The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-11-06
WORK FOR TIE MONTH.
(SOuthern Planter.)

and as the result OF the general rains !
which we have had all nature is reyiv-
ed, and the appearance OF the pastures
and meadows is almost spring like,
whilst the trees are still covered with
foliage upon which the autumn has
not even ,'et cast its golden hues,
and this in the last week OF October.
This state of affairs is a most fortu-
nate enc For the farmers of the
South, many of whom, if November
keeps as mild and open as October
has been, viii be able to carry stock
through the winter, which, under
other conditions, would have had to
be sacrificed for such prices as could
have been obtained. The growth Of
grass and forage crops has been re-
~markable for the time of the year and
cattle and stock OF all kinds are revel-
ling in good grazing, and thus saving
the short yields of forage for the
later winter months. Farmers, at
Thanksgiving day, may we'll bear this
in mind amongst other blessings for
which to give thanks.
The rains having put the land in
to good condition for blowing, much
progress has been made in the prepa-
ration for and seeding Of the wheat
crop. which is going into land in fine
condition where properly worked for
enSuring quick and even termination
and good growth before the cold
weather sets in. Whilst seeding is
generally later than usual, yet with
g. lo,.
we look to see the crop go into winter
in good condition. The light frosts
we have had make prompt seeding
safe, so far as attacks from the fly
are concerned. The important thing
to observe nOw is the most perfect
preparation of the land before seeding.
Make the seed-bed fine and compact,
and see that provision is made by
water-furrows and good drains to keep
the crop out of water. Wheat never
succeeds with its feet in water during
the winter. Whilst it is perhaps too
much to hope that in the South we
shall be able to much increase the
wheat acreage. it is yet desirable that
we should do so as far as compatible
with a proper preparation Of the land.
The wheat crop of the world is a
much less one. less by 200 million
bushels than that of last year, and by
400 million bushels than that of 1898,
and the requirements OF consumers
are much greater than in either Of
those years. not merely because of the
increase Of population, but also by
reason of the much greater cOnSum-
ing capacity of a busy population.
such as we now nave. The South
should make its own bread grain at
least. if possible. something for sale.
r. ,Y-@,Jl do chic IF only tho c1~n0 OG
production was brought up to what it
ought to be, and do it with profit and
saving to itself. We are glad to know
that this year il has done better in
his respect than in any year since the
war. but there is still much room for
Improvement. When we hear Of crops
of thirty, forty. and even fifty bushels
to the acre being grown in the South
and know of Il knowledge OF many
of twenty-five and thirty bushe be
ing grown. we fail to see why the
Southern States should appear in tht
returns of the Department OF Agricul
ture among those States only making
an average of ten to twelve bushel:
to the acre. Let al effort be madt
this year to improve on this. Th'
great need is good preparation of TIL
seed bed. This will do more to en-
sure success than more fertilizer. A
the late Sir John B. LaWes pointed
out a wear or two ago, the result o
his long series of experiments wen
strongly to show the remarkabl
power of wheat to forage for food il
we'll prepared land.
The WORK of harvesting the corn an
forage crops>should be pushed to com
D~letion as fast as weather and conc
tons will admit. Far too many acre
of corn are left in the field, either i
the shock or on the stalks uncut, ia
into the winter for profit to the grow
er. Even IN this year OF short Toe
der crops we see many crops OF cor
from which only the corn is bein
gathered. The stalks and fodder az
left to waste where they grew, or t
be harvested by stock during. tn
cold, raw. winterv weather. Sue
feed is of but little value to the stoc
eating it. It barely keeps body an
spirit together, and certainly result
in no increase in value OF the stOcl
The nutritive portion of the plant
wasted nv ~weathering instead Of b
ing carefully saved by the stalks CT
down at the roots, and. when cnre
being shredded or cut and stored II
der cover. When treated in his wa
the nutritive value of the feed tn
secured is almost the equivalent
timothy hav and much greater tn;
wheat chaff, which so many SOuthe1
farmers regard as a rood feed al
carefully save. The director Of t
Iowa Experiment Station say that co
fodder crown in that State this We
would be worth $40. O0O. 900 as feed.
I'll carefully saved in this way. Nc
Of his large sun will be lost. Th
also. is true of the South. We "sa
1T the spirOt M waste at the buns
The extent to which Southern farme
waste the products of the crops viii
they nave labored hard to produce.
a constant source of establishment
an English. q French. or a Germ
farmer. In those countries. when /
harvest is completed. nothing will
seen in the fields; even the stubb