The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

$4,000
Net profit ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $1,000
The above estimates are based on land
that will make with $500 fertilizers and
proper cultivation, 1000 pounds seed cot
ton. OF course, if the lands used are
more fertile, the relative values will vary
to that extent Some lands that are very
fertile will produce very little cotton and
will produce heavy yield of grain. We
can best judge our lands each one for
himself, and should plant our crops on
lands that are best adapted for same.
j am quite sure our aim should be to
raise those crops that are in most de-
mand and that we can market with the
least cost and labor, as you Will all agree
with me that the labor question is getting
to be one of very great Importance in our
section of the State. With the use of
the latest and most up-to-date machinery
for seeding and harvesting grain and hay
crops, an ordinary family, with two or
three boys can seed and harvest crop
of grain, that will equal in value cot
ton crop that will take fifteen or twenty
hands to plant, cultivate and house, be-
sides, the boys enjoy the work with the
machines and teams / have boy who
is Just fourteen years old, who has done
all of my moving and harvesting for
the past two years on my home place.
| Colored labor will not do to operate
! improved farm machines, and l think our
white boys should be encouraged to do
! this work, and l am quite sure that when
this plan of farming is adopted in our
county, the boys will not leave the farms
| and go to the towns seeking employment,
as they have been doing heretofore l
have three sons at present, they are
DESTROYS of being farmers, and would not
60 to town under any consideration. L
must say. too, that I am very glad that
! their inclinations are that way.
We should also remember that we can
market our produce with much more
facility over our present roads. in sum-
rner than in winter, and that the dollars
we get in the summer months are worth
more. by per cent. than dollars we get
| in the winter months.
think it is safe to say. with the same
manurcs and cultivation for grain crops,
as for cotton and tobacco, we will one
year with another get more net profit
from grain, and hay crops, than we will
from cotton and tobacco. and am sure we
1 will have more and better stock, and
more manure to go back on our lands.
have received the past year for grain,
hay, beef, cattle and butter over $500.
and l am sure over one-half of this
amount is net profit. / do not mention
these facts in a boasting way. but simply
to show to my neighbors and the people
Of the county what can be done along
these lines. II we would raise enough OF
these crops to pay our expenses through
the year, then cotton and tobacco crops
would be entirely clear, and we would be
more able to keep our plantations in good
shape and to beautify our homes and
make them more attractive. II these con-
ditions were to prevail throughout the
county along with Good Roads, good
schools, good society and civilization, our
bows and girls would stay on the farms
and good old Edgecombe would blossom
as a rose: for her lands are the most
fertile. her daughters the fairest, and her
sons the truest and bravest. Her name
: TODAY is the most exalted of all the coLa-
ties of THIS great State of ours, and she
leads in everything that pertains tc
building Up, anu maintaining the honor
and fair name of the great Commonwealth
to which she belongs.
E. L. DAUGHTRIDGE.
rs Rocky Mount, N. c., April 5.