The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-08-30

Caesars" and keep the labor, and they are salts
fed. AS an evidence, we have families who have
been with us from fifteen to twenty-five years.
FERTILIZERS.
Until the present year we have not been able to
to secure Peruvian guano at prices equivalent to
that of others. This year we bought of this, at a
cost delivered $3O.SO cash. The analysis was
phosphoric acid % per cent, ammonia 3.95, potash
4.65. This is equivalent to Is As cents per pound.
ammonia, phosphoric acid Sc, potash &C.; while
cottonseed meal at $25 per ton would be 1e 2-3c.
for ammonia, phosphoric acid 4 Tic, for potash
5 1-3c.; while in 8-3-3 guano at $22.66, ammonia
19c, phosphate 4Ac., potash 6 Lee.
Our plan has been to use cottonseed meal, acid
and kainit. In doing this we paid for ammonia
16 2-3c., while in the 1913 at price named, we paid
19c. In buying Is per cent acid at $3.50, this
cost us 4 lie, while in the 1913, 4Ac. Potash
cost us 5 1-3c, while in the 1913 it cost 6 Lee.
However We in part use muriate of potash in
place of kainit. In this we save at least freight
and drayage, handling, etc.
Our usual plan in using cottonseed meal, kainit
and acid is to use one-half cottonseed meal, three
eighths phosphoric acid, one-eighth kainit. At
above prices this gives us a ton in which there is
Is pounds ammonia, 100 pounds phosphoric acid,
81 pounds potash, at a cost of 1912. From the
above it is considered that we get the plant food
at a less price in the Peruvian guano than other
wise: this has not been true prior to this year.
Many years since, fifteen or more, we adopted
the sowing of peas as a means of improving our
lands. This, in our judgment, is by far the most
system of bringing up our sandy
lands. We plant and SOW peas anywhere and
possible on oat, wheat and rye stub
BILE; we SOW from two to two and a half bushels
per acre, plant in corn and sow in same. Then
rotate our crops as much as the lay of the land
will permit. Our lands are light sandy soil, six
to ten inches deep underly red clay. For the past
fourteen years the average of lint per acre has
been 274 pounds, the largest yield in 1898-349
pounds, the lowest yield 19O1-151 pounds. The
average price at home market has been 7Ac, the
largest average any one year, 1908, was 1913, the
lowest 1898, 4.96. Labor cannot make cotton at |
the last-named price, nor can they at the lowest
named quantity produced. Landlords may, the
laborer cannot, support himself and family. I
crave pardon for the above reference to personal
interest. From this l quote, being the only posi-
tive and reliable statistics at my command.
LABOR.
AS farmers, we are confronted with a problem |
for solution that will require time, patience and
oho 'Io " ueal WIN. with the old slave
passing away, he who has been trained to habits
of industry and honesty, with his descent taking
his place, who generally have no conception of
elther-taklng or pretending to fill the place as
trusted labor. From this ineficiency we can but
seek other labor that is more reliable. Now many
OF Our largest farmers have white men-men of
our own section-who are tenants.
From observation and experience [ am satisfied
that during the SIX months of making a cotton
crop and the three of gathering the same. labor