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From the Georgia Graxce.^
PRIZE EHSAY.
DIVERSIFIED FARMING
EI PROF, K. id. PEJIBIEFOX.
The scope of tin's question is intended, as we
suppose, to include the Cotton States, and to
apply particularly to the State of Georgia, ;is
embracing within its hounds all the products
of the temperate and semi-tropical regions.
According to the United States census of
1870, this State has, out of a population of
805,029 inhabitants over ten years of age,
440,078 engaged in the different occupations.
Of these, 380,145 are employed in agriculture,
being 76J per cent, of those who claim to he
engaged in any pursuit. This is certainly sig
nificant of the fact that we are an agricultural
people.
Those engaged in agriculture are appor
tioned as fol lows:
Agricultural laborers ..204,005
Dairy men and dairy women 01
Farmers and planters 70,408
Farm and plantation overseers 427
Gardeners, nurserymen and vine-growers 458
Htock raisers 10
Stock herders 19
Turpentine farmers 3
Turpentine laborers 120
Total 330,145
The amount of wages paid to farm laborers,
including their board, was $19,787,080, or
$74 78 each. This will suffice to show that
we have yet the cheapest labor system in tire
world. These laborers produced in 1809 as
follows: Wheat, 2,127,017 bushels; rye, 82,-
549; corn, 17,046,469; oats, 1,904,601; bar
ley, 6,040 ; buckwheat, 402; peas and beans,
410,020 ; Irish potatoes, 197,101 ; sweet pota
toes, 2,021.502; rice, 22,277,380 pounds ; to
bacco, 288,590 ; cotton, 473,934 bales ; wool,
840,947 pounds; wine, 21,927 gallons; butter,
4,499,572 pounds; milk, (sold,) 109,131 gal
lons; hay, 10,518 tons; clover seed, 143 bush
els ; grass seed, 540 bushels ; flax, 983 pounds ;
sugar, 044 hogsheads; cane syrup, 553,992
gallons; sorghum syrup, 374,027; hops, 2
pounds; silk cocoons, 14 pounds; beeswax
31,233; honey, 010,877.
These statistics show great capacity of pro
duction, and great diversity of climate and
soils. They also teach that cotton largely
predominates over every other interest. The
inference, however, is very clear that many of
the products might lie largely increased and
pay remunerative prices. Particularly as it is
a well established fact in the history of cotton,
as of other products, that a reduction in the
quantity pint upon the market will enhance its
value. Any substitute, then, for cotton which
would pay as well for its production, would
I).' an advantage to the farming interest by les
sening the supply and increasing tlie demand.
It would not do, however, for the South to
reduce the cultivation of cotton to such an
extent as to stimulate its production in other
portions of the world. By this means a per
manent injury might accrue to the planting
interest ; and, at the same lime, the abandon
ment of cotton for the cereals would create
such an over-production as to bring down wes
tern prices, and destroy all iiojie of remunera
tion there as well as here.
The present system of farming operations
at the South is really hazardous, and unless
some means can lie instituted to assist it, will
Jiotne day, we fear, culminate in a famine like
that which visited India from a similar cause.
For an agricultural people to fail to make
their own bread, as in our case, is a most
alarming stateol things. Allowing each mule
and horse their accustomed feed of twenty-five
cars of corn a day, we have left only three
and a half bushels for each inhabitant, without
any for tho hogs, cattle, and poultry. Of
wheat, we have one ami three fourth bushels.
So that if the country, outside of the State,
should fail to produce anything for export, a
famine would ensue.
The greatest difficulty in the way of diversi
fied farming is found in the unsettled condition
of the cotton market, and in the disposition of
lminun nature to speculate in its production.
It is the same feeling which induces so many
to buy cotton futures. From some cotton cir
ulnr, or their own innate convictions, they
anticipate making a splendid crop while the
Southwest will fail, ami they, of course, will
get a good price. If cotton could be kept
down at a comparatively low rate for a series
of years, it would be much better for the
planter and the country generally than the
remarkable fluctuations so constantly trans
piring. It would drive the town planters
from its production to their legitimate occupa
tions. It would reduce the area northward
and southward, and cause many in the cotton
licit proper to make their own supplies, and a
surplus for their non-producing neighbors.
We have a very excitable people, who seem
to lie influenced more by their findings and incli
nations than their judgment liet the price of
cotton advance in the spring, the whole
country is excited on the subject of planting
more of it, which, of course, means less bread
stuffs. Now, let us suppose a few who take
things more dispassionately (and there is such
• class, however small,) reasoning thus. There
will lie necessarily a large crop of cotton made
the present year, so largcthat the price will fall
as soon as the first cotton is in, and the fact
known. Asa necessary consequence, but little
attention will be paid to corn and other grain
crops. Hogs and sheep will be left to take care
of themselves, and all of these things will be
in demand by our neighbors another year. We
will pay more attention to all these interests
and less to cotton. Is is not very clear that
the class who pursue this course, year after
year, will lie much better off at the cud of ten
or twenty years than their neighbors: and
that tliis policy is the best, not only for indi
viduals but for the whole country.
Between 1850 and 1870 the population of
the State increased 23.47 peroentt., and yet the
production of Indian corn fell oft from 33.19
per capita to 14 90 within that period ; of swine,
2.39 to 0.83, and nearly everything else in sim
ilar proportions, except wheat and syrup. Of
tlie former, ill 1850, there was produced 120
bushels for each inhabitant, and in 1870, 179.
We present a list of the per cent, of increase
and decrease of population, value of farms
and farm productions, whicli should be well
studied by every planter and farmer in the
State. Within the two decades with a con
siderably larger population, ns above indicated,
the increased production of wheat was 48.82
pr cent.; of syrup, 76.17; of cultivated or
improved acreas of land, 7.09 per cent; and
in the value of live stock, 14.08 per cent. In
every other article there lias been a decease
between the years 1849 and 1809, as follows:
Cash value of farms 1.24 percent
Farming implements 21.70 per cent
Lotton bales 5.05 per cent
Sheep 25 16 per cent
-’"R* 54 36 per cent
Horses and mules 18.92 per cent
Indian corn 41.38 per cent
***** per cent
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
Rice.. , 40.37 per cent
Pea*.. 63.22 per cent
Sweet potatoes 62.47 per cent
Heat cattle 36.30 per cent
Sugar 60.84 per cent
For five years previous to the war, ending in
1860, the average production of cotton was
3,593,000 hales. The last five years, counting
the incoming crop at four millions, the aver
age is 3,055,000 bales. In 1849, the four old
cotton States of Sooth Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama and Mississippi, made 97,552,153 bushels
of Indian corn. In 1869 the same States made
only 57,875,930. While the decrease of hogs in
the same States is still greater, being in 1849
6,721,394, and in 1869, 2,918,703. Thus we
pi rc lie that while the production of cotton,
has increased with a wretched system ol labor
other crops have been wofully neglected. Jt
is only requisite then to reduce the production
of cotton to its standard with other produc
tions, previous to the war, to restore the pros
perity of the country.
The principal end to he obtained by diversi
fied farming at the South is to prevent the
overproduction of cotton which all admit is the
main cause of low prices. A crop) of 3,000,000
hales, it is believed, would bring as much
money into the country as a crop of 4,000,000
bales. If this he true, and the facts point that
way, it would he good policy for the planters
to cultivate that much Jess, even if their ener
gies were expended on nothing else. They
had better let their lands rest anil employ one
fourth less labor than to lay out so much en
ergy in producing more cotton than they can
dispose of at remunerative prices.
Hut you cannot convince peop'e that what
will benefit the country at large, will also in
ure to individual interests. While each
farmer is fully convinced that a reduction of one
million of bales would greatly enhance thet
price of cotton, lie is equally well assured tha
for him to cut off one-fourth of his crop would
not add to the price, but depirive him of one
fourth of li is cotton money. lienee the effort
to make a man plant less cotton on the score
of interest is perfectly futile, because he knows
that the less he plants the more others will
slrive to make. The only way, then, by which
this change can be effected, is to convince the
farming class that they can make more by the
diversion of a portion of their labor, at least,
to something else than cotton. It becomes, then,
a most interesting inquiry, What crops can be
made, either for home markets, or exports, that
will pay as well as cotton V In order to answer
this question correctly, it is proper to state
that, owing to local causes growing out of soil,
climate and population, some cropis will pay
better than others; and all these causes should
be estimat'd before we can reach a just con
clusion. For example : A farmer living near
a city could make a few acres of land pay
him better in fruits and vegetables than in
cotton. Instance the watermelon farms near
the cily of Augusta. With a market at hand
for the sale of such fruits, it would be the ex
tremest folly for a man to make cotton instead.
It would he equally foolish for a farmer, liv
ing fifty miles away, to nttempt to compete
successfully with these suburban furtriH, and
transport melons to market, either by wagon
or by railroad. Mere, then, we have many
farms lying adjacent to all of our cities and large
towns on which diversified agriculture might
be established with a good prospect of remu
neration. But we find so far from this that
gin houses are erected within the corpiorate
limits of cities, rich lots and gardens are
planted in cotton, when it brings a good price,
and other crops neglected which would pay
better year after year with the same outlay of
capital and labor.
On cotton farms distant from cities and rail
road facilities, it would not pay to cultivate
corn or small grnin as staple products. Nor
would it pny to buy them for the same reason,
viz., the cost of transportation. It would cost
a farmer living ten miles from a depot, about
S4OO to shell, sack and haul 2,000 bushels of
corn and ship to market, the same value in
cotton at present low prices, say thirty-two
bales would cost him only about S2O to haul
that distance. There would he a profit in the
bagging, and the cotton seed would pay him
twice over for the ginning and packing.
While it would not be profitable for farmers
thus situated to raise these crops for export, it
will always pay them to produce an abundant
supply of corn, oats, wheat and meat for home
consumption.
Are there any crops for export that might
he made remunerative to this class of farmers?
In other words, that would pay as well or bet
ter than cotton? In the cotton belt proper,
with the exceptions above indicated, and with
negro labor, it is extremely doubtful whether
any other crop would pay for export except
cotton. Especially is this true on the tenant
or share system, which has generally been
adopted among the larger class of cotton
planters. An improvement, however, can be
made, even here, on the present plan ol plant
ing cotton and corn exclusively.
Generally when negroes work on shares
their labor is counted us one-third, the land
as one-third, and the capital as one-third. The
laborer has to pay lor a portion of the
fertilizer, and is allowed land enough for a
garden, potato patch, etc. The only crops
planted for division are corn and cotton. In
some rare instances, iiogs and small grain
crops are included. Now, this is a wretched
policy, both for the landlord and the tenant,
ns we cm easily show.
In the first place, the land is injured by such
a rotation, even if you rest it occasionally. A
heavy draft is made, not only on the mineral
elements of fertility, which can never he re
placed by any natural processes, but the vege
table matter is rapidly destroyed, which pre
vents the accumulation of humus, which acts so
beneficially on our impoverished and thirsty
lands, by absorbing and retaining both am
monia and moisture, for the benefit of
plants. Besides, the land is washed into gul
lies, the fences run down, and the soil soon
exhausted under negro management, so as to be
abandoned iii a few years, or replenished an
nually witli a commercial fertilizer, at a cost
of from five to eight dollars per acre. Even
these fertilizers will fail to remunerate when
the humus is exhausted from the soil ; for the
cotton will rust fromjdeticient moisture and nu
trition ; the laborers become discouraged, and
seek richer lands, and the land holders have
to sacrifice their possessions, or change their
policy. How is this wide-spread evil to be
remedied ? \Ve answer, by diversified form
ing and rotation in crojw. But with the evils
of the share system upon us, and an ignorant
class of laborers, who know nothing but to
make corn and cotton, can we make it pay to
diversify our crops? YVe answer, only in a
certain way aud to a limitld extent. The ten
ants themselves might be made interested in
the small grain crops, to such tin extent as to
induce them to aid in the cultivation of wheat
and oats. There is no crop that will pay so
well for mule feed, for the labor expended as
oats. Wheat, also, sown on rich lots, may be
cut and fed to great advantage, from the time
it passes the milk stage till fully ripe; and ne
groes would be very much pleased to have an
interest in the wheat crop, as they are great
lovers ol flour bread. The raising of hogs is
another interest entirely too much neglected.
This has grown out of the difficulty to keep
them, especially when in good condition, from
being stolen by half-starved negroes. This
was much worse immediately after the war
than under our present State government.
The most stringent laws should be enacted to
protect this interest. Notwithstanding bacon
is very cheap in the West, it can still he raised
in the cotton States, at least to a certain extent,
more cheaply than it can be bought. Good
hog ranges could be made, by appropriating
small parcels of land to persimmons, black
berries and plums, all of which will grow
without any labor even for the planting. A lit
tle attention, however, will make them more
prolific. Kye and wheat lots could be sown
for them, which they could gather themselves
when rip>e ; then the tumipi, potato and pea
crop, with grass lots and acorns, for the win
ter, would keep them fat the year round, with
hut litt’e oilier food or attention, only to keep
them (itnned at night to protect them from
rogues. But you say, this looks very well on
paper ; but who has time to attend to so many
things? We admit that the man who is sold,
body, rnind and estate, to the making of cot
ton, will have time for nothing else; but we
are equally convinced that the small portion
of time occupied in making hog pastures, and
attending to them, will pay much better than
the same time devoted to cotton.
I am satisfied that it would pay every large
cotton planter in the South to Save one or
more first-class, intelligent laborers hired on
wages, and good wages at that, to attend to
three special interests: Ist, To swine, as above
indicated; 2d. To the saving and preparation
of manures; and 3d. To sheep husbandry. Let
cotton planting be the special leading ii terest
—this is as it should lie. Let him work his
hands on the share system if he chooses, to
make nothing but corn, cotton and sjiail grain;
but let him raise plenty of meat, not for ex
portation, but for his own family, his tenerus,
and to sell to non-producers in his own neigh
borhood.
To prepare home made manure, let him be
gin with the wood yard. Rake off'all the chips
large enough to burn, and then take those in a
state of partial or complete decay, and move
to a shelter where they can be spread and
air-dried. They are now fit to be used in the
horse stalls to absorb the urine, the most valu
able part ol stable manure. This, with the
cobs, straw, etc., will accumulate a rich bed in
a few months. It need not be moved for six
or twelve months. This, with cotton seed well
saturated with water, should be composted, in
conical heaps, after Christmas. A high heat
will be generated in the centre of the heap—
hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon all set
to work in forming chemical changes with one
another in makinng ammonia and carbonic
acid, and in uniting with numerous bases to
make soluble salts. As the ammonia, which
is formed by the union of nitrogen and hydro
gen, is volatile, and will seek an avenue of es
cape, it is important to have the tieaps well
covered, either with the air-dried chip manure,
or pulverized clay, which should also be air
dried. These substances will absorb the am
monia, and add much to the fertilizing quali
ties of the manure. A good supply of air-dried
clay and humus soil should lie kept constantly
on hand, for purposes above indicated, as well
as to apply to the hen houses,privies, etc. This
should he a daily business; and the amount of
nitrogenous matter tints saved would well pay
the wages of one man.
Then the ashes should Ire husbanded and
treated with sulphuric acid, which will convert
all the mineral liases into sulphate, and
the phosphoric acid into soluble phosphates.
This, mixed and ammoniated with the cover
ing of the compost heaps, or the night soil,
will make a most powerful fertilizer.
Then every bone should be saved, and brukyj
up into small pieces with a sledge
and put into barrels in InycrswlgMkjdfl
li 1,.l on 1,1 i>r ]o, Jj
■I •
This will dissolve all the f oMM
of a few months, and form a
pliate, which will make a powerful fertilizer,
added to the nitrogenous manures above men
tioned. The work thus laid out, together with
much more that might he mentioned, would
keep one hand employed the year round, on a
large plantation.
Another might be employed in taking care
of the sheep, changing them from one pasture
to another, removing the hurdles, planting tur
nips and grass lots for them to feed on, giving
them their daily rations of fodder, shearing,
butchering, and supplying the market with
good fresh mutton. As indicated elsewhere,
this might be made a great means of fertilizing
our worn soils, by sowing turnips with a little
stipe rphospbate, and feeding them ofi with
the sheep, thereby making wool and mutton,
and enriching the land by the same operation.
The reason why diversified farming lias
I failed so signally, heretofore, among cotton
planters, is, that they attempt to plant full
crops of cotton while they inaugurate a new
enterprise. Of course, sucli an interest as
sheep husbandry would soon fail in negligent
hands; and unless proper means are used, and
plenty of time allowed, it had better not he
attempted. Hence, we propose that it he an
independent enterprise, and begun in a small
way at first, until its success has been demon
strated. We shall believe, until convinced by
indisputable facts, that one hand devoted to
this industry can make more clear rnotiev, with
much less labor, than one engager! in making
cotton. We believe that sheep husbandry af
fords a better prospect for remuneration, in
connection with cotton planting, than anything
else; because, while tire land is constantly be
ing worn in the one case, the other would help
to restore it, nothing lieing exhausted from it
except the wool, which would not amount to a
serious detriment.
While it is true that rice requires a different
soil front cotton, and in that far does not com
pete with it, yet it is equally true that this
product will pay better than cotton, if the la
bor could be regulated properly. Previous to
the war, the rice planters averaged a better in
come than the cotton planters. Then the pro
duction was much greater than now, and the
price much less. If a portion of the capital
employed in making cotton, in the lower nart
of the State, was devoted to rice, it would, I
doubt not, pay the planters a better profit,
while it would help to decrease the amount of
cotton —an end so much to be desired.
The same remarks will apply to the produc
tion of sugar. In 1850, there were made in
the United States 247,577 hogsheads; in 1870,
only 87,043 —nearly two-thirds less—while the
average production of cotton, for the last four
years, exceeds any other four years in its his
tory. The area of cotton having been extended
northward, by the use of fertlizers, it is really
a more certain crop in that section than in th
southern portion. Where the sugar cane fioura
ishes, there seems to be every inducement for
the production of sugar to be’increased, where
it can be made at all.
The introduction of the grasses into Georgia
seems to have been thus far almost a complete
failure, particularly in the middle and south
ern portions of the State. The late Judge
Thomas, cf Hancock county, tried every va
riety he could obtain, native and imported,
some fifty odd in number, and cante to the
conclusion that none of them would pay for
hay or pasturage on his land, except the'Ber
muda. He cultivated a siliceous pine land
soil with a clay subsoil. We note that in
1850 there were 23,449 tons of hav produced,
and in 1870 only 10,578. The Comptroller
I General’s report for 1874 shows that there are
i 18,138 acres devoted to clover and grass seeds,
and it is hoped, that, in the upper portion of
the State, they will devote more labor to the
grasses and less to cotton. It will certainly
pay (hem better at present prices, and the
prospect for any great increase in the price oT
cotton is certainly very gloomy, growing out
the fact of overproduction. In upper Geor
gia, then, nearly every acre of land should be
devoted to corn, wheat, oats, hay and tobacco,
as staple crops, making cotton only a secondary
consideration, while bacon and dairy products
should engage a much greater share of atten
tion than they do.
In 1850 the production of butter was 4,640,-
559 pounds ; iff 1870, 4,499,572 pounds, show
ing that this interest receives considerable at
tention even among the cotton producing
counties. Gheese, however, has fallen oil from
40,976 pounds to 4,292. There is no reason,
except a deficiency in skilled industry, why
tic upper counties of the State should not
tie equal to the Northwestern States in daily
farms and products, and, if our own people
will not avail themselves of the natural ad
vantages afforded them, the time is not far
distant when others will come in and di.->
posses them of their fair heritage.
Of the new articles of production which
have been brought into the South, we think j
the jute promises well. It is estimated that four
times as much can heprodtued to theacre as cot
ton and with much less labor, eitlierag tocul
tivation, gathering or preparation for market.
It will grow successfully in any climate suita
ble for cotton, and will command about half
the price of that staple. It is believed that
better prices and a greater demand will spring
up when it becomes a staple article of produc
tion and suitable mills are erected for its man
ufacture. AH the coaser textures in the East,
as gunny bagging, are woven from it, and as
another item in the diversified farming in the
South, we think it well worth a trial.
In the cotton belt proper, we believe that
cotton will pay better than anything else, and
it is to the interest of cotton planters to culti
vate it as a leading crop, making everything
else subsidiary to it. But the man who at
tempts to make cotton, exclusively, and buy
his supplies from tire West, will find it to he
a losing business, as all his predecessors have
dune. He must at least diversify his farming
interests, so as to produce Ilia own corn, bacon
and flour. If lie dues that at the sacrifice
even of a few hales of cotton, he will have
benefitted himself as well as the country at
large. In order to ascertain whether he*can
make this much cheaper than lie cau buy,
it is not proper to make an abstract esti
mation of the comparative cost of the pro
duction of corn and cotton. The true plan
is to charge the whole outfit of the plan
tation, lands, teams, plows and provender, to
the cotton crop. You have provided them to
make cotton, and the only question now is,
that you have them, Can you make your
supplies cheaper without any outlay" for
these things than you can buy them from the
West? Then, ail that can be made without
interfering with (he cotton crop, absolutely
costs nothing. One itoeing and two plough
ing is all that costs anything. These come in
a time to take away work needed to be done in
the cotton fields. Charging $1 a day for man
and horse, the ploughing and hoeing can be
cheaply done at $3 per acre. Twelve bushels
is a poor average for an intelligent class of
farmers to make. This gives him corn in
crib for twenty-five cents per bushel. Oats is
still cheaper. For the preparation of land,
ploughing, etc., costs him nothing if he lias
hands on wages, and but littie any way. The
only interference with the cotton crop is the
cutting and housing, which is comparatively a
Bjhdl matter, as one good hand can cut four
in one day.
i; exportation of crops from'a State or
■fntry, it is important to take into account
Wtie amount of fertilizing material carried off
by them, in order to form a just estimate of
their true value. For if it is necessary for a
farmer to replace these substances, in or order
to make good crops, whatever it costs him to
put them back is their value to him in dollars
and cents.
The following table shows the average of a
number of analyses of the amount and value
of these three most important principles car
ried ofi by your field crops, from one acre of
1 ind:
i"S | t-.,
"C re
U | g -
J j 0 =
• *5 -
!y; [- ”2 25
i' K £ '.- o
|*> P j_~_ H r—
-250 lbs. lint cotton I 1.80 0.43 <1.93 S sc* 13
51K| lbs. cotton seed j22.70p.04 563 7 1)9 l 17
750 seed cotton i 24.70 5.49 6.56 6 57 1 30
8 1 ;7 bushels wheat 110.40 4.7s 13.21 401 83
Wheat with an equal ain't
straw 12.00 5-11 i 1.06 4 82 1 22
12 bushels outs 8.8212.75 2.11 ,1 07 58
Oats with an equal amount
of straw 110 04 3.67 t 1.97 4 04 1 04
9 bushels peas 18.35 5.60 6.12 j 7 69 1 28
ti bushels corn J 8 oc|3 19 1.93 j 3 04) 65
We perceive from this, that the amount of
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, exported
from the Stale in fibre is much smaller than
any of the cereals, and in fact so little as to be
hardly noticeable; but when the seed is con
nected with it, it is more exhaustive than any
of the other crops. Thus the money value of
these substances taken from one aoe of land,
by cropping at 750 pounds of seed cotton,
would be $8 57; that is it would take lhat
much money to buy that amount of these sub
stances in available forms, and return to the
soil. The seed being returned, however, leaves
only 08 cents to be taken from the acre.
Now, if we only count what is exported from
the State, the cotton crop takes oil only
58 cents of valuable substances from the
soil, while an average crop of wheat would
take of! |4 01 per acre; peas, $7 09; and corn
and oats, a little more than 00 each. This
shows very clealy that for exportation peas is
the most exhaustive of all.
This estimate includes nitrogen, which,
for several reasons, cannot be considered as an
actual and permanent loss to the soils, it is
well known to be valuable in all soils, being
constantly forming as ammonia and nitric
acid, and then evaporated by winds or washed
out by rains. Thus, every bushel of wheat
imported into the State, brings over a pound
of nitrogen, about 35 cents in value, but it
may be easily lost, and most of it is lost;
therefore cannot be put down as adding to our
wealth. But the mineral substances are dif
ferent. Every bushel of wheat imported into
the State, or its equivalent in flour, transports
from the fertile fields ol the West, eleven
cents worth of phosphoric acid and potash,
to be deposited on our exhausted cotton soils.
Every bushel of Indian corn, seven cents
worth; of oats, five cents wortli; and of peas,
fourteen cents worth : while our exportation of
cotton only carries oil' thirteen cents worth per
acre, equal to twenty-five cents per bale.
This may he termed indirect exhaustion,
but what is properly direct exhaustion puts a
different phase upon the subject. The seed is
taken from the land as well as the lint, and is
rarely returned to the same soil; hence it
may be considered as a direct loss to it; and
so of the straw of wheat and oats. Then
the table shows in this view that there is
more nitrogen exhausted from our soils by a
crop of cotton than any other field crop,
more phosphoric acid by a crop of peas
and more potash by a crop of oats; whilJ
Indian corn exhausts less of these valuable
substances than any of the other field crops.
Combining the three, and estimating their
money value, cotton is the most exhausting,
peas next, then wheat, then oats, and lastly
corn.
As vegetable matter in the soil is the great
source of nitrogen, both by what is inherent
in it as well as the absorbing power of humus
for ammonia and for water containing ammo
nia, we can very easily conceive how cotton, by
its clean culture and uncompromising destruc
tion of the organic matter of the soil, exhausts
it so rapidly of this important element. Then,
a rotation of crops is necessary in order to
keep up a supply of nitrogen, and for this
cause, if no other, a regular system of diver
sified farming should be established. The
planter who runs his land four years in cotton
consecutively, will have exhausted it of 97
pounds of nitrogen by what is carried off in an
average crop of 750 pounds of seed cotton. To
replace this in the soil will require an outlay
of $29 10 purchased in the markets But it
is estimated that one-half of the nitrogen re
quisite fora fuJLcrop is furnished by the rain
and other atmospheric influences, provided
the soil is properly prepared for its reception.
Even more than this, 1 doubt not, could he
husbanded in the soil itself by a proper rota
tion of crops, and mechanical improvement of
the soil.
While we are seeking relief in diversified
farming from the evils of overproduction, we
should not forget that much of this is brought
about by the wretched credit system now ex
tant. Nearly all of the profits of planters go
into the hands of middlemen, who have capi
tal to operate on. If every planter who has to
buy his fertilizers and supplies on credit would
curtail his operations within legitimate
bounds, make his own supplies,and buy sparing
ly of fertilizers, and cultivate less, we would not
hear so much about overproduction and low
prices. Indeed, lam well satisfied that our
intelligent planters, with a cash capital and
judicious management, can make Cotton remu
neratively for a lower price ftian has been
touched since the war. 1 am satisfied tnat 3,600,-
000 hales could be made on a cash basis to pay
better than 4,000,000 on the credit saystern.
To this complexion it will come at last, and
the sooner our planters adjust themselves and
their plans to the logic of events, the better
for them and the country at large.
BOOKS, PERIODICALS. Etc.
Southern Baptist Publication Society
SOW AT WOltK
Publishing a large LIST of BAPTIST BOORS. ;
Baptist Psalmist, with and without music:
Little Seraph, shaped notes;
Middle Life, exposing Spiritism.
Bv J. K. Geaves. Now ready.
New editions of
Southern l**;ilmit,
Theodosia llrnest,
and other standard works, just from our presses.
We keep a full line of religions books and Siun
elay.wc-liool l.itera tut —anything need
ed by schools or churches. Oi uruish any bool:
at Publishers' prices. We ’ i ; out a fine SUB
SGBIPTION BIBLE.
Book Work at Northern Prices.
We are prepared to do Book Work at Northern
prices, and solicit correspondence with authors.
We will print and distribute bv mail as directed
Catalogues of Colleges and Minutes of Associa
tions on Überal terms.
Diplomas, circulars, cards, etc.. for Colleges.
Masonic, Odd Fellows, and other societies, gotten
up in the best style.
Agents AViiu(-l who can pay cash for
our goods. Send for catalogues. Orders, to have
prompt attention, must be addressed to
W. D. iVI A AFIELD,
jun2s-ly 367 Main street, Memph Tenn.
GOSPEL SONGS.
A Song Settixo of
GOSPEL TRUTHS.
BY £>. P. BLISS.
For Revivals, Praise Meetings and Narnia) Schools
It is offered as being the llo n t Powerful
Bet of Songs for Revivals and Praise Meetings
ever published. As will be noticed, it contains
songs that have acquired a world-wide popularity
and influence. Besides these, will be found many
new nnl equally good Songs anil
Hymns for the Sunday-school by this popular
author.
An examination will convince any one inter
ested that “ Gospel Niongs *'‘is a work of
more than ordinary merit.
Frlce, 35 cents; S3.GO per dozen.
Specimen copies for examination mailed, post
paid, on receipt of 710 cents. Published bv
JOHN CHURCH A CO.,
septl7-3m Ciueinnati, O.
THE GREAT 111 81C BOOl^!
For CONVENTIONS and SINGING-SCHOOLS
ARE
THE SONG- ERA,
By F. W. ROOT.
THE SOUSEG- KING
By H. R. PALMER.
THE JOY,
By P. P. BLISS.
The True Singing-School
TEXT BOOK.
By A. N. JOHNSON.
Price of each 97.50 per dozen.
Specimen copy of either 75 cents, post-paid,
by mail. Published bv
JOHN CHURCH & CO ,
novl2.ct Cincinnati, O.
56TK THOUSAND IN PRESS.
The greatest selling book this year is the
LIFE OP I.IVIAGSTO'M:.
nnfoldiug the marvelous achievements and
thrilling experience of a veritable Hero, as
also the varied wealth and curiosities of a most
wonderful country. We issue the most complete
and authenie work, and want more Agents at
once. We also publish the choicest edition of
Family Bibles extant, 800 illustrations,
new features positively unequaled. We grant
excellent terms. For full particulars of the
above, address HUBBARD BROS.,
octlo-ly 723 Hansom street, Phil’a, Pa.
EMPLOYMENT^
Cash pay. SAMPLES AND OUTFIT SENT
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Address, with reference, H. J. Hall & Cos.,
Baltimore, Md. jan2B.4t ’
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BOOK BINDERY
Odb friends will pleaße remember (1) that we
have in connection with the Index and Baptist a
BOOK and JOB PRINTING OFFICE and BOOK
BINDERY complete in all appointments.
11. That we turn out as good work in these
lines, as any house in the land, either North or
South, East or West.
HI. Hiat onr prices will compare favorably
with any of them; and
IY. That friends of The Index and Baptist can
materially aid it by influencing Mercantile Rail
way, Professional and other friends, to send their
orders for anytliing in our line, to this office.
Such confidence shall not he abused.
Address JAS. P. HARRISON A CO.,
Proprietors Franklin Steam Printing House.
2"80.ft.
TIE PATENT
Mtton
ftAHU
&THAS NiO lAII AI,.
Seven Hensons for Purchasing
an Arion Plano.
First— There are four valuable PATENTED
improvements in the Arion Piano, which
simplify its construction, and which the most
unskilled person can readily understand
Must improve the TONE and DURABILITY
of the Instrument.
Second— The Arion is as perfect an instru
ment in workmanship and quality of mate
rials used in its construction a, can he made,
and every Piano we manufacture is fully
warranted for five years.
Third -These Instruments have greater vol
ume of tone combined with a perfect even
ness throughout the scale, and a length and
purity of vibration, that cannot be found in
any other square Piano.
fourth- The Arion remains in tune louger
than any other Piano in the world, as has
been demonstrated since its first introduction
to the Musical public ; as for the proof of
this fact read uur testimonials from purchas
ers.
I'ilYh-All our instruments are 7 1-3 Octaves
and they are the largest square Pianos
manufactured. We use the same quality of
materials, aud pay the same price for work
manship for our plain Pianos, as we do for
the higher-priced ones.
Sixth—Although the Arion costs to manufac
ture more thau any other Piano made (owing
to its peculiar construction) we sell at lower
figures than the same grade of Piano can be
purchased for elsewhere; because we are
desirous of increasing our business, our
facilities formanufacturing being unlimitted.
Seventh —Over Seven Thousand Purchasers
in all parts of the world who have purchased
Arion Pianos, now testify to the excellent
tone and great durability of these improve
ments; while nearly all the Conservatories
of Music throughout the United States have
adopted the Arion Piano.
For a full description of the Patented Improve
ments used in the Arieu Piano, and further par
ticulars, see our illustrated pamphlet, which wo
mail free to all applicants.
ARION PIANO FORTE CO.,
No. 5 East Fourteenth street, New York City.
n0v26.1y
BEMIITG-TOTT.
Tlie Remington Sewing Machine has sprang
rapidly into favor a* posseting the bent Combi
nation of good qualities, namely: Light ran
ning, smooth, noiseless, rapid, durable, with
perfect Lock Stitch.
It is a Shuttle Machine, with Automatic Drop
Feed. Design beautiful and construction the
very best.
Remington No. 1 Machine for family use, in
the third year of its existence, lias met with a
more rapid increase of ratio of sales than any
machine in the market.
Remington *'*°* MfccMn© for manufacturing
famiI >’ UHe * (ready for delivery since June,
1874,) lor range, perfection, and variety of work,
is without a rival in family or workshop
(Wood Wanted. Send for Circular.
REMINGTON SEWING MACHINE CO.,
Ilion, New York.
Branch Offices of Remington Companies :
E. Remington A Sons, 1
Remington Sewing M. Cos., r Ilion N. Y.
Remington Ag’l Cos., )
281 and 283 Broadway. New York, Arms
Madison Square, New York, Sewing Machines.
Chicago, 237 State at., S. Machines and Arms.
Boston, 332 Washington st., Sewing Machines
Cincinnati 181 West 4th st. Sewing Machines.
Utica, 129 Genesee st.,Sewing Machines.
Atlanta. Ga., DeGive's Opera House, Marietta
street, Sewing Machines.
Washington, D. C„ 521 Seventh st.. Machines
jan.2m
Br a, i:\ts wanted
SkTELL IT ALL
Mr*. Stenhoue of Salt Lake City, for 2.*
U>B Wife of a Mormon JBi-h PnestT In
ctioa by Mr* Stowe tß* So* of a
M eT,>on . e !i ce lays bare the "hidden life,”
enc, secret doings. etc. of the Mormon* Vu a
e-mwiAe won,an fees them " Bright, Pure
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h good thing* for all. It is popular every-
Kl£ vcrybod W. n '} oUtsclu 0,1 Otherbook* three to
U rL 6 a ***** speed it." Eminent women
f OftTi r r" ! an< * • e * | ts are selling
' ***th thousand now in press/ \Ve
* s ' nt * >' w- men or wo,non - nd
rc< 7 *° those who will canvass. I.O'VO
pamphlet, with full particulars, term., etc. .'Jit /See to aIL
AddTMa, QUKKX CITY PUBLISHING 00.. Cic7luuan, oT
*r EXCELSIOR PI'BLISBING CO.. SU Loots, Mo.
jau2ti.ly
Afl B| naTT A QCSTTTJQ Mnd No ° r T our Lodws
fl IB V AOUJkIV(ia f :4urtnmthiap&pT. We
S B ft* Eskß wit convince you agents with our superb Home
fH Pictures tor Masons. Odd-Fellows, Knights
■ LB Pythias. Grangers, Red-men . Mechanics, etc.,
■ |l ■ ns&kina double thov could nnv other way:
W mmmm*™ P*an*er. J. HALE POtf F.RS A CO-
Fraternity & Fin* Art Pubs., Cincinnati, O
febl2-ly
~X\T /IT? 1Y t°r all. At home, male or fe-
T T * "JV Tv male. 935 per week, day or
evening. No capital. We send valuable pack
age of goods by mail free. Address, with ten
cent return stamp, M. Young, 173 Greenwich,
street, N. Y. octß-26t