The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-10-01
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT..

THE FARMING INTERESTS PROMOTED BY The DEMOCRATIC PARTY
The Department was established by a Democratic Legislature in
1877. It was reorganized on more practical lines when the party
resumed control of the State Government in 1899, and is in charge
of a Board of Agriculture composed of practical farmers, of which
the Commissioners of Agriculture is er ofcso chairman. The work
of NO branch of the government has beef more beneficial to the farm
ars and - its work Is dine in large measu the present satisfactory
condition of our agricultural people. The North Carolina Depart
in the Southern States. Under the control of the present Commits
|sioner it has become in truth a Department of Agriculture. Among
the lines of work are:
/. Formers Inshtutes-Sendin experts from the Department
force, the faculty of the A. & M. College and other institutions, with
successful farmers of the State, TO hold meetings to give information
on matters relating to farming, the diseases of animals and plants,
cultivation and restoration of soils and many other practical and
economical matters, has been of great value to the attendants, and
marked improvement is observable on their farms. Five years ago
the audiences were generally sman-ffty being perhaps an average;
now one hundred is regarded as small and five hundred or more not
uncommon. Thirty thousand are estimated to have attended last
year. Recognizing that a good housewife within is IS needful' as
| a good farmer without, lectures for farmers wives and daughters on
matters pertaining to woman's work on the farm have been inaugu-
rated. They are very popular and the attendance constantly increas-
ing, and good results are already commencing and ~justfying their
establishment. Applications for institutes are constantly Increasing,
many counties desiring two or more.
Holding institutes at test farms, where theory and practice can be
demonstrated, is highly beneficial.
2. Eradication of the Cattle ick.-Tha the spread of the Texas
fever is wholly due to the presence of this tick is as well established
as that the mosquito is. the vehicle of the fevers that afaict mankind.
In 1902 the cattle quarantine line as established by the United States
Department of Agriculture was practically the crest of the Blue Ridge
Mountains; now on the northern border of the State it is the western
boundary of Warren County, extending In a diagonal, zigzag line to
the eastern boundary of Me~cklenburg on the south, and will probably
" Aud4 - AOOOS UO JIG OdoNO4nO OuANoAJ VI poA4OA. OAh uCE AOA
and of Anson on the southern line of the State. The North Carolina
Department has led in the work of eradication (ns veterinarian
locating the quarantine line around localities where the tick is hard
to destroy, and giving more favored territory the benefit of release
from quarantine and not keeping it In quarantine until all territory
in the rear is free.
Much information for the prevention and cure of diseases of farm
animals has been furnished, which has been highly beneficial to the
citizens of the State and saved thousands of dollars in the preserva-
ton of the lives and health of farm stock and domestic animals.
3. Ent0n0logy-Damag from insects to crops, vegetables and
fruits. This work has been established only a few years and has
been Of great value in protecting farm crops from damage from these
pests; also vegetables and fruit crops. Means of destroying many of
them have been. furnished in bulletins. The dread disease of the
"San Jose Scale" once thought to be beyond treatment, is now sup
pressed with little difficulty and thousands of dollars worth of fruit
trees preserved which a few years ago would have been dug up or
burned.
By spraying, the fruit and vegetable crops have been much in.
creased In quantity and In quality. Production of fruit will become
one of the most profitable branches of farming.
4. Horhculture-The truck or early vegetable and small fruit
profitable branches of farming in the State. The board has esteemed
it Of such importance that it has established a test farm especially for
crops can be studied. On this farm in 1907 was cultivated an acre
and a quarter of lettuce, which sold for $500.
s.. Test Fdrns.-Itis desired, as funds become available, to locate
one of these farms on each type of soil in the State and experiment in
the preparation of land, cultivation of crops, application of fertilizers,
restoration and preservation of soils, what crops can be used for this
purpose, terracIng the hill country, selection OF seed, prevention and
cure of diseases, and all other matters pertaining to farming in the
section of the State of which it Is a type. -Four of these farms have
been established and the Department is now negotiating for land for
farms for peanuts, bright tobacco and stock raising.
6. The Inspection and analysis of Commercial Fertilizers, by,
which the farmer is protected from purchase of inferior goods. The
maintained is evidence of the good work in this line. Grouping the
analyses in lists of the same ingredients in material and quantity Of
material has taught the farmer that it is not the name or brand Of a
material that is valuable, but what it contains. The analyses are care
fully conducted and but little inferior goods are now found for sale in
the State - go 3aSae8 Ices
Z. Inspection of Cottonrseed Meal-The law established q standard
for this, and the inspection insures that it is not lowered by addition
of huls and other adulteration. So
g.. Stock this law was established much fraud was
practiced In the sale of goods. Red corn cobs were ground and sold a
as wheat bran; corn bran was mixed with wheat bran: the aween;noa4
OF the nil and many kinds Of weed seeds, which frequently caused the