The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-20
AgriCultz re.
IEws OF THE FARl gG WORLD.

Ar Washington SOAASSPS SA6 4e44S WHAT
proVress is Being Maze in the Various
sections Of the Country.
.snondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
The Division of Publications of
Aha Department Of Agriculture is
bnsiIv engaged these days in prepar-
,,0 the many bulletins sent them for
,oblication by the heads of the vsri-
ors Divisions. Among these bulle-
ans is a publication by Mr.. M. T.
Miller, of the Ohio State University,
On
arHE EVOLUTION OF REAPNG MA
MACHINES. -
nIn no class of agricultural imple-
,ents. " says Mr.. Miller, ''has there
besn a more marked development
hsnin that of grain reapers. This de,
vslopment has taken centuries, not
beosuse of such a great number of
stages, but because for centuries
there was no improvement, the
sickle reigning supreme.
A mention is made in history of q
hand reaper found among ruins of
the stone sge in Great Britain. The
ssrliest records seem TO be in Egypt
sn history tomb at Thebes, prob
ibly built 14OO or 1900 B. c., bears a
nnting where two men are repre-
Rnsd with siokle-like implements.
Oher paintings of this kind show
two distinct methods or modes of
Fssping.
The ancient Chinese and Japanese
used an implement resembling the
sickle, and strange as it may seem,
almost the same thing is used by
them to-day. Even in the Bible, in
the Old Testament, the words reap
and 'siokle' appear.
''It was for the Americans TO de-
wise improved forms of the sickle
The earliest American colonists, con-
struoted what Is termed the 'Ameri-
oan cradle"
The bulletin describes the various
,arly English machines, American
reapers, hsrvesters, binders, headers
and mowers, showing the evolution
from the ancient and even prehis-
tOric ages down TO the twentieth cen
tury methods of harvesting crops.
One of the most PROSPEROUS indus.
tries Of the State of Oregon is that
Of
CANNING HORSE MEATS.
While the idea of horse meat as a
food is repulsive TO most Americans,
yet the practice of eating the flesh of
mans dumb friend is carried on to
sgreat extent in European countries
The horses slaughtered in Oregon
are of the "scrub" variety which are
Of little use for working purposes.
With the increased demand and
higher prices for horses during the
past few years, the horse meat can.
ming industry has greatly waned
However, in Oregon the horses
slaughtered are the cast offs of the
horse supply of this oountry-those
which cannot be ''palmed off" on the
British Government for use in South
African operations against the B oers
AN INTERESTING BUG TALK.
Dr. L. o. Howard, the Entomolo,
gist oug man of the Department. OF
Agriculture, one day last week en-
tertained a delegation of Congress
men from Texas who came TO urge
Rim TO use all his efforts in an en-.
deavor TO have Congress make an
appropriation of $4,000 (as intro.
d0ced in the House) for the destruc,
ton Of the cotton boil weevils. This
Insect, it is stated, caused damage
Isss year to the extent of over 81
O00,CyO
There is no reason TO believe, >
said DR.. Howard, "but that there il
merit IN such an appropriation, fo1
1ezhs certainly needs protection
against this insect emigrant from
Mexico. What is needed is not (at
II the case with anarchists) restric
aon upon emigration, for that can
not be done, but means of eradi
eating the evil.
'Ot course we have aided the cot
ton growers as much as possible, bat
ouf means are limited. Another
'Ofm Of insect life against which We
@e working is the grasshopper. VIZ
e trying to eradicate them, yor
1No", by introducing fatal fungus
- my tour of inspection in the vari
OOs lOcalitias ont Waat lsat fall.