332 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
APRIL 25 
WE WANT TO KNOW. 
(Here we propose to print, from time to time, ques 
tloDB which 8< em lo demand a general dlfeusslon. 
Many questions cannot be answered properly by any 
single ind vidual. They very properly demand a 
wide discussion, and the answers will be valuable 
when made up from the actual experience of observ 
ing men. We respectfully call upon our friends to 
aid us in eolvin/ these problems. Be kind enough to 
send us a brief account of any experiences you may 
have had in these lines.—E dsJ 
Cotton Factories in Arkansas. 
A few weeks ago, I read an item in The 
Rural speaking of the manufacture 
of cotton goods in the South. Among 
other things the writer said that all the 
coarser grades of such goods could be made 
as well at the South as in New England, 
but that the finer grades could not be suc¬ 
cessfully made, owiDg to the dryness of the 
climate, such goods requiring a very moist 
climate, such as is found on the New Eng¬ 
land coast and in Great Britain. This 
remark about dryness of climate may 
apply to those portions of Georgia and 
Alabama, where most of their cotton fac¬ 
tories are located; but I think it is quite 
evident that it has a very limited applica¬ 
tion to East Central Arkansas, and espe¬ 
cially to Grand Prairie, and the level 
portions along the lower White and 
Arkansas Rivers. For eight or nine 
months of the year, I presume we have 
about as moist a climate here as can well 
be found anywhere, except where it rains 
all the time. Clothing has to be well and 
frequently aired to prevent mold; and 
the atmosphere is so laden with moisture 
that it fails to take up the perspiration 
from the clothes of a laborer, so that they 
are very soon completely saturated on a 
moderately warm day. Why, then, would 
not this be a good place for the spinning 
and weaving of the finer grades of cotton 
goods? Cotton is raised here of the very 
best quality, for I have often heard that 
Arkansas cotton is among the best raised. 
Why, then, should not Arkansas profit by 
this aEd manufacture her own muslin, 
gingham, calico, etc , of all grades ? There 
is but one drawback that I am aware of. 
viz , want of water-power to run the mills. 
But that is not a fatal objection, for very 
many of the large factories of England are 
driven by steam ; and, while we have not 
coal right at hand, we have abundance of 
excellent fire wood so handy as to be as 
cheap as coal. 
There is another drawback to the realiz¬ 
ing of this desired end—want of local capi¬ 
tal ; but, I believe this matter is well worth 
looking into by some one in the North or 
East who may be seeking a useful and 
profitable way of investing surplus funds. 
Another thing badly needed here is a cot¬ 
ton-seed and oil mill. The farmers need 
the meal for feed, and now they have to pay 
both freight and middlemen’s profit on 
every bushel fed, which makes it cost so 
much that but very little is used, to the 
great detriment both of stock and land. 
Within 20 to 30 miles both north and south 
of us there are some cotton lands as fine as 
can be found anywhere in the country ; and 
with a mill to grind the seed and give us 
the meal for feed, abundance of fine butter 
might be made from the cows that range 
Grand Prairie, and the tilled fields might 
be enriched so as to make this a garden 
spot. Moreover, I believe that any one who 
might see fit to engage in such a project 
would find it a richly paying business for 
himself as well as for the community. 
Dewitt, Ark. j. d. 
R. N.-Y.-We will let some of the ex¬ 
perts discuss the matter of humidity and 
the proper moisture required for successful 
cotton spinning. Edward Atkinson says 
that the north shore of Long Island Sound 
is more favored by nature than any other 
part of the country, and it is his opinion 
that the manufacture of American fine 
cottons will settle there permanently—as 
the English factories have settled largely 
near Manchester. Another objection to 
Arkansas would be the distance from the 
selling market for the finished products. 
The Northern mills are within easy access 
of the great business centers and also close 
to the great masses of buyers. Auother 
thing; skilled labor has clustered about 
these factories and it will cost a great deal 
of money to induce the workmen to leave. 
Few people properly estimate the vast ad¬ 
vantage possessed by English manufactur¬ 
ers in what may be called hereditary skill. 
Workmen whose ancestors have for gener¬ 
ations performed a certain mechanical 
operation are naturally more valuable 
than those who have not this hereditary 
training. Workmen in New England fac¬ 
tory towns have invested their savings in 
homes and are interested in the growth 
and permanancy of the place. Certain 
portions of the South are unquestionably 
destined to become noted for manufactur¬ 
ing, particularly if the trade with South 
America develops as is expected, but fol¬ 
lowing the history of the country the man¬ 
ufacturing will be apt to go to coal and 
iron beds rather than to cotton fields. 
Aim atThese Questions! 
I wish to sow some barley for hay. What 
variety is best for this section ? How early 
or how late can it be sown to mature for 
seed ? My soil is a yellowish clay. Some 
of my young apple and pear trees were 
girdled by mice during the winter; the 
bark was nibbled off away down into the 
roots so as to render it impossible to estab¬ 
lish any connection for bark-grafting. Is 
there any way by which I can save these 
trees ? Last May I sprayed my orchard 
with London-purple, and in the fall the 
hands and faces of two pickers who were not 
present at the spraying broke out with an 
eruption somewhat similar to that caused 
by Rhus radicans; they strongly asserted 
that they never had been “pizened” by 
this pest, “could roll in it,” etc. Has any 
of The R. N.-Y.’s readers found London- 
purple injurious in the above-mentioned 
manner ? SUBSCRIBER. 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. 
The Convenience of Solid Trains. 
The Erie is the only railway running 
solid trains over its own tracks between 
New York and Chicago. No change of 
cars for any class of passengers. Rates 
lower than via any other firstclass line.— 
Adv. 
WE KNOW. 
How to Reach Mortgaged Farmers. 
Among the Brevities on page 248 of The 
R. N.-Y., the following questions are asked. 
“ Do the institutes reach the poor farmers 
who have mortgages on their farms or only 
those who are well to do and can afford to 
take life easy ? How can we connect with 
the farmers who most need waking up ?” 
My own impressions on this matter derived 
from attendance at five institutes in both 
eastern and western New York, are that 
the attendance is composed for the first 
and probably the largest part, of intelli¬ 
gent, progressive farmers who have made 
their farms pay and are well to-do and are 
intent on keeping abreast of the times and 
are desirous of learning how to Improve 
their farms and income: in other words 
men of means and comparative leisure. 
Most of the remainder are good farmers 
whose farms are mortgaged, but who, in 
spite of the depression now resting on gen¬ 
eral farming, are by close attention to de¬ 
tail and rigid economy slowly paying for 
their places. These men know that their 
circumscribed means will not allow them 
to engage in costly experimentation, but 
they are eager to hear about the results of 
the experiments of others and to profit 
thereby if possible. They profit by short, 
pithy practical articles on new methods 
which the speaker has put into successful 
operation. When articles of this kind are 
heard by observant, intelligent farmers, 
good will result. 
The farmer poor in purse and in methods 
seldom, I think, attends the institute. He 
had rather sit around in the country store 
and grumble about hard times while his 
hard-working wife cuts the wood and helps 
the children care for their half starved 
scrubs. If these men get any benefit from 
the institutes It will be from the object- 
lessons given by their enterprising, wide¬ 
awake neighbors who attend, think and 
apply. There must necessarily be a wide 
divergence of opinion in regard to the 
best way of reaching this class who most 
assuredly need waking up. Two ways sug¬ 
gest themselves. First, after holdiDg the 
usual institute in each county seat and cre¬ 
ating an Interest in this line, meetings of 
three sessions should be held at suitable 
points in the county at which the various 
branches of farming pursued in these lo¬ 
calities could be the subjects for institute 
work. This would bring the meetings to 
the farmers. The second plan is to hold 
one or two regular institutes in each county 
during the winter, and in the summer ar¬ 
range to have a series of farmers’ picnics, 
and have these addressed by capable speak¬ 
ers on topics pertinent to the needs of the 
various localities. Either plan calls for a 
large force of trained men who are ready 
speakers and practical working farmers. 
We do not want the theories of those who 
farm for pleasure rather than for profit, 
whose methods are those of farming for 
recreation rather than for bread winning 
and debt raising. The present system under 
the efficient direction of Mr. Powell, is of 
great banefit to the farmers of the Empire 
State; but I believe that the methods I 
have only briefly outlined, or modifications 
of tnem, will commend themselves to 
those interested in the great work of re¬ 
ducing farming as nearly as possible to a 
perfect paying system such a? shall be an 
honor to the intelligence and skill of those 
engaged In it. hadan m. fisher. 
Ontario County, N. Y. 
About That Listing Bill. 
I have received a communication from 
the Merchants’ Club of the city of New 
York, asking me to take part in the 
endeavor to defeat the listing tax bill. 
Now, it may seem to be right to those men 
to defeat this bill, and leave things as they 
are, the real property paying nearly all the 
taxes; but in justice I cannot take that 
view of the matter. I will admit that I 
hold some notes for value received, and I 
have some mortgages and bank accounts 
and real estate; but I cannot ask my neigh¬ 
bor to pay for my protection. Moreover, I 
believe if the listing bill becomes a law, I 
will not have to pay as much in taxes as I 
now pay. As for capital and business 
leaving the State, that is all nonsense. 
Where will they go ? Is there any man to¬ 
day who does not put his money where it 
will give him the best return ? I am not 
afraid to give a true statement of my 
affairs. If we could understand each other 
better there would not be so much loss by 
business men. Attempting to run a big 
business on a small capital is what makes 
many mourn the loss of small earnings. 
As matters now stand, the farmer who is 
in debt pays double taxes; while the money 
lender goes to the bank and buys bonds, 
and gives his note in payment about the 
time the assessors come around, and In a 
few days makes up his mind that he does 
not care for the bonds, and withdraws his 
note. Next time, perhaps, his daughter 
wants a note for several thousands and 
gets it, and this offsets so much of his tax¬ 
able property. A. DONALD. 
Chemung Co., N. Y. 
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