The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-02
FARM AFFAIRS.
VS.. PRODUCTIVE.
MSS,
lorrespondence OF the ProRressive Farmsr.

ductIVe, nave both been defined as
m Gaming fruitful, it by no means fol-
lows that they are to be regarded az
anonymous, meaning one and the
same thing, or that they are inter
changeable, the-one with the other
In the case of vegetation in general.
a plant may be exceedingly prolific
without being what might be j lstly
tern ed productive, while on the other
hand. plant may be enormously pro
ducive without being exceptionally
profits.
This difference is plainly exemplified
in the case of p1p corn and the so
called seven-ear corn, which may be
regarded as being exceedingly prolific,
but not necesaerily productive; or at
least not go much so as other and larger
varieties: while such varieties as Wei
born's Conscience, Kantucky Nam
moth, Chester County Mammoth and
many o'her equally large varieties, are
enorm 7usy productive, yet could
hardly be termed prol flo.
The same is equally true of the Gus
ter c1ttons. whUoh are as rule, exceed
ingly pre- life, but not necessarily pro
duotive, while the big bell varieties are
usually enormously productive but
likewise without being exceptionally
prolific.
Pronf1cacy seems then to deal more
especially with the number of fruits
while prUductiveness has more direc
reference TO their siEs, while neither
term has any reference whatever as to
the quality of the product. It is very
I'm portant, in fact highly essential, if
not absolutely indIep anaable for the coil
tlller, in whatever special branch of
agriculture he may be engaged, TO
keep in mind the difference in the
actual meaning of eboVe named terms.
Proliflcacy doest not always mean
productivepess, neither does produc
tIveness necessarily imply or include
proIificAcy.
Some OF cur farming brethren may
possibly think that this is distinction
without a d erence, and that we are
unnF Cessarily precise in our definition :;
but il they we're engaged, as we are, in
striving to obtain maximum yields per
acre of each and every crop planted, as
veil as in Obtaining extra fine speci
mems OF each, in fact making not only
the land, but also each individual
plant do it's very level best, thereby
6nd out the capabilities of, not only
each species of vegetation. but also of
the land itself and each individual acre
of it, they would then find out the inn
perative ne cessity of bearing above dis
tinction constantly in mind.
We hear OF seedless raisins, seedless
MELONS, peaches, oranges, etc., etc. in
some instances these are productive,
but in no sens could they possibly be
termed prolific, while the so called
lintless cotton ia, on the other land.
exceedingly prolifis but is far from be
ing productive, in the usual sense OF
producEiVeness; i. e., in lint
The very b8st of good seed is essen
tial in order to the production of large
yields per acre.
Almost without exception, extreme
ly early varieties are also extremely
smal and comparatively Insignificant
varieties; earliness and not productive
ness being the m Ain and leading object
of the producer in his choice Of varie
ties; medium early varieties are in
varIabIy more productive than are
either extremely early or extremely
late varieties As an experimental
farmer, experimenting soley for our
own satisfaction, and iu order to gain
positive, practical, valuable informa
ion az first hand, and with all mere
idle theory eliminated; to enable us TO
sifs the chaff from the pure golden
gam; on q IesEions pertaining to feriili
zers, to varieties. to soils, and to cul
ture, with the probable fff9cts, possible
eff scts AMI positive eff Cts of each,
when intelligently and judEciously em
ploy ed; we have found it decidedly
advautegeouSy to study closely the
peculiar characteristics of each and
every agent employed, or that could be
emplnVe1.
FERT LIZING FOR PROLTFICACY AND FER
TILIZtN8 FOR PRODUCTIVEEES5
Is i5 p s-loie TO so ferGIiIE as TO in
crease pro ificacy at the expense OF
produc,iveness, or to increase produc
GIveness at the expense Of prolihcacy
To a limited extent, yes. It We had
not believed it possible, we would never
have called the rea a5er's attention to ls
by propounding the query. What