The Progressive Farmer

LETTER FROM THE "BURNT ISLANDS."

Allenton, Robeson Co., N. C.,
March 1, 1889.

Mr. Editor: Our Alliance, No. 350, is in good working trim and we think it high time that we step fearlessly upon the platform of Alliance existence by letting people abroad hear from us through the columns of The Progressive Farmer. We have raised a goodly sum towards the Business Agency Fund and expect to stand with our shoulders firmly to the wheel, though the mire be deep and the bog be heavy. We are situated away down here in a section known as the "Burnt Islands" of Robeson county, and as our talent is but a small one, we are weak, as farmers, and as a matter of course, weak financially. We do not raise an abundance of cotton, owing to the non-adaptability of most of our lands, and also to the non-adaptability of some of ourselves. We are pretty well adapted to the raising of "hog and hominy," potatoes, etc., simply because our "daddies" before us knew how to do that sort of thing. However, we are pulling to get apace with the times, and we fancy already that we can read the word "success" printed on the mile stones as we pass them slowly by, and by-and-bye, when the grand army of Farmers' Alliance men shall have assembled to answer to the victor's roll-call, we hope to be able to say present.

We could have lots more to say, but as we see so many letters from different parts of the State, we fear we might infringe on more valuable space than that set apart for our communication. Success to The Progressive Farmer and Farmers' Alliance.

J. A. BARKER.