The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-20
THE BoARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The BOARD OF AOhlCDLTURE.
The present law requires that all
members of this Board, as we'll as
the Commissioner, shall be practical
farmers. It cannot now be used as
the dumping ground for reward of
favorites who r TO be compensated
flor the sake of the compensation.
and not appointed on account Of
their qualifications to perform the
duties of the position. The Board is
endeavoring to make it's work of the
highest benefit to the farmers and is
operating in cattle diseases, injurious
insects, soil survey, test farms and
other departments. It's regulations
as to the analysis of fertilizer en-
deavors to protect the farmer from
fraud and to see that he is furnished
with goods profitable to use. 1t is
to be regretted that the Legislature
did not enact the recommendations
of the Board as to remuneration for
goods sold which are below the guar
antee. The farmer who purchases
fertilizer on a guarantee is the only
person in the State that cannot have
adequate compensation for failure of
seller to deliver an article as good as
the guarantee on which it is bought.
This is a right he should have and
he should see that the person who
represents him in the next Legisla.
ture will guarantee to advocate it.
The members of the Alliance should
arrange for Farmers Institutes in
their neighborhood and enter active
ly into their proceedings. Earnestly
urge them to visit the Test Farms
and profit by the information to be
gained there.
TAXATION.
When our State government was
organized land constituted nearly
all the wealth and was selected to
bear the burden of taxation. Pre-
vious to 1861 taxation was accord
ing to the number of owned
without regard to the value. One
hundred acres on Mount Pisgah de-
voted to raising ''huckleberries and
bear paid as much tax as the same
amount of Roanoke bottom or red
Jersey land. Afterwards the system
was changed to ad U0JOreml taxation.
Other species of property became
prominent and are as mUchs wealth
as land. The struggle has been to
keep an undue proportion of the
tax on the land although at present
one of the least remunerativ e forms
of wealth. Land and its accompany
ing property cannot be easily con-
cealed from the assessor for taxa
ton. The wner of bonds, stocks,
notes and other species of kindred
property should be required to list
each item, as the farmer does the
property of the farm, and let those
whose duty it is fix the value for
taxation. The struggle in State,
county and town now is to have a
correct list of property of each
owner and to prevent ubiquity of
citizenship or imperfect return be-
ing used to avoid the contribution
of a just share 30 the expenses of a
government whose pleasures and
benefits are enjoyed. The farmer
asks no unfair exemption from tax
alton, only that others shall con-
tribute their portion; because he
was started with a greater part of
the load is no reason he should be
compelled to continue to bear it af-
ter others as much interested in the
Commonwealth have become more
muscular than he.
TRUSTS
The combination of those whose
business it is to supply the wants
of the people with articles of
c )mmerce seems to be wellnigh over
turning the former habits of traffic;
the seller no longer seeks the buyer
to ascertain what and how much he
may desire to purchase, but informs
him how much he will let him have
and at what price. The small dealer
or manufacturer is fast becoming
extinct, as it is folly for him with
his hundreds to oppose the trusts
with their billions of dollars the
intellect and energy he would CON
tribute in advancing the interests
of his community by new enterprises
and employment OF more laborers is
sold to the trust to aid in crushing