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horticultural Topics
Conducted By P. J. Berckmans
upon subjects relating ♦
ure are invited and an- ♦
•e given, whenever pos- ♦
<h the columns of the ♦
r Journal. Insertion ♦
given to all eotnmuni- ♦
•neral Interest and free ♦
a. The opinions there- ♦
I are In every instance ♦
a writers and not our ♦
sa all communications ■*
i-Weekly Journal. At- ♦
♦
ORESTRY
fee of Deforestation Up-
Supply and Arte
ian Wells.
■one the true meaning of
ry is misunderstood. They
rat forests should be left
the only means for their
This does not define the
derstood to mean, accord
iphers. "the management
as practically applied it is
d with progressive agri
comparing the methods
>pe in the management of
th the devastating policy
here seen tn our southern
t but feel surprised at the
rich our forest area is de
al is astonishing is to see
*e of forethought for the
s of the supply of wood
fuel purposes. In the
ys there was an absolute
aring the land from tim
irovlde room for growing
?rops. This system was
terations without consld
day should ever come
il reserves could possibly
d.
nee of past generations
to open the eyes of the
n land owner of today
present deplorable condi
eac area.
understood that the lum
forester are synonymous,
rsuit is the supplying of
t by cutting such trees as
arry on his business pur
only to what is irnme
and when the land is
antable material he goes
sew supply, without ever
ere is a limit to his In
for the wants of future
plain words, he destroys.
forester is to apply his
ree life to utilise such
crop which has reached
n further growth has
ioration may begin, then
lof old trees allow the
to attain more rapid de
dn. by replanting with
' young seedling trees as
* the various soils and lo
t artificial reforestation,
it usually a slower one.
n the growth of seedlings
te seeds falling from pa
is natural reforestation,
sent the only method
ur agricultural economy
tall hope for preventing
notion of our lumber in-
111 be readily understood
like the provident agri
elng a prudent harvester
•rial for ensuing years,
follow that he
e cut over areas with the
trees which constituted
growth, because he may
■ecies are more economl
d to the soil and locality,
re his practical knowl
ture Is required. As our
ly of botany in our com
'll known, it will be read
out young agriculturists
Kstand the necessity
Vbgt reserves, not only
ft re » nply of furl and
F but upon the fufiuence
•ly which, u not fostered
pplication of the princi
al economy will eventu
ni to our whole country,
i that there is but little
present annual rainfall
s some generations ago.
Uy proven. There was a
Ivers flowed with clear
’ m but muddy streams
er portion of the year,
1 once were abun
-1 a large part of the
e southern Indians have
es entirely disappeared,
iddy because of the rapid
ain water from the vast
I lands into the water
of falling as formerly
ee covered country where
is slowly absorbed by the
covering the soil. The
n covered with the earth
1 hillsides and prevented
•. But this does not prove
is less now than former
f carried off more rapidly
uesswork.
person would think of
tist to hate the eyes
ullst would be promptly
M he understands such
lowever. do not give the
thought to the treat
c diseases. These dis
-11 specialty just as dis
iseases of the eye. and
cing physician, who is
not had the experi-
treat them.
«c difficult to
• ople are afflicted
all their life, but
go to the proper phy-
Ms practice, which is
w of any other specialist
tates. I have had thou
■ who had been treated
s. not one of whom un
ie. although they were
capable physicians. As
tey had been experiment
ren treatment in no way
te. The result was years
h could have been avoid-
whtch I have acquired In
exclusively to the treat-
Idiseases for twenty years
h perfectly, and there is
rrhen I give my opinion
I eacfa ca **
pre
r although
a Wimilar. the
K mere is ->»« special
needs carWul atten-
cln case on Its oRn merit a
Bpon any plan df ready
have become the most
■diet of the day.
hpen my skill in medical
[ patients get the most ex
gpbtainable anywhere.
MMed to consult me.
I write for complete
a. which will explain my
I of home treatment.
HATHAWAY. M. D..
h Building, a 11 *. Broad
and consequently the natural storage of
the past is no longer existing.
We read that in several sections of the
western and Pacific states many arte
sian wells which five years ago flowed
abundantly are gradually not only ceasing
to flow, but water had to be pumped from
annually Increasing depths. The first
year 16 feet below the surface, the second
30 feet and ® feet at the fourth year, with
the prospect that pumping will eventu
ally become impossible unless the rain
conditions which have rapidly changed of
late years from the effects of forest fires
are again replaced
The absence of water in many of the
areas of the west and southwest prevent
the growing of forage or grain crops,
hence these sections are purely deserts.
At the present rate of deforestation of
our southern states it will not be long
before many of the now flowing artesian
wells will become either useless or re
quire the outlay of expensive pumping.
This would prove a calamity to many
communities now salubrious, but which
previous to the opening of artesian wells
were subject to malarial conditions.
There are many other considerations
connected with the practice of forestry,
which other states are endeavoring to pro
mote by organising associations for the
preservation of their forests or by a state
commission which consolidates the fish,
game and forest interests. The village of
Summerville, in South Carolina. has
adopted ordinances tending to preserve
the pine trees within its corporate limits,
and by a rigid enforcement have main
tained what is conceded to contribute to
the salubrity of that locality as well as
attractiveness. Similar measures could
and should be adopted wherever new set
tlements begin, and of these there are
many in Georgia.
The United States government organiz
ed a division of forestry as a branch of
the departmerit of agriculture. For years
past it was found that Its work was divid
ed among other organisations, and that
this needs remodelling.
Should our state legislature ever realise
the absolute necessity of preserving what
is left of our once magnificent forests by
enacting judicious and reasonable laws,
and organise a bureau of forestry, let it
be so formed as to be independent from
other branches of the state government in
its work, but not unrelated to those that
are intended for the promoting of the
state's productive resources.
That expert assistance is available for
al! those owners of forest tracts who de
sire to adopt a plan for their proper man
agement is shown by many requests made
to tne United States division of forestry
by owners of large areas of timber lands
in several sections of the south, where
experts from that division have made pre
liminary examinations for preparing
proper working plans. •
As in other branches of rural economy,
the best results are usually obtained by
co-operation. If a few forest land owners
will combine, secure the advice of a gov
ernment expert, their holdings would be
made to yield a better revenue as well
as preserving valuable material for fu
ture generations. The price o* all classes
of lumber is increasing as rapidly as is
the diminishing supply of timber. It will
not be long before well-cared-for wood
lands will bring as profitable money re
turns as many of our staple crops.
The annexed article upon rapid defor
estation. as published in the New York
Sunday Herald, shows the probable dan
ger which must eventually occur should
forest destruction continue at its present
rapid rate, unless measures are adopted
for general reforestation. P. J. B.
FACTS WHICH* INDICATE THAT
WHOLESALE TIMBER CUTTING
IS CHANGING OUR CLIMATE
DEFORESTATION THE GREATEST
WASTE NOW IN AMERICA. AS
WELL AS A REAL DANGER
These modern heat waves, with sun
stroke and death on every hand, have be
come a serious problem for science to
solve. Important facts are herewith pre
sented on the subject. It is believed that
the rapid destruction of the great forests
of the country by careless settlers, lum
bermen and wood pulp makers are the
chief cause of this marked recent change
in our climate. And it is thought by
some experts that without trees the earth
would be uninhabitable.
It is only in the United States and In
dia, it is declared, that these devastat
ing heat waves periodically sweep vast
areas. In Europe—Germany and France
especially—where forests are protected by
law and heavy penalties rigidly enforced
for violations, such-outbursts of heat, as
a rule.,are unheard of.
It has long been known “to mathemat
ical certainty" tnat drought increases
with the disappearance of forests. Trees
not only create moisture and Invite rain,
but their roots leaves and underbrush
hold the rain that falls long enough to
be absorbed by the earth.
As hills and mountains, by fire or ax.
lose their forest, tne soil dries up and
vegetation languishes, while valleys and
canyons are flooded, often with disastrous
results. This is the case around Pitts
burg and in other hilly localities which
have been stripped of timber for fuel
and manufacturing purposes.
On the great plains rain seldom falls.
When it does it is a cloudburst. The wash
outs that come once in three or four
years in Arizona are of indescribable vio
lence. Eastern readers would scarcely be
lieve that on the parched alkali deserts
a cloudburst a few years ago along the
Southern Pacific east of Tucson in half
an hour buried sections of the railroad
track 30 feet deep in sand filled gorges,
changed the course of rivers, wound steel
rails as If they were wire around the few
straggling cottonwood trees skirting a dry
stream twenty or thirty feet above the
old track, and ploughed chasms In the ta
rantula beds clear down to solid rock.
WHERE RAIN 18 AN EVENT.
In that strange city of San Louis Po
tosi. in Old Mexico, where the timber
disappeared long ago. I was told that It
had not rained there for eight years. The
dust was a foot deep, and the burning
heat of the sun seemed to wither the
very faces of the muleteers driving their
silver laden asses through the streets.
In the social Middle Park of Colorado
one sees a vast desolation of stupendous
mountains, isolated and In clusters, abso
lutely naked—without tree or shrub. Ages
ago the Indians. It is supposed, living in
that once pastoral region, fleeing before
invading tribes, burned the forests behind
them.
On every side. In a grand encircling am
phitheatre. peaks of the Rocky Mountains
rise to the snow line hemming in this
Middle Park, fortunately supplied with
rivers flowing swift and deep from the
canyons of the snowy range. But the
rainfall Is said to be decreasing with the
destruction of pine forests of the higher
mountains.
In view of the vital necessity of pro
tecting the timber yet remaining In Colo
rado. the Forestry Association, composed
of the best men in the state, was early
organised, stringent laws passed and vig
ilant watch kept to prevent destruction.
The terror of fires In the Rocky Moun
tains la akin to that of volcanoes and
earthquakes. When once started by care
less hunters, a match thrown into a
bunch of dry grass, or by incendiaries,
timber thieves and the like, vast tidal
waves of flame sweep the pine clad slopes
rising to lofty altitudes and stretching
for miles along the great ranges. It has
been observed that the absence of timber
even in the mountain parts Interferes with
the rainfall, causing periods of drought,
or violent rainstorms doing great damage
and passing quickly away.
Irrigation, followed by vegetation and
tree planting, brings rain. This has been
nitrated all over the greater west.
THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA. GEORGIA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1001.
In former times the summer storms
were chiefly confined to the mountains of
Colorado. Now they spread out on the
plains, following the rivers, with their
miles of wide areas of irrigated fields and
recently planted timber belts. Moisture
begets moisture, and with it come a mild
er tempered atmosphere, gentle showers
and cooling breezes. Instead of erratic pe
riods of drought, floods and cyclones.
All this, with many other facts, has an
important bearing on the phenomena of
heat waves now exciting so much con
cern.
VIEWS OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS.
1 called on Col. George Sudworth. acting
chief of the United States Forest Bureau,
in Washington, for his views. He said:
“There is much difference of opinion on
the subject among scientific men, but stu
dents of forestry are as a rule convinced
that the wholesale destruction of trees in
this country has had much to do with the
recent aggravation of the meteorological
phenomenon known as the ‘hot wave.’
“Hot waves may almost be said to be
peculiar to thia country. They occur tn
India, but In Europe and most other parts
of the world they are unknown. We find
them uncomfortable, but as yet we have
not learned with any degree of certainty
the causes that bring them about. Fu
ture investigation is likely to throw more
light upon the subject. I am satisfied a
principal cause of the severe heated spells
of recent summers has been the whole
sale wiping out of forests.
“That forests affect the air's tempera
ture there Is no doubt. Evaporation within
the limits of a forest goes on more slowly
than outside. This means moisture and
with moisture comes a cooling of the at
mosphere. In regions largely forested the
temperature is usually much lower.
“We have long observed that areas
originally humid are dried up by defores
tation. Regions once heavily wooded with
plenty of water in streams and springs
have become parched, the streams being
either dried up or nearly dry. The forest
covered watershed means a spungy layer
of ’humus,’ or leaf mold, which absorbs
rain. This sponge spread over the soil
gives up its water slowly, and thus the
supply of moisture remains in the water
shed for a long time.
“Wipe out the forest cover and the
spongy layer disappears. Even though the
amount of rainfall remains unaltered, the
smooth surface allows the water to rush
away. There is nothing to hold the water
and so it passes off -rapidly, leaving the
ground dry. Water that falls on a slate
roof runs off faster than if the roof were
covered with moss.”
FORESTS COOL THE ATMOSPHERE.
B. E. Fernow, formerly in charge of the
government forest bureau ana now pro
fessor of forestry in Cornell university,
says:
“The general influence of the forest on
the temperature of the soil is a cooling
one. due to the shade and to the fact that
moisture is retained for a longer time in
the forest floor as well as tn the air. This
moisture, of course, must be evaporated
before the ground can be warmed. The av
erage annual evaporation within the
woods is about 44 per cent of that in open
fields.
“Extensive study of tne subject in Rus
sia. both in Europe and in Asia, shows
that in the western part of the Old World
the presence of large forests has a very
sensible influence upon the temperature.
Apparently an alternation of forested and
ufiforested areas in dry regions is more
beneficial than continuous and uninter
rupted forests, such an alternation set
ting up a local circulation of air which is
brought about by differences in tempera
ture.”
Professor Fernow says of hailstorms
that they seem to avoid forest-covered
areas. This is certainly Interesting to
farmers and students of meteorology.
The influence of forests upon fogs and
clouds is marked and peculiar. Fog ling
ers in the woods when it is clear else
where. Trees act as condensers, gather
ers of dew, frost and Ice, and this phe
nomenon is especially remarkable in the
so-called “Ice storms.” where the accumu
lation of ice is so great as to overload and
break the larger limbs and branches.
The man who has most carefully studied
this subject is B. Ribbentrop, inspector
general of forests In India. He says for
ests affect climate in a marked degree.
History proves this in numerous instances
a here the deterioration of the climate of
whole districts, and even of entire coun
tries, has followed the destruction of for
ests. The once well wooded Dalmatia is
now a stony desert. Persia, formerly one
of the granaries of the east, is barren and
desolate over a large extent of its terri
tory. North Africa, which was one of the
main grain producers of ancient Rome, is
sub ect to the severest drouths. Spain.
Italy. Sicily, Greece and Asia Minor have
also suffered enormously from deforesta
tion.
Experiments by Ebermayer, the famous
physicist, of Munich, show that where 30
per cent of a country is under a complete
forest cover the precipitation is at least 10
per cent greater. Also, tnat the mean an
nual temperature in a forest Is 10 per cent
less than In the open. The difference Is
greatest in summer, the season when the
temperature is of serious Importance.
Centuries ago. when most of India was
a forest, the climate was very different
from what It now Is. Ea-Htan, the great
Chinese traveler of the fourth century A.
D.. says of India that Its temperature was
“neither cold nor hot.”
FOREST AN OXYGEN FACTORY.
In the United States observing stations
established in forests have recorded over
and over again the fact that the air over
wooded areas was both cooler and molst
er than above the open fields.
* It has been claimed that forest exert
an important influence in behalf of hu
man health. Soil conditions in the wood*
are unfavorable to disease producing
germs, especially those of cholera and yel
low fever.
Every forest is an oxygen factory, and
it is declared that Its production of that
life giving gas is of sanitary importance.
Ozone is also a forest product.
The forest may be regarded as a blank
et. with which nature covers the earth
for its protection. This blanket, says
Professor Mark W. Harrington, “deter
mines many of the features of climate.”
The amount of water exhaled by plants
is enormous. Trees are about one-half
water in their composition. Water is their
chief food. Having drawn it from the
soil to extract the nutriment which it
contains in a very thin solution, they dis
pose of the rest by transpiration. Proba
bly a fair sized oak or poplar will force
through its stem and leaves from ten to
twenty gallons of w’ater dally.
TIMBER MORE VALUABLE THAN
MINES.
“The Importance of preparing the for
ests.” says Professor Fernow, “becomes
more evident when it is considered that
their annual increase by natural growth,
representing the interst which we are at
liberty to draw without imparing the
principal, exceeds in t*he United States
alone ten times the value of the gold and
silver output of this country. It is worth
more than three times the product of our
metals and coal mines together.”
"If to our total mining product be ad
ded the value of all the stone quarries
and oil wells and this be Increased by the
value of all the steamboats, sailing ves
sels and canalboats plying In American
waters it will still be less than t-he value
of the annual forest product of the nation
by a sum sufficient to purchase at cost
of construction all the canals, buy up at
par all stocks of the telegraph compa
nies, pay their bonded debts and equip
all the telephone lines."
Says Professor Sargent: “The forests in
the mountain regions are essential to pre
vent destructive torrents and to main
tain the flow of the rivers."
HOW WE CONSUME OUR FORESTS.
We consumed last year more than 36,-
000,000,000 square feet of sawed lumber
alone. This amount of lumber would load
a train of cars long enough to encircle the
earth at the equator. If to the sawn lum
ber "be added the tfmebr, the railway ties,
the telegraph poles, the posts for fences
and the wood cut for fuel and for min
ing, the train of cars would have to be
one hundred thousands miles In length,
or long enough to reach four times around
the globe.
The annual consumption of our forests
is 25.000,000,000 'cubic feet. To furnish t<his
amount would require the produce of 1,-
200,000,000 acres of woodland, whereas our
total forest area Is less than 500.000,000
acres. It will be seen, then, that we are
drawing upon our forest capital, where
as we ought to be using only the interest.
These remarkable figures are given by
Dr. N. H. Egleston, who states that the
annual consumption of wood in this coun
try is 350 cubic feet per capita, whereas in
Germany it is 40 cubic feet and in Great
Britain only 14 cubic feet. The railways
of the United States alone consume 500,-
000,000 feet of lumber every twelvemonth.
The whole of the eastern part of this
country, from the Atlantic ocean to the
prairies, is naturally a forested region,
simply because the rainfall is sufficient to
encourage the growth of trees. The only
areas within this region that are not for
ested are those which have been cleared
chiefly for purposes of cultivation. If
cleared land is left idle for awhile the
forests quickly reproduce themselves.
TIMBER AREA OF EACH STATE.
Following is a statement of the total
wooded area in the various states of the
Union, the per cent of forested land in the
total area being mentioned in each case:
/ Total Wooded Per Cent
Area in of
State. Square Miles. Total Area.
Maine 23,700 79
New Hampshire ... 5.200 58
Vermont 3,900 ’ 43
Massachusetts 4,200 52
Rhode Island 400 40
Connecticutl.9oo '39
New York 18,700 39
New Jersey 3.234 43
Pennsylvania 23,200
Delaware 700 36
Maryland 4,400 44
District of Columbia 12 20
Virginia .. 23.400 58
West Virginia 18,400 73
North Carolina 35,300 73
South Carolina ... < .. 20,500 68
Georgia 42,000 71
Florida 37,700 70
Alabama 38,300 74
Mississippi 32,300 70
Louisiana 28,300 62
Texas 64.000 24
Arkansas 45,000 84
Kentuckyß2,2oo 55
Tennessee 27,300 65
Ohio 9,300 23
Indiana .... 10,800 30
Illinois 10,200 18
Michigan ... u 38,000 67
Wisconsin .... ’ 31.750 58
Minnesota .... 52,200 66
lowa 7,000 13
Missouri .... 41,000 60
North Dakota 600 1
South Dakota 2,500 3
Nebraska ... 2,300
Kansas 5.700
Indian Territory ... 20,000 65
Oklahoma 4,400 ~ 11
Montana 42,000 29
Wyoming .... a.... 12,500
Colorado 33,500 32
New Mexico 23,700 19
Arizona .... 25,000 22
Utah 10,000 13
Idaho 35.000 42
Washington 47,700 71
Oregon 54,300 1 57
Nevada 6,100 6
California 44,700 22
Summing up the above figures, it is seen
that there are in the United nearly 1,100,000
square miles of woodland, representing
37 per cent of the whole area of the coun
try.
OUR LUMBER RESOURCES.
The standing merchantable timber in
the most important wood-yielding states
of the union is reckoned as follows by
Mr. Henry Gannett, of the geological sur
vey:
State. Ft., Board Measure.
Maine 5,475,000.000
New Hampshire 35,500,000,000
Pennsylvania 6.300,000,000
New York •• •• •• • • 14,720,000,000
Michigan 35,000,000,000
Wisconsin •• •• —*5,000,000.000
Minnesota .. .... .. 183.000,000,000
Georgia.. •• •• •• •• •••• .. 16,778,000,000
Alabama.. .. .. .. 18,885,000,000
Mississippi •• •• 25,000,000,000
Louisiana 28,260,000,600
Texas 68.000.000,000
Arkansas •• •• •• 41,315,000,000
Californials4,ooo,ooo,ooo
Washington 114,778,000,000
Oregon 234,653,000,000
The principal forest products of the
United States for the year 1890 (the lat
est year for which figures are available)
were:
Kind. Amount. Value.
Sawed lumber (ft.) 23,500,000,000 3267,000,000
Logs (ft., board
measure).. ... .. 1,445,000.000 10,500,000
Telegraph p01e5,,.. 117,000 200,000
Ties 5,496,000 1,600,000
Fence posts 4,723,000 400.000
Piles 158,000 300,000
Staves 1,178,552,000 7,800,000
Headings 182,700,000 4,900,000
Laths 2,363,300,000 3,500,000
The greatest timber consumption is for
firewood. We burn for heating and man
ufacturing purposes annually 180,0000,000,000
feet, board measure—four times as much
as we use for all other purposes put to
gether. However, most of the firewood
supply is of timber unsuitable in size or
quality for the sawmill.
The conclusion of all this seems to be
that because we must have toothpicks,
matches, coffins and firewood, and inci
dentally, wood for ships and houses, with
timber thieves ajd incendiaries running
riot destroying forests, the globe is to be
made uninhabitable.
Boys who are Away at school should
have a sure remedy for sudden attacks
of cramps, diarrhoea or dysentery, and
an hour’s delay in cases of this kind
often leads to serious results. Parents
should supply their sons with PAIN
KILLER. which is simple, safe and sure.
One dose rarely fails to bring relief from
any bowel complaint. There is but one
Pain-Killer, Perry Davis’. Price 25c. and
50c,
SAVE TRAYLOR, SPENCER &
CO.’S TOBACCO TAGS.
The following brands of tobaccos man
ufactured by Traylor, Spencer & Co., of
Danville, Va., “Ballot Box,” “Maybelle,”
“Plumb Good,” “High Life,” “Right of
Way,” “No. 1,” “Bob White,” "Natural
Leaf,” Spencer’s Special” and “Good
win.”
By saving the tags of the above brands
(containing the name of Traylor, Spencer
& Co.), and sending them direct to The
Journal, Atlanta, Ga.. you can realize
two-thirds of one cent for each tag in
subscription to The Semi-Weekly Journal,
as follows: 75 tags will pay for six months’
subscription to The Semi-Weekly Journal.
This amounts to 6 centz per pound on
tobaccos containing nine tags to the
pound, in payment for subscription to The
Semi-Weekly Journal. Traylor, Spencer &
Co.’s tobaccos are sold direct from factory
to best merchants In all southern states.
Bundle the tags carefully and
send by mall with your name to The
Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Ga. •••
Rest. Health and Comfort to Mother and
Child.
MRS. WINSLOWS SOOTHING SYRUP, for
children teething, softens the gums, reduces
inflammation, allays all pain, and cures wind
colic. Perfe&Uvsafe in all cases We would
say to every mouffißtio has a suffering child:
Do not let your prejuolte, nor the prejudices
of others, stand between you and your suFer
tng child and the relief that will be sure—yes,
absolutely sure—to follow the use of this
medtaine, If timely used. Price 35c. a bottle.
Prince Chun Sees Field Exercises.
POTSDAM. Sept. 6.—Prince Chun yester
day witnessed the field exercises and pa
rade march of the First flegiment of the
Royal Guard. The empress received
Prince Chun at noon*
ni w, Ji r
TIMELY TALKS WITH FARMERS |
Conducted By C. H. Jordan
+ Subscribers are requested to ad- +
•!• dress all inquiries for information +
<!• on subjects relating to the farm. +
+ field, garden and poultry to the
+ Agricultural Editor. All inquiries
♦ will receive prompt and careful at- +
+ tention. No inquiries answered by +
+ mail. Please address Harvle Jordan,
Agricultural Editor, Monticello, Ga. +
4* +
PASTURE GRASSES.
Pasture and hay grasses are command
ing interesting attention among the farm
ers in all sections of the country. I am
constantly in receipt of letters inquiring
as to the best varieties of grasses for
grazing in winter and cutting for hay in
the spring. Many farmers want a com
bination of grasses, some varieties of
which will be green in winter, while others
will spring into life in April and remain
green all summer. This shows a trend of
thoughts developing in the right direction
and along the right line. Several hundred
head of young thoroughbred varieties of
Tjeef cattle were sold to farmers In dif
ferent sections of Georgia last year, and
the question of better pasturage than that
usually found on the average farm is re
ceiving attention. First class, healthy
cattle cannot be profitably raised and
herded on poor pasturage. The experi
ment has been too of ten»tried and failed
to admit of any argument. In raising
beef cattle or any kind of stock something
else is necessary than merely securing
grass or forage. Stock must not only
have an abundance of grass, but it must
be of the best quality of grass obtainable.
Quality rather than qauntlty must be the
controlling idea, and of all people the man
who is engaged in the cattle or stock bus
iness should be the best pos|pd on the rel
ative merits of the various grasses com
posing the pasturage on the farm. He
should know their relative feeding value,
so that in the effort made to secure the
best results from their use he will culti
vate only such varieties as will pay for
the care and trouble. A good hay or pas
ture grass should not be too rank in its
growth, because the stems are likely to
soon become coarse and woody, rendering
them largely unpalatable-and hard to di
gest. The plant should have, if possible,
a large proportion of leaves, which are al
ways the most edible and easiest digesti
ble parts. Permanent meadows should
consist of perennials. But few grasses
fertilize the soils upon which they grow,
therefore some legumious plant should be
mixed with the grasses. Where forage
crops alone are grown leguminous plants
should be used in preference to all others
Some Good Grasses.
Native grasses as a general rule are
superior to all others, no matter how
highly, advertised the foreign varieties
may be. Those grasses which have thrived
on southern soils for generations are
thoroughly acclimatized, and many of
them are as nutritious as any which can
be imported from other countries. For a
spring, summer and early fall grass,
nothing is superior for a first class per
manent pasture than Bermuda. This grass
stands at the very top of all grasses in
the United States for nutriment and per
fection from every standpoint of criticism.
It will thrive and make a perfect sod on
nearly every variety of soil In the south
ern states.
Bermuda not only serves its mission as
a first class pasture grass for cattle,
horses, sheep and hogs, but it makes a
hay easily cured and Inferior to none
other in this country. The vetches, both
hairy and winter kinds, are also valua
ble for fall and winter grazing, extend
ing well into spring. Other good grasses
are Japan clover, fall oat grass, crabgrass,
lucerne or alfalfa, Florida beggar weed,
orchard grass, burr clover, Texas blue
grass, teoslnte, alslke clover, red clover,
yellow lupine and cowpeas. These are va
rieties of grasses and clovers from which
any man may make good selection for
winter and summer growth for pasturage
or hay, to suit the section of country in
which he lives.
Preparing Pasture Lands.
The land upon which grasses are to be
sown for pasturage or hay should be well
plowed a few days before sowing the seed,
and then harrow the top surface until
the soil is smooth and nicely pulverized.
In a mixture of light and heavy seed,
they should be sown separately, other
wise it will be impossible to secure an
even distribution of the seed. The heavy
seed will be thrown farther, while the
lighter ones will fall nearer by, and the
stand will be badly streaked and irregu
lar. When seed are sown by hand it is
always best to go over the ground twice,
sowing one half the quantity one way
and returning over the land in opposite
direction.
In covering seed a roller is preferable to
a harrow, smoother or brush. If the seed
are quite small and sowed just previous
to a rain, no covering is necessary. In
our section of the country August and
September are the two months best suited
in which to sow grasses or clovers. If the
seed cannot be sown in the fall of the
year on account of other growing crops
on the land, then plant in February or
March, so as to give the young plants
time to become firmly rooted before the
spring weeds or early hot weather comes
on with their deteriorating effects. It is
rarely advisable to sow grasses or clovers
with grain, though clovers sometimes do
well with wheat or oats.
Application of Fertilizers.
There is no better fertilizer for hay or
pasture lands than stable manure or
green cotton seed broadcasted and powed
in when the land is broken. Such a fer
tilzer will last for 2 or three years without
additional fertilization. Os course top
dressing becomes necessary if the grass
shows failure from want of proper fertil
ity in the soil. A satisfactory crop of hay
cannot be grown on poor soils, neither can
a good pasture be maintained on land
which will not produce a good crop of
cotton and corn. Proper fertilization is
as necessary on hay and pasture lands as
elsewhere. A first-class top dressing for
spring application can be made of 50
pounds of potash per acre, which can be
secured in 400 pounds of kanit, 250 pounds
cotton hull ashes or 100 pounds of muriate
of potash, put on broadcast by hand.
Where a little nitrogen is needed 250
pounds of cotton seed meal may be added.
It is a hopeful sign to note the interest
farmers are taking in this matter, and it
foretells the time not distant in the future
when the south will once more take her
place among the principal cattle and
stock producing sections of the world.
HARVIE JORDAN.
EXCHANGES -
Success in Farming.
The difference between success and fail
ure is very little at best. One farmer pro
tects his stock from the weather and
saves enough in feed to make money.
Another feeds in the snow, rain and mud
and loses all his profits. One houses his
implements and they last for years. An
other leaves his scattered In the fields
where he finishes his work and they
are scon worthless. The one puts all pro
ducts in fine shape before offering them
on the market and secures a high price.
The other does not and charges his loss
against capital and corporations. Furth
er details are unnecessary, any one can
see the difference. The wonder is that
some farmers live at all. If farming were
not the easiest, safest business in the
world tuey would not.
, Preserve Farm Manure.
An Exchange.
After the manure is all made, what is to
be done? The most important problem
with horse manure is to so treat it that
the heap will not firefang or leach. Some
people get around this by hauling to the
field and spreading as soon as made. This
answers very well and all things consid
ered it is probably the best method. All
the soluble elements are at once taken up
by the soil and held until needed by tho
plants. There is no danger of fermenta
tion setting in and releasing the ammo
nia. During the crop season, when all the
land is occupied by growing plants, the
best plan Is to spread the manure on the
meadows and pastures. The grass plants
retain the fertility, and when corn and
subsequent grain crops are grown on the
land they are greatly benefited. Os
course the pasture plants are also helped,
but they cannot use much in one season.
At other times of the year when the fields
are bare, the manure can be spread on
the land, but it must be’ so placed that
rains will not leach out the valuable ma
terial. If put on plowed ground there will
be little or no waste. Stubble ground is
also good, as the stubbles will hold the
material and prevent the wasting of the
soluble ingredients.
When the manure cajmot be taken to the
fields, then the problem Is to preserve it
as well as possible until such a time as it
can be hauled out. Too often it is sim
ply thrown out of the stable so as to be
out of the way, and there left to take care
of itself. Frequently it is placed under the
eaves, where the water from th roof runs
over it and washes out the beet material
it contains. If there is no rain for some
time, heating occurs and burning takes
place, resulting in the loss of nitrogen.
The proper method is to build a shed in
Just a Little Negro Talk.
BY BRIDGES SMITH.
In a general knock-xbout over the
country, and especially at the north.
I have been struck with the amount of
impertinence, not to say insolence, on
the part of people who are employed
to give at least polite, if not efficient,
service to the public. In the south
any stranger gets a civil answer from
railroad, hotel or other employes. He
may not get the service he expects,
but he is treated courteously.
From Atlanta to Washington the
sleep car porter is all civility. He
expects and receives the customary
Up, and he seems to be fully aware of
the fact that he must behave himself.
Leaving Washington he becomes an
other sort of Individual, and when he
goes out of New York, to Buffalo, for
instance, he is insolence itself. It is
doubtful whether this latter type was
born in the south. I have an idea that
he is northern born and was brought
up to believe himself the equal of the
white man. and perhaps better.
When you ask the porter on a New
York Central sleeper to make up your
berth or do any other like service he
makes no answer, although you are
certain he heard you. If you repeat
the request he glares at you with a
look intended to freeze your young
blood. The northern man takes all
this as a matter of course and says
nothing. The southern man gets on
his lynching clothes. The other night
I saw this glare, and but for a sober
second thought there would have been
one insolent New York Central porter
less in the world.
I had hardly regained my normal
state of temper when I witnessed a
scene that should have meant a
smashed nose, but in this case the in
stigator of the riot was a white man.
A poor weak stranger gave an order
at one of the numerous restaurants
out on the Pan-American grounds.
The man waited and waited to have
his order filled and finally uttered a
mild protest against such treatment
Then of all the tongue lashings I ever
heard that waiter delivered it. The
poor fellow knew his physical weak
ness and took it like a lamb. Having
plenty of troubles of my own, I did
not mix up in what didn't concern me,
although I felt it all over, and per
haps the many others who heard it
had equally as good excuses.
At another restaurant a gray-haired
old gentleman called for a glass of
water to accompany his meal. The
waiter told him to drink beer. The
old man said he diu not drink beer
and wanted water. Then this waiter
flashed in the pan and told the cus*-
tomer he must drink beer or do with
out. The old man glanced at the
number of the waiter and when his
meal was finished reported the pro
ceeding to the head waiter, and was
Informed that he was too busy at the
time to attend to it.
On Broadway, in New York, a car
never stops for a lone individual. You
may stand at the proper place and
swing your arms like a windmill, but
the motorman looks straight ahead
and the conductor looks at you as if to
say: “Sorry, but the motorman failed
to stop.” This is exasperating, but you
have to take your medicine and
walk.
Coming back to the sleeping car por
ter, I remember an instance that goes
to prove that the southern born negro
knows who he is throwing his insolent
looks at. It was on a train from Toron
to, Montreal, and my partner, also
from the south, wanted his berth
made up early. The number of his
berth was 11 and it was made up
promptly. I was not tired out like my
friend and was seated at the end of
the car reading when the porter
asked “if dat man dat’s gone to bed
wasn’t from the south.” I told him
that we were both from the south,
and wanted to know why he suspected
us as southerners. “From de way he
said to make up ’lebben." The manner
in which my friend pronounced the
word broqght up recollections of crap
games. On the train was an English
man going to Montreal and several
men who were evidently northern men,
judging from their accent. To these
men the porter was very insolent,
treating them as his inferiors, while
to my friend and myself he was very
humble and civil. He knew the tem
per of the southern men and that it
wouldn’t be safe for him to be sassy
to them.
There is a vast difference between
the northern and southern negro. The
first looks upon the color of his skin
as his misfortune, and goes through
the world regretting It. This sours
him against the world, and you never
see him in good humor. The latter
negro takes his condition as a matter
of course, and only in few instances
does he regard himself the equal of
the white man. Instead of envying
the white man his skin and many
privileges, the southern darky looks
upon the white man as his natural
friend and flies to him in case of trou
ble. I don’t suppose it ever occurred
to the northern born negro to turn to
the white man as a friend in time of
need. This probably explains the in
solence of the negro at the north. An-
eJose proximity to the stable and put the
manure under it from day to day. If the
bottom of this shed can be cemented and
slope toward the center, so as to prevent
the escape of the liquids, then there will be
little or no loss. However, if this cannot
be done, or if it is too expensive, it will
not matter greatly, for If no rain reaches
the manure there will be but little tenden
cy to leaching. Os course there must be
enough moisture to prevent heating. If
this is not available from rainfall, it must
be applied by means of a pump. If hogs
are allowed access to the manure pile they
will root it over and over, and not only
keep it from fermenting, but will mix it
in the best manner possible. The shed can
be a cheap one, with simply a fairly tight
roof to keep off the heavy rains. Treated
in this way and then spread upon the field
evenly, it will give the very best results.
The horse stable can be cleaned out every
morning without very great labor. The
manure will not waste unduly and there
will be no great expense for constructing
liquid manure cisterns and caring for
them. Undoubtedly these reservoirs will
pay in some localities, but in most sections
the shed with hogs for mixers will answer
nicely.
Manure from cattle and cow stable,
where the animals are ited up and fed.
can be treated in the same way. With
this kind of material the matter of keep
ing It from flrefanglng is not so impera
tive. the manure from cattle does not heat
so readily. It is known as cold manure
and for that reason would never do fcr
hotbeds and cold frames. It must be kept
from leaching, and as a rule receive the
same treatment as that from the horse
stable. Where cattle are stall fed in a lot
or around a straw stack, the manure may
be left until the animals have been sent
to market, then it can be put on a manure
spreader and distributed over the field.
The lot should be carefully cleaned, taking
out every bit of manure, straw and corn
stalks.
other reason lies in the fact that the
negro is not a laborer in the north.
In New York city, for instance, he
may be a bell boy at the hotels and
in a few instances he is a carria-je
driver, but he does no labor for .he
city, such as working on or sweeping
the streets. Neither does he work on
the railroads as track ; hand. This
work is all done by whitebnen.
They will sometimes be round as por
ters in stores, and receive good pay.
Twelve dollars and a half, per week is
about what they get. In oUr country a
dollar a day is big pay. I know of one
city government in the south that pays
80 cents a day for laborers, and could
get thousands for 75 cents a day. The
white men who do in the north what
the negro does in the south, working
the streets, get 31.50 per day and are
glad to get it.
Some of these days the Chinaman
will take the place of the negro porter
on a sleeping car. A railroad man said
to me the other day that at one time it
was thought that none but a negro
could perform this service, but this was
now a mistake. The Chinaman can
perform the same service and much
better for half the pay. If the negro is
leaving the corn and cotton fields of the
south and is to be taken off the sleep
ing cars at the north, what is to be
come of the negro? Is he breaking his
own neck?
A few days ago I witnessed a game of
baseball between white men and ne
groes. The umpire was a negro, the
pitcher was a white man and the catch
er was as black as your hat. This mix
ed nine seemed perfectly homogenous,
and the game went through without a
bobble. It set me to thinking if such
a thing was possible in the south! Os <
course southern men would not engage
in such a game, but suppose a nine of
of northern men, whose views concern
ing the negro are opposite our own,
should attempt such a game, what
would be the result?
The witnessing of this game had a
peculiar effect on me. At first it was
actually revolting, but as the game
progressed and I began to realize that
I was a thousand miles away from
home among a different class of people
the horrifying effect wore off and I saw
only the humor in it.
At one of the theatres yesterday a
negro was down on the bill for a
vaudeville turn. As soon as he began
to sing his coon song I knew at once
that he was born in the north. The
song and his manner of singing it was
no more like the negro of our section
than it was like Japanese,
The negro may be happy up here, but
he has a poor way of showing it. He
is really in more danger of being lynch
ed than our own set, and although he
has many of the privileges of the white
man he can never enjoy in the south,
he has no white man to turn to in case
of trouble. As far as I can judge, the
northern negro, as a citizen, enjoying
equal rights, is a miserable wretch.
The southern negro, in his place, and
he knows his place, is a happy indi
vidual. The average northern sleep
ing car porter will never get rich on his
ten cent tips, but the average south
ern porter, with his civility and will
ingness to perform a service, will con
tinue to get never less than a 25 cent
tin, and at the end of his trips can
laugh as loud as anybody.
SOLDIERS ARE POISONED.
Most of the Sick Men Only Slightly
Affected, None Are Seriously 111.
At Fort McPherson 226 soldiers out of a
command out 416 men, are suffering frotn
ptomaine poisoning and unfit for duty,
leaving but 190 men for service. All drills
and duties, with the exception of guard
duty, have been suspended and the men
who are not ill from the poisoning are
lying around quarters and on the parade
ground expecting at any moment to be
taken with a severe cramp and forced to
go to the hospital or headquarters.
The cause of the poisoning has not yet
been ascertained and it is probable that
it never will be as it is an accident that
is Hable to happen at any time to anyone,
but it is thought the meat used in hash
caused the trouble.
As soon as it was learned that the men
were suffering from something they had
eaten or drank an investigation was made
by the officers but blame is not attached
to any one connected with the barracks
nor it is probable that there will be. The
commanding officer, Colonel John A.
French, is of the opinion that everything
pertaining to the unfortunate affair is an
accident and one that could not have
been avoided. This conclusion was reach
ed after a thorough investigation.
NO CURE. NO PAY.
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I drain, our Vacuum Orzaa Developer
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L9CAL AFRUARCt CO. 109 Tt»G Hk-. IHteMMflX' *
5