The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-23

as we'll as 10 snow more tIFdIiF inc toH
dition of the plant food-whether slow
or auick-acting-and thus aid in the
more Intelligent adaptation of different
to various crops and soils.
These explanations. with the analytical
results. are given in the Bulletin in each
month during the fertilizer-using seasons
Several hundred samples of minerals,
ores and rocks are examined annually
and values reported: various fertilizer
farm manures, plants. feeds.
etc, have been analysed and suggestions
given as to their most economical use
drinking and mineral waters IN large
numbers are passed upon in the laboFa-
tory: and in all between $500 and 100
SAMPLES of different kinds are now ex-
amincd in the laboratory of the depart
ment annually for the citizens Of the
State. resulting in much saving in the
purchase OF fertilizers and other ma
terials. as we'll as the more Intelligent
and economical use of the products.
PURE FOOD WORK.
To the department has been entrusted
the execution OF the Pure Food Law,
passed by the Legislature Of 1899. One
report flor 1900 covering over sixty
pages and containing Analyses of over 9oo
of the common foods of man and domes-
tic animals and showing quite a larg"
amount o fadulteratiOn, has been issued;
the second report is now ready for the
printer and work on the third is going
on in the laboratory. This food work
has attracted wide attention within and
without the State. and has been instru-
mental in awakening interest in this i'm
pOrtant subject in the other southern
States. as is shown by newspape articles
n4ne.o lr,lt nrnt n
have been found quite frequent. This j.
especially true as regards the concen-
trated and aground stock feeds, a large
proportion of which come from without
! the State. Quite a large number of this
class of materials nave been examined for
farmers and found Of low grade and often
mixed with such substances as oat ana
other hulls. mill sWeeplngs, and cleans
ings, and other refuse substances. The
department has done a most valuable
work in this way and is doing and Will
do a more useful and important one in
the future. as it now has its methods
and work well in hand. Examination OF
its Pure Food publications emphasize the
value of the departments efforts along
this line.
SOIL SURVEY.
iJurlnS lJUU, 1JUl ana 70 inns tine IL
1902 about 1920 square miles cess, goo
acres) of the soils of the State have, IL
cooperation with the Bureau of Soils Of
the United States Department of Agricll-
ture, been carefully examined, classified
ard MAPPED. This work is sun going
On and by the END of the wear it is cX-
rcctcd that more than another Thousand
square miles viii be added TO the area
surveyed, making in all an area equal to
tna or twelve counties, in the trucking
section of the east, the Piedmont portion
of the State and the apple-grOWing dis
trictS of the mountains. This soil sur
vey work shows the kind, extent anl
distribution of our soil areas. and eX-
animation of them in the laboratory and
tests in the field determine their f~ertili-
ger and culture needs, and the crops besi
suited to them. This latter phases Of the
departments work is carried on on its
test farms.
Two OF these farms have been located
in the East-one in Edgecombe and one
in Robson county-and another is TO bl
established in the Piedmont section of the
West. On these farms are being con
Quoted experiments With cotton, corn
peanuts, tobacco. and other crops gener-
ally grown in the section, with the view
u utltl luiHluS the jest NdIlctlcS y
these crops and the fertilizers and meth
DDS and implements best suited to thefl
culture on these soils. Tests are in prog
resS with nearly one hundred differenr
grasses and forage plants and combina.
lions of these for pasture and for ha,
and a limited number of Thoroughbred
and high-grade cattle and hogs have beer
added for experiments in this line. 1t i
the purpose of the department TO MAX,
these farms object lessons, as Well a.
the instruments for obtaining results re
gardlng farming matters for distribution
generally to the farmers Of the State.
Some soils are better suited to certain
crops than others. On the test farm;
are being determined these and othe
facts needed for the best development o
tn agriculture Of the State. Exprimenta
work is rot only becoming more impor
tant every year, but is an absolute neces
| sity to the best conditions of the agricul
ture OF any State. New facts as to crops
6 soil, cultivation and fertilization mus
y be had for future growth in farming
these can only be obtained by expert
! mentation. The Department of Agricul
ture is doing this work for the faYme
> OF the State in a broad and thoroug'
n way. Important results have already bee
opttlHto dlld lit Is liz estimating IL
! good that will come when its plans ar
in full operation, when the State i
covered by the system, and the work ha
been in operation for a sufficient time 70
| experience and results to accumulate.
The Democratic board, through tn
! commissioner and its other officers, i
{ reaching out a helping hand to the farm
er who stands by the pillow and the no
and the rake; t othe man in the field VIII
Is TOO Old to go to school. but want
to know how To this man the depart
ment comes with information, it tells hir
what crops to seed, how to cultivate
~fertllze and harvest, and what is tn
{ best rotation to follow for the next year
what breeds of milch and beef cattle
: Sheep and swine to grow, and how /
e care for them and how to prevent an
treat diseases of animals; what varietie