The progressive farmer. [volume], July 19, 1904, Page 4, Image 4

About The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904

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THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER
Tuesday, July 19, 1904.
Our Washington Letter,
fc'litora Progressive Farmer:
Solomon's injunction to consider
the ant is being literally followed in
Government circles just at present.
Two Departments arc giving the f fa
mous Guatemalan insect profound
consideration. In fact, this bug al
most rivals the recent political con
ventions as a magnet for popular at
tention. Recommended as an effec
tive agent against the hitherto in
vincible cotton boll weevil, some
eighty colonies were collected by an
entomologist of the Department of
Agriculture, and carefully imported
into this country. But a suit has
now been filed by a Texas planter to
prevent the projected experiments,
and the right of the Government to
take such action is now pending the
decision of the Department of Jus
tice. It is said that if the suit is
sustained, the scene of the tests, with'
this exptic insect, will be merely
transferred to Louisiana, that State
having expressed a willingness to ex
tend hospitality to the stranger. The
Texas plaintiff urges that the poten
tialties of the bug for mishief arc an
unknown quantity, and that even if it
succeeds in destroying the weevil,
men's attempts to upset the balance
nature are liable to react against
themselves. The agent3 of the De
partment of Agriculture retort that
they have thoroughly studied the
ant's habits and predilections; that
he possesses the praiseworthy char
acteristic of being a cannibal pur
suing the weevil as his special prey,
and leaving all vegetable growths un-
ucne3r? that he does not bite or
sting human beings, can be readily
domesticated, is gentle and amiable
in disposition, and, in short, should
be welcomed as a desirable entomolgi
cal immigrant.
THE CAUSE OF THE RECENT STORMS.
The surprising number of storms
that have prevailed throughout the
United States during the past month
are attributed by the Weather Bu
reau to an unusually low barometri
cal pressure. This, again, is due to
what is designated as the approach
of the "sun-spot maximum period."
These spots, it is explained, are at
mospheric disturbances in the sun,
and they differ from similar disturb
ances of the earth in that they re
semble molten metal, constantly
throwing out rays of intense heat,
this varying in proportion to the
number of spots. These rays cause
evaporation from the bodies of wa
ter in the country, which in turn
produces frequent showers.
WNG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST.
These sun spots are held responsi
ble for the cold weather of last win
ter, and it is said that a chilly sum
mer and another freezing winter are
to be undergone before the influence
of ' the mysterious spots begin to
wane. The exact effect of these spots
upon the atmospheric conditions , of
the earth is being investigated by
the weather officials. While this is
practically a new subject of investi
gation, they hope to perfect an in
strment that will accurately record
the connection between the growth of
the spots and the changes of weath
er in this planet. With such an in
strument, it is expected that "long
range" forecasts could be made. Un
der present conditions, the weather
prophets cannot predict more than
a day or two in advance. With
the discoveries that would follow the
completion of the projected instru
ment, it -would be possible to foretell
the state of the weather for weeks
in advance. In this connection, it
is worth noting thai the present
"long range" forecasts that appear
from time to time in the press are
the work of fakirs. Frequently these
predictions are attributed to some
one connected wi;h the Weather
Bureau, but the chief has recently
issued a circular warning the public
that these would-be meteorologists
have no connection with the Govern
ment. THE GOVERNMENT CROP REPORT.
The official crop report, just is
ued, shows that corn has made vigor
ous growth over the greater part
of the belt, but the rains have pre
vented cultivation, and much of the
crop is weedy. In the more northerly
districts, it is backward, but in. the
Middle Atlantic States its condition
is most promising. The heavy pre
cipitation has interferred with culti
vation and harvesting in the Lower
Missouri, Central Mississippi and
Ohio valleys and in portions of the
Middle Atlantic States and the Lake
region, and much grain in shock has
been damaged in Oklahoma, Kansas
and Missouri. Winter wheat, espe
cially, has sustained great damage,
both from rust and from sprouting.
Spring wheat, also, has suffered
somewhat from rust in the southern
portion of the region devoted to that
cereal, but, as a whole, the crop is
satisfactory. Oats, too, have suffer
ed from excessive moisture in the
Lower Missouri but elsewhere have
made good progress. Cotton has
grown rapidly throughout the belt
-too rapidly in the central districts,
where the crop is in need of culti
vation. The heavy storms have
caused some damage, but over the
greater part of Texas and in the east
ern districts the crop is good. The
weather has been most favorable for
tobacco, which is in a thrifty condi
tion. In the Ohio Valley and Middle
Atlantic States the outlook for ap
ples is unpromising, but in New Eng
land and the Lake region the pros
pects are favorable. A good crop
of peaches is being gathered in the
East Gulf States.
. W. H. TODD.
Washington, D. C, July 15, 1904.
The Rural Letter Carriers Organize in
Greensboro.
Editors Progressive Farmer:
July 4th about forty rural mail
carriers met in the court-house in
Greensboro and organized the Rural
Letter Carriers Association of North
Carolina. The meeting was called to
order by Mr. J. M.'Hartis, of Char
lotte, with Mr. C. H. Baines tem
porary secretary. A constitution
was next drafted, conforming in all
respects to the constitution of the
National Association. Horse insur
ance and mutual benefit insurance
was next taken up and thoroughly
discussed. On motion by Mr. Gore,
the matter was postponed indefinite
ly. This action may seem somewhat
hasty, but the different conditions
under which the carriers work fully
justified this action.
The best methods for organizing
the counties was thoroughly taken
up, and it was decided that it should
become part of theduties of the
secretary, that he should take the
cause up by correspondence with all
the unorganized counties having
enough carriers to organize, and
those that nave not enough shall be
admitted to the State Association di
rect. Asheville was selected for the
next meeting, to be held July 4, 1905.
An election for permanent officers
was then held, resulting as follows:
President, C. U. Munday, of Ashe
ville; Vice-President, J. M. Hartis,
of Charlotte; Secretary, C. B. Camp
belle, of Red Springs ; Treasurer, J.
G. ' Frazier, of Guilford College.
Delegates to National Association:
C. U. Munday and T. A. May, with
S. H. Rogers and P. C. Dillardr al
ternates. The Committee on Resolutions re
ported as follows:
We, the R. F. D. Carriers of North
Carolina, in convention assembled,
in the city of Greensboro, N". C,
July 4th, 1904, do adopt the follow
ing resolutions:
1. That we do most heartily thank
those Congressmen and Senators
who have labored so faithfully in our
behalf in securing an increase in our
salaries. " v
2. We cannot commend too highly
the work of our worth national presi
dent, Mr. F. H. Cunningham, in his
untiring efforts in our behalf.
3. That we adopt the R. F. D. News
as our national organ, and thank its
editor, Mr. Windsor, for the bold and
manly stand he is taking in our be
half. We furthermore extend our
thanks to the State press for all
it has done, and is doing, to advance
the cause of the rural service; and
we adopt The Progressive Farmer as
our State organ.
4. We extend our thanks to the
county of Guilford for the use of the
court-room, and we also appreciate
the hospitality extended to us by the
good people of Greensboro.
5. We also request the State papers
to copy these resolutions.
J. G. Frazier,
- C. H. Baines,
J. M. McDowell Ballard,
Sion H. Hogers,
Paul C. Dillard,
Committee.
The Association then adjourned,
and the boys enjoyed car rides to the
various points of interest around the
city. All of us returned to our work
feeling that our trip was a very
profitable one.
C. B. CAMPBELLE,
Sec. R. L. C. A. of N. C,
Red Springs, N.4 C.
If you have improved eggs or poul
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9J
CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS,
COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGNS.
Send your business direct to Washington
saves time, costs less, better service.
Ify office close to U.S. Patent Office. FREE prelimin
ary examinations made. Atty's fee notdtae ""H patent
Is secured. PERSONAL ATTENTION GIVEN 19 YEAKS
ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. Book "How to obtain Patent,"
etc.. sent free. Patents procured through E. O. Btggers
receire special notice, without charge, in the
INVENTIVE AGE
illustrated monthly Eleventh year terms, $1. a year.
918 FSt.. N. W.,
WASHINGTON. D. C.
E.G.SI0GER8,
If you have a summer vacation before you
and wish to know how to earn some money.
aDd with the moniy a GOOD CHANCifl TO
oet A FREE SCHOLARSHIP at the A. &
M. COLLEGE, Raleigh, as a prize, write at
once to
The Progressive Farmer,
RALEIGH, N. C.