The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-04-18
THIS WEEKS PAPER-SOME RANDOM
COMMENTS.


the United States Department of Agriculture has
just illustrated handsomely illustrated 4O-page
pamphlet "Alfalfa Growing" chock full of
helpful information. This is Farmers Bulletin
No. 215, and any Progressive Farmer reader can
get copy free by applying to this Congressman
or to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington,
D. @. Don't send requests for any Farmers Bull
letin to The Progressive Farmer, but write direct
to your Congressman.
The last winter put to the severest test all meth
DDS of keeping sweet potatoes and the discovery
of rotted tubers in the hills this spring has doubt
less set many a farmer to thinking on the sub
ject For this reason Mr.. Kivett's letter is timely
well as valuable.
There is continued interest in spraying, and
while it is getting late, we hope that all our
fruit growing readers will resolve to equip them
selves in time next season
Capt. Petty makes good point in regard to
wasted plant food. 1t is the sheerest folly to buy
expensive fertilizers to apply on land half broken,
to leave it to be used up by crops of weeds.
The only thing to do to keep eternally preaching
the doctrines of intelligence and thrift in farm
ing, until the mossback gets ashamed to let his
neighbors see him farm in clodhopper fashion
any longer.
Then, too, let there be neatness and beauty as
well as thrift. Next week we expect to print the
famous government formula for whitewash. Those
who think they cannot afford to paint their build
ings at least use whitewash.
Mr.. Withers's request ought to remind every
farmer who wishes to sell any improved seed
improved stock that the very cheapest way to
effect sale is to put announcement in The
Progressive Farmers advertising columns. Our
Farmers Exchange is proving a most valuable
medium for this class of business. but in many
cases large display ad. is better. We shall be
glad to make our farmer readers special rates
on all such announcements.
Our other farming articles also worthy of
note. "Uncle Jo' makes further valuable sug-
gestions for poultry raising readers. Our Madi-
son County friend writes enthusiastically of the
value of sorghum as feed for cattle. Commits
sioner Patterson sounds needed note of warning
in his open letter to cotton farmers. The letter
en- canning and the good roads suggestion, though
crowded out last week. make none the less inter
esting reading now.
The article "What Shall It Profit a Man?" is
one that we hope none of our hard-working farm
ers will over look but if any of them does, let
the wife read it to him the first night he is at
home. The Progressive Farmer is of the few
farm papers that in and out of season
breaches as vigorously the doctrine of beautiful
farm home making as that of bountiful farm
crop-making. The life is more than meat and the
body is more than rainlent. Let US take time to
consider the lilies as well as the corn and the
cotton; and the farmer who of all men is Lut
nearest to Nature and Natures God should never
shut his eyes to the higher things. A well-reared
child is worth more than a big plantation, and
a happy family life is worth more than Rookie
fellers bank account.