Cross was a vic tim of the cigarette habit A confession made by young Cross to Deputy Sheriff Miller and Pinkerton detective in which he acknowledged the crime and detailed the circumstances of twas pre- scented by the state and permitted as evidence Cross alleges in the confess sion that he had no intention of killing the woman. To-day's sessions were concluded at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon and adjournment was taken until 10 a. m. next Tuesday.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-03
Al Willln,nutic.

Willimantic, Conn, March 2-The effects of yesterdays rains was visi- ble in the Willimantic river to-day and the various tributary streams that emp ty into it caused the water to reach as high a point as has ever been witness ed before, The Willimantic Cotton mills corpora tion was compelled to shut down it's factory this afternoon as the water covered the mill wheel so that it did not work. At number 1 mill of the Wil1imantic Linen company the same conditions prevailed and only q portion of the help was able to work this afternoon, The country roads in the outlying districts were badly food ed and many small wooden bridges were washed away. The race course at the Willimantic fair grounds was cov- cred with water, and many of the eel lars of stores and residences in the vi cinity of the grounds were flooded.