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■* W Circular No. 13. - ] Third Series. J CROP REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1891. ■ IiKTUENED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AUGUST 1, 1891. flWflflw^- State ofc Georgia, Department of Agriculture,'! EMMhWvwm. r„y| Atlanta, Ga., August 7, 1891. j ■F ■’s CROP NOTES. " The reports show the outlook to be very encouraging for corn and hay, but only moderate for cotton. Some criticize these results be cause they do not conform to what they sec at home. Such should remember that these figures are the result of averaging nearly 400 reports. This season tire crops are quite spotted, in small areas they ’ have been injured by dry weather or rust, or grass or caterpillar, or bollworm or shedding. But these areas are not generally spread over the State. if. corn crop. by the recent rai«~, and is very " fine in most of the State, a 98. North Georgia shows 98 with great promise from the rains that have recently fallen; Middle Georgia averages 90, the lowest on account of dry weather in early part of July; Southwest Georgia shows 97; Southeast Georgia 109, and East Georgia 95. In these sections the crop is made and fodder saving is progressing. Owing to the present, low figures on cotton the corn crop assumes unusual Thii crop is of greatest uncertainty, and owing to the many|mi ■.ihafOwtiicli may befall it, cannot now be forecast with £ any certainty. \ ' :• «» average is: 85 flB 111 accurate estimate can be made sooner than J August. But it will require a coworking of all the best elements and an absence of all calamities to make a full crop. This state of \ things is not likely to occur. OTHER CROPS. Hay, sorghum, potatoes, sugar cane and rice all promise well. Much may lie done to relievo the pressure on account of low price of cotton by saving every available hay crop. Look to this, fellow farmers, with unusual diligence. W We take occasion to say that these Reports are published in the interests of the farmers entirely, and not, as some suppose, in the interest of speculators. They get these figures up for themselves, whether we do or not Our reports are made up by farmers for - farmers, and are studied and corrected by every means we can use, i .and represent the sttt/ns of the crops at the time. In some sections the heavy rains have caused rapid shedding, which could not be foreseen by the correspondent when he sent in ' his report. So of rust and caterpillars. Much of the young cotton has as yet no fruit upon it. It is simply a water weed. What the future may enable it to develop we do not know. The outlook ts not for a large cotton crop in Georgia. But in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and some parts of other States it is very fine. We can, therefore, offer no encouragement to hope for good prices in the early fall. If our farmers were in condition to hold their present crop and plant no cotton for the next year, then the relief would come, and come in time to do good. A little concert of action can place us in this condition. Plant largely of every food crop, raise hogs and coltx, set your lands to grass, plant lightly of cotton, and indeq wndence, thrift and prosperity, will soon come, and skiy when In some sections there have been excessive drouths in the lattei part of June and early in July. In many places excess of rain is reported far the last half of July. The full effect of these heavy rains cannot yet be estimated. IS c « g i ~£ I 3 JQ A 5 « e t’ i a> r;! h h d' |1 11! KL I t hh h li rt s i _ 2 3 g •- > of j - fc,_ . r FF F F Fllll North Geergia “V i 98 i 9G 92 \2O 311 VM -* Middle Gemfin 83 I W) 93 91 Bl 23-3l| 1- 24 southwest Geoftfa.J 90 97 90 94 95 44 25-30 1- 10 Southeast Georgia....] 94 109 112 m HO ! 20-2fi! 1- 10 East Georgia 8«» 96 70 88 92 S 3 : 20-23 1- S * 1 . »—— —....... „• I. | 428 481 872 482 1 480<J 987 ; General aw raga, 1891 85 98 74 J 96 I 96 • 67 General average, 1890 93 93 94 I 93 • 94 94‘ 1 New South—Supplement. MONTHLY TALK 'itflTlE FARMERS. At the risk of being considered tiresome, I must reiterate what I have bo often advised, viz.: That the farmers cons ider seriously the important problem of producing an abundant food supply at ®ome. Let us, after careful delibera tion, settle on aline of policy, which will eventually assure our independence and then adhere to it, undismayed by thd many difficulties which loom up whenever a change from the “ all cotton” I system is attempted. Now is the time to make this decision, for September is the month in which much of the small grain, rye, oats and barley in North Georgia should be sown. It is true that the corn harvest will, in all probability, fie an abundant one; but we should not allow this to prevent our making “ assurance doubly sure,” by putting in a large small grain crop. I have recently taken observations in the different sections of the State, and what I have seen l(ut confirms my previous statements, that the majority of Georgia farmers are Quaking a grand mistake in pursuing the cotton myth, when they could gain fyOm the substantial provision reality the competence to which they are entitled and which they deserve. Under stand me, as advocating, not the abandonment of cotton, nor even its restriction to such a degree as to bring other countries with cheaper labor into ruinous competition with us; but I do advise-AuW-this question be adjusted on a strictly business basis, and that the faru|ers, having the light of reason and past bitter experience to guide them, lift' themselves out of their present diffi culties. Last week the first bale of cotton from Dougherty county, classed middling, sold in New York for seven cents! The price of corn in Georgia is SI.OO The grain crops of Europe are reported almost a complete failure. Now should our farmers provide for abundant supplies at home, we are not only, fortified against probable high prices, but will have an opportunity to bring back from Europe some of the gold which has flowed there in such large quanti ties. We must not, therefore, be satisfied with our large corn crop, but resolve at once to sow a large small grain crop. A winter oat from North Carolina, sowed in the cotton fields of North Georgia in August, will, unless we have an almost unprecedented winter, result most favorably. If killed, sow again in the late fall or early winter, and suppldnent this crop with as much rye as you can afford to buy, and have the tinA to put in. It will protect your land from leaching and washing, fill it with the vegetable matter so much needed, and give an abundant forage supply. 1 CLOVER AND OIffiHARD GRASS. Prepare a few acres thoroughly this ItJI, by~breaking deeply and harrowing until all clods and lumps are broken; aiiply any good commercial fertilizer in such quantities as to assure an abunqpuee of plant food ; if you have lot manure, nothing is better. Sow about one peck of red clover ‘seed and two bushels ordiard grass to the acre; you iili thus have a pasture which can be made to last for years, by simply giving spring ami fall top dressing of some good fertilizer. .'.To the farmer, who done this, it is an easy matter to raise acplt dr two, and wheu this plan becomes general, the lyg leak, which now flocks’ to the west for our mules ;|nd horses, will be checked, and one source of prosperity will be established. It is through these apparently trivial reforms that our farmers must wjrk themselves to a higher plane. We must learn to produce our cotton at lefii cost, a maximum production con trolled by a minimum cost. I have been so thoroughly impressed with resulting from ffgP preparation, careful seeding and tiu ZZIJI JJIJLiiiM n -tj^P 8 sho . w -_ ere f bese conditions exist, the outlook without e;®]Piou have preparecTon tue broad acre plan, bve been harassed in obtaining labor or by unpropitious seasons, the-result is unsatisfactory. Radical changes to Ire. effective musfoe made gradually and admitting that a change is needed, M us start at one to make these necessary reforms. Start with the fall crops, make a begipiing if only a small one. It from any ciiuso the try llie farmers <« Holland now own oncu-f the richest grafts and grain countries in the world, the lands are worth al;»where frojp $2001« s>soo jrer acre, and yni 'm-ri Hflme. < . - » ■■■.. n-v !:•> : - •• —a »mi the farmer in a foothold had to fight, the usua ! diflieuitiea. but tv sirnggle against the encroachments of wpud ind wave. The great, dykes have been '-till! at immens.; cost of time, moner«wl kd>or, < mee established must be watched day and night lest one little bnak destroy the work of years. As with liberty, so wiHi success in farming, “ itemal vigilance ” is the price of both. A mail must first be sure that be has chosen farming as the business best suited to his tastes and capacity, and aving decided this, he must use every means and trend every energy to maki.g his special branch of agriculture the greatest success. . R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of Agriculture. We earnestly advise that all tie fruit possible be dried or evap orated. The apple crop is large afcid should not be lost. RECIPE FOR PKJKLING BEEF. Take 6 poundsof salt. 2 poundsof brown sugar, i pound of saltpetre. 6 gallons water. Boil and skim as long as any scum rises. Cut your beef in suitable pieces; fait highly; lay out separately to cool When cool wipe with a dry towel and pack very closely in a clean vessel, pour over it the above mixture, which ia enough for 100 pounds beet Put a weight on to hold it under the pickle. HOG CHOLERA. It is claimed that hog cholera may be cured by the following treatment: Take well matured peach leaves and feed them to the hogs as soon as they show sickness. Or take wild cherry bark, boil it to a strong tea, turn the sick hog on his back and pour down his throat one pint of this tea, when it gets cold. The above recipes are furnished by one of Georgia’s Irest farmers, Mr. Robt. Dasher, of Effingham, who has tested them thoroughly. FORMULAS FOR COMPOST, OR HOME-MADE GUANOS. Fob Corx. Acid Phosphate 500 pounds. Nitrate of Soda J- 125 “ Muriate of Potash 100 “ Sulphate of Lime..... - 275 “ Fok Cottox. Acid Phosphate 1 500 pounds. Nitrate of Soda 100 “ Muriate of Potash i J 100 “ Cotton Seed Meal 1 75 “ Sulphate of Lime 125 . “ For Turxips. Acid Phosphate 500 pounds. Nitrate of Soda -200 “ Kainit ; 2<X> Sulphate of Iron - 100 ‘ For Fruit Trees. • Acid Phosphate 960 pounds. Nitrate of 50da..... “ Muriate of Potash ? 275 Sulphate of Lime 155 “ For Vixeyards. Acid Phosphate *0? pounds. Nitrate of Soda 220 " Muriate of Potash w J r •’2® Sulphate of Lime - 75 “ For Grass and Pastures. Acid Phosphate - - 440 pounds Nitrate of Soda ‘‘ Muriate of Potash .5....... .A. 160 * Sulphate of Io«u - -1..™. 50 GEORGIA EXPERIMENT STATION. BULLETIN NO. 12}—SPECIAL, JULY, 1891. • - To the Farmers of Georgia: -This special Bulletin is issued by direction of the Board of Directors of the Station to call the attention of the farm ers of the State to the purposes of the Station and to excite their interest in its work. This Bulletin will be sent to every farmer in the State whose name and address can be secured by the Director, and it is hoped that each one receiving it will sufficiently appre- „ ciate the objects of the work of the Station and the value of its publications to himself, personally, to provide that all future Bulletins be also sent to him. So far as possible the Station will endeavor to ensure that its Bulletins shall the farmers of the State generally, but each absolutely secure this for himself by sending his Ifame address on a postal card to the Director of the Station, Ex periment P. 0., Spalding Co., Ga. In order that the purposes of the Sta-tion may be clearly understood, the following brief statement is presented of its foundation, its organization, its' methods of support, its ob jects, its work and its intentions : FOUNDATION OF THE STATION. In 1887 the Congress of the United States passed an Act, appiopriating $15,000 per annum, from the proceeds of sale of public lands, to each State and Territory for the support and maintenance of an Agricultural Experiment Station. Under this AAt, the Station was to be conducted in connec tion with the Agricultural College in each State and Terri tory. In Georgia, accordingly, preparations were made to carry on a Station at the Agricultural College in Athens;'.- In 1888, however, the Legislature of Georgia passed an Act taking the Station from the immediate conti ol of the College authorities and creating a Board of Derectors for its manage ment, consisting of one practical farmer from each Congres sional District, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, the Chancellor of the State University and one member of ths Faculty of the Agricultural College. The same Act gave the Directors power to locate the Station at any point in the State which, in their judgment, should offer the best induce- TiCT.t 3 .Acting under this authority, in May, 1889, the Directors iVOTB iMi f ]l P |^ s located it within one mile of the city of Griffin, th of Spalding county having offered a fine farm of 130 acres® (the present Experiment farm) and $4,000 with which erect buildings. Indue season officers were elected, build- SMH iligs were erected, or arraimj'i:- =■. fo* Giulr ..-onctr-r. made, and the farm was prepared for experimental work. ■ PRESENT CONDITION AND ORGANIZATION. The present Station is located upon the farm donated by W Spalding county, about one mile north of Griffin, at the ex act point of meeting of three railroads, the Central, the Geor gia Midland, and Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama. It is a flag station of each of these roads and has its own post office (Experiment P. O). It is connected by telephone with the city of Griffin and the street-car line of the city extends to within a short walk of the Station. The farm contains about equal areas of woodland and cleared land, is sub stantially fenced and is accurately laid off into permanent experimental plots. A portion of it has been underdrained by various kinds of drains. A stream of water runs through the property and, by means of a ram, supplies,ivater to all necessary parts of the farm. The buildings comprise three dwellings, a fine, large stable and barn, a chemical laboratory, a general office and six laborers’ cottages completed and fur nished and a ginnery and dairy-house in process of con struction. The officers are a Director, Vice-Director and Chemist, an Agriculturist and Dairyman, a Horticulturist and an Assistant Chemist MAINTENANCE OF THE STATION. The Station is maintained exclusively by the fund re ceived from the United States government (together with the proceeds of sale of such of its crops as may be marketed). The State of Georgia for its regular support. The State has twice made small appropriations to the Sta tion, for specific purposes, as detailed below. The cost and revenue of the present Station stand as follows: 1. Donated by Spalding Co., O Farm, valued at . . . $lO 000 1 Cash for buildings 4 000 X | 2. Appropriated by the Legislature, 1 In 1888, for establishing the Station (mainly expended for In 1890, for year 1891, 6 000 ■ In 1890, for year 1892, 5 000 These last two amounts were given especially for fl erection of buildings, as die United States law per mits only $750 per annum of the annual Congres sional appropriation to l>e used for this 3. Annual United StateLappropriation, For support of the Siatioh, . . . sls 000 * 4. Sale of farm products, \ Gteasntf purposes (appro.ximate wxd varying), 600 / i v ;-’G '7l ' A:/ j . $ ,