French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-03-07

Raleigh.-North Carolina farmers
face the greatest opportunity for serv-
ice and profit that the farmers Of
any country have ever had. With the
fate of the war in Europe largely de-
pendent upon. food supplies and with
half the world starving the opportu-
nifty for service to country and hn-
manity is unprecedented. With a
world shortage Of food and feedstuffs
Of all kinds prices will continue to
remain at their present high levels
not only until the end of the war but
for n to three years after the war.
In the face Of a shortage Of labor
North Carolina farmers must produce
a larger total of corn, wheat, cotton,
soy beans, peas, potatoes, sorghum for
syrup, hay crops and livestock. A
larger acreage in these crops cannot
be worked than was worked last year
but the same acreage can be made to
produce larger yields. Bette: soil
preparation and better crop cultiva-
ton will increase yields and profits
to a large extent but increased @rtil-
iIetIon must be depended upon for
S&S 6ACdlCS( part VI TIC 1ACE0dS0 mat
is so urgently desirable.
Fertilizer Bill $35,0oo,ooo.
There are 385, 900 head OF work stock
upon the farms Of North Carolina.
There was used upon the land cult
waited by these animals last year more
than $4,000 tons Of commercial fer
tilizers and more than 6S, 1000 tons Of
~cOttonseed meal. It is extremely
doubtful II a larger supply Of CONNER
cial fertilizers will be available this
year. If the same quantity is used
this will represent a commercial
fertilizer bill of approximately $50, O0O,-
300. The stable n from 1856, 900
head Of work stock and approximately
100000 head Of cattle, If properly saw
ed and utilized, would be worth at
least $50, 000, 900. Here IL an oppor-
tunity for increased fertilization be-
cause many OF our farmers have paid
little attention heretofore to the max
ing, saving and utilization Of stable
manure.
The Greatest Opportunity.
The greatest opportunity, however,
lies IN the utilization Of forest leaves
and wood mold. The past winter has
been ideal for the purpose OF rotsing
leaves and there are very few farm
ers in the State who have not an Op-
pOrtunity to largely increase their
production this year through the use
Of this form Of fertilizer Agricul-
tural experts r agreed that O ton Of
dry forest leaves and wood mold con-
tains at present fertilizer values, 50
worth Of fertilizer ingredients. This
means that IL Eve tons of leaves and
wood mold are used on every equiva-
lent one-horse farm In North Caro-
lima the aggregate value Of such fer
tilization would be more than 10000
600, or very nearly half the value Of
the States commercial fertilizer bill Of
the year.
The Children Can Help.
The rakfng and hauling of forest
leaves and wood mold is no a difficult
undertaking. The raking into piles
may be lone by the smaller children
or by the grown-upsy during spare
time and can be hauled between now
and planting time. Wood mold spread
upon wheat during the next three or
four weeks will largely Increase the
yield, according to the quantity used.
Wood mold and leaves spread upon
land that is to be planted in cotton,
corn and other crops will very greatly
increase yields and will render more
effective the fertilizers used. Hauling
Of leaves and wood mold should be
continued during spare time even aft.
er the planting season Of cotton ana
corn, being worked into the ground
during the cultivation Of the crop.
On wheat and other grain the results
will NO only be seen In the increased
production Of grain. but in the increas-
ed production of hay or other crop
which follows.
A $25yooo,ooo Increase.
Agricultural experts have estimated
that the production of food and feed
crops in North Carolina could be in
creased $25, 000, 900 this year. by the
utilization by farmers Of this oppor-
tuntty for increasing the fertility of
then soil. It has been repeatedly
demonstrated that the application of
manure and other vegetable matter is
noticed in the land for several years
after the application so that the an.
plfcation OF leaves and wood mold this
year Will result in not only increasing
the yields during the coming season
but during the years to come.