The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-09-02


central idea of very interesting and
instructive paper by Mr.. ]. l. Bur
CESS. OF the State Department OF Az
riculture. Mr.. Burgess told how diff
ferent varieties Of the staple crops
were each adapted TO some particu-
lar type Of soil. and how. almost
without exception. each variety was
best adapted to that soil on which ii
originated. A specific example was
the Toole cotton, which originated
on a soil OF almost pure white sand
and which. on this type OF soil. Is
one of the very best varieties. Hun
dreds OF farmers on entirely differ
emit soils have bought the Toole cot
ton and been disappointed In 1t. not
because 1t is not good variety. but
simply because they were trying to
grow 1t on the wrong soil. The King
and under its different names, Is the
leading variety grown and one par
ticularly adapted to the soils of the
Piedmont section. has proved very
| inferior to other varieties on soils
| of different composition.
That the soil is also the first con-
sideration of the corn grower, was
| made plain in an able talk on dou-
| bling the corn yield by Mr.. G. r.
Hudson. To grow profitable crops
Of corn. the first thing necessary is
a deep soil well supplied with humus.
Mr.. Hudson told of the demonstra-
ton work in this State and read re-
ports, most of which have already
been published in The Progressive
Farmer, from number of corn
growers whose crops were made at
cost of from 7 to 20 cents per
bushel. That the average yield of
corn in this State could easily be
doubled and the cost of production
made very much smaller. Mr.. Hud-
son regards as an established fact,
and the demonstration work Is show
ing he farmers how to do it. Next
to the soil itself, the preparation be-
fore planting is of most Importance.
The selection of seed, and even cult
walton, are to be regarded as minor
points beside the preparation of the
right sort of seed bed.
Additional stress on the proper
preparation Of the soil was given by
Prof. R. I. Smith in his discussion of
insects injurious to corn. Against
such enemies Of the corn plant as the
| wire-worm and the cut-worm deep
and early blowing and frequent later
stirring of the soil are about the
only preventives which can be
recommended with any assurance
The injury done by the bud-worm
| may also be lessened in many cases
by frequent use of the weeder before
and just after the corn comes up.
Mr.. B. S. Skinner, who spoke on
the preparation of the land for corn,
also laid special stress upon the ne
cessity of careful preparation and
frequent and shallow cultivation dur
ing the early life of the plant AS
to when corn should be laid by, the
general discussion brought out some
differences Of opinion, but there was
general agreement that cultivation Is
stopped too soon by most farmers.
The peanut crop was treated by
Mr.. T. E. Brown, of Hartford Coun-
ty, who is connected with the demon
stration work of the United State De-
partment of Agriculture. The peanut
crop, in Mr.. Browns opinion, should
be followed by corn, corn with cot
ton, and then peanuts again. In this
way the peanut can be made to fur
nish some nitrogen for the succeed
Ing crops, and can itself be fertil-
lied very cheaply with the mineral
elements. The peanut vine is worth
twice as much for forage as fodder
or timothy hay and should be gen
orally utilized as feed for pigs and
cattle. The hams bringing the high
est market prices are made from
hogs largely fed on peanuts.
Mr.. T. w. Blount, of WASHINGTON
County, who followed Mr.. Brown,
said that the low average production
OF peanuts was entirely unnecessary
and that the peanut farmers must
improve their methods or get out of
the business. 1t is useless to expect
to grow good crop of peanuts on
a soil that 1t not properly drained,
and thousands of acres of land I'm |
the peanut section could be changed |
from an improbable to a profitable |
state by the laying of drain tiles. |
Men will go into debt year after year
for fertilizers or supplies and work
land which does not produce
enough to more than bring them out
even at the seasons end. It would
be better in many cases for them to
borrow money with which to under
Drain their land and thus get it into
shape to produce profitable crops.
The idea Of borrowing to get capital
20 farm right was also emphasized
BY other speakers.
DR.. 8. A. Knapp said that with
he onward march of the boil
veevil. which will in all probability
each North Carolina in ten years.
he farmers of this State have the
'reatest opportunity to make money
growing cotton that has ever been Of
cred to them. To get this money.
However, they must not grow cotton
but must combine 1t with
'ther crops and while they are max
ng big crops Of cotton on every acre
TAINTED, they must build up their soil
y the raising OF more and better live
took. They should also be preparing
or the advent Of the boil weevil by II
for stock RAISING Ne-4l :