davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
COTTON; sAwDUsT AS A FERTILIZER

Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
1. WHAT'S the best variety of cotton
for sandy land that will produce
from 1 to 2 bales per acre?
2. What is the best use I can make
of sawdust, 8 to 10 years old and
pretty we'll rotted, IS a fertilizer?
Should I mix it with other manure,
and if so, with what? J. L. B.
answered by Corresponding Editor
Benjamin Irby.)
do not know that I quite under
stand question No. 1. Whether the
variety to be planted must make one
to two bales, or whether the inquiry
is for a good new variety to be
planted on sandy land that already
produces one or two bales.
IF the latter is the case, I would
advise that the same variety used
heretofore be used right along as
very few r raising one to two
bales. Now if he is seeking a variety
that will make that amount I fear
that he will be disappointed, as a
good variety only does part of the
work.
lam quite partial to the Peterkin,
the King, and Allen Long staple.
The Russell Big Boil is also highly
recommended. We have on the Col
lege farm this year IA varieties
planted and they will be carefully
picked and results will be published.
2. Good S can be made of the
we'll rotted sawdust by applying it
broad cast either on stiff clay or on
light sandy lands, and turning under.
1t makes the stiff clay more porous
and loose, and more easily worked,
and prevents baking. It makes the
sandy soil closer and enables it to
hold moisture.
When sawdust is put on green it
seems to do about as much harm as
good, but if we'll rotted, it is then all
I would not mix it with anv
as it would add nothing to
it, but would haul it out by itself
and broad cast it. If there is anv
considerable quantity it would pay to
buy a Kemp's manure spreader, as
their machine will scatter a ton in
five minutes more evenly than a
man could possibly do it. B.. I.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
Published Weekly at Raleigh, N. c.
q THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATION

usTHE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATION
r INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARA
MOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
OF STATE Policy, is the motto Of The
Progressive Farmer, and upon this
platform it shall rise or fall. Serving
no master, ruled by no faction, cir
onmscribed by no selfish or narrow
policy, its aim will be to foster and
promote the best interests of the
whole people of the State. 1t will be
true to the instincts, traditions and
history of the Anglo-sazA race. On
ali matters relating specially to the
great interests it represents, it will
speak with no uncertain voice, but
will fearIessly the right defend and
impartiaIly the wrong condemn: -
From Col. Folks Salutatory, Feb.
10, 1886
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25

all, nor wen so per cent, OF those
addressed will accept the invitation.
But it is good seed and in time will
doubtless bear fruit. We believe
that it will pay any county to adopt
this plan. The letter is not copy
righted and any other county that
wishes to use it is welcome to it's
ideas or it's form. Unfortunately,
the writer, who has not been active
ly engaged in farming for three
years, was made chairman of the
committee, but the other members
are influential Wake county farmers.
And representatives of three differ
ent classes in politics are on the COM
mittee, and men of ali parties are
among the farmers addressed. This
is another recognition of the truth
that for best results no important
committee nor list of officials for
Sub, County or State Alliance should
be composed exclusively of members
of one political party, or of one re-
ligious denomination.
Now, while recommending this
plan to other counties, a word
should be said as to it's cost. Of
course, the members of the commit
tee made no chargefor their services
in drafting the address or securing
names, and the State Alliance made
no charge for the copies of the AL
lance address. The cost was then,
for envelopes, % cents ! cost of 175
Monograph letters, $3.50; postage,
$2.5O-a total of only 1926. Had one
cent stamps been used exclusively
the cost would have been only So. so.
When your county finds itself
ready to push the work of re-organ-
ization we believe you will find it
profitable to appoint a committee Of
your best and most influential men
and try the Wake plan. If you can
not get your circular typewriter
and Autographed cheaply write
Secretary Parker or The Progressive
Farmer.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
ABOUT BELGIAN R

When the Belgian hare craze
started afresh and with such a blare
of trumpets last spring, The Pro-
gressive Farmer was not less prompt
in sounding a note of warming than
it was in breaking up the sales of the
so-called "Limbless" cotton seed in
this State many months ago. Our
Prof. Emery wrote several articles
on the Belgian hares. And now the So
called farm papers that r carried
about with every wind of doctrine
by the slight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait
to deceive" are beginning to &C
knowledge the correctness of The
Progressive Farmers position, just
as they finally had to do in the
"Limbless" cotton matter. Of course
there T plenty of farmers that like
to be humbugged they usually sub
scribe for some sO-called farm paper
published in a distant State and liv-
ing solely by it's advertising (and
verify they have their reward), but
the best farmers of the Southeast
watch the columns of The Progress
i've Farmer. But we are DEPRESSING.
We started out to discuss Belgian
hares and the following paragraph
from the New York Commercial
Union, giving the present state of
the industry. 1t says:
1.-The New York Herald has been
recently looking into the craze re-
garding Belgian hares, and the re-
porter who made the investigation
publishes a pessimistic article re-
garding the future of this industry.
This fad, for fad it seems to be, is
akin to the rage for tulip raising,
which swept over the country years
ago.
According to the Herald, some of
the large breeders of Belgian hares
here have found that there is no
market for the animals, that they
are much more expensive to raise
and feed than was imagined, and
that while they are extremely pro
life, the disposing of them in paying
quantities is almost an impossibility.
1T was expected that for table
purposes they would command a good
sale, but>the public does not seem to
care for the meat, and according to
the authority we quote, several of
the breeders are getting rid of their
plants and stocks in any way they
can"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
IN UNION THERE Is STRENGTH

All over the country the leavan +,
working. The agricultural press or1
the leaders Of agricultural tbon,b.
are preaching the gospel of organic,
ton. One of the best articles on II.
subject that has recently come fl
our notice is the following from fs
Texas Farm and Ranch:
Organization tends to do away with
the independence of the individual
which is the essence of human In
erty. This is correct theory but as
an actual, practical fact we see a.
most every field of human effort n.
oupied by an organized body com.
bined for protection against other
organized bodies. Business has de.
generated into a warefare. We NAV
be sorry that such is the case, but
that don't change the fact. It might
be better if conditions were other
wise; but they r not otherwia
We must meet conditions as thg
are. When an individual tries to
protect himself against an organized
body of individuals, he is laughed at
Organizations don't care for the
rights of individuals outside of their
own bodies. Therefore, wherever
there are men enough whose inter.
ests are parallel, they must organize
in self-defense. Railroad companies
are organized for the purpose Of
ascertaining what the traffic will
bear" and securing it; Therefore,
shippers must organize to secure fair
rates. Contractors organize to Sc,
cure labor and material at as low q
price as possible therefore, laborerS
and material men must also Organize
to keep the wolf from the door.
Business men. and professional men
in every avocation are ORGANIZED
Farmers have become a prey for all
organizations. They have "pald tAS
freight" and fddled while the
CARNATIONS have enjoyed the rev.
elry. Farmers, of all men, have
been the most difficult to organic,
because they are widely scattoE0a
scattered and thoroughly SchooVu
in personal independence, or lever!
man for himself" They are Deg~'
ming to learn, however, that tDS!
must surrender a portion OF tlsD
independence for the general goou~
the portion they have least use III,
at least. At present, however ony
those engaged in certain lines
agriculture have acted in the ma'''I'
and even these have given more az
5ention to educational and S0o'~
matters than to questions 1n70l'iI'
dollars and cents. Fruit gro"Sl9
farmers and stock breeu'I
md stock raisers have organD
md in many instances have mau0 ..
pay, in a financial sense; DuV
great body of tanners continue
Unequal contest of the individ0D
Cgainst the organization when
.ronts him everywhere he goes o..
whatever he, attempts to do IN
not to be so. Farmers Sn .ssr
ret together more, pull tos's
more. United they can stand sgp a
he world. Divided they lSH Us
,asy prey to organized rapaclV
nay sigh for the good old time ,4ton,
very tub stood on it's own O ooiioj
rat it is like grieving over TTheD
milk. The the time has col p5 m is
tub that attempts to sIan ufl tbs
wn bottom will shrink fan 70
loops drop off and the slaves sripd
ieces. And then some "3 9or ir
,Ody, a solid corporation. M the
will come along, plG at4ndling-
ieces and use them for
rood to keep its ''pot boillnS
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The A. & M. College is full to Over
flowing and all available rooms in
the vicinity that could be rented are
occupied by students.
President Grimes, of the Tobacco
Growers Association, writes US that
he expects a large attendance at the
October meeting.
Our pension burden grows heavier
year by year. On July 1st there
were 9s3, 528 names on the pension
roll. Thirty-six years after the Civil
War it is, and we now have a pen
Sioner in every fourteenth family.
The North Carolina State Board of
Agriculture has chosen Mr.. Frank
lin Sherman, of Virginia, State En-
tomologist and Botanist. MI. Sher-
man comes to our State highly
recommended and good work is ex-
peCted Of him.
1t is gratifying to note the great
zeal and energy with which the
press of the State has taken up the
question of a reformatory. It really
looks like public opinion will make
it impossible for the next General
Assembly to longer delay this much
needed reform.
We note with pleasure the effective
work that is being done by the pro-
motors of the State Literary Associa-
ton. We hope that the Association
will be a reality after Fair week. 1t
is much needed, and Mr.W. J. Peele,
especially, deserves credit for his
work in its behalf.
Money no doubt exorts a powerful
influence in our political affairs, but
so long as it is possible for a mai
possessing only a comfortable home
and $1O6.25 in money to be nOmi
mated for President of the United
States, as Mr.. Bryan was in 1896
there is hope for the country anC
encouragement for the optimist.
The Agricultural Department o
the University of Tennessee is hber
ally advertising itf short course il
agriculture to begin January 3rd
The short course in our own A. & M
College ought to have larger patron
age. If plans were laid sometime i
advance and advertised as extensive
ly as in Tennessee, perhaps it woul
be more successful.
Apropos of Mr.. Bryan's speech {
acceptance published on page 6, it
worthy of note that while the Demt
cratic platform declares imperialisl
the chief issue, Mr.. Bryan himself
the May North American Revue
stated the issues in order of impor
ance as bimetallism, antitrust
and anti-imperialism. And the R
pubIicans are attempting to NAL
silver the ISSUE. Postmaster-G &c
eraI Smith says there is no such iss1
as Imperialism, and Senator Ham
says there are no trusts in the cou
try.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
THE CIRCULAR.


mittee was recently appointed by
Wake County Alliance to address
you and hundred other leading
farmers of the county upon the sub
ject we now introduce.
You are doubtless aware of the eff
forts now being made to re-Organize
the Farmers Alliance in this State.
Intelligent, enterprising farmers of
all religious creeds and all political
parties are joining in the work Of re-
building the Order upon the princi-
pies of it's Declaration of Purposes.
The good it can accomplish is we'll
set forth in that declaration and the
Alliance address, copies of which we
send you. Read them.
We care not as to your religion or
politics. We ask only if you wish
to "develop a better state, mentally,
morally, socially and financially"
among our farming classes. If you
are a Democrat, why so is State
President and our State Secretary.
If you are a Populist, why our State
Vice-President and State Lecturer
r also. If you r a Republican,
we have good Alliancemen of that
political faith.
But, laying aside all prejudices, let
us, a farmers, come together for
mutual benefit and protection. If
there is no Sub Alliance near you,
we wish to know if you can't get
five or more substantial, eligible per-
sons, to meet and organize one. The
plan is simple. Read it herewith,
and call a meeting and organize.
Then send a delegate and dues to our
county meeting to be held with
Olives Chapel Sub, near Apex,
Thursday, October 4, 1900. At that
time Bro. T. B. Parker, our State
Secretary, and one of the States
finest Alliance workers, will be with
US and give US an address to farmers
and Alliancemen that will we'll repay
you for going. Then plans will be
laid for re-organizing Wake, and
dinner served to all who attend. We
expect a good attendance of our best
farmers, and want you with US.
We believe that you a re-organ-
ize your Sub and you ought to make
the effort. But if you find it impos-
sible to do so, come to our county
meeting any how and we will see
that you get in good standing.
Now, if you desire any further in
formation, write our County Presi-
dent, Bro. G. E. McCu1lers, Raleigh,
N. c., or any other member of this
committee. At any rate write us
your views on reorganization.
There is a great work for the AL
lance to do in bringing our people
together socially, in teaching better
farming, IN cooperating in buying
and selling and in protecting our
selves from greed and oppression. We
want you to join in the great work.
For a beginning be certain to attend
the county meeting at Olives Chap
Ell, near Apex, Thursday, October 4,
1900. Alliance opens 10 a. NJ, speak
ing II M. Lay your plans now and
be there on time.
Yours fraternally,
q. 81. Poe, Raleigh, N. G. Ch'm'n.
BENZ. IRBY, West Raleigh, N. G.
w. B. UPCHURCH, Morrisville, N c..
G. E. MCCULLERs, Raleigh, N. C.
A. 7. OLIVE, APEX, N. G.
Committee.
OF course, it is not expected that
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25

RENEWALS-The date opposite your name
an yOur paper. or wrapper, shows to what time
yO1r subscription is paid. Thus Jan. ~,
shows that payment has been ,d Eece eve s0 up o 10
Two weeks are required after money is re-
ceived before date, which answers tor a receipt,
san be changed. If not properly changed Wlthln
two weeks after money is sent notify us.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25

Observation-Disclosures subscrlb7
srs will continue to receive this journal unCll
he publishers are notified by letter TO dlscOn-
rjnue when All arrearages must be paid. II you
do not wish the journal continued for announcer
year after your subscription has expired, you
should then notify US to discontinue IT,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
PLANS FOR ALLIANCE RE-ORGANIzA-
TON.

A full discussion of plans for re-
organizing the Alliance is earnestly
desired by The Progressive Farmer.
To "'start the ball rolling" we shall
say something of a step in this d1-
rection now being tested in Wake
county.
At the adjourned meeting of Wake
County Alliance, August 18th, a
committee of five was appointed to
name time and place of next county
meeting and to secure, if possible, a
speaker for the occasion. The com
mittee met, accepted the invitation
of Olives Chapel Sub, named Octo-
Der 4th as the date in order to avoid
conflict with other county meetings,
and secured Bro. T. B. Parker as
speaker.
The committee then took under
consideration the matter of adver-
Using the meeting and decided to adj
dress a circular letter to a hundred
or more of the leading farmers and
ex-Alliancemen of the county. Sec
rotary Parker furnished, free of
charge, a sufficient number of copies
of the leaflet containing the ALI
ance address, the Declaration of Pur-
poses, and GLOW to Re-organize."
Accordingly, the following letter, to-
gether with one of these leaflets, has
been mailed to 175 of the county's
best farmers, whose names and ad-
dresses were secured by the COM
mittea
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25

Be sure to give both old and new addresses IL
ordering change of pOstOf1ce.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-25
Editorial.

The Progressive Farmer will be
sent to any address from now till
January 1, 1900, for % cents. You
can't keep posted without it.
The Yale expositor., 1900-05-25
Lake of sulphuric AoId.

It may be difficult to believe in the
existence of a lake of sulphuric acid,
but, according to Tit-Bits, there is such
a lake in the center of Sulphur island,
off New Zealand. 1t Is flfty acres In
extent, about twelve feet in depth and
fifteen feet above the level of the sea.
The most remarkable characteristic OF
this lake, however, Is that the water
contains vast quantities OF hydro
chloric and sulphurlc acids. Kissing
and bubbling at temperature OF Ito
degrees Fahrenheit. The dark green
colored water looks particularly un-
inviting. Dense clouds OF sulphurlc
fumes constantly roll of this boiling
caldron, and care has to be exercised In
approaching this lake TO avoid the risk
OF srffocation. On the opposite side o!
the lake may be seen the tremendous
blowholes, which, when In full blast
present an awe-insplring sight. The
roar OF the steam as 1t rushes forth
into the air is deafening, and often
huge bowlers and stones are hurled
out to a height of several hundred feet
by the various internal forces OF ma
ture.
The Yale expositor., 1900-05-25
Mormon Telegraph Absorbed.

Col. r. c. Clowry, vlce-president OF
the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany, has completed the purchase OF
all the telegraph lines OF the Deseret
Telegraph company, which has here
tofore been operated by the Mormon
church. These lines extend through
out Utah and to all the Mormon set.
Elements In the states Of Idaho and
Nevada, and their construction by
Brigham Young was In advance Of the
building OF railroads. For many years
they were the principal means OF I'm
medIte communication for the Nor
mon church and its business connec-
tions.
The Yale expositor., 1900-05-25
HAVE THE SAME SUPERSTITION
Islanders Fifteen Thousand Miles Apart
BelieNe In Evil spirlts.


Believe In Evil spirits.
Philosophic people who belong to the
folk lore society are fond Of tracing
legends and myths and customs all
over the world. Cinderella, the dear
girl, is found In one knows not how
many peoples, speaking innumerable
tongues and believing an equal num-
Der Of religions. How did Cinderella
become ubiquitous? The transactions
OF the Folk Lore society will perhaps
offer theory. Now, there has been
unraveled a curious superstition COM
mon to Shetlanders and Singhalese.
How islanders so wide apart-some To-
600 miles-managed to adopt each 9TH
er's views one does not know. But here
Is the fact. The rice cultivators OF
Ceylon and the fishermen of Shetland
resemble each other in one or two
rather remarkable points. They re-
frain from speaking of the implements
Of their calling by their names; they
call them something else, by names
known only to themselves. The rea-
son is that II the evil spirit were to
think that they were speaking OF
spades and rakes or of nets and hooks
he would be tempted to damage them
or even to appropriate them. The
train Of thought is the same with both
races. There is an evil spirit always
on the lookout for opportunities OF do
Ing mischief. He even hears what we
say. II we let him understand that we
are talking about our implements and
tools We shall direct his attention to
them and shall suggest to him a way
OF doing an injury. Therefore we will
agree to call boat or a spade by some
fancy name known only to ourselves"
Another custom of the Shetlander, not
possible to the rice grower, is that If in
fishing his net catches something at
the bottom and stone is brought up
It is not to be thrown back again for
fear OF offending the evil spirit who
most certainly put it into the net 1t
is to be kept in the boat until the net
again catches. Then it is to be dropped
in the water with the words: Take
your own and give me NINE" where
upon the net is at once released Now,
II the Singhalese were to turn fisher,
would he, following the same line Of
thought, adopt a similar custom?-
Pittsburg Dispatch.
The Yale expositor., 1900-05-25
EARLY LAMPS AND WIGKS. e
Tho Latter Were Commonly the Pith
of the Rush.

Tho Latter Were Commonly the Pith
of the Rush.
1t would be hazardous to conjecture
what the first wick consisted Of, but
when we come to consider the iron
lamp or "crusie," we know that the
wick commonly used was the pith OF
the rush, which was gathered and par
TALLY stripped OF its outer green cover
ing, cut into proper lengths, dried and
tied up into bundles ready for use. The
iron lamp was hammered out Of one
piece of iron in a stone mold. This
was usually done by the blacksmith
and the molds are still to be seen in
museums, in the hands OF private col
lectors, and, no doubt at some of the
country blacksmith shops. They are
OF uniform shape. with some slight va
rieties. The lamp consists of two cups,
one suspended above and inside the
other. The suspender Is so fixed and
notched as to enable the upper cup,
which holds the oil and wick, to be
shifted, and to keep the oil constantly
In contact with the wick. The lower
cup catches the drip or the oil, Whlcn
can be easily replaced In the upper cup
by lifting it off until the oil Is poured
into 1t. The upper cup has sometimes
a movable lid There is a remarkable
resemblance rot only between the iron
cruises in this country, but to those
on the continent and in Egypt. They
preserve the same general shape, but
differ in the material from which they
are made. The Pompeian lamps, or at
least some OF them, might be described
as three cruises in one. The cup of the
lamp is the same, but 1t has provision
tor three lights. The oil used In the
Scotch lamps was of the coarsest kind.
On the west coast the oil used was, and
is still, fish oil. The material for wickt
was variable.