The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-01
Agricl ture.
NEWS OF THE F. LING WORLD.


Progress is Being Made in the Various
Sections Of the Country.
Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
The farming communities of the
country will undoubtedly welcome
the news that Secretary Wilson, in
common with the other members of
the Cabinet, has consented to remain
in Office until the end of President
Roosevelt's term. 1t is generally
agreed that it would have been a
national disaster had Mr.. Wilson re-
tired at this time from the post he
so we'll fills. Under his control the
work of the Department has been
enormously extended and is still
growing, to the incalculable benefit
of the farmer. For the first time
since it was established, the Depart
ment has a head who is at once
practical farmer and an able execu-
tive with brains in his head. 1t is
easy to secure either one or the other,
but the combination is somewhat
rare. Whether it is in connection
with the reformation of the oOun-
try, the building up of our butter ex-
ports, or the esta blishment of Ameri-
can fruits in European markets Ito
mention only his most recent lines
of development) Secretary Wilson
has proved himself the right man in
the right place. Fortunate tits, that
his work is not to be interrupted.
The effects of the July drought
are now coming home to the people
of the country in the increased price
for all staple vegetable foods, pota-
toes, cabbage, tUrnips, beans, etc.,
on which most people live to very
large extent are now from three to
four times as high as ordinarily at this
time of the year in most parts of the
country, and have consequently be-
come 1uxuries, rather than the neces-
stiles they have always been cOnsid-
cred. AS result, d good deal Of dis
cussion is going on as to what will
take the place of these, and by COM
mon consent, rice has been pitched
upon. Few people outside of the
South have any idea of the variety
of dishes that can be made of this
article, which in the North is eaten
almost altogether as pudding, or as
plain fried or boiled. In the South,
if ia used far more universally in
combination with other foods, max
ing it both more palatable and more
wholesome. tits fortunate that this
crop has been increasing all the time.
This year the home product will be
larger than ever before known and
of finer quality, while from Japan
comes word that the product is above
the average.
An account of the process by
which eggs are tested by commission
merchants may be of interest to the
farmers who supply the chen fruit"
of the country. Each egg is "can-
died. as it is called. The inspector
picks up six eggs at time, three In
each hand, and by simple turns of
the wrist, presents them, two at a
time in front of a screen in which
there are two holes approximately
the size of the eggs, a single glance
being sufficient to enable trained
man to grade them as "fresh" or
.sselected. - F'checked'' or seconds,
"spots. - oleaks'' and "rotten." A
good lively inspector will candle be-
tween 10000 and $4,000 eggs day.
If the egg, looking through it to the
light is clear and translucent, with
out spots or flaws, it is graded as
select" and is sold at the highest
price. In growing stale the white of
an egg shrinks, and this is shown TO
the "candler" by a line in the large
end of the egg. This egg goes into
the second grade, which also in
cIudes checked" eggs. A checked
egg is a cracked egg, but the flaw is
not noticed until betrayed by the
candle. When the yolk olings to the
shell the egg goes in with the other
spots ''leaks" are broken eggs.
The Department of Agriculture Is
experimenting with sand binding
grasses at the experiment stations
in all parts of the country, and Is
making progress in finding the best
kinds for the work of preventing the
moving, either by wind or water, OF
the errant sand. Daily a number OF