davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16

the one cannot be grown without the
other.
The function of tillage is to pre-
pare soil conditions favorable to the
termination of seed; that is, to keep
the soil open and porous, and well
pulverized, and even. It also serves
to conserve moisture by the well
known earth mulch, by keeping an
even soil texture, and by keeping
down the growth of weeds which use
moisture thus robbing the valuable
plants. The function of fertilizer is
the same as that of manures of all
kinds. It simply supplies plant food
nitrogen, potash and phosporic
acid. Plant food can do little with
out tillage, tillage can do nothing
without plant food. These are things
to keep in mind.
As mentioned before, the compost
ton of the fertilizer is important,
for plants must have certain proper
tions of the three elements, and no
great excess of any one, or of any
two for that matter, can make up for
the scarcity of any one of them. On
this account, it is of first Importance
to study the composition of the fer
tilizers used.
P.J. CHRISTIAN.
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16
P. J. CHRISTIAN.
About the Tobacco Growers Trust.

About the Tobacco Growers Trust.
Editor of The Progressive Farmer:
Your correspondent noticed the
call to the farmers who are interest
ed in the culture of tobacco to meet
at Rocky Mount, 10Th inst, as well
as the outline sketch and suggestion
of DR.. Freeman to organize Tobac-
CO Growers Trust. It is reasonable
to suppose that farmers engaged in
its culture shall enjoy the value of
what it costs to produce it. Yet it
Is unreasonable to suppose that
farmers do receive full cost of pro-
duction. The Doctor hopes for full
discussion; so do I. He says that it
is no use to meet and resolute. That
is the truth. if we do not intend to
stick. I do not object to the up
building of the farmer, for that is
my pursuit. Yet there seems to be
but little reason in trying to form
a trust, when farmers themselves
denounce trusts, acknowledging the
fact of being overruled by moneyed
trust or monopolies in the outline.
Where is the plenty of money the to-
bacco growers will have in the treas
ury? That depends on the quantity
he produces. From whom will he re-
ceive his full value9 From those en-
gagged in trust. Thus it would seem
the money received by officers or
managers of the trust companies is
collected from the producer in those
trusts. Turn on the light.
ROBERT COOPER.
Franklin Co., N. G.
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16

make 420 yards, then 3 fences the
short way or ends including one cross
or dividing fence will make 210
yards, or total of $50 yards. Now
if you have no spring, then you must
dig a we'll and fix a trough, so you
can tell exactly what it will cost you.
We had to dig a well. Don't say that
you cannot do this, for you can.
Many farmers are going to do it and
will make nearly double what we
made, because they have better lands
and will use pure breeds of the best
hogs. Ours are mixed.
Some of the pigs will nearly dou-
BILE others just like some COWS will
make more butter than others with
the same feed. As we have said be-
fore, the South can make meat more
cheaply than the West. Young en-
terprising farmers will take hold and
make money,
SELLING WOOD
Here is another opportunity to
make little money, if you are prop
arly sitna+ed- towns nearly all
over the State need large quantities
of fire wood. Every one who has
tried it, knows that hauling green
wood is slow work. Now cut little
all through the year, and let it be
corded up so that it can dry off. Then
when you have to go to town you can
carry a load with you. If the road
is good and the wood is pine, and has
been cut 6 or months, a good horse
or mule can draw nearly half of a
cord at one load. Wood is advancing
a little every year, and the farmer
who has it, can make it pay him well.
ANOTHER WORD ABOUT PEANUTS
Peanuts as a human food are not
to be despised, for they furnish near
ly all the nutriments required. Eaten
raw in small quantities they act as
a mild cathartic; when roasted they
are the reverse. It is said that a
small quantity of roasted peanuts
eaten at bed time is a good remedy
for insomnia or sleeplessness. They
will fatten poorly children as well
as pigs. And every farmer who has
tried them knows that no food has
ever been tried which would excel
peanuts as a hog food.
HARRY FARMER.
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16

Now that politics is out of the way
for a time the question of public ed
ucation and good roads should have
the right of way. Give us better
schools and better roads and North
Carolina will take her position
among the most progressive States
in the Union. Without these i'm
provements she must forever remain
at or near the bottom of the list
Sanford Express.
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16
Fertilizers Do Not Replace Tillage.


Editor of The Progressive Farmer:
A most common mistake of farm
ers is to expect too much of fertil-
izers, due to no little extent, no doubt,
to the extravagant claims made by
many fertilizer dealers. Fertilizers
are simply a form of concentrated
manure, and their use arose largely
from the fact that not enough farm
yard manure can be made on the av-
erage farm to keep the soil in good
condition. Careful tillage is just as
important with fertilizers as with
farmyard manure. It is true that
fertilizers do not stock up a soil with
all kinds of weed seeds, but keeping
the soil pulverized and porous and the
maintenance of the earth mulch is
not the less important on this ac-
count.
Manures are more or less a COM
plete manure, and while it is true
that the potash and phosphates con-
tanned in same become available as
plant food much less rapidly than the
nitrogen, still large proportion ul-
timately becomes serviceable to
growing plants. This is the point
too generally overlooked by farmers
in buying fertilizers. Figured as
fertilizer formula, manure contains
equal percentages of potash and nj
trogen, and half as much phosphoric
acid. Fertilizers need not follow
these proportions closely because the
nitrogen is needlessly large when we
consider the enormous quantities
stored in soils by plants of the clover
family. So far as the mineral plant
food elements are concerned, and by
mineral plant food is commonly
meant potash and the phosphates, it
is very probable that farmyard ma
nure represents closely the actual
needs of average crops.
This is the point to establish clear
ly before we go on the subject of til
lage. If the fertilizers are unsuita-
bic for the crop, tillage of itself can
do nothing. The correct balancing
of the plant food in fertilizers must
be studied with reference to the ac-
tual needs of crops in plant food, and
the largest crop it is hoped to make.
A we'll balanced fertilizer for 90
bushels of corn per acre for example,
cannot make 40 bushels Farmers
must read and study out these points
for themselves. The problem is
neither intricate nor difficult, simply
a matter of studying the composition
of crops, being particular to take the
whole crop growth into considera-
tion, for plant food is as much re-
quired to make the roughage as to
make the valuable sale portion, and
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16
60.50
Dec. Is. By 1900 TBS. pork q
8 cents $4,000
Showing net profit of $3.50.
pPOETT IN PORK PRODUCTNG

PROFIT IN PORK PRODUCING.
Suppose we put the price of pork
at the lowest price at which it sells,
5 cents per pound, and we have the
sum of $75, which would leave us 25
per cent for our trouble. We did
not sell our meat, or at least only
small part of it, but could have dis
posed of all of it at s cents per
pound. Of course we have more
pigs, but we just mentioned these
because they were weaned and put
on the oats at the date named. The
rent of the land at So per acre would
give a nice profit to many farmers,
because the land is improved at least
50 per acre. While eating the oats
and peas during the summer we had
to water the pigs once a day, which
rarely consumed more than ten min
utes, including the time going and
coming from the field. The dry sum-
mer prevented the peas and grass
from growing as well as they do some
summers.
HOW THE WORK WAS DONE
Brother farmers, this is the result
of planning and preparing our farms
to yield US the most profit for the
least labor. What did it cost, you
asked9 Our field is 8 acres or 21O
yards long by 1 acre wide. So you
see 2 side fences 210 yards long will
The progressive farmer., 1902-12-16
AGRICULTURE
HARRY FARMERS TALKS.

@.
Editor of The Progressive Farmer:
Here are some figures which prove
what we mentioned in former arti-
Gle on hog raising:
HOG ACCOUNT TO HARRY FAR
MER, DR..
May 25. To 15 pigs a 81. -. $500
May %. 1112 acres oats-includ-
ing seed ($1.25), blowing
($15O), rents (s4.5O). .... 1925
Jul. 8. ~ acres COW peas. -. 7.75
(Cost about same as oats.)
Sept. Is. 81 acre corn a $40
per acre Observation-Disclosures. 7.5O
Oct. Is. 8 acres COW peas
(mostly grown among corn
and some of these had been
gathered so we value them
at 81 per acre) e)........ 800
Oct. 25. 81 acre sweet potatoes
Gons-half OF thesa grown
land after the oats were
harvested) .......... 5000
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
Tells His Opinion in Regard to Shot
Firing.
MEN SHOULD FIRE THE HOLE
Mr.. Phillips Says 1t Is no Duty of the
Employer to Employ Shot Firers-
Says Miners Should Pay Salaries of
Firers.

L. j. Phillips has an opinion in re-
gard to shot firing and he has prepar-
ed a statement favoring these ideas,
Mr. Phillips takes exceptions to some
of the statements published in Satur-
days Courier, which were given by an
old and experienced miner Mr.. Phil
lips ideas are technical and cover the
ground from his point of view in very
ment, which was handed the Courie-;
follows:
Editor of the Courier:
Please allow me space in your val
liable paper once more on the mining
question in the state of Iowa | saw
an article in the Courier of February l
which is misleading in connection with
the shot tirers. 1t would seem by the
article in the Courier that shot tirers
are selected in all the mines of the
state, which is not the case The mi
ners in all the mines of the state eX-
cepting three, to my knowledge, fire
their own shots which really is their
duty as they are the masters of the
situation, complete the work of pre-
pairing the shot as they prepare them
the strength of the hole and the
amount of powder TO the best of his
Judgment that is required to do the
work. He also, after he puts the pow
der into the hole, uses fuse, lamps the
hole with very unbecoming material
for tamping, using anything that he
can scrape up in conjunction with the
drillings OF he hole, which is dry dust,
which is dangerous in conjunction with
the powder. Prior to the use of fuse
these holes were tamped upon a needle
with fire clay and sQuib was used 10
explode the powder. You cannot lamp
your hole as solid and as regularly on
the fuse as you can on the needle. II
you do you are subject to breaking the
| fuse and therefore it does not require
the same material to lamp on fuse
as it does on needle and the lamp
ing is not. as firm with the fuse as with
the needle and therefore it is subject
for The powder to blow out the lamp
ing when the shot is improperly pre-
pared, with too much strength for the
powder to do it's work and with i'm
proper material for tamping in con
junction with the powder, especially in
dry mines, is the cause of the eXplo
sions we have had of late years.
Prior to fourteen to sixteen years
ago, We never had, to my knowledge
an explosion as We have nowadays il
any of the mines of Iowa. The rea
lson OF these explosions is that the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06

These figures of course take into ac-
count no expense for postmasters' sal
aries or other expenses in connection
with the maintenance of individual
postoffices. The items represent the
total cost of this branch of the service
in the, United Statesw was $56,S10,242.05
for the year 1901.
Rumple Creates Attention.
Congressman Rumple's bill restrict
ing the fishing for mussels is attract
ing good deal of attention, and he
has frequent requests for information
upon the. subject. Clam-fishing for
the purpose of securing the shells is a
new phase of the industry to eastern
people. Here clam-fshing is eyten,
Isively carried on but the clans and
not the shells. are what the fishermen
desire. Captain Rumple has about
made up his mind to amend his bill,
striking out section FIVE. which limits
the fishing to waters more than six
feet deep. In view of the fact that
the bill requires no appropriation; or
to use current term, makes no raid
upon the treasury, being in the nature
of game law, there is good reason to
believe it will pass.
... Frank J. Stillman
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
GlLBERTEATON,
OF GLIDDEN, IOWA, SAYS:
Fav0rite Remedy Cured Me OF
Kidney and Bladder Trouble.

For some three years | Suffered
much from kidney and bladder trouble
saw an advertisement in the Times
Republican which led to my using
DR.. David kennedys Favorite Remedy.
The relief was almost instantaneous
and my cure was a matter of a short
time. | am an earnest believer in the
efficacy of this great medicine and
heartily recommend it TO all afflicted
as | was, for | am in better health than
] have been for years and Dr. David
Kennedy's Favorite Remedy did it.
BY a special and particular arrange
meut with the manufacturers any OF
our readers who suffer from kidney,
liver or bladder trouble in any form,
diabetes, Bright's disease, rheumatism.
dyspepsia, eczema or any form of
blood disease, or, if woman, from the
sicknesses peculiar TO your sex, and are
not already convinced that DR.. David
Kennedy's Favorite Remedy is the
medicine you need, may have trial
bottle, absolutely free, with valuable
medical pamphlet, by sending your
name, with postoffice address, to the Dr.
David Kennedy Corporation, Rondout,
N. Y, mentioning this paper.
DR.. David Kennedy's Favorite REM
| edy is for sale by all druggists. $1.o0
bottle or six bottles for $500, less
| than one cent dose.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
Be SURE
YOU GET H
Gel Vn0i YOU 0Sk for.
Gel The Genuine.
Gel D-O-A-N-S.
Nothing else like ii.
Nothing lust 0S good.
Foster hIlDurl Go.
BufQ0, n. Y.
Sole hg9lIS
MI DRUG Stores
p. g 50 cents.

er state should get up bill tc he rass-
ed by either of the houses in coanec-
ton with mining without he is first re-
quested by an intelligent committee
of intelligent miners and operators
and men who have life long expert
ence in mines, not theory and preju-
dice, but practical knowledge of Che
conditions that exist in mining coal
under various difficulties, and that
committee of intelligent men should
prepare bill if it is necessary, salts
factory to all concerned, and let that
committee present it and they can
then pass upon the bill and vote intel
ligently. Each state knows exactly
the needs of the rules and regulations
wherein it is beneficial to mining with
out any aid from the congress of the
United States. We have state mine
inspectors in this state which | think
are well qualified men and they know
the need OF the miners and the amount
of air that is required for each indi-
vidual and mule that is in the mine.
l have no objection to the appoint
'ment of commissioners as proposed
now by Representative Kendall, of Al
bia, if they think it is necessary to
make intelligent reports upon any of
these accidents that might occur in
the mines in conjunction with the
state mine Inspector If they are ap.
pointed they should be well qualified
men, both miners and operators and
men that have life long experience in
mining. 1t is very easy matter to
get men that are good takers and
that base their theory on hearsay but
lit amounts to nothing
I T. r. Phillips.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
DANGER IN FIRE.
Eats Way Nearly to Powder in Rich.
land but Explosion Is Averted.

Richland, Feb Especially
explosion which might easily have
been attended with disastrous results
was averted here yesterday by prompt
action in removing quantity. of pow
der from a burning building contain
ing powder and loaded shot gun shells.
The structure burned was small out
building owned by E. Steele. The
contents We're the property of f. Dun
bar. The. latter's loss is about $500.
The building was used to store powder
and other explosives. among the lat
ter being 1000 loaded shot gun shells.
Had the fire gotten to the explosives
there would have been an explosion
which. have undoubtedly done great
damage to the nearby residences and
in all probability have resulted in the
serious injury of those fighting the
blaze. The new fire engine worked
well but water was scarce. The origin
of the blaze is unknown.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06

method of mining and the method and
care of the miner have changed from
what they We're formerly. remem-
Der we'll when the use of powder in
the coal mines of the west was first in
troduced. We formerly prepared our
shots with picks which we called min
ing picks and cutting picks. We would
mine underneath the coal to certain
depth taper the holes towards the
point of the cutting, charge these
holes with powder, insert the needle
and tamped with clay fire the shot
with squib and the coal would turn
over But finally the miner, becom-
ing acquainted with the power of the
powder does away with mining under
dicular, prepares his hole right and
proper, fires his shot and does very
good work. Finally he does away
with little more convenience and
from the day the fuse was introduced
and the doing away with the pick
work We have had these explosions in
the state of Iowa.
In regard to shot firers. 1t is no
part of the duty of the employer to
employ shot firers. The man that han
| dies the powder and charges his hole
knows the amount of powder that he
has in the hole, and also the real
| strength of his hole and he is the man
that should fire that hole, as his en-
ployer nor any man in the mine has
no right whatever with that hole and
knows nothing about it. | have no OBJ
lection whatever for the miners EN-.
ploying their own firemen among their
own fellow craftsmen that works in
the mine with them. | believe that
under the present circumstances and
the method that the miners mine their
coal as stated, shot tirers are good
thing, for when there is an accident
occurs as the one at Lost Creek,
which was very disastrous indeed, il
is a good thing, for when you have
shot firers the miners are all out eX
cepting those who fire the shots and
there is only few men in the, mine
but the employer cannot appoint the
shot tirers and be held responsible
as the Courier states, for an accident
Iif one should occur. which is a very
4 wrong suggestion of the Courier in
deed, as the miner is the one that is
Irresponsible, and no one else, as he has
full jurisdiction of firing his shot ant
puts the amount of powder that he
thinks best. If the miners decide tt
have shot firers. instead of each indi
vidual doing his own work, the,
should pay for these shot firers them
selves. as the firing of the shots right
ly belongs to the miner and is his owl
; work absolutely and il this is true
which it is. why should the employee
pay for the shot flrers when it right,
belongs to the miners.
There is duty also upon the EN-
ployer in connection with all thi
} work as above stated. to see that tn
: road ways are kept reasonably cleal
: so there will be no accumulations O
; combustible matter on the road ways
: do believe in protecting the mine
and have as much respect for him a
| any man in the state of Iowa for
: have been miner myself and hav
had experience with all explosive
that are used in connection with mir
ing from sinking the shaft to the fac
, of the coal.
: do not believe that any represents
, tive or senator of our state or any OIL
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06

cheerfully voted by congress. There
is no shadow of politics in the propo-
sition and but little opposition in any
quarter to making liberal allowances
for the benefit of the farming commu-
nifty Reports on file in the postotfice
department indicate that no expert
ment INDUCED in by the government
since the Inauguration of the postal
system and low letter postage, has
proven so popular with the great mass
es of the people as rural free delivery.
Congress is not slow to follow a lead
be slow in giving expression to the
satisfaction the money thus expended
brings to them.
1t may not be generally known that
in addition to the plans for the rapid
and general extension of the rural free
delivery system, the department is ar
ranging plans comprehending the ex-
tension of the present Star route"
system SO as to add greatly to it's con-
venience to the farming community.
at least that portion along the route of
the Star carrier between towns. The
contemplated plans provide that in adj
dition to carrying the mails to the va
rious postotfices along the route the
carrier shall be required to deliver
mail into all boxes and hang small
bags or satchels containing mail, upon
cranes or posts erected along the
route under certain conditions.
Any person living on or near any
route, and not within the corporate
limits of a town, or within so rods of
a postoffice, who desires his mail de-
posted at given point along the
route. may provide a suitable box or
crane on the roadside, located in such
manner as to be conveniently reached
by the carrier without dismounting
from his vehicle or horse. The per-
son shall file with the postmaster a
request asking for the delivery of his
mail to the carrier for deposit at the
designated point, the addressee assum-
ing all risk. The person must furnish
the bag or satchel without expense ia
the department.
The postmaster upon the arrival OF
mail, shall place it in the proper bag
or satchel and when the carrier arrives
at the home of the addressee the bag
or satchel will be hung upon the crane
or post. AS carriers usually pass q
certain house about the same time
each day, the person would know with
in few moments when to go after the
mail. Where the house is situated
reasonably near the highway the ar
rival of the carrier could be announc
ed by whistle. Registered mail viii
be also delivered upon special request
but in case the addressee should not
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06
Iowa Agriculturalist Should Keep
Eye on Department
SOME PLANS MADE In HIS INTEREST
In Addition to, Rural Free Delivery
Postoftlce Department Will Elabor-
ate on "Star Route" Idea to Further
Benefit Man in Country.
Washington Bureau the Courier.
Washington. d. c., Feb, 5, 1!

washington, ~. VI, req. D, l5VA.
The Iowa farmer should keep his
eye upon the .postoffice department.
This great government bureau is des-
tined to play a very important part
in the question of land values, and the
continued rise in acre prices. Within
five years it is predicted that mail will
be delivered daily at the front door of
practically every farm house in Iowa.
With daily mail, daily newspapers
and daily market reports the line of
distinction between city or town and
country life will disappear. The allur-
ing and in large degree imaginary adj
vantages of town over country will
gradually fade away until the farmer,
upon his broad acres, will enjoy many
of the privileges vouchsafed to the ur-
banite while subjected to none OF the
annoyances or disadvantages encoun-
tered by his town cousin
Ten years ago these observations,
doubtless would have seemed some
what visionary and impracticable, but
this view will no longer be entertained
by even the most chronic pessimist.
The start was made four years ago;
the train of progress is under full mo-
mentum at this time. 1t is now only
z a question of keeping up the pace I'M
til the end suggested shall have been
achieved. The station named daily
mail for every farmer is already Wis
ible through the clearing.
The appropriation for rural mail de-
livery for the fiscal year, 1903, which
begins July 1, 1902, will carry a great
ly. increased amount over last years
appropriation. The amount that will be
set apart for this branch of the ser.
vice for the year following, or 1904
will greatly exceed that of 1908, and
SO on The cash will be willingly and