The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-15

NO crop Is IlOic II
certain than winter oats which fire.
quently yields from so to IS bushels
per acre. Corn grows we'll in all sec
tons Of the State, though III the high
mountain plateaus Of the est
ern section a q~uick-grOWlng variety
is needed, for the farms there lie over
5000 feet above the sea level and
are mainly devoted to grass, while
south of what is called the corn belt
can be grown all Ove the Piedmont
and coast regions as heavy crops as
are grown anywhere. The lcanty
crops to be seen in various sections
are due not to the lack OF capacity
Of the soil for the production Of corn,
but to the careless mode OF cultila-
ton. In Wake county, on what IS
considered ordinary land, there have
been produced 226 2-3 bushels on an
acre and yields exceeding 100 bushels
are reported by 100 farmers. In
some parts Of the coastal plain are
deep, peaty soils OF wide area or
which great crops Of corn are grown
year after year Just as they are grown
IN the West.
"OVer a large section Of the Pied
mont and coastal region the cotton
crop has long been the chief interest
Of the farmers, and when carefully
grown no money crop can equal it
for average profits. But there is an
awakening to the Importance of good
farming with cotton and farmers have
realized the value Of Il careful rOta-
ton of crOps, that other crops can be
grown with profit, and tina through
the aid of these crops and the COW
pea, they can grow cotton with an
Increased yield per acre. The cotton
crop draws largely on the fertility
OF the. soil, and when the seed IS
properly applied to the feeding of cat
tie and the manure returned To the
soil in a good rotation Of crops, there
is no crop with which the land "a
be more rapidly improved.
Coastal Plain Development.
THE greatest development III the
cultivation of the soil is in the coastal
plain where large areas are now de-
voted to early vegetables for the
Northern markets, and the growing
or Strawberries and other small fruits.
The board Of agriculture on one Of
its test farms realized one season ST.
500 from the lettuce produced on one
and O~ne-fOurth acres, and the past
season $40 from one-half acre.
The red clays Of the uplands are
the best wheat soils and are identical
with what is known in the geology
Of the country as Cecil clay. All
the rolling uplands OF the Piedmont
section are adapted to wheat grow
ing. clover and the feeding Of cattle.
The trucker from the East will
plant cotton OF corn between the rows
Of his early potatoes, on which he has
been lavish in the use of fertilizers
and will get a crop Of potatoes run
ming up at times to 100 barrels per
acre or more, and then a crop OF
more than a bale Of cotton or sc
bushels Of cor per acre. The straw
berry grower takes two crops Of Der
ries from his land, and then he, too
plants cotton on the turned-undel
strawberry field and makes a fine
crop. OR, he may plant a corn crOI
after the strawberries are shipped ano
SOW peas among it. and after the
cornl is off, have the finest pasture fol
stock. The cotton and grain farmer
of the upper country SOWS peas aftel
his small grain is harvested, and cuts
the heavy hay crop the same season
and can leave the stubble sOWn witt
crimson clover for a a crop tn
next spring in time to plant corn O
cotton.
"The long growing season offers t
the wise farmer opportunities for tn
intense cultivation Of a few acre
that cannot be had in a less favor
able climate. In this work Of diver
styling and ~intensifying the agricui
ture Of the State, the College OF Agrl
culture and Mechanic Arts at Raj
eigh with its agricultural experiment
station, and the Department Of Agri
culture with its test farms in varlou
parts of the State, are working WIT
zeal and energy, n the neWcome
to the State can always depend upo1
them for information and advice i
tho cultivation of the soil
The opportunities for the produc
, ton of fruit in North Carolina, Whe'
quantity and quality are AIKEN INT
: consideration, are scarcely rpa
3 in any state in the Union. Ihe apps
Piedmont and mountain sections ar
especiallv adapted to the productlo
E Of apples; the lower Piedmont an
coastal plain TO peaches, pluIns an
: grapes.
Stock Raising.
"The values Of some OF the VaIiot
kinds of domestic animals ana {