davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
SOWING WHEAT.

There was q great prevalence of tie
Hc-~ian fly in the wheat crop the past
season, especially in the South. The
tall of 1902 was peculiarly late and
nCstless, and the tly was active ct a late
period. The result was al abundance OF
flies IN the spring. While late sowing
ln The North may have the disadvantage
that the plants may not get strong enough
TO pass the winter safely there Is usually
no such danger n the country from
Central Virginia southward, and we can
net 100 often repeat the advice not to
sCW tCO carly. Earlines5 *, Of course
a 'eiativc term, for what would be late
IN Northern Ohio, where Mr. Terry
sPeaha Of sowing IN September, would be
entirely too early southward, and even
n Southern Ohio. In ,:rost OF the Middle
States there is frost by the first week
n October and wheat sowing should then
be hurried along. But going southwark
there is often no killing frost III Central
North Carolina until late in November.
In Eastern North Carolina one of the
hh"~t crops grown was sO"-n after Gotten,
tic middle of December and the cTcp
as over 80 bushels per acre. In any sec
uon, then it is safer, SO far as the fly
IS concerned, to defer the sowing unfl'
alter good white frost. This gives ar
n,t thorough filming and compaCting oi
me soil with roller and harrow and the
tj'er the surface soil and the more thor
eUEAly 1t Is packed below after n gOod
No"ing carly N the season, as in pre-
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

In the days when Peruvian guano was
the chief commercial fertilizer the Eo-
latility Of its ammonia led to the almost
universal practice Of treating the natural
guano with sulphuric acid whereby nor
volatile sulphate Of ammonia was formed
and waste prevented. The product was
known IN the market as ''rcctlficd guan",
and the econorny Of the treatment was -
recognized that it was enforced by legIs-
latiye enactment.
All that was ever urged in favor Of this
treatment OF guano applies with equal
force to stable manure. the waste Of
which, through the escape OF ammonia,
caused by decomposition and heat i tro-
ouently ccual to one-lalf the total m3n-
ural value Of the cxcrcment That tins
great loss is prevcntahlc, * now well
recognzed that many careful farmers
pra ctice some efficient method for retain
ing the ammonia; the most frequent beng
he use Of land plaster as an absorbent
in the yards and stables. TIE action re-
sul:ing is identical with that occurring II
the rectifying Of guano. and the saving IS
the result OF the formation of the suiphata
of ammonia by the union Of the acid OF
the plaster with the ammonia OF the nd
nrre the product Is soluble ammonia
salt that IS not volatile.
Tie land plaster is compound of line
and sulphuric acid. and does not furnish
any plant food proper. II only prevents
! the re OF ammonia.
Tncrc are however, other materials
which have the same effect as the plaster
/ and at the same time are useful for Ier-
4 tiIizing purposes. These are KANT 3nd
acid phosphate. Especially KANT IS e1tec
tive as manure preserver, and probabiy
~ h.,
/ material used for such purpose, due 10 th'
4 large amount of magnesla salts II con
tains Now acid phosphate is a source
of phoSnhoric acid and KANT a source .
potash therefore, when these two ma
terials are sprinkled over stable manure
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
DISTRIBUTION OF FRRM PRODUCTS.
BY hARvl JoRDA. President ona Congress.

which are hard to reconcile with the Off
ciai position which he holds The western
grain producers are combining TO advance
the pIlce Of their wheat TO one dollar per
Dushei Can the secretary consistently
say that grain producers should bestlr
themselves to a double production OF
wheat and leave the question Of price to q
market to be controlled and dominated by
handlers whose interests are opposed to
those OF the producers?
PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION.
Production IS already keeping pace with
consumption, and during many years the
former has gone beyond the needs of the
latter The farmers of the United States
arc increasing the production of many
crops III greater percentage tnan all the
other countries on the globe combined. IL
this connection the figures presented by
Hon. Q. p Austin. statistican OF the U.
s. Treasury Department before the last
meeting OF the Farmers National congress
make interesting reading. He stated that
the only countries exporting wheat in suf-
ficicnt quantities to be considered as r.
walls of tie United States in supplying the
worlds markets. were, Australia, Argen
tine. Canada, India and Russia. He show
ed that the annual average production o
wheat during the eleven years ending
with 1902, were, for Australia, 40,0o0,0 0o'
bushels, Argentine &c 900 coo, India, 229.
600 600, Russia, 4S2, 600, 600, and the United
States 541 100000 bushels. He also com
pared the wheat crop of 1901 with that Q
1902 showing that during the 10 year
4 period. Australia had increased her pro
duction Of wheat 20,O00,O0O bushels, Ar
gentine. 36 900 Canada, 43 100000, In
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

recently expressed himself in a statement
to the effect, that he thinks the farmers
were wrong in emphasizing the distribu-
tive, rather than the productive side of
farming, and says, Eve should and
raise two bales Of cotton where now we
raise one Acting upon this principle,
If the south had this year following the
secretary's advice, produced twenty NH
lion bales instead of ten millions, can any
man conceive the fearful calamity which
would have followed Such a proposition
might be advanced IN theory but it can
not become profltably operative in prac
tice under existing conditions. It would
9ppear from this expression Of the secre-
tary's that ne would prefer 20 see the far
mers Of the country devote their energies
entirely to the increased production of
crops and allow the question Of prices to
be controlled and regulated by the hand
lers and distributors OF our products. The
South has been for many years produc-
ing ii sufficient quantity OF cotton to meet
the worlds demands but cotton producers
have not reached fair and equitable
price FOR their staple simply because they
have not investigated the markets and SO
placed their products for sale as to make
them command their full value. Secre-
tary Wilson has made a splendid official
and mas done much to deserve the com
,nendatfon of the farmers all over the
United states but when he takes the 20
sition that high prices paid the producers
( for cotton is a calamity to the country
and when he further says that farmers
should double production and leave them
selves helpless in the hands Of the buyers
and manufacturers he presents view:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
reel AIMING MANURE.

they not only act 2s preservatlves OF the
manure. but also add to the value Of the
heap on account of the plant food thoy
furnish.
There is another and more important
reason for rectifyng the composition OF
manure. ere plainly demonstrated by a
glance ST the analysis Of average stable
n2prlre. /; IS well known that there Is
IAN excess Of nitrogen IN stable manure,
but the actual degree and force OF tbs
excess is not sufficiently recognized. OF
tie total amount Of the three essential
element, of plant food in stable manure,
about 40 per cent II nitrogen, 80 per cent
potash and 20 per cent phosphorlc acid
1t IS equally true that with the exception
of certain legume crops (clover, COW peas
/ ietc) which secure nitrogen from the air.,
i there IS scarcely a known cultivated crop,
i in which this preponderance Of nitrcgeu
exists.
/ Il must therefore, be apparent that nj
I trogcn exists il stable manure in excess
OF tho foCd demands Of farm crops, and.
that. because Of this fact tho manure =
not a well balanced fertilizer and hence
i its composition should DC rcctifed, if it
most economical and successful use Is 70
be expected.
The yerv fact that an excess OF nitrogen
Is present IN stable manure proves that
the mineral nutrients are propoItonately
deficient. In general practice, about .
handful each OF acid phosphate and kainit
sprinkled over the manure from cne horse
OF COW each day would suffice The ainl
should be- to get about 300 pounds each
Of the two materials per ton of manure
TIL, would balance the manure fairs
well for most corn. For some crops the
would be 4 slight excess Of phosphorle
acid and potash but i would work r,
harm: tic excess would r1.najn IN thc
soil and serve the next cron. but nitro
gen is liable to be leached from the 81
and, therefore an excess should bc avoldel
TO the greatest extent possible
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
Dollar Its Meaning
Ey Harve Jordan.
A. - f. 49, 49, <$~~~~~~~*~"

his section proposed to accomplish through
s"rhe American Society OF Equity, hIW
organization which IS now attracting con-
siderable attention throughout the coun-
Try. One of the main objects OF the so
cicty. which has It's general headquarters
in Indianapolis, Ind, Is To secure colrtct
statistics regarding the yields OF each dil
forcnt crop as early as possible every
wear. also to thoroughly study the Wol,d 5
demand for the different crops ana tien
mt y minimum price on each pfoduct a''o
NV active cooperation force the markets
to nav that price. They further proPoSe
ia cut out many Of the middle men "ho
are al prcsent engaged IN distributing or
nroducts frorl the producers to the iafsel
headers and add the commission q
tbc.e middle men to the MINIMUM pr'ce
MD to the farmers. The attempt IS no"
boinr, made to raise several millions o.
dollars TO be kept en- DEPOSIT so as !"
.dvanco ,1orcv to farmers VINO ht'''
funds while their wheat or o'no' pro
ducts are placed II stora@c as colia CO. Ct . :
! tborobv checking the necessity OF 1ot'e"
CONTINUED on Third PaSc3
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
The Trust Robs F armers
~

Col. John s Cunningham. the weil known
tobacco grower Of Person county. who
wa in Raleigh on Friday had with him
two samples of bright tobacco he had ob
tanned from the floors Of 4 Danv'ne, Va,
warehouse. He said This tobacco
brought in Danville six and SIX and a
quarter cents pound respectively The
same quality Of tobacco brought last year
p and 80 cents respectively. l told some
friends ns Danville that they could not get
9 pound OF my tobacco at such prices.
Col. j. Bryan Grimes was shown the
tobacco and pronounced it excellent in
quality. Not many days ago Hon J. Bryan
Grimes, hearing trust hirehngs repeating
The story that the inferior quality Of to
bacco grown III Eastern North Carolina
was the cause of the low prices. examined
the grade OF tobacco sold on the Green
vile market He found that tobacco that
did not bring enough to pay the cost Of
production was as excellent in quality as
tobacco that brought remunerative
prices last year. other tobacco growers
say the same thing
The average price paid for leaf tobacco
in the town of Wilson, n. c., during Au-
/ gust and September, 1902 before the cor
sOlldation OF the American Tobacco Com
pany and the Imperial Tobacco Company
was IN round figures S11.0 per hundred
pounds The average price in the same
market during August and September f0I
/ the present year was in round figure
$3.50 per hundred pounds. And the samt
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

dia 80. coo, 600, Russia, 50, 100000, and the
United states. 232 600 600 bushels
In other words the increased production
Of wheat in the United States for the
ten years was more than the increases
Of al the other countries combined These
figures. Mr. Austin stated. were sufficient
to show that the producers Of the United
States are never lii,ely to he affected ln
the worlds markets by rival producers.
The United States now produces three
fourths Of the worlds corn, three fourths
of its cotton. 40 per cent OF the wheat.
Hence if we are fully meeting our own
wants and have 4 surplus sufficient to
meet the demands of foreign countries.
why should not the farmers have a voice
IN the price at which those products are
placed upon the open markets. This is a
question of vital Importance. and upon
it's proper solution will largely depend the
future prosperity OF the producers. Far
mers should give more thought and study
TO the marketing OF their produce. They
/ should inform themselves as TO the fun
! value of their products in the worlds mar
! 1ets and the cost Of handling and distu
button Without knowledge Of these
i facts thew may continue TO 60 on ano
make two bales grow where only one grew
before, and two bushels Of wheat where
only one was harvested before, and vet
reap no richer reward for the cXpendi
ture Of Their energies than they have
in the past They would thus continue
to be 'The hewers OF wood upon whom
the commercial and industrial worlC
would continue to fatten through the un
righteous organization Of combines, trust
and monopolies.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
Talks With Farmers.

Driving with farmer recently, we pass
~ a number of corn shocks standing to-
ether near the barn. He told us that
this Was his seed corn, and that shocks
consisted Of ideal stalks selected all over
the frd and that not stalk in the lot
had less than two good ears on it. This
looks like proper seed saving, and after
oottfng the ideal plant it is easy to select
the IDEAL ear. But If one selects simply
,or tb. ideal ear he may get with it other
characteristics that are not lesira BILE
plant IDEAL ears from ideal plants. and
then remove all tassels from barren stalks
around them in the field before the pollen
,Ipcn-. As much can be done in increas-
iug the corn crop by proper breeding as
nv the fertilization and cultivation of the
soil.
THE SCARCITY OF FARM LABOR.
The general prosperity of the manu-
faCturers, miners and railroads has had
one had effect on the agriculture of the
country. It is hard 20 get men TO ac-
cept the lower wages and longer hours of
the farm with the exposure to the wealth
er when they can get higher wages for
shorter hours in the shops and on the
railroads. The difficulty is not confined
labor is generally performed by white
raen but it is also reaching many parts
Of. the South, where the negroes have
Grilted from the farms to the mines and
railroad construction, and many have
gene North, While those that remain are
more and more inclined to congregate
around the towns and loaf while their
food from the pilferings of the negro
cooks. A subscriber in Pennsylvania
writes to us on this subject and wishes
the farm papers to take up the matter
OF farm labor and agitate it to arouse the
farmers to some step that may give re
lief. We must confess that we are un-
able to see just how the farm papers are
to do much in the way OF helping the
farmers out OF this difficulty. The usual
conditions attending the life of the ordi
nary farm laborer are not attractive to
the young men, and the practice OF board
ing young men in the farmers family
where white labor is employed. is not
attractive to the farmers family. TIE
best way out of it seems to US to be the
building of houses and the employment
ct married men through the year, giving
them some opportunity to make decen'
ECmes around them, and thus TO relieve
the overworked mistress of the farmer
home while increasing the permanenc,
and efficiency Of the labor. We mal,e
his suggestion in order to draw ou
the experiences Of our readers on thi
subject of farm labor in various section
of the country and hope that some ma,
bee able to make suggestions taat ma.
be- Of value.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

just t. put both -cxcs ~ tho same foot
ng. n other words. that the o]ep la.r
should be repealed So thaf ,hc paeH
could flood the mdIitet WITH tbalr ults-
tion butter. Th. would b. putting the
sexes an sn equal footing app a a
the estimation ei tine 1s5eazo m1n vra
evidently WROTE tho above and zat t
printed III an agricultural paper. It
very evident that the fraudulent butter
men arc -tarting ior GEht against toe
aa as iIg1rd.- Dairyman suggests. There
IS nGr tec slightest evidence that The ole,
laW has deprecated the price 81 Steers.
though it certainly his io-ene the
amount of fraud butter ou tae market.
The farmers OF the country VINO agc iH-
terested IN cows and who of them afc
not should bc alive to their interests and
be prepared p fight sor tbc ltw That pro-
tect- them from fraud Evidently 3Iriid
p fight the l6 IN the courts. il looks as
though tho olco men intend to try Con-
gross again 50 the farmers should let
their Congrcssmcn hear from them as soon
| az they assemble.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

The agricultural forces of this country,
especially in the south and west, have
been eXpending all their energies during
the past two decades in increased produc
ton and have paid but little attention to
the distribution and marketing of crops
through the various channels OF trade and
commerce. Yet the proper distribution
and marketing OF our crops is one OF the
most important elements which enter into
the business Of the farmer. At the re
cent session of the farmers national con
gress at Niagara Falls, n, Y, the ques-
ton of the proper distribution and mar
lleting of our farm products received con
sidera bic attention and discussion. The
question as to whether or not the handlers
of our farm products. who occupy the
middle ground between the producers and
| the manufacturers and consumer. were not
| taking to themselves too large a percent
| age of profit and thereby relatively re
| ducing the prices of the material be
| low its legitimate value at the time OF
| purchase, was a matter which was deem
| cd worthy of immediate investigation
There is a decided consensus of opinion
in the minds Of all producers that the
margin of difference between the price al
which their products are sold, and thf
price paid by the consumer is TOO Wldl
and too largely in favor of the distribu
tors. whether it be through the hands o
the middle men or the manufacturers.
The views of Secretary Wilson, Of The
United States Department Of Agriculture
are somewhat singular as bearing upol
this matter. After having read the ad
dresses and noted the discussions upoi
this subject as above referred to, he ha
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

story comes from Kin~ton. Rocky Mouat
Wu-ton. Durham and other &arth CcEo
llnc tobacco markets. According - thtet
figures a conservative estimate of tbs
amount ~ money hat wi. he taken from
the pockets of the tobacco growers of
North Carolina by th~ hood.r lloat,l tc-
bacco trust this year Viii he from t~4t
to ten millions OF dollars. Tie Same trust
Will take IN ike manner from thoe icat
dealers and warehousemcr. Who dared 10
buy leaf tobacco at prevailing prices las
season. an additional three million 0ollars.
making d total cf twelve nj nlIGen- ~ doi
lars Of hard earned mocer ln one ~hor-
year from the people ol North Carolina
alone.
The only excuse the trust boodler9 give
for this Is that there is an ever production
of leaf tobacco. Yet this same tobacco
trust lesa than two years ago. hcl lis
paid representatives locating IN new ter
ritory, renting lands aud planting to-
bacco themselves and inducing the farm.
crs to abandon cotton and o~hcr products
and to plant tobacco IN their stead
i There IS no danger, they loudly pro-
! claimed, ''of over-production we are
wanting every pound yoa can grow and
cure; we are invading new worlds wita
the golden weed and there is practically
no limit to its possible consumption
y fairly good crop OF tobacco wa
grown that year. The American Tobacco
Company and the Imperial Tobacco Com
pany each went into the market last sea
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

It Is not only possible, but quite prob.
able that Northern and Western wheat
producers VIII he selling their next year s
crop at one dollar per bushel. 4 man who
mixes with the farmers of the great
wheat belt will hear them talking about
"9'"F wheat with a much greater feeling
" .'~n1ty than Southern farmers speak
WI zen cent cotton. Yes, it is just as easy
" hHL much more so. for Southern cotton
l''auecrN 10 sell this crop at 10 cents per
'''i9 th1n Tor the Western wheat grow
TO get one dollar per bushel for their
nIea' But the wheat growers OF thc
"es' VIII succeed because they are CO
'bg,a'nS closely together.
'''.o cooperation in matters Of busl-
>N - hard to get among Southern farm
N- rms idea of dollar wheat is ao pop
''r 10" among wheat growers as 10 cont
''.'"R Is with US. At the recent meeting
'' me Farmers National Congress at n
7@Ia rats. \. Y. a representa- tive farm
" rom the state of Kansas delivered q
interesting talk on the subject o
N''iar wheat" and what The farmers 0
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

another barrel. Now lined eggs are
well-known article on the market, ana
ALWAYS sell for a low figure, not near the
price of fresh eggs, since there Is no
use fo1 them IN cooking or eating at al,
but only in manufacturing. But the gist
Of the whole matter IS iii the notnce at
the bottom of the circular, which says that
YOU can hardly get the algretta boracyl!c
at vour drug store. but the Union Supply
Co. Will send it to you at $50 for fouf
ounces. OF course it IS not at the drug
store for there is no such article except
in the fertile imag gination OF this Mary }.
Now if any Of the readers OF this paper
bite at this transparent bait 1t Will not be
he fault of the editor. BoraX IS very
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

son and began buying against each other
and good prices were paid for all that
was offered Farmers rushed their tobacco
to the market and sucn enormous salcs
had not hitherto been heard Of. and yet
the prices. instead Of decreasing. steadily
advanced, and nothing was SAID about
over-production until after that famous
meeting in London at which the two
great companies were combined. Mean
while more than twO-thirds Of the crop
had been marketed. Within two weeks
from the announcement Of this combina-
ton Of the American Tobacco Company
and the Imperial Tobacco Compeny thcIc
was decline Of from 20 per cent to 80
per cent in the price 81 leaf tobacco
on the North Carolina warehouse floors,
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

pairing for peas in summer or for corn
or tobacco in the spring the better the
chances for a full crop 1t is always
hard to get late broken land into this
corditlon by seeding time. But this i
also a relative term, for where the see
ms is late the breaking can be late-
than where it IS early, when it IS neces-
sary to break land for tnis crop, which
should seldom he the case where a prop
er short rotation is practlsed
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20

We were very much amused in reading
the experience of a Kansas farmer in the
Iowa Homestead, who had been out work
ing out his road tax on the public high
way, He tells candidly that the work he
did did not help the road for the sods
thrown out from the sides Will only make
the more mud next winter. We were sur
rised too, to learn that in the husthng
est they keep up tins ANTICIPATED method
sco ing the roads They do better
the Tar Heel State. North Car
eetting noted foI' good roads In
~, counties well macadamized roads
are tue rule and not the exception, and
all over the State instead of sending petty
criminals to the penltentiary to be sup
ported they are sentenced to the roaC
gang of the county and made to serve
the public there. Grading machines arr
everywheT and one road in the uppe
part of tie State, which was formerl!
known the "Drummer's Dread is nov
a pleasant road to drive over for pleasure
We would suggest to our Kansas friend
the organization of county convict gang
! to keep up the roads, instead of sendin,
them to the penitentiary for stealing
! chicken or two.