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| Talks With. Farmers J Conducted By C. H. Jordan ♦ Subscribers aro requested to ad- ♦ ♦ dress all Inquiries for Information ♦ ♦ on subjects relating tc the farm. ♦ ♦ field, garden and poultry to the ♦ ♦ Agricultural Editor. All Inquiries ♦ ♦ will receive prompt and careful at- * ♦ tentlon. No Inquiries answered by 4 ♦ mall Please address Harrie Jordan. ♦ ♦ Agricultural Editor. Monticello. Ga. ♦ ♦♦♦«♦♦> »ille t »»> »<♦♦♦♦♦♦«■» THE GEORGIA STATE FAIR. The agricultural, mechanical and live Stock exhibits of the Georgia State Fair •aoociation are now in place on the exhl btion grounds at Savannah. I had the pleasure of spending last Wednesday in Savannah and making a careful study of the resource* of the state a* shown In the various county and individual exhibits on the Savannah fair grounds. The people of Savannah, the business men especial ly, deserve and will receive great credit for the labor and money expended In mak ing such fitting arrangements for the Georgia state fair this year. Three months ago the present grounds upon which the fair la being held was all that Savannah had. Every stick of timber that went into all the extensive new and handsome buildings had to be purchased and put together. Everything had tc be erected from the stump, and the activity display ed in putting the buildings in perfect or der to receive the exhibits, shows an en ergy and determination only characteris tic of a progreesive people, in addition to splendid buildings, a large and commo dious grand stand, there nas been finished and placed in perfect condition an ele gant mile race track, which is smooth and rolled down to a nicety. I was informed that about SOO trotting and running homes were already housed in the commodious gtaolee on the grounds. Without doubt good racing will be had. find all lovers of horseflesh and the race track will find every opportunity of en joying good sport. Exhibits of every character were being Snoved in with the rapidity usually seen on opening days. But few displays were In place and complete. This is a trouble with all fairs, and the public cannot enjoy ths sightseeing as they should until af ter the first two or three days have pass ed. The Savannah fair was no exception to the rule, although every effort was made by the managers and exhibitors to throw the doors open to every department on opening day last Wednesday. The Agricultural Display. Naturally, the most important features of our state fairs are the exhibits of the field products. It has been many years since a larger or more complete gathering together of our agricultural products from all parts of the state has been seen than those now tn place at Savannah. From Bartow county, in north Georgia, down to the coast are seen the products raised on the soils of not less than fifteen different counties. They are presented in complete form and detail It will be a hard matter for the observer, without a most thorough and careful Investigation, to say which county is entitled to the highest award of merit. In addition to the county displays, there are a number of individual exhibits, show ing the possibilities of Georgia farms un der on* management. No man can go through the two large agricultural build ings. which were necessary to hold the extensive exhibits in agriculture, and not fully appreciate the reasons why' Georgia has for so many years held the title of the Empire State of the South. Aside from a few tropical plants and fruits raised in southern Florida, there can hardly be named an agricultural product raised anywhere in the United States which cannot be seen in perfect form and in abundance in the agricultural exhibits at Savannah. It is a sight well worth the time and expense of every farmer in the state going to see. A practical illustra tion is presented of the diversified re sources of the state, almost countless as they are tn number. The livestock display w*» not up to the usual standard of ex cellence. Perhaps that feature of the fair had not been fully brought in the day I was there. Nearly all the thoroughbred beef cattle on exhibit had been shipped tn from distant states. Several fine Devon bulls and cows came from Pennsylvania. I trust the day is not far distant when in our agricultural fairs will be seen ex hibited as fine beef cattle by Georgia farmers as can be shipped from any other section of the country. This is already true of all other classes of farm products, and the same should be said of our livestock industry. All that is needed is the effort. We have already the land, the climate and the food-stuffs necessary to raise as fine Devons, Dur hams, Redpolls. Heresfords and short- Our Best Offer. TWO LOVELY PICTURES FREE 1 every new subscriber who will send us $ 1 ' i for one year’s subscription to the Semi- Weekly Journal we will send post paid one picture of our martyred President and one of Mrs. McKinley; renewals to count the same as new subscribers. The pictures are mounted on black velour mats 11x14 inches and are beauties. Now is the time to get two good pictures free. i ' Send at once before the supply gives out. Address The Journal, .Atlanta, Ga. horns as any other state in the union. It is gratifying to note the rapidity with which our farmers are buying thorough bred strains of beef cattle, and in less than ten years cattle of the finest kind will be exhibited by Georgia farmers, and the foreign cattle sent in here will not be able to any longer carry away all of the blue and red ribbons. The people of Savannah have expended ISo.OdO in making all needed preparations for the Georgia State Fair to be held this year. A large number of counties and individuals have gone to great expense in making the exhibits of the state s re sources a great success. The people of the state, the farmers especially, with their wives and children should take ad vantage of the cheap rates of travel of fered and go for a few days' outing to the state fair. The visit wi>. not only be pleas ant and entertaining, but it will be profit able to every man who wants to make progress in the field of agriculture. HARVIE JORDAN. EXCHANGES. The Vegetable Garden. Exchange. A deep, pliable loam that is well drain ed and easily worked is best for the gar den and a general incline to the east or south is generally preferred. For the beat results the preparation of the soil should be commenced in the fall or early winter by turning under a heavy coat of barnyard manure and cross plow ing several times at intervals during the winter te thoroughly incorporate it with the soil. The last plowing should be very deep, reaching into the subsoil. But never stir the ground when it is wet enough to be sticky. Where this preparation has al ready been made but little else will be needed in the spring. Yet a light sprin kling of commercial fertiliser containing 8 or 10 per cent of potash would doubtless be helpful, but this is not indispensable to success. Plenty of stable manure spread on in the fall can always be relied on. Where the soil has not been previously manured and plowed, no time should be lost in getting it ready, for some of the seeds should already be planted In por tions of the south. Such as peas, onions, lettuce, mustard and radishes. But farther north, where the climate is colder, no time has been lost. I speak only of outdoor planting, for I am not a hot house gar dener. When the land has not been made suf ficiently rich by broadcasting the manure. I find that three to five hundred pounds per acre, of a mixture of two parts acid phosphate and one of cotton seed tneal, scattered in the row and thoroughly mix ed with the soil, brings very good crops of most any kind of vegetables on ordi nary land. It Is very Important the fer tiliser be thoroughly incorporated with the soil, for if it comes in contact with the seeds before the rains have soaked the substance through the soil, it will be likely to destroy the germ of many of them, and the stand will be poor. But stable manure is unsafe to use in the drill at planting time for certain vegetables, even though It be mixed with the soil. I have noticed the bad effects of this in beans more than anything else. It is hard to get more in the row than would be if broadcast and thoroughly mixed with all the surface soil, and my experience has been that, when used in this way, the ammonia in the manure kills nearly all the seeds. It should never be used in the drill for beans, unless it be scattered along the rows during the fall. The grower who plants for market, can not be too careful In starting the garden right, so as not to have any back sets in the early crops. If stable manure be used in the spring, it should be very finely pulverised, and broadcast, and well stirred into the soil to a deuth of five or six inches. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE. if you want The Semi-Weakly Jour* ril go to your postmaster, buy a post office order for one dollar, send it with your name and postoffice to The At lanta Journal, Atlanta, Ga. Look over the paper, select any premiums you desire and tell us In your letter the one you have selected. Life in Six Chapters. Town Topics. Chapter L Born. Chapter 2. Bred. Chapter 3. Engaged. Chapter 4. Wed. Chapter 5. Worried. Chapter 6. Dead. THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, 'GEORGIA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1901. State uniformity in text-books is a live issue, and it looks now as if it will play a part in the present session of the gener al assembly of no mean importance. If our information is correct there are now two bills pending, one each before the house committee on education and the senate committee. The one in the hands of the house committee is said to be very impracticable and no doubt will kill Itself. It excludes the town and loeal systems of schools from the operation of its re quirements and seeks to saddle uniformity on the rural districts of the /state alone. This bill, if called a state uniformity measure, is a misnomer. It should be dubbed “Rural District Uniformity Bill,” and the average citixen would then recog nise It when met in the road. The one the senate committee is considering is proba bly more comprehensive in its scope in that It seeks to cover town and local sys tems as well as the rural districts. There Is a book problem, it is true, but it has never been so serious or threatening as some people seem to think, alt is a fact that in many instances books are changed too often, especially the high school books. In some places they could be furnished for less money. But these evils are limited and can be easily cor rected without the adoption of state uni formity. In many counties in the state these troubles have Already been met, and today the matter is thoroughly under con trol and the children are supplied with books at absolute cost delivered. In these counties, as we will show later on, the retail price of school books compares most favorably with those of the states having uniformity laws. That uniformity In the use of text-books should obtain "within certain definite ter ritorial limits" there can be no doubt, bus that it should extend beyond the county it a question the wisdom of which has nev er yet been demonstrated, and to say the least, is full of doubt, uncertainty and danger. The county limit offers many advantages. The county is a civil division of the state, and under our present law Is the unit of school government. The school fund is apportioned to each coun ty as a unit on the basis of school popu lation. The county has well established boundary lines and is controlled, so far as its educational interests are concerned, by its own boards of education the mem bers of which are elected by its own grand jury. The schools In each individual county are Identified with each other in interest, history, organization, gradation and requirements. Each county stands alone in its supervision. The teachers and patrons of a county have a common interest in the welfare of its schools in dependent of every other county in the state. The county teachers’ association and institutes have drawn the teachers together as one in interest and purpose. “The pedagogical necessity for uniformity ceases to have force when it is sought to extend it beyond the territorial unit of school government, which is also the scope and erea o’ active co-operation be tween the people and their school offi cers, teachers and superintendents.” These and many others that could be mentioned are strong reasons why uniformity in text-b*oks should not be extended tn its operations beyond the limits of the coun ty- What advantages do its adherents claim for state uniformity? First, That it will reduce the price of books. Second, That it will prevent the periodi cal and frequent changes in books. Third, That it will save money to the people who move from one county to an other. Fourth. That it is necessary in order to secure in the state uniform course of study and instruction, uniform gradation and classification. Fifth, That it provides for competent judges in making selection of books. Let’s examine these arguments and see ii they are sound: First, Tn the light of history state uni formity has failed in every Instance to reduce the price of school books. It ap pears to do so by reducing the grade and character of the books. It is true less money in some instances is paid out lor a given number of books under state uni formity, but investigation shows that the uniformity books to be far Inferior to the regular standard. This, of course, neces sitates more frequent purchases, and in the end a greater outlay of money. We give below a table of comparative cost of school books in the 17 states that had adopted the plan up to the time this table was compiled, which fully demon strates the proposition that uniformity does not in fact cheapen school books. The table is taken from the “Florida School Exponent.: \ j 8- |* >;• I state - .P 0 0 p £ 7 if ® 5 1 Si ck SA . o X Kfa -Cb KH OH H California ... >T» 82.4518 .75 * .85 SI.BO 3 .80 Idahols 1.80 .94 .85 1.48 .80 «.73 Kansasll 1.83 .60 .60 1.16 .55 4.40 Louisiana ... .17 3.11 1.00 LOO 1.74 1.00 7.02 Missouril9 1.55 . 811 .81 1.23 .86 5.45 Michiganis 1.80 .75 .80 1.25 .75 5.50 Montana2o 2.06 .95 1.01 L 33 1.00 6.55 New Mexico* .17 2.11 .95 .99 1.80 1.00 7.02 Oregon2s 3.00 1.00 1.10 1.90 1.00 8.25 So. Carolina.. .20. 1.82 .96 1.00 1.80 1.00 6.77 South Dakota .17 3.09 .93 1.00 1.38 .88 7.09 Texas 15 1.53 .80 .85 1.23 .80 5.35 Vtah2s 2.60 1.00 1.10 1.85 1.10 7.90 Virginia .. ’.. .16 1.92 .95 .78 1.90 1.00 6.71 Washington . .16 1.66 .73 1.20 1.23 .80 5.78 Wyoming3o 2.65 1.07 1.00 1.80 1.00 7.73 List A.' .. ..8. 20 31.70 3 . 86‘31.06 31.85|f.80:36.40 Ust 812 1.51 .86 .53 1.44 .75 5.00 Liat Cl 5 1.33 - 78| .92 1.55| .82] 5.55 We wish chiefly to call attention to the lists marked "A,” “B” and “C,” as com pared with the states named above in the table. The list "A” comprises 13 books, the same number as does each state list above, "all standard and the most of them the very best in their line, taken from a recent catalogue of one of the leading schoolbook publishing houses of the Uni ted States. The books are the very latest and best, and many of them, if not all, are more or less in use in the public schools of this state. It is the equal of any state list yet adopted, and far supe rior to the majority of them. We have given their catalogue or list prices, which is. as every one knows, the price at which the publisher will deliver them in any quantity anywhere.” This set of 13 books can be bought in any open market for $6.40. In California, under the uniformity system, a similar set of 13 books costs the parent >6,695; Idaho, $6.73; Louisiana, $7.02; Montana. >6.66; New Mexico. 17.02; Ore gon, >8.25; South Carolina, >6.77; South Dakota, 57.09; Utah, >7.5.; Virginia, >6.71; Wyoming. >7.73; The parents in 11 out of the 17 states named could have saved money by simply being let alone and allowed to purchase their children's school books in open mar ket; and, from the reports inat come to us from many of the uniformity states, better books by large odds, could have been secured. The set marked ”B” is not so good as “A.” It is a list of 13 books taken from catalogues of reputable publishing houses and is made up of standard publications. Their list or retail prices are given, at which any one anywhere can purchase them, amounting in the aggregate to >5. This is >1.40 less than the set A,” for the reason they are somewhat inferior to the first. Yet these 13 books can be bought by any one for less money than the sets of any of the 17 states named except Kansas, "the books of which are noto riously inferior and could hardly be giv en away in any other state.” By compar ing the cost of set "B" with those of each of the state sets, it can be seen how much the parents of those states could have saved had they not been com pelled by law to e the state monopoly. Refer, now, to list ,“C” in the above table, and while we examine and com- Compulsory State Uniformity in Text Books. BY M. B. DENNIS. pare give the matter your undivided at tention, for we are dealing with facts in this case i..ai are tangible, local. This list represents 13 books corresponding to those in the lists above. x.»ey are the legally adopted books of the county of Screven, state of Georgia, and the prices given are those paid by the parents of that county. These books are uie latest and very best, and the prices at which they are sold in Screven county are what each county in the state of Georgia can sell the tame class of books for if the proper steps are taken by the different county boards of education. There Is law enough authorising the necessary steps. This set of 13 books costs the parents of Screven >5.55. Os the 17 states named only four—Kansas, Missouri, Michigan and Texas—furnished corresponding books to their children for less money than does Screven county. In our own county, Put nam. the corresponding books are sold for M.i-0, including two spellers. Healthy, open competition must be killed and the quality of the books lessened before state uniformity can reduce their price. 2. It Is claimed that state uniformity pre vents the frequent changes of books. True, this objection might be met by tho inauguration of uniformity by a state, but It strikes us as being a very expen sive remedy. The preventive will cost more than the malady. But state uniform ity is not at all necessary to correct this evil—if such an evil exists in Georgia. The contract period in this state Is already five years, and no bill looking to state uni formity proposes to lengthen this period, that we know of. The matter as it stands today on the statute books Is so hedged about with legal requirements that to make a change In the adopted books of any county is a tedious undertaking, and no uniformity measure will make it any more impregnable or less liable to abuse. The matter is already thoroughly under legal control, and state uniformity will not. cannot, make it more so. 3. It is claimed that state uniformity saves money to the people who move from one county to another. To answer this argument it is only necessary to state that this moving class of people constitute only 5 per cent of our population. Now, who is entitled to more consideration, the 5 per cent crowd or the 95 per cent crowd? A universally objectionable measure thrust upon this state for no other rea son than to satisfy 5 per cent of its popu lation is nothing less than a crime. Not only so, the same argument can be of fered for national uniformity. The same county conditions relating to this peri patetic class of people, that demand state uniformity,when applied to the state would demand national uniformity; and the same arguments In favor of one will answer for the other. Now, we do not suppose that Georgia holds within her boundaries a single person to the manor born, who favors national uniformity of text books. 4. State uniformity is necessary, it is claimed, if we would have a uniform course of study and instruction for the state, and uniform gradation and classi fication. Allowing that a uniform course of study and instruction for the state at large,and under certain circumstances and as a last resort, would be a desirable thing, it cannot be demonstrated that it is needed at this juncture. Step by step, county by county the uniform course of study and gradation are being adopted and applied to the schools of each county, and as rapidly as conditions will warrant it is spreading over the state. The pro gress may be slow, but It is healthy. Un til conditions all ever the state become ripe for such a step a state law requiring immediate and simultaneous county action could never be enforced. What would suit one county would never please another, and trouble would follow. This is strik ingly illustrated by ttrer fact that while many of ‘ the counttesJßr Georgia have adopted a uniform course of study, grad ation and classification for their respective schools, others are bitterly opposed to the innovation as yet, and spurn every sug gestion in that direction. This spirit has manifested itself more than once in the annual meetings of the county school com missioners. If we are just let alone we will yet get there, and “right side up with care,” slow though it may be. 5. It is claimed tnat state uniformity provides for competent judges In making selections of books. This may or it may not be true. It depends altogether upon who Is placed on tho book commission. It has been urged by some writers and speakers on this subject that the creation of such a. commission charged with the duty of selecting the textbooks for all the schools in the state would open up oppor tunities for bribery, corruption and politi cal deals that few men could stand. We make no such assertion. We believe the commission could be readily formed of men in the state of unswerving. Integrity, who would perform the duties of the office without suspicion of fraud; but we cartnot believe that a state commission, at best an experiment, uncertain and in definite as to results, anu removed as it must necessarily be, so far from the field of action, can ever perform the work of selecting common school textbooks, es pecially for the rural schools, with the same appreciation of the local fitness of things as it is done today under our pres ent system. They might change the pres ent county adoptions, as, no doubt, they would, but the character of the books of a majority of the counties in the state are the best, from an educational and me chanical standpoint, and the commission, however wise and competent, could offer no improvement. Surely, they could do the work no cheaper than at present. We think our county board of education knows better what our county needs, and no doubt the authorities in every other county think likewise. It surely does not seem unreasonable to entertain such ideas. However, If the present manner of selecting school books is objectionable be cause those charged with the duty of making selections are Incompetent, the evil can be corrected without forcing up on the people the hideous state unformlty scheme. Patch up the present laws regu lating the election of boards of education and county school commissioners by re quiring in all applicants or candidates such intellectual qualifications as will in sure good men, and allow them to bring into their assistance, in making selections of books, any help they may desire from the teaching force of the county. So much toward answering the five ar guments in favor of state uniformity. Let's consider briefly some arguments agalnbt its adoption In this state. For the reason that this paper is already drawn out to a greater length than we wished we will simply make a bare state ment of the arguments without any at tempt at elaboration. 1. State uniformity ‘can never be estab lished and enforced except by arbitrary legislation and an unnecessary and un justifiable interference tyith the natural and domestic rights of the people. 2. State uniformity unmistakably points with threatening finger to national uni formity-centralization, which in the end means the death of competition, high priced books, and monopoly. 3. Individual county effort and prog ress would be hampered and destroyed by state uniformity. This In the end would put a stop to all improvement, for prog ress springs from individual effort. 4. The state might as well select the teachers as the school books. 5. It Is a mooted question whether state uniformity could be made to apply to the towns and local county systems now op erated under special local enactments. If not, its purpose would be defeated. 6. “There is an agrement of profes sional opinion that compulsory state uni formity is opposed to educational progress and detrimental to the best Interest of the schools.” The Idea largely obtains that amopg the teaching profession oppo sition to state uniformity in textbooks confined to the teachers in cities and to city superintendents, and that this oppo sition Is due to jealousy on their part lest the right to select books for their own use be denied them: and as a proof of this, w<; are pointed to the significant si- lence of the rural teachers as an evidence of their supreme indifference regarding the matter. But this idea is erroneous, as a canvass of the rural school teachers would demonstrate. 7. The complaint coming from parents as to the great number of school books they are compelled to buy is, in a very large measure, groundless. It grows mainly out of ignorance—want of infor mation touching the needs of each pro gressive step upwards by grades—and an innate disposition to grumble. Numbers and numbers of parents think the board of education has had a secret meeting and made another change in tha county school books, whenever they are asked to buy for their children new books to meet the requirements of higher classes to which the children have been promoted. 8. State uniformity “is found in none of the older states where public education has reached its highest development.” 9. “While it (state uniformity) is in separably accompanied by numberless dis advantages, dangers, and evils all pecu liarly its own. It does not remedy a sin gle existing evil that could not be as ef fectually met by other means without any of the objectionable features that ham per state uniformity.” 10. During the year 1898 nearly every county In the state made radical and sweping changes from old to new text books, adopting modern and most excel lent books. This change alone, as a mat ter of fact, necessitated quite an expendi ture on the part of school patrons. These new books are not yet thoroughly in use, a great many of them having been in troduced gradually, and if not interfered with by state uniformity measures, it can be safely estimated that the adoptions made in 1898 will in the main stand for 12 or 15, and perhaps, 20 years. So close upon the heels of that sweeping change made by a large majority of the counties, another wholesale change such as would certainly be necessitated by a state uni formity measure w r ouid be the height of folly. 11. Four out of the five members com posing the book commission appointed by the legislature in 1896 to study this ques tion and report at the next session, op posed state uniformity. 12. The question has been asked: "Who is to be benefited if this measure is en acted?” And the answer has come back: “Not the school officials, not all the poli ticians, not the school patrons. Then it must be to the interest of some publish ers.'' It is ,reported that Hon. Seab Wright, the champion of the measure last year, has abandoned his position as a re sult of the discovery that it is nothing more than a fight between publishers. 13. It is indeed a significant fact that of all the people interested in the success of the pending state uniformity bill who have figured in the lobby or appeared be fore any of the committees in the legisla ture to advocate its passage not a single teacher or school official, perhaps, could be found among the number. 14. If either of the pending measures is enacted it will not become operative until the expiration of the present book con tracts throughout the state. With a ma jority of the counties this will occur dur ing 1903. This being true, why such haste to saddle this measure on the state? In the face of developing facts and accumu lating experiences of other states who are now engaged in trying to determine the practicability of the measure, would it not be wise for Georgia to wait and watch at least until the present contracts expire? We think so. 15. "The authority to prescribe text books involves the right to say what sys tem of Instruction shall be pursued and what sentiments or principles shall be taught in the education of our children.-' When the people surrender this to the state or government they surrender the dearest rights belonging to freemen of any age or country. 16. In many of the states where unifor mity has been tried the measure has been repealed. All that is necessary to demon strate its impracticability and failure Is a trial, but we wish tq save Georgia the ex pense and confusion of a trial. CASTOR IA Tor Infants and Children. iie Kind You Hate Always Bought Alabama Constitution. "The friends of the new constitution, and especially the Democrats,” saya The Montgomery Advertiser, “are highly gratified with the reports which are com ing from all sections of the state. For a time it looked as if the question of ratifi cation w'as a doubtful one, but that time has passed. The people only needed to be Informed and shown the many and sub stantial reasons why they should prefer the new to the old. Few people could un derstand the work of the convention mere ly from reading the proceedings as they were published in the newspapers, to say nothing of the fact that but few, com paratively, outside the towns and cities had the opportunity of reading them. Now that they have seen and read it, and have heard it fairly explained, they see that the charges and insinuations made by the opposition are misleading and were in tended to mislead. The people are also get ting their eyes opened to the fact that the opposition is led almost entirely by men whose ambition for office has not been gratified and whose claims to Dem ocratic leadership have been set aside.” BOSTROM'S IMPROVED FARM LEVEL Is not a MAKESHIFT, but the best one made Tor Ter ~ racing. Ditching and Drain- age. Price >5.00. including oR Tripod and Sliding Target * Roa. Send for descriptive circular and Illustrated Treatise on Terracing, free. J. M. ALEXANDER 4 CO., bo .. S. Pryor St., Atlanta, Ga. NO CURE. NO PAY. MEN.-It you ha., .mall. v«*k [ organ., lost power er weakening Ml eeJ drains, onr Vacuum Organ Developer fe»” •>[ will restore you without drugs or l>' \ I *leetricityt Stricture and Varicocele It I permanently cured la Ito 4 week.; I ' eXplWg 75,0t0 in uwi not one failure; not (■k —e/ one returned; effect immediate; no C.O.D. fraud; write for free partieu lars. rent sealed in plain envelope. LOCAL APPLIANCE CO. iOS Tll*rp Btk., IsfitaiHUt. lai ONE CENT For ten sample copies ot tne Semi-Weekly Journal. Write the names of ten of your neigh bors on a postal card, mail to us and we will send a sample copy to each name free. Address The Journal, Atlanta, Ga. Horticultural Topics Conducted By P. J. Berckmans ABOUT ROSES. The limit of this article precludes giving a history of the rose or a description of all the species known to botanists, be cause of the large number which have little or no ornamental valu*. Upwards of 100 species are described, and as these are disseminated throughout the various countries of the world, they have by cross polennation produced well defined sections as recognized by rosarians. From these numerous species, cultiva tors have combined the best characteris tics of those indigenous to certain coun tries, thus making the growing of roses possible from extreme cold climate to the tropical, providing thpt a proper discrim ination as to their relative adaptability is considered. In the southern states the climatic conditions although of great va riance, permit the cultivation of many more sections, now recognized as types, than are possible further north. For instance the exquisitely shaped and scented tea roses which are the glory of our southern gardens, require artificial glass cultivation in colder regions, but there under skillful manipulation wonder fully perfect flowers are produced, the ex act temperature which will bring out their finest points can thus be better reg ulated than is possible in open ground where sharp winds or fierce sunshine often causes rapid discoloration or withering of the flowers. The months of September and October are the best to see roses in perfection at the south, be cause of diminishing hot weather and cool nights. In addition to the tea rose class we have the magnificent Noisette and Banksia Pectlons, which do not succeed where the mercury falls to zero, and in those sec tions the amateur roaarlan has to de pend for climbing roses upon the more hardy sections of Prairie, Polyontha. and the recently introduced improved varieties of Wichurians. The latter section blds fair to give eventually an entirely new race of climbing roses, but so far they are only spring bloomers. Whenever a perpetual blooming rose of this class can be produced. th*n northern gardens can be adorned with additional material of which there is at present no represen tative there. As our climate of the middle south is congenial to many classes of roses and the material for selecting so vast, we are often apt to secure varieties which do not give the anticipated results. In reviewing the lists of new roses which have been introduced within the past ten years, as compared with those of a previous similar period, the number of the latest introductions, although many times greater, contains a much smaller proportion of really good vari eties than are those of the older period. There are various reasons for account ing for the numberless indifferent varie ties which have of late years encumbered some nursery catalogues, the main one being that .the forcing of rosea under glass has stimulated the production of varieties intended for that purpose, but when these are grown in open ground they seldom give the perfect flowers which they pro duce under glass culture. The majority of the tea roses Introduced during the past ten years are fit only for forcing, and even in this instance the really profitable com mercial sorts number hardly one dozen, as can be seen from the wholesale florists' market reports. The successful forcing of roses requires a great deal of experi ence, because the same treatment cannot be given to all varieties, hence we find that with some growers certain sorts suc ceed better than with others, although grown under every possible care. There fore we find that a few special varieties are grown in ths western or eastern states according to locality, but not outside of these. Again, a certain flower becomes fashionable for a time, but fashions are changing and capricious, and the favorite of a season is often relegated for another in the next. Still there are some roses which will long hold their sway in socie ty demands. The American Beauty. La France, Bride and Bridesmaid. Meteor and Perle des Jar dins will be difficult to dethrone and re main the stand-by of the growers of forc ed roses for long time. But as our remarks refer mainly to the garden culture the foregoing reference to the forcing of roses will suffice. Out of fully 500 varieties of tea roses to which we have given a ful trial from two to five years and introduced during the past decade we have retained less than 50, whereas of the older sorts appearing during the previous 40 years a much larger proportion are still upon our list. Among these old standard sorts we have Bon Silene, Caroline Kuster, Duchesse de Brabant, Marie Guillot, Gloire de Digon. Hermosa, Marie Van Houtte, Perle des Jardins and an additional score which have withstood many years of cultivation and still retain a robust constitution. These roses originated before the forcing period began and were disseminated by the originators because of their good blooming qualities and strong constitu tion Very seldom are any of these old favorites affected with what is termed “die back,” a portion of the branches dying after a hard frost. This trouble seems to be inherent to many of the lately introduced sorts, especially those that produce large and well-formed flowers, and is a sign of weak constitu tion, whereas the indifferent bloomers are more free from it, but all they have in their favor is a strong growth. We look more for a good flower than a poor blooming but healthy plant. Some of the most exquisite varieties, especially among the hybrid teas, as La France. Caroline Testout, white La France, etc., which vleld a profusion of flowers, lack vigor and should be budded upon thrifty growing stocks which promote their growth. Many varieties of teas, like Per lede Lyon Perle des Jardins, Kaiserin Au gusta Victoria, the finest of all white teas, etc., always make a stronger growth and vleld more perfect flowers when budded upon Manettl stocks than when grown upon their own roots. Another sign of weakness In many of the newer roses Is a deficiency In their root system. While this defect is less apparent in plants grown under glass, it is a serious one when these varieties are grown upon their own roots in open ground, and this accounts for the loss of numerous plants which should be left for the forcing system. Even when some of these weakly consti tuted varieties are budded upon strong growing stocks they are seldom satlsfac torv and have gradually disappeared from cultivation. One of the most perfect flow ers of the hybrid perpetual class that ap peared in 1889 and which at once secured a leading place among foreign roses was the Puritan, across between Mabel Mor rison and Devoniensis, with large, very full, cup-shaped, pure white flowers and an unusually free bloomer during the whole summer. With all these fin* points which heralded it as of great value, the root system was so deficient as to pre vent its propogation upon its own roots, and when budded upon manetti the growth was so dwarfed the s*cond year as to cause it to be discarded after a fair trial. This is only one instance where caution must be had in depending too much upon the new roses and their suppoaed merits as given upon their first appearance. It requires two to three years' test in open ground in our climate to fully determine the ultimate value of a new rose. To the average amateur grower our ad vice is to depend entirely upon rosea grown In open ground and upon their own roots and especially of well tested sorts which have stood the extremes of heat and cold oFour climate. There is an abun- dance of such varieties, which inelude not only the best of the past ten years intro duction, but also the old favorites of forty years ago. But many of the exquisite varieties fail if grown upon their own roots, and in or der to perpetuate these they must be • budded upon manetti stocks. Such plants must be carefully watched because of .' their tendency to throw up suckers from the stock, which if allowed to remain starve out the graft and finally toll it- Therefore, in the hands of experienced or careless growers budded roses are oft«n unsatisfactory and are condemned, where as under proper care they yield larger and more perfect l flowers, as well as at tain a more vigorous growth than they will if grown upon oprn roots. Those who have seen the wonderful rose exhibitions in England and France often wonder why similarly perfect flowers are so seldom produced In our southern gar dens. It is simply that European growers And It preferable to propagate many roses by pudding in order to have their flowers attain the greatest perfection and consti tute what they term exhibition roses. The best soil for all roses is a good loam, deeply worked and fertilised with well garden soil is suitable, but plants fall if the soil is not well drained, "wet feet” being fatal, if the roots are kept in con tact with stagnant soil water. Roses re quire a soil free from the roots of trees. A frequent cause of loss or unsatisfac tory growth and consequently small and poor flowers is by planting too near trees or shrubs. The roots of the Manetti pene trate the soil very deep and plants budded upon such stocks are to be preferred in sandy soils, especially In Florida. Plant at any time after a killing frost and during favorable weather in winter, and whenever the soil is in proper condi tion. Plants set out late in spring often give disappointment from thedr first crop of flowers, which are usually small be cause the plant has not had sufficient time to become well established by the forma tion of new roots. This defect usually, disappears toward fall. Before planting It *s absolutely neces sary that Judicious pruning be attended to. and we cannot emphasize this suffi ciently. because in this lays a great deal of the future success. Select from two to three of the strongest branches, cut thesa back to three or four Inches and remove all the weaker ones. Each of these short spurs will give one or two strong shoots, which will yield larger flowers than could be expected if the whole top had been left at the time of planting. Annual pruning is advised. This should begin after a killing frost, removing all the small branches entirely and cutting back to 10 or 12 inches three or four of the stronger. Weak growing plants must be cut in shorter than those which are more vigorous. This applies to roses of the bush form of the ever-blooming class. Mass and spring bloomers must be eut back to half the past season's growth, and climbing roses should have the main stem left undisturbed and only the side branches shortened in. There are few insects or diseases which z affect roses at the south. The green fly, or aphis, which usually appears upon the new growth early In spring is easily killed by spraying wit- strong-tobacco water (one pound tooacco stems. 3 gallons boiling water; strain when cool and us* witin 24 hours.) Rose slugs, rose chasers and caterpillars,, which are the pests of northern gardens, are seldom found at the south; but the rose .leaf hopper will sometimes affect the leaves; it is easily destroyed by fumigating with tobacco or the application of a solution of whale oil soap used as a spray. Mildew can be checked by dusting the flowers And foliage with flowers of sul phur. Sun scald, which often Injures the flowers in spring or during periods, is without remedy or prevention unless the plants are covered with cloths. Roses are divided in many species, from the in termixing of which by cross pollenatton several types have been produced and are the materials of our garden. Tea and China Roses, being truly ever-blooming, will always be the favorites for the south. All are hardy below the mountain re gions and they include the widest range of colors, from pure white to all the shades of yellow, from a pale pink to tho darkest crimson, with darker centers or combining several tints. The Bourbon type are usually of short, vigorous growth, free bloomers and flowers often of great substance, all shades of white to red; no yellow. The hybrid Remontant, or as also called hybrid Perpetual, include more than 1,600 varieties, with colors ranging from pure white to every shade of red, from a deli cate pink to a dazzling crimson, purplish and maroon. They give the most perfect flowers, but differ greatly in habit of growth. One class gives tall, straight canes, frequently reaching a height of I to 6 feet in one season. These produce flowers upon the extremities and should therefore be pinched in during the sum mer. Another class has shorter and jointed wood. These are the most florif erous and the flowers usually assume the imbricated or flat shape. Next, we have the Polyanthas, a comparatively new class produced by crossing a Japanese type with the teas. The plants are usual ly of most vigorous although semi-dwarf habit, very bushy and yield a continual mass of small but exquisitely well shaped flowers. Then we have the Noisette roses, which contain both bush and climbing varieties of the latter, the best known being Chromatella, Lamarque, MarechAl Nlel, etc. Another class which has of late pro duced few varieties is the perpetual Port land, noted mainly for their delightful fragrance. Among the moss section are both spring and perpetual blooming sorts, but the spring bloomers are the best so far as the mossy coverings of the buds. The spring blooming section, especially Provins or French roses, contains some re markably beautiful flowers but now sel dom seen in our gardens. Then come th* Banksies with miniature white and yellow flowers that are so attractive In spring. The plants are of rapid climbing habit useful for covering arbors. The beauty of these roses can only be appreciated south, as thev are not hardy in our mountain regions. The old Cherokee and McCartney are frequently used for hedges and make a good stock for budding weaker growing teas. In England Lord Penzance hybrid sweetbriar roses are very popular. They suit a moist and mild climate. The flowers are single and very beautifully colored, being spring bloomers only, they will not be extensively planted south. Os the prai rie class many are desirable for cold cli mates where our beautiful climbing teas and noisette cannot be grown. Next and last comes a new race of northern Asia roses called Wichuraria. These are of wonderfully rapid growth and trailing. The foliage is small of dark est green and the flowers in the original type are pure white and produced in spring. This has been called the memorial rose north. It is valuable for covering rocks or slopes and hardy for north. Several hybrid forms ar* grown and are very floriferous In spring. Among th* climbing forms of the polyantha type the crimson rambler has created a sensation, but nowhere are the cluaters as large and fine as in the middle south. It is of vigorous habit and a glorious sight io spring. ?• J. B. PAINKILLER, ■o justly celebrated was introduced to tha public about sixty years ago. and now en jovs a popularity unequalled by any other medicine. For ths eure of dysentery, cholera morbus, rheumatism, coughs and colds, scalds burns, etc.. It is without an equal. Sold by all druggists. Avoid substitutes, there is but one Painkiller, Pei+y Davis’. Pric* 25c. and 50c. , 5