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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, DECEMBER 36,1882.
POSSUMS AND PATRIOTISM.
It appears that the legislature of South
Carolina, moved by the wilful destruction of
timber, by sportsmen, is contemplating the
passage of a bill to prohibit possum hunting.
The Athens (Ga.,) Banner- Watchman looks
upon it as an insidious blow aimed at the in
alienable rights of our “ free American citi
zens of African descent." Our excellent co
temporary gives us the following biograph
ical and historical sketch of the free-booter
of the woods—the’possum. “Every true
bom southron well knows that a 'possum nev
er climbs anything but a persimmon tree,
and we dont suppose you could get a thous
and feet of marketable lumber by sawing up
every one south of Mason and Dixon’s line.
We never heard of this species of tree being
fit for anything but to grow ’simmons and
'possums, for it is a well-known superstition
that to burn one brings bad luck on the of
fending family. Again the average nigger
had much sooner sacrifice one of his loving
children than a good, healthy persimmon
bush. In fact, this tree we have always be
lieved to be the missing link between the
darkey and the vegetable kingdom. He will
unhesitatingly fell the stateliest giant of the
forest to secure a little five-pound coon, but
the darkey holds the ’simmon tree as too
sacred for the touch of his axe. The lus
cious ’possum is not captured in any such
way. Sambo invariably ascends the trunk
of the sapling and carefully unwinds the'
caudal appendage of his game from a friend
ly limb and drops it to the ground. The
tree is in no manner injured, but is left to
bear another crop some future night. We
believe the Lord created the ’possuiu espec
ially for the benefit of the nigger, and the
persimmon tree for the benefit of the ’pos
sum. If anything would give just ground
for a general exodus of the darkies it is this
’possum bill, and we know of a good many
whites who would follow them. There is no
possible danger of exterminating the 'pos
sum tribe, either. You can clear our forests
of all manner of game, our streams of fish
and even the air of birds; but the ’possum
remains with us in undiminished numbers."
Now, we opine that our cotemporary is
moved in this matter, “not because he loves
the negro less but the possum more.” Sad
to contemplate indeed the fate of that Geor
gia legislator who would havytho-hardiheoir— —
to offer a bill of such a character. Evan
Howell and Uncle Kemus of the Atlanta
Constitution would rise in arms against it and
call upon Gov. Stephens to declare martial
law. The fact is, Gov. Stephens “ totes his
own skillet” to cook the ’possum in. As a
factor in politics the ’possum is not to be
overlooked.
Hhq Southern fforld.
If your land is weak, why kalnlt and make
it strong.
Kalnlt.
The address of Hon. Parish C. Furman at
Marietta, Ga., has directed public attention
to kainit. Prior to 1861, potash was secured
from the immense forests of Canada, Russia
and the United States. The salt works in
Stassfurt, in Saxony (in the German Em
pire) had been worked for salt a thousand
years, at a depth of 1800 feet below the sur
face of the earth. These mines are owned
and run by the government. To provide
against the contingency of a limited supply
of potash, and with the hope of securing
supplies at home, the government offered a
reward for its discovery, within the limits of
the Empire. This stimulated the chemists
and they found the potash near the top of
the mines, the strata having been cut
through to get to the salt below. Working
for salt ceased, and attention was thence
forth directed solely to the potash. Kainit
means new, or recent, and is more properly
the name of a mineral. The stratum of this
deposit is 190 feet in depth, and is composed
of: common salt 65 per cent, kieserite or
sulphate of magnesia (epsom salts) 17 per
cent, carnalite, (a mixture of chloride of
potassium and chloride of magnesia) 13 per
cent,, chloride of magnesia, 3 per cent.,
anhydrite, (sulphate of lime, plaster of
paris) 2 per cent,
These minerals as they come rough and
mixed from the ground are dissolved in wa
ter, then the solution is evaporated in huge
evaporators, and the sulphates of lime, pot
ash and magnesia successively removed, and
the residue is evaporated to dryness and con
sists of a double salt, composed mainly of
one third common salt, one third chloride
and sulphate of magnesia, and one third of
the sulphate of potash, forming a fine grain
ed mass of yellowish or grey color j it be
comes moist in the air and effloresces over
sulphuric acid. The per centage of sulphate
of potash varies from 14 to 37. Twelve per
cent, of potash equals about 24 of the sul
phate of potash which all agricultural chem
ists agree is the most available potash salt.
All lands need potash, more or less, and
kainit affords it in perhaps the cheapest
form. It was first placed on the American
market in 1869, we believe and has gradual
ly worked its way. Dr. Thomas P. Janes,
soon after being appointed Commissioner of
Agriculture (in 1874 if we mistake not) rec
ommended its use to the planters of Georgia.
So little was known about it, however, that
but very few were induced to use it. Mr.
Furman having used it successfully, has
pointed the attention of farmers to it. Kai
nit is an article of real value, and those dis
posed to test it will read with profit the ar
ticle elsewhere on “Compost Formulas,”
from the pen of R. J. Redding, our contrib
uting editor. _
The Growth of oar Country,
The Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer-Sun, notes
the following interesting illustration of the
growth of that city:
“In September, 1880, a young man, who
could see a few years ahead, but unfortu
nately without cash, saw some property to
the north of the city he wished to buy. He
thought it over and concluded he could spare
ten dollars a month of his salary. Then he
took ten shares of stock in the Chattahoochee
Building and Loan Association. He prompt
ly borrowed about one thousand dollars on
these ten shares. His purchase was twenty-
seven acres of land in the territory soon to
be incorporated in the city. Last week he
sold to old real estate men one and three-
quarter acres of this land for one thousand
dollars. The balance sheet stands thus:
BOUGHT.
September, 1880, 27 acres $ 675
sou>.
November, 1882, 1% acres $1,000
Leaves him ahead 25K acres. $ 25
These 25K acres will bring him a comfort
able income, for this property is rapidly ad
vancing. He has paid the building and
loan association.”
This advance in the value of the property
is due in a great degree to the manufactur
ing enterprises of the city. We are inclined
to believe that it was a perversion however of
the prime object of the Association, to assist
worthy men to build and own houses. Loan
and Building Associations are properly not
organized for speculative purposes. How
ever, In this instance, it may be, that the
young man may build on his remaining
land. We would caution our young men
against being seduced into such aassociations
for speculative purposes. Our advice to
young men is: first learn a good trade and
if you have not the ready cash to buy or
build a house, secure one through the means
afforded by these associations.
Production of Wool,
The production of wool east of the Rocky
Mountains, in 1870, was 87,407,107 pounds;
in 1880,120,801,992 pounds; increase, 34,304,-
795 pounds. West of the Rocky Mountains,
1870, 13,605,190 pounds; 1880, 34,878,601
pounds; increase, 21,183,311 pounds.
This disposes very effectually of the asser
tion that wool-growing east of the Roctry
Mountains is declining. We pass from this
matter to make one or two counter-state
ments. Basing a computation of consump
tion upon the domestio clip and the net im
portation, the consumption of wool in the
United States increased from 1870 to 1880 at
a rate six times.as great as did the consump
tion of wool in Great Britain (1); the in
crease in amount of wool consumed, com
paring 1880 with 1870, was nearly three
times as great in the United States as in Great
Britain (2); and (3) the amount consumed
in this country in 1880 was more than three-
fourths as much as the British consumption.
The facts to prove this statement are these:
The production in the United States in 1870
was 100,000,000 pounds, and the importatlou
49.000. 000 pounds. In 1880 the production
was 165,000,000 pounds, and the importation
128.000. 000 pounds. The increase of the two
combined was 134,000,000 and 90 per cent
The consumption of Great Britain in 1870*
estimated in exactly the same way by the
London Economist, was 325,000,000 pounds;
in 1880, it is put at 370,000,000 pounds; in
crease 46,000,000, or less than 14 per cent
Moreover, in giving the figures for 1880, the
Economist says that the increase over 1879 is
wholly apparent, since the unused stock at
the beginning of 1881 was much larger. “In
reality,” it adds, “the consumption of wool
in England has been no larger in 1880 than
in the depressed year of 1870;’’ that is, 321,-
000,000 pounds, or an amount less than was
consumed in 1870. On this showing the
United States has increased its consumption
90 per cent, while the British industries have
been at a stand still.
PablUbml on the Ut and uUtofeaeh Mouth
BT TUX
SOUTHERN WORLD PUBLISHING CO.,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
Incorporated—Paid up Capital, $29,000.
D. C. BALENTINE, President and Manager
T. B. CARTMELL, Secretary and Treasurer.
W. G. WHIDBY, Editor.
LR NEWMAN,’ J Contributing Editors.
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The Southern Would has the largest circulation
and Is the best advertising medium In the Uouth.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.—It Is our aim to make
the Southern Would a medium for the diffusion of
S radical information upon all Agricultural and
tecbanlcal subjects, and to this end we Invite com
munications upon all rural subjects, experimental
results, crop news, domestic economy, etc., and upon
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SOUTHERN WORLD PUBLISHING CO.,
Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GA., DECEMBER 15,1882.
Table of Contents.
Forty-ninth Paou.-Lexlngton, Va., by W. P.
Woolley; Munich Electrical Exhibition; Facts
About old Violins.
FumAn Paoe.-Agricultural Schools, by C. M.
Clay; Georgia Gold Mines; A Voice from Middle
Florida; Why Farmers do not Take Agricultural
Papers; Practical and Suggestive; Flowing In
Green Crops; Crops In Alabama.
FiSTY-riBST Paok.—Compost Formulas by R.; In
quiry Column—Russian White Oats; Fertilisers for
Small Grain; Furman’s Formula; replies by R.
Firry-second Paoe.—Crops in Texas; Care of
Animals and Rome-made Manures; A Grain of
Wheat; Tin In Alabama; Fine Sheep.
Firrr-TniRD Pas*^-Poland China Hogs, (with
..illustration) t- Cattle Feeding;' Washed aud Un
washed Rutter; Indications of a Good Cow; Corns
In Horses.
Fifty-fourth Paoe.—Homo Life In Florida by
Helen Harcourt.
Fifty-fifth PAOE.-Changes of the Climates, by
Prof. George R. Cather; Annual Growth of Trees;
Advertisements.
Fifty-sixth Paox.-Tableof Contents; Agricultu
ral Clubs! Kalnlt; Possums and Patriotism; Edi
torial Paragraphs.
Fifty-seventh PAOK.-Our Round Table; Voice of
the People; Sorghum Sugar; Southern World
Premiums.
Fifty-eiqhtk Paoe.—The Dying Year, (poetry).
Bachelor Brindle's Christmas; Recipes.
Fifty-ninth PAox.-Fasblon Notes; Health Items
by Dr. J. Stalnback Wilson ; Advertisements.
Sixtieth Paoe.—The Christmas Time, (poetry);
Grandma's Lost Pocket Book, a Christmas Story ;
Kitty’s Bate Refuge, (Illustration).
SixTY-FtitsT PAOE.-Grandma’s Lost Pocket Book,
(Concluded); Child’s Christmas Prayer, (poetry).
A Poetical Conundrum; Little Black Eye's Letter!
Bixty-Seoond Paoe.—The Markets; Advertise
ments.
SIXTY-THIRD Paoe. —The Methodist, (poetry);
Brother Gardner Puts Down his Foot; Bpring Over
coats ; The Oar-Driver's Theory; Advertisements.
Bixty-fourth Paoe.—Advertisements.
The Kentucky Military Institute New*
asks the momentous question: “ Was man
made for his stomach 7 or was the stomach
made for manT” It pointedly says: “Prob
ably more make shipwreck of rational hopes
right at this point than at any other. Then
when dyspepsia of mind and stomach come,
we find fault with all and everything as if
we were the special sport of the hatred of
our race while all the trouble, is our enslave
ment of ourselves by our stomachs. Begin
early to train for the mastery of your stom-
achs.”
The Southern World has shown an inter
est in the agricultural affairs of our country
which should be appreciated by our live
farmers, and we hope to see its circulation
increase rapidly. It Is one of the best agri
cultural journals in this or any other State,
and is published at the remarkably low
price of $1.00 a year.—DeKalb (Ga.) News.
The third annual session of the American
Agricultural Association was held at Chica
go on the 12th, 13th and 14th inst. The at
tendance was fair and the proceedings of
great interest. Sidney Root, of Atlanta,
was elected Vice-President from Georgia.
The season has impressed our readers
doubtless, with the frequency and sudden
ness of the changes of the climate in our geo-
tion. Prof. George R. Cather contributes an
excellent article on that subject.
Merry Christmas to all the readers of The
Southern World.
Farmers will read with interest the article
on “Compost Formulas.”
The American Agricultural Association
should thrive now, as it took root in Chi
cago.
Cannot every reader of The Southern
World send us a new year’s gift of one new
subscriber ?
Of 140,000 known species of plants, a man
eats only 300, and leaves 139,700 to the doc
tors to make medicine.
Our gifted contributor, Hon. Cassius M.
Clay, of Kentucky, discusses agricultural
schools with gloves off.
Great is the force of habit, and great are
the excellence, variety and popularity of the
Esterbrook Steel Pens.
M. H. Zellner, a practical farmer of Ala
bama, gives some valuable suggestions to
his brother farmers on the subject of taking
agricultural journals.
The “Health Items” from the pen of Dr.
J. Stainback Wilson, will be found valuable,
coming as they do from a physician of stand
ing.
The present year has been signalized by
glorious crops. Let every farmer see next
year if he can solve the problem of how
much an acre of land is capable of produc
ing.
1882 is fading from sight and 1883 will soon
be in view. Forget the sorrows and troubles
of the one, and nerve yourself for the duties,
the responsibilities and the possibilities of
the other.
Begin the new year with an earnest resolve
to meet every obligation as a man and citi
zen honestly and promptly. It is to your
interest as well as your duty to take the best
paper, and therefore begin the year by sub
scribing for The Southern World.
The advertisement of Messrs. Duhme &
Co., of Cincinnati, appears on the fifty-ninth
page of this paper. This firm is entirely
trustworthy, and orders for watches, jewelry
or silverware sent to them are sure of giving
satisfaction in the goods returned.
AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.
We know that there is a deep-seated preju
dice against “book-farming” as it is called,
and yet we would call the special attention
of our agricultural readers to the succinct
report of the Central Farmers’ Club of De-
Kalb county, Georgia, which appears else
where. Read it carefully and note the points
in farm economy brought out. The mem
bers are all farmers and discuss matters in a
friendly and colloquial way, each giving his
views freely and fully for the benefit of all.
It is not “book-farming” in the slightest
degree. It is the result of the brain and
brawn of farmers; the result of their experi
ence told by themselves in a plain, unvarn
ished way.
That these clubs are beneficial cannot be
doubted. Look at the practical results in
DeKalb county as evidenced by well-authen
ticated reports! What has been done in that
county can be done in every county in the
South. Let our farming friends then form
Agricultural Clnbs in every county, have
meetings regularly, discuss questions of
practical interest, bring out the experience
hf members, and the results achieved by
them. An agricultural journal is valuable as
it is suggestive; it furnishes the precept, the
farmers supply the example. Farmers
should not be so selfish as to “hide their
light under a bushelhence their views
and experiences as detailed in these club
meetings should be given to the public in a
shape somewhat like that in which the
meeting of the Central Farmers’ Club
is given. Of course it Is wise and proper
for this report to appear in the columns
of their county paper (for we would have
them encouraged and sustained,) so that
all their neighbors in the county can be
benefltted by their experience if they will,
and in an agricultural journal of wide circu
lation so that what is practical in these re
ports can be utilized by every farmer in the
South. These meetings might be made ex
tremely pleasant and social it a basket din
ner is added to it. What we need are the
views and experlencen of praotlcal farmers
and not mere theories. We yrant fact and
not fancy.