davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
Washington, D. G.
A TREE TALK.

correspondence OF Yhe Progressive Farmer.
The remarkable increase in the
damage done to crops in the South
by floods and droughts is no doubt
largely due to the rapid deforesta-
ton of the hill country, which is be-
ing carried on by lumbermen and
farmers.
This is especially true as regards
the mountainous sections. Here the
forest cover has held the soil for
ages but with the removal of this
and the consequent depletion of the
humus in the soil, the heavy rains
have started gullies in the steep hill
sides, and these have become larger
with each succeeding rain, until now
many of them are almost like oorru-
gated roofs. A multitude Of small
ditohes carry the water into the
larger channels, down which itrushes
in torrents.
The water which formerly flowed
off slowly for several days, or which
soaked into the soil, now runs off in
a few hours, and necessarily does
great damage.
The tendency of wholesale clearing
of the woodlands to increase the
length and severity of droughts is
perhaps less obvious; but it is reoog-
nized by all who have studied the
matter. The rainfall is as. great as
formerly, but the soil is not in con-
dition to receive it. So instead of
being absorbed to be gradually drawn
upon by vegetation or given off by
evaporation, it rushes into the val
levs and small streams and, carry
ing destruction with it, sweeps on
into the great river, and finally into
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
No. 80

vines to obstruot the view. On the
west and north have a good pine
grove as a wind break (this will also
furnish nice bedding for stock). A
few little details of this kind will
make all the difference between a
pleasant home and just a place TO
stay at. We went to see a farmer
once who lived in a log cabin. There
was no shade near the house and he
had planted corn almost up to the
door, which had grown up above the
ewes of the house. This was the
hottest place I ever saw. No wOnd0r
people are often sick with fever who
are thus situated. Excessive heat is
very debilitating and every one
should plan to have as cool place As
possible to rest and sleep in.
Prepare to dig sweet potatoes. We
have had the best success by digging
when the ground was dry and put
ting in small piles 30 to 80 bushels
in pile. Sprinkle some soil (sand
is best) on the potatoes, nearly
enough to hide them, then cover
with boards, corn stalks, &c., then
cover these with straw and bank up
about eight inches thick, excepting a
small hole at the top. Shelters are
not necessary when put up in this
way. There will be no danger of
cold or heat injuring the potatoes if
they are treated this way. More
potatoes are ruined by heat than
cold. Potatoes for early use can be
stored in any house that is reason
ably tight.
HARRY FARMER.
Columbus Co., N. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08

idea of their use as an absorbent to
take up hurtful liquids and gases
when eaten dry.
The Sampson correspondent to the
N. G. Department of Agriculture
said: "The crop report is hard to
make up; some say they have the
finest crops of their lives, while others
say they have only half CROP" AS
the County Surveyor, have fair
opportunity to observe as to crop
conditions, and am of the opinion
that the matter will be easier when
he makes his report for October.
Those who thought the crop their
best will soon learn that appearances
are deceitful; that the greater part
of the "forms" that appeared in
August fell off, and it will show up
at picking time.
There are great many farms on
which the yield will run from a bale
to four, five, six, seven, and pr obablJ
Is acres
And corn, while better, is by no
means a satisfactory crop. This
condition, however, is reversed in
some portions of the county, cotton
being better than corn, but by no
means full crop, except on specially
favored spots, and these are few and
small.
Under natural conditions cotton
would sell at 1871 cents per pound.
The pea crop is only fair and at
many places none at all.
Sweet potatoes, in Halls township,
are good, and may be elsewhere.
This crop cannot be judged very
easily by passing, but is presumed to
be good.
Tobacco is said to be poor.
get so many good things from
The Progressive Farmer that get
really provoked at my neighbors fo1
not subscribing. Many will not read
the papers that I lend them.
VIM. A. BARBREY.
Sampson Co., N. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
Sampson Co., N. G.
HARRY FARMERS TALKS.
XLVI.

ALNl.
Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
Did you ever notice what a farmer
often saves or makes by little extra
work at the proper time? A short
time ago we told farmer to plow a
patch of peas that were planted late.
He plowed them three weeks after
then, but the grass had done its
work. Result: loss of five dollars
for the lack of doing two hours
work with a one-horse ,plow at the
proper time. twenty-five dollars a
day This is not an uncommon oo-
currence on many farms. We have
lost money the same way. Notice
nov this farmer did the work, but it
was too late. There is no other busi-
ness that gives greater returns for
the amount of labor and capital en-
plOyed than farming taken as a whole.
No other business is as badly abused
as farming. But some times our best
efforts give poor results. A few
years ago when cotton was selling
for cents a pound some one re-
marked that there should be law
enacted restricting the acreage of
cotton to three acres for each horse
or plow kept on the farm. An old
farmer said, ''Now you want to glut
the market. Instead of making one
half bale to the acre, there will be
two or three bales made to the acre"
This was we'll said. If our farmers
would plant less land and give what
they do plant more attention, the re-
suits would be greater, crops larger
and larger profits.
We had a pleasant visitor at our
home a short time ago. He was a
man raised on farm, but had been
living in large Northern city for
several years. He could tell us about
the blessings of country life. He
had left the city where he was max
ing money and accepted work in the
country that would scarcely feed and
clothe him. Our home is a very
pleasant place so far as shade and
cool breezes give pleasure yet we
do not appreciate them like we
would if we were shut up in some
large city and were debarred from
them. ''How shall I build so as to
get the best of pure air and cool
In this section where we
get the sea breezes, have your house
IN the north side of the field or open
ng. The porches should be on the
south or east side of the dwelling.
This will give the breeze a good
,hance. Have no low bushes or
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
Columbus Co., N. G.
BARREN AND EUBBY CORN.
HARRY FARMER.

Correspondence OF The Progressive Farmer.
After more than 20 years practical
field experience as a corn breeder,
the writer believes that there are as
many drones and weaklings in most
corn fields, proportionately, as there
are in hives of bees, or communities
of men. And that the drones (stalks
which are lazy or barren, and which
produce very little, or nothing at ah
in the way of grain) do more through
the curse of barrenness and its at
tendant degeneraoy, to reduce our
average yield of corn than poor soil,
adverse seasons, and lazy men COM
bined. A careful counting Of the
productive and barren stalks in many
fields of degenerate corn, during the
almost universally good corn years
of 1899 and 1900, revealed the fact
that in many instances more thai
40 per cent. of the maturing stalks
we're entirely barren, or nearly 80.
That there is very much barren
ness (degeneraoy) throughout all Or
ganic life, no wide-awake naturalist
can fail to see. All plant life as weE
as animal and even human life, has
its drones and weaklings. We haVe
only to look around us to see how
many scrub animals, how many ia
capable, Outcast human beings, how
many imperfect, unproductiVe
plants. The writer has been re-
ceiving during the past month
numerous letters from corn growers
throughout the corn States, express
ing alarm at the condition of the
corn crop, which in some fields has
more than 20 per cent. of barren
stalks. And asking him what was
the matter with their corn, as they
"could not account for it,
Barrenness, according to the
writer's experience, is one Of the
strongest marks of degeneracy. And
reveals itself in various ways, such
CO O4J 4OU3 SA4u61 ~" S0E4440dbI0B
power, excessive stalk growth, nub-
bins, and entire grain absence. Late
reports from reliable corn growers,
in widely separated localities in the
corn States, say that the per cent. of
barren stalks in various fields of
both we'll bred, and degenerate (rUn
out) corn, ranges from per cent. to
"a per cent, depending on the de-
gree Of degeneracy of the sort of
corn grown, in each particular in
stance.
It is the writer's candid opinion
that the course of barrenness which
30 thoroughly pervades all degener-
ate vegetable life, is annually operat-
ing to reduce its productiveness, as
well as it's breeding standard, through
the medium of degenerate, impotent \
polarization. Indeed, the one term
embraces the other. There is No
question in the writer's mind that
such degenerate barren pollenizs-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08

effects, from which it usually reooy-
ers within half an hour. Six ounces
we're given to a number of sheep
without the slightest i'll effects.
Lambs should have between two and
four ounces, according to age. The
medicine is more effective when ad-
ministered while the sheep is stand
ing in it's normal position.
Prof. F. S. Earle, Hortioulturist of
the Alabama Experimental Station
of the Department of Agriculture,
has pointed out report to Secretary
Wilson, the cause of so many
FAILURES IN ATTEMPTS AT TRUCK
FARMING.
He says: 'It requires business
ability Of high order to market
truck crops successfully. This is
by far the most important part of
the business, for it is useless to grow
good crops unless they can be sold at
a profit, yet it is safe to say that
there are ten men who grow good
truck crops where there is one who
markets them to the best possible
advantage. In the early days of the
business nearly all such crops were
shipped on commission, and at the
present time many of the more per-
ishable crops are still mostly sold in
this way. It has the advantage of
giving the producer the full benefit
of the market, but on the other
hand he must assume all the risks of
loss in transit and of temporary
gluts, besides the very considerable
risk of loss through dishonest agents,
since by this system the commi. sion
merchant has things practically in
his own hands. Many devices have
been tried for so controlling ship
ments as to secure judiciOus glut-
ting of one market when perhaps
some other one has an inadequate
supply. Local, district and even
State associations have been formed
with agencies for securing market
reports, for experimenting the dis
tribution and for d1verting ship
ments from point TO point, as indi-
Gated by the latest telegraphio ad-
vices. Even when in competent
hands and honestly administered
these associations have not always
been successful, since products are
going forward at the same time from
so many competing sections that it
has not been possible for them to
keep posted as to the movement from
the different points, especially as an
unusually high prloe from any mar
ket generally attrsots shipments
from many quarters. Any plan that
would really accomplish the result
of avoiding gluts would be of untold
good TO the entire tracking interest,
benefting equally both growers and
dealers. \"
A. B. MARRIOTT.
Washington, D. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08

Dear ReGder:-Lf the label on yO11r
paper ShOl0S that yOur time IS OtEt,
please renelC, and ObLige.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08

CONTINUED ON PAGE 81
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
Mr.. Flagler's Marriage.

There is, so far as we know, hut one
State of the Union in which insanity Is
made a cause for divorce. THAT state Is
Florida, which recently changed its sta
tute SO as to permit decree of divorce for
mental disease. The first man to take ad-
vantage of the new statute was Henry M.
Flacler the Standard Oil marnate, multi
millionaire, and owner of Florida hotels
and railroads. If MIR. Flaglcr wants any
thing from a Florida Legislature It is pos
sible that he knows how to get it. We do
not know and do not assert that he pro-
cured the change of the Florida law in
the line of easy divorce; but the change
has enabled him to take az mis- third wife
a Miss keenan,, Of Wilmington. y. c. The
Tribune's account of the marriage is as
follows:
The ceremony was performed according
to the forms of the Presby terian Church.
of which MIR Flagler is an cider and the
Kenan family members The Rev DR. =.
II. lfoage, of Louisville, performed the
economy. The wedding was a quiet one,
only tho family end a few intimate friends
being present The floral decorations
are said to have been the hand
soonest ever seen in F.; stern Carolina.
Mi Flagler and a few friends reached
Wilmington yesterday and started by spe-
cial train for Magnolia. and thence TO
kenansville by carriage. 1t is reported
that the bride received 81, 10000 as Il wed
ding gift. and that two members of her
family are to receive $4,000 each. Miss
Kenan is Of an old Southern family. and
has been one of North Cardinals most
popular daughters She is dark complex
v.it Ia. =, al
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
LIABILITIES :
VI, 3o1, ooo %

titude In costumins to an extent that Is
almost barbaric. She Graves Crimsons
rose and purple and gold, rich laces and
furs. This taste has to be Contented with
and overC One; she must be tuned 20 grayJ
and sonber blacks and serious whites.
There is one tall superbly iroad should.
cred young woman essentially snowy in
physical way, the wife of an artist. wno
has brought her dressing down to admir-
mile tone and exquisite lines, although she
was at first given TO striking effects.
though so daringly and spleudidly carried
out that she could easily have made tho m
n fashion. But very few women can dare
in this way.
Another young beauty Is noted for her
cxubcrantly rich style of DIRE ssing but this
Is fault Of youth that experience soon
lessons if it does not cure. The wife Of
millionaire has practically been taught
how to dress from the very primer Of color
and line to the fine art Of texture and
sheen as setting for particular complex
ions and style Yet she was wOaf.ilv It
fault in her first attempts at gowniug.
Women need individual education in this
matter of dress and the time Is not far Off
when at the colleges students will apply
their study Of art their own needs in the
way of dressing. ! know one girl artist VIII
knows that her face is Of the old-fashion-
cd type. and she delights all who admire
her by wearing quaint old-fashioned laces
and dress in thorough keeping with her
dainty face and form"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
THE PASSING OF THE HORSE.

The horse is not extinct yet but persons
in the horse business report that he IL
scarce and costly. They say that in the
neighborhood of New York fve-dollar
horses have been bringing $40 or $50, and
so horses $50 or $500. The chief reason for
the dearth given by dealer quoted In one
of the neighborhood papers is electric
scare" 1t may be remembered that II
was given out two or three years ago that
all the homework was soon to be done by
electricity. The farmers and breeders, It
seems, took these assurances so muCh TO
heart that fewer colts were raised. Then
the Spanish war put the government in the
market for horses and mules, the Boer
war has made market for 5000 more;
the horse distemper early In the summer
killed some; the extreme heat killed many
more. and, altogether horses are scarce.
Evidently 1t Is going to take time to w.an
humanity from horses. 1t can't be done I'm
single generation, even though Edison 8
storage battery turns out to be all that Is
hoped.-E. s. Martin, in Harper's Weekly.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29

is possible for consul to be Of the great
est service in finding markets for Amcri-
can goods. in widening the bounds of our
commercial empire and 1t would seem to
require only the application of ordinary
business principles and every day COM
nonsense to the question to demonstrate
the necessity of making appointments in
the consular service dependent upon merit
alone. The day Is coming. slowly. 1t may
be, but nevertheless surely. when the
principle that government business should
be conducted upon business principles Will
be recognized and the removal of the i'm
portant consular department from the
field of politics will be a long step in the
right direction. Good government and eff
ficcnt service pay much better In the long
run than an abundant crop Of political
Dlums"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
Wonders of the TeIautOgraph.

or all the mechanical exhibits at the
Fan-American Exposition probably none
attracts more attention or cxcitcs more
wonder than the tclautograph. This is
a contrivancc, which. as its name indi-
Gates. CRADLES 1t to reproduce at almost
any distance from tho writer the charac-
tors exactly as they arc written by tho
sender; and in order to impress upon the
spectator the fun significance of the inven-
ticn the exhibit is so arranged that both
the sending and the receiving apparatus
separated 10y considerable space can be
watched at the same time.
The tclautograph is Of extremely sim
pie construction. rho operator appears
to be writing with an ordinary indclihlc
pencil except that attached to it are small
steel rods constituting delicate frame
work so hinged as to move freely in any
direction. The message is taken down by
a common pencil held in frame of steel
rods precisely similar to that in the Of
flee of the sender, except that the pencil
is held by the frame which acts automati-
cally. The reproduction of the written
character is made possible by a delicate
mechanism operated by electricity The
instant the operator puts his pencil upon
the surface Of the paper electrical connec-
tions causes the pencil in the Office Of the
receiver to press down upon the paper
and to follow every movement of the
sender to the minutest detail.
The telautograph not only reproduce
tl.. Ia Of
Gus but also makes every detached mark
including the comma, dash and period
and other marks of punctuation as well
as the dotting Of letters, 1t follows that
the telautOgrdph makes possible the send
ing Of pictures over enormous distances,
and the reproducing all sorts of sketches.
Moreover by electricity the paper is made
to slide along in the receiver In order to
start on a new line uniformly with the
paper in the transmitting instrument. In
deed when the spectator watches the re-
ceiving instrument it is difficult to believe
that he is not Witnessing some feat of ma
sic.
The uses to which the telautograph car
bc put are almost without limit. In all
'flN'S Nl'i' inc StHullltn'SS OF n per
sons signature is to be demonstrate
though The writer be miles away, the in
strument iu question will be invaluable
IT is easy 10 see also that the invention
VIII %" OF great service in connection witt
tho d spatching of trains. When "A mes
sage passes through half "A dozen hands
with nothing to fix responsibility no indi
NidUol can be held responsible with as
/ sWauoe, but if the despatch is received
I'm the handwriting of the dispatcher th'
whole matter becomes simple. II Is prob
able also that the application Of cloCtrici
Is TO the sending of handwriting and pic
lures viii be extended so as to cmbrac,
many features not now thought of. In
decd it Is hardly safe To predict what ma
not be accomplished in the near futur
through the aid of the electric curT,l {.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
Origin of the Monroe Doctrine.

The chief question with reference to the
Monroe doctrine at the present time relates
to its significance and effectiveness; and
these considerations lend interest to the
point which has been recently raised AZ to
the origin of the policy so.called, Prof.
Albert Bushnell Hart Of Harvard Unver-
sity in the course of Il lecture on The
Monroe Doctrine and the Isthmus canal"
delivered at Chautauqua, y. T., said that
as a matter Of fact we knew very little
about the doctrine He added in this con
nection that the Monroe doctrine was not
Monroe's, but John Quincy Adams, al
though Monroe endorsed it and allowed 1t
to go out in his name.
Irof Harris statement may be techni-
cally correct since John Quincy Adams
was potential in the making of the dcclar-
alton Of 1873 in response to the proposed
Intervention OF European powers to settle
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29
Consular Reform.

The announcement is made that the
State department Is engaged in Investigate
ing the condition Of the consular service
with a view to institrtinr certain changes
that will make it more efficient This is
welcome news Indeed and it would be
great triumph for Secretary Hay and the
administration Of President Mckinley If
this important branch Of the government
service could be taken out of politics. The
majority Of our consuls are able and eff
flcent men, and they have rendered excel
lent service in SpitcOf the manner in which
they are appointed; but vastly better work
could be done If business rather than
political methods prevailed.
For long time the consuships have
been regarded as "A convenient reward with
which to pay political debts and too often
the first consideration has been the salts
faction of the demands of some senator or
congressman who desired a comfortable
was indebted Now it Is needless TO argue
the point that man may be able to do
very efficient political work or make very
telling political speeches, who has no moro
fitness for the Office of consul than "A
veterinary surgeon has to FIJI the chair Of
--'Ar0Romy Ia one of our universities. 1t