The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-11-13
Raleigh, N. c., November 18, 1900.

4OEA anu lIl1nO1S, DQG GQa6 QO6S not
signify that the masses in either sec
t1on are thriftless. In soil the South
will compare favorably with any
section. Good lands for fruit grow
ing, for gardening, or for growing
cotton, tobacco and grain or for
grass and stock growing exist in the
greatest abundance to sustain many
times her present population. What
then is lacking to make the inhabit-
ants of this land the most prosperous
and happy Of Americans?
The main fault seems to como from
lack of proper appreciation Of the
advantages nature affords. Another
fault is the failure to recognize and
treat as such some of the very best
of native friends The great variety
of soil makes it possible to grow
many of the luxuries and nearly all
the necessities of life on the average
farm yet that farm is devoted ex-
clusively to the production of cotton
or some other money crop while all
or nearly all of the family supplies
are purchased from distance. In
| the press of work, at certain seasons.
in caring for large areas devoted to
a single crop others of minor import
ance are neglected. Thus on the
cotton or tobacco farm there are
scattering patches of native grasses
which, while perhaps not of the very
best quality, would if cut and cured
! go a great way toward carrying the
teams through the year; but since
all the force is required in caring for
the main crop these side-growths are
neglected until injured from over
ripening or permitted to go to waste
entirely. This waste is made good
by purchases from outside sources.
The mildness of our climate makes it
practicable to keep stock with very
few and cheap shelters. The time
during which it is at all desirable to
stable beef and stock cattle is of only
a few weeks duration each year and
then only very cheaply constructed
sheds are needed. AS far then as
climate is concerned this is an ideal
stock country.
Among several of the native friends
which are not generally recognized
are found different varieties of for
age plants, such as grasses and
legumes, which if given little less
severe treatment would furnish
grazing and fodder to keep cattle and
sheep enough to supply us with meat
and butter for home use and some
for export. The 1egumes will fix
vast quantities of plant food in the
soil for such crops as corn, cotton
and tobacco to transform into a mer-
chantable product. Thus while Civ
ing US our home supplies these un-
recognized friends want to make
stores of fertility to reduce the COM
mercial fertilizer account. Volumes
might be written on these unrecog-
nized friends and the great work
they are so anxious to do for agri-
culture. The main point now is
whether not they shall find d home
and encouragement in the South?
They have already been put to work
on some farms with the result that
foreign food stuffs are no longer
needed in large quantities. Manures
are made on the farms in quantities
almost great enough to meet the de-
mands of the crops. Larger yields
are made from fewer acres and the
owners of these farms have ceased to
cry hard times.
The production of home supplies
! at home should be the leading issue
in the campaign against poverty and
depression among the farmers of the
South. The campaign will, we be-
lieve, be fought to a successful ter
minatiOn before many years go by.
The people of the South are going to
do this if necessary themselves.
However, they are willing that those
who are not satisfied with their con-
ditions in the North and West should
come and cast their lot here and join
in the effort to bring true prosperity
back to this land. There are many
farmers from the North and West
located and doing well in the South.
There is room for many more here.
All who come with the intention of
casting their lots with us and unit
ing in the effort to make this the
grand agricultural country it is des-