davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
Terracing.
Bunconbe Go.

Messrs. Editors: I notice from
reading your paper that much has
been said through the months of
preparation about terracing. / see
from reading and from personal
conversations there are a good many
different ideas on the subject, and I
see from looking over the country
there are many ways adopted and
some are a failure and some are
promising. It is late in the season
to say much on this subject, but I
will give a little of my experience,
and hope it will be beneficial to
some; if not all.
The most important parts in ter
race construction is not easily ex-
planned by the pen. There are a
great number of very important con-
siderations in locating a drain, and
terrace. I see a good many take the
ordinary level and survey through
their fields never stopping to see
where they are now. and don't know
where they will end. and forget, it
seems, the starting place and the de-
gree of elevation. They have failed
to find the total elevation of heir
fields and different hills. but it looks
very much like they think a bank in
some way will do the work.
Now, my brother. this is a mis-
taken idea. AS I said in the begin
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20

ems, butter-making and the c.,,
milk, the vegetable-gardeen care d
roads, breeds of dairy cattin so@
making, how to raise anrTo, Otead,
culture, tomato-growing, sno.n llce'
food, insects affecting tobaccoo o"[ as
ton and grapes; diseases Of rV' not.C COT
and apples, how to detect o1oo~t 1oc%.UtS
garine and renovated butter '+.aS' 4.
planting on rural school srounds W "
Angora goat, and scores Of otbas bas
things. 'D''
1t would be difficult to est;mo+,
with any degree of accuracy the So' fu
ancial benefit which has accrued =.
the farmers from the perusal Of tboso
bulletins. Such men as believe t5er
must be continually studying to kasn
abreast of the times and to undor
stand the possibilities of their bns
ness have been the most diligpnt
readers of the publications of the De-.
partment of Agriculture. It is tba
benefit which these men have derived
that iustifes the continued expepdi.
ture of money by the Government
for free education of this kind an
education almost as necessary to ma.
tional prosperity as that provided for
the children in the nublic schools
Boston Youths Companion.
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
Migrating to Canada.

The migration of the American
farmer to the wheat lands OF the
Canadian northwest is one OF 1h7
features of the present era: Lie
movement has been going on for sew
eral years, but during the past sea-
son has been at high tide. Every re,
port indicates that these CanadlaL
lands are most excellent for Whea'
raising and the price, 81 to 81 all
acre, is a decided inducement ~
young men who find it difficult to ges
a foothold on the soil where 1arpI
lands range from $50 to S85 an acre,
A great many of these emlgran.9
hail from Minnesota, the Dakolao
and Iowa, and the Canadians aio I
congratulating themselves on lho I
splendid character of the men wiz
are moving in to help develop then
country. much preferring them ~
the hordes from southern EuroILo
that form so large a portion OF 'n'
"TODD."
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20

ming, a terrace can't be described on
paper i'm letter form Git can be
mapped), and there has never been
any index or scale that will do to
terrace by-there are too many con-
Observation-Disclosures elevations, diff
ferent soils, locations, and many 9TH
er things. There are millions OF
vegetable fragments on our soil, and
are annually accommodating and de-
caying, which return to the soil nj
trogen in a form that lasts longer
than any ammoniated fertilizer you
can buy. Now, this may seem very
useless consideration, but l think it
is useful. Now, you see, this vege-
table matter is slow to decay, but
easy to wash away, and the old-time
farming shows thousands of tons
settled in places not open to cultl-
vation. We must terrace so as to
hold this humus in the soil. by which
our land is rapidly improved.
Now, | see many terraces con-
structed to no benefit, some are max
ing a poor sunken place through
their fields by continual plowing to
the terrace. A terrace is a fine bless
ing when properly constructed, and
if not it is a tear down to your farm.
[ have b eli in the work of terrac-
ing for over fifteen years, and for
the last five years have made a study
of it in connection with varied prac-
tice, and have seen many mistakes.
1t is a work that too much care can
not be taken while actually survey
ing. 1t is very necessary to calcu-
late the flow and it's rapidity in large
marsh and swamp drains, and in
many others Locations alter condi-
tions) first find the velocity of your
drain, the cubic feet it will carry,
and those to be carried at any gievn
time, then excavate to this calcula-
ton, and you will have no overfows.
This is mostly for swamps, etc.
/ have made my communication
rather long; but farmers, let these
words guide you in terracing: "why,"
"where" and show"
Yours very truly,
J. S. WILSON,
Drainage Engineer.
Wilson Go.
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
Proper Direction of Corn Rows.

An. important matter that has
never been settled is whether corn
rows should run north and south or
east and west. Some contend that
north and south rows give the stalks
more sunshine; that run the other
way the whole field is more or less
shaded except the most southerly
row. Others contend that rows run
ming east and west give the rows the
needed protection against hot
winds and burning sunshine. Per-
haps it wuold be better to disregard
the cardinal points and plant as in
dicated by the '1ay of the land" un-
less the land is Quite fiat There is
more in the cultivation than in the
direction in which the rows are laid
off.-Farm and Ranch.
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
Educating the Farmer.

Six million two hundred thousand
farmers bulletins on a hundred and
forty different subject were printed
for the Department of Agriculture
during the past fiscal year. AS there
are about six million farmers, exclu-
sive of agricultural laborers. in the
United States, this is one pamphlet
for each one. If anv farmer did not
get his copy, it was because he did
not apply for it, for they are nearly
all turned over to the members of
Congress for free distribution.
There is hardly subject in which
farmers are interested that is not
discussed in some one of the various
bulletins. Information is contained
in them about the feeding of farm
animals. hog-cholera. how to kill
weeds, the care and feeding of chick
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
BUNcoMBE COUNTY.
Farms, Farming and Road Improve
mentS.

Messrs. Editors: | have been read
ing your paper for some time, and
like it very much. l do not see any
thing in it from Buncombe County,
and will write you a short article.
The farmers of Buncombe are
quite a progressive set of men, and
have been doing some up-to-date
farming this spring.
Corn is looking clean and nice, and
wheat is very promising. Fruit is
not so good-was injured by the cold
winter and spring frosts. Vegetables
are all doing we'll. We do not raise
any cotton, but do raise almost
everything suited to our climate.
Nearly all the grasses do well here.
We would be glad some one would
give us some points about the cul-
ture and value of alfalfa-whether
it would suit our climate, and wheth
er it would be useful as a farm pro-
duct.
Our county is doing some right
good work in the way of road i'm
provements. Nearly all the public
highways leading out from Ashe-
vile, that once we're mud holes, have
been macadamized, and under the
present system of utilizing the con-
vict labor, it will not be many years
before they will be macadamized to
the county line. This is quite a
step forward.
Our schools are looking up a lit
tie, but not as much as we could wish.
Our climate is lovely, and our
mountains are grand.
Buncombe is the "banner" county
of the west, and Asheville the "Queen
City" of the mountains. Whoever
comes here once wants to come
again.
I think it would be a good idea
for the farmers from the different
counties of the State, to give their
experience about farming through
the columns of your excellent paper.
1t would broaden their views, intro
duce new ideas, and give an impe
tus to farming not known hereto
fore. 1t might also increase the cir
culation of your paper, and from
an educational point of view make
it more valuable every way to it's
readers.
Whoever sets men to working and
to thinking confers a lasting benefit
on the race.
Respectfully,
T. P. GASTON.
Buncombe Co.
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20
What is a Rich Soil ?

A soil which is able to produc
good crops is considered to be a ricl
soil. In order to produce good crops
a soil must supply a sufficient guam
tity of the food required by tn
plants. That is to say, the plan
must be able to obtain enough pot
ash, lime, magnesia, phosphoric acid
iron, sulphur and water from th'
soil to supply it's needs, and if any
one of these substances is absent, Of
not furnished by the soil in sutfi
cient quantity, the soil will not pro
duce good crops.
Few farmers realize that thei1
soils contain very large quantities OF
these substances. The trouble with
a poor soil is, not that it does not
contain plant food, but that the
plant food in it cannot be taken uI
by plants. The food is locked up and
the plants cannot get it, and suffer
accordingly. By far the greater part
of the plant food in every soil is in
such a form that it cannot be taken
up by plants. But every soil is un-
dergoing continual change, by
which small portions of the locked
up plant food is daily made soluble,
and in such a form that plants can
use it. 1t is within the power of the
farmer to cultivate and manage his
farm in such a way that the guam
tity of plant food released each year
will become more and more each
year. In such a case his farm is
growing "richer." It is also posi-
BILE (and very often the CASEY that a
farm will be managed in such a way
that the agencies which release the
locked-up plant food will decrease
in power from year to year. In
such case his farm will grow poor
er; not because the plant food in
the soil is exhausted, but because, by
bad management, the farmer no
longer has a sufficient supply of
plant food in his soil in form avail
able to plants. The most important
agency in releasing the locked-up
food in soil. is a supply of decay
ing vegetables matter. Decaying
vegetable matter forms various acids,
which act upon the soil and decom
pose it. Decaying vegetable matter
allows the growth of minute plants,
which also act upon the soil and re-
lease inert plant food. Humus, as
the decayed vegetable matter in soil
is called. is very important in a soil
for other reasons, but it is certainly
very important in aiding to provide
plants with supply of plant food
from the soil. A soil containing
much humus is always much more
fertile than the same soil with little
humus, and one reason for this fact
is that already stated, namely, that
the humus aids in bringing the plant
food to such form that plants can
use it.
The most natural method of farm
ing is to utilize as much as possible
the plant food already in the soil,
and resort to fertilizers only to sup
plement the deficiencies of the soil.
DIR. G. S. Traps, Ph.D., of Ra-
leigh in Philadelphia Farmer.
The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-20

Feed the COWS a little grain even
if the pasture is good. The increase
in the flow and percentage of butter
fat will more then pay the cost 0l
the grain.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
PUBLIC SALE
OF VALUABLE
Personal Property,

The undo rsigued intending n discontinue
business at Is. dington and move 10 ftagers-
town. Will sell ~ public ane'l9n ~ his resi-
N les south 90 F,tliing waters, .iong the &. V
Railroad, on
Wednesday, Marsh /, 1905,
commencing ~ 10 o'clock al the valuable de-
senbel personal property to-wit:
2 Had of Horses.
80. bay horse, u years old, good wagon auc
ba rshear lsader and good f. fniiv driver No.
2 black mare. rising ye,is Old. Is tine sal
der and wei broken ~ harness, safe for any
lady drive, dam Il ~ tmbletonian mare,
sire Nutwood; she Is one OF the best bred mares
in the county, shows fine speed, can show q
3-minute gait now ana has had no training.
She is "a promising young mare and will be a
good investment Tor some one.
l Cow,
carrying her srd calf. will be fresh the latter
part Of March; she Is No. cow
Shoats.
Dayton wagon good as new been used only a
short time; ruhber-tire buggy nearly new, been
used but few times. light spring wagon with
long BODY, STICK wagon, sets single harness
saddle, collar SETS harness aud traces. riding
bride. cutting box. buggy pole, Kitchen table.
bureau, stoves, hari and soft coal burn
ers, and many other articles not mentioned
We also viii continue the day by suetioning
or all classes OF stole goods, and &c night also.
We extend q special invitation TO the ladies TO
attend these auctions; they viii be shawn
courtesy by being brought forward 70 the front
70 grasp the bargains as they are passed out.
Terms of Sale:
A credit OF 6 months will he given on sums
Of $40 90 and upw srds, purchaser TO give nete
with approved security, negotiable and p4SA-
BILE at The Peoples Trust Co. o. Aartinsourg
with interest from date, but II paid II ulatuf-
ity interest RENTED. All Sums under $40 2
the cash Is required No goods removed Until
terms are complied with. The credit is ex-
tended only on the personal property; mer-
chandise sold strictly for cash.
f. ID. LoCKBAUM.
j. w. Quinn, Auc
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
so Head of Cattle.

The head orths herd is n thoroughbred Polled
Angus Bun, perfectly gentle, and exception
ally fine, coming years Old, will weigh J, 500
lbs; 10 milk cows of which Will he fr sh by
day of e, all have perfect teat, Is fat steers,
will weigh ,tp0.lbs Sat steers, will weigh q
lbs; l thoroughbred Durham bull calf, a very
fine animal; the remainder are thrifty young
cattle, running from one to Two yeurs old, of
which ARE steers The above described herd
are all principally Drfh8m strain, and the
cows are In cnII by The nhoA g hnll.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
Farming implements. &c.

touT-horse Brown wagons. | wo-horse Va
z and bed, spring wagon, failing top bug
gIes, one good as new Fuhber.tlle fuaapout;
Thrush y slough make; large sled, cog cart,
binders, McC0rinc ok and u erilg; 2 mowers,
Deering and Osborne; horse rake, grain
drills, b. Il II. and Spaugler 2 pairs shevings.
| 50-bushel wagon bed 2 ciod drags, Tiger check
row corn planter, oliver Chilet plows No 90
3 single and double shovel plows, Germ COW
erer, 8 wheel cuitivators Brown and Buck
eve; harrsws. spnng-tooth, four-square
and one Thomas smoothing harrow; wheat
IA corn cTusher, Scientific make; cutting
boxes, corn shelter. hay fork, rope and puileys
with 10 feet Of track; sets breechba,ids, sets
| front gears, 10 sets plow gears, 2 sets Yankee
harness, collars, brides and checs Ii es com
plete; sets ngle harness, set double harness
sets fly nets Nagon liEeS, wagon dbl, &
housings. 2 CitiZ uS saddles, Il brides, IA col
bar, IA leather halters, set Protection harness
used with stallion, fidtng brides, stallion
outfit complete. The above harness are all
NJ W, ana the very best quality. sot1e of the
collars cost as much as 81. 20 single 5 double
md treble trees, moving scvthes grain
cradle, briar scythe 3 sets breast chains, sets
butt traces, pair ~preaders, log chains, p
COW c aims, complete So hiat ksInith tools, 2
work hencAeS nm Ni-es, N-'iut saws and lot
carpenter tools, set OF team bells, 3dung hooks,
Y folks, rakes, hos, militock>. picks, digging
! iron, crowbar, garden pIow, dinner bell. seald-
/ ing Hb, uair thoroughbred Shepherd dogs. 1
| Maltese cat.
600 Bushels Corn, Is Tons Tim
othy II #y 1000 Bundles Fod-
der, 500 lbs. Bacon,
! cars ard, 5obuslols ca ling potafoes. IS or %
4 CORDS OF hickory wood 10 Bushels Of turnips,
! 20 he DIS of caDbaee - acr at wilea' in the
! sr~uud No share given from this wheat
Household & Kitchen Furniture
Class china closet, bedsteads. walnut ex
TENSION table, COOK stove, refrigerator, washing
machine, coal stove 2 en,aS, lot OF kegs and
/ barrels, eight-daY clock lot OF chi kens and
! guineas, qnite lot ofOld iron, and many other
+ things not mentioned.
Everything mentioned to be
sold and no by-bidding.
| TER Ms OF SAIE--A c}edit of nine months
| will be given upon all sums Of Sl0and upwards
/ the purchaser giving negotiable n tie with a p
proved security, With interest rom date, but
| If paid at maturity iuterts RENTED Under
: $40 cash NOpropert- moved until settled for.
sale begins a. IN. sharp.
| +" Wills has exclusive pyi iItge OF sell
! ing lunch, Sc, nj this sale,
NJ n. BOW ERS.
! nodd 81 Hoffman, A ctioneers.
1 i. ii. Jehefso- aud j. w Strider, Clerks
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
WANTED

SALEsMEN AND DALESLADIES In this
ana adjoining territory, TO represent and adj
vertise the Wholesale Department Of an old
established commercial house of solid finan-
cial standing. staple line. Salary So 80 per
rect from head quarters. Horse and buggy
furnished when necessary. We furnish every
thing. Position permar emit. Address, THE
cOLU MBIA HOUSE, $50 Menon Bldg, Chic.
' 60, Ill,
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
Sc Head of Hogs,

OF which brood so7s, of these sows arc
thoroughbred registered BerlEshires. | fine
Chester and berkshire boar, Ks hoats, will
weigh - or $50 lbs remainder Will weigh
from 60 10 100 ihs
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
Farming implements. &c.

No. Brown wagon aud bed nearly new, .
horse wagon md bed, spring wag m, falling
top buggy, new rubbCT-tire runahout, Thrush
a slough make, been used very little, adjust
able buggy pole, spring wagon pole. basket
sleigh aud hells MoCormlQk binder in perfect
order, peeriug mower new, Tiger check row
corn planter, new, with phns piiste attachment,
Rickford n Huffman grain drili. Buckeye eiod
roller new, SDnNer chilled plowS No 90, root
pillow for or horses, wlicei culttvators, one
Brown aud one Tiger. single and double shovel
plows, IN coVerer, garden pluw, spring
taoth h ffows. ono lever ana enc wooden
frame; four-sqnarr harrow, 2 pairs sheiYings
fnewI sets dung boards. corn shelter, sets
bre ehbands, sets front gears, sets Yankee
harness. o sets pillow gears, wagon saddle, check
ines, blind bridi :, collars, wagon nns, 2
sets single harness, riding bride. extra buggy
bride, iS haltcrs harse blankets, 20 COW
chains single, double and treble trees sets
breast chains. butt chains, log 81 aims. pair OF
spreaders, moving scythe. grain cradle, hay
knife DIGGING iron, sledge, cross-cnt saw, maui
aud wedges, 3 iron crowd sticks. dung hook,
scoop sho els, large dinner bell. gfindstone,
u bu. mrasure, hamper baskets, 10 grain
Sacks forks rakes. hoes shovels, some heavy
rope, lot OF tar rope, old iron, To,
tons pure timothy hay, 100 lbs. bacon,
caus lard, 70 bushels eating potatoes, rs bush
els seed potatoes, 100 Plymouth Rock chickens,
q guineas
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10

sre bucks, . of which are straight Soothdown'
the remainder are thrifty young ewes, and
most viii lamb by day OF sale
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
arining Implements.
HousehoId & Kitchen Furniture.

Good cooking stove and utensils large din
Ing room stove bureau with large | OR ing
glass, stands. 2 beds cads, Safes ionk ease,
writing desk, set iiniHE fNom chairs sci cane
seated chairs, roofing hairs extension table,
mling leaf table. barre. ~ pickles, iron kettle,
wash tubs wash DO " good Davis sewing
machine, only used two Years; crib, high cttair.
70 gal sauerkraut. n~w i~gai, croeks lot OF
buffers aud canned frait, churn. " bushels OF
nofHtuos. tO0 Tbs hacnh coffee mill, and many
other articles mol neI TONED
Terms Of Sale:
A credit Of months viii he given On sums
Of sla aud upwards bS tho purchaser giving a
note with appreyed security, negotiable and
payable NJ the Merchants d Farmers bank OF
Maftlnsbusg. with interest from date, bat il
paid at maturity interest rainisted Under $40
cash No properly 10 ~ removed uetit terms
oi sale are complied with.
John w. sTUfkEY.
g W stuckev, Auctioueer.
James snyder, Clerk
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
Al Head Of Sheen.
SO Head of Hogs

20 are young ewes with p lamns by their side.
balance will lsms 10y day of sale, ShropshiIe
buck
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10

Oh and Chester cross
81 Head sheep,
30 Thrifty ewes az buck al voting sheep "a II The
ewes Hampshire Aad shf9pfnire sto.k; Tia re-
naming n ewsaare common sock but Young and
thrifty The buck is thoroughbred fIainpsaife.
Farming Implements
Tw5-holss carriage good - new, Dayton wa1on,
falling TOP buggy tsesti3g cart f-barse stad-baxer
barrow, basket sleigh set double carriage harness
new, : sets single harness good new. ! ieath@r
haitsrs rope haitcrs, COW eha NJ. y straps, riding
hftdies, man saddle boys sad lie side saddle bYtl
new has never been used, plough gears ald stfape.
10 tons excellent hay. 900 bundle Of fodder 50 bn
corn in the ear, new cider mill Decring good
as new No. 40 Oliver plaw, No, liver pillow JUST
the thing for garden orchard, single shavel plsx,
double shovel pillow, corn cpv-rer. garden hand piow
log chains forks. shovrh hammer And drills Tor
blasting. yledge and knapping hammers, sul and
wedges cross cut SAYS, sleigh bells, empty barrels,
grindstone, hoes, rakes. eight Ral churn, butter
box egg box, sealdiss rib stsslyards, nose hook,
gambrel sticks weighing device, buck saws, "a
horse blanket, stable blanket, gum horse cevara !
buggy robes, bedsteads chairs rockers dining table,
ten pate TT We, water keg. gai. mulberry key ci-
der barrels, 4bbls. good cider vinegar, gai jut,
small Jugs turkey coops, chicken butter bowl,
crooks, kraut knife. eteatn lars IA gal jar, gal.
jar ~atsr cooler. gals extracted honey, bu. Hlr-
~ Rose seed ltatoes iron pot. iron kettle, doxgn
good Oft traps. steel traps Of IN t.eg lot
Of empty bcehy yes, hand corn shsller single trees,
double trees, straw knife dpa. h ook ice heoks,f
cords Of good seasoned IRE wood grain sacks lot Of
old junk. old lumber Shot guns spring tooth har-
rp-g. grass seed sewer, bfar seyihc. CROW bar 50
Plymouth Rock chickens guiiieas, turkey hers
gobbler al pure bronze, $50 pounds sugar car
ed side meat nice, fresh Lard hard coal
stoves good and bath base heaters. besides
many ether things not mentioned.
Terms Of Sale
credit of 10 months viii be given on all
sums OF SO ana upward, the purchaser 10 give
his note with approved security, negotiable
aud payable AZ ta- Peoples Trust 60. OF Mar
tinsburg, w. Va, with Interest from date, but
If paid at maturity. the interest VIII be remit
ted. III sums under $40 cash. No property
10 be removed until terms OF sale are COM
piled With.
y n. DDDD.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-02-10
Terms of Sale.
PUBLIC SALE
OF VALUABLE
Personal Property,

The undersigned administrators OF Corbin II Ia
bier decd will sell at his residence the read lead
sing from Martinsburg Swan Pond, miles East OF
Martinsburs and "a miles West Of Swan Pond, on
Tuesday, February p, 1905,
commencing at O'Clock, the following property.
Head of Horses.
No I is brown mare years old will work wherever
hitched and viii weigh 1907 lbs. No. is black
maze "a years old viii work erever pitched, will
weigh 400 lbs No. bay horse years old. will
weigh 1900 lbs also has been WORKED single line.
No is sorrei hore years old, single driver an /
good roadster.
6 Mich Cows,
OF which are fresh now The sbsve described ccws
straight and all right.