Newspaper Page Text
Talks With Farmers
Conducted By C. H. Jordan
♦ BubKrftwn are requested to ad- ♦
♦ dress all Inquiries for Information ♦
+ on subjects relating to the farm. ♦
♦ field, warden and poultry to the ♦
♦ Agricultural Editor. AU Inquiries +
♦ will receive prompt and careful at- ♦
♦ tentton. No inquiries answered by ♦
♦ mail. Please address Harvie Jordan. ♦
♦ Agricultural Editor. Monticello. Oa. ♦
♦ ♦
WATERMELON CULTURE.
The culture of watermelons as one of
the important money products of the farm
in 'nearly all of the southern states has
rendered the industry quite an extensive
one in recent years. All through the yel
low pine sections of Georgia and Florida,
known locally as the “wire grass” region,
the watermelon seems to thrive best and
annually hundreds and thousands of acres
of land are devoted to its culture. Per
haps the.most luscious and most highly
prised watermelons grown in the south
are those which are produced on the "wire
grass” lands of South Georgia. Other sec
tions may produce melons equal tn size
and appearance, but the flavor of the
Georgia melons are unexcelled and owing
to that fact they have won for themselves
a national reputation for superiority over
all others.
The large melon growers who are tn
the business extensively and who grow
melons for market are generally well post
ed as to the best methods of culture and
fertilisation. But nearly even’ farmer, no
matter how limited his farm area, is cer
tain to plant at I least a small plat of
ground in watermelons for his Immediate
family consumption, and it is to that
class, rather than the extensive melon
growers, that the information contained
in this article is directed. No man oper
ating a farm would be without these lus
cious melons during the warm days
of summer, and the proper preparation
of the soil and fertilisation will have much
to do with the success of the crop later
on.
Soil and Location.
A warm, sandy soil, light and not too
damp, la beet suited for the growth of
watermelons. Like the grape, the water
melon requires good under-drainage and
should not be planted on a flat, damp land.
However, the land should not be too dry;
sufficient capillarity must exist to keep the
roots of the plants well supplied with
moisture during periods of drouth. On
nearly every farm at least a small area
of such land can be found, and it should
be select for the melon crop. While
watermelons will grow on almost any kind
I of soil that has been nicely prepared and
property fertilised, if seasons are favor
able. yet when we inow in advance just
, what is best for the plant and can get it
< without risking too much to seasons, it
becomes our duty to take advantage of
what knowledge we possess and utilise It
to our best interests. Many farmers know
these facts from a knowledge born of long
experience, while others not so well posted
can acquire information by investigation
and save to themselves the laborious pro
cess of experiment. An ideal location,
then, for the production of melons to the
highest type of perfection is a warm, light
gray top soil, well drained, with a strong,
compact, clay subsoil. In the-absence of
such a subsoil. however, the crop will de
well if other condition* are there.
j Tao much humus, or rather vegetable
matter In the soil is not desirable, as It
has a tendency to make the melons watery
and insipid, reducing the percentage of
saccharine matter. In no case should mel
ons be planted the second year on land
which grew them the year before. At least
four yean shoqld. intervene, giving time to
exterminate certain insects which would
seriously affect the second crop and also
to give the land an opportunity to recover
from the drain the melon crop makes on
the potash element of plant food. I dis
cussed this question with extensive
melon grower in middle Florida some
weeks ago. and be said that if none of the
melons were allowed to remain In the
field and rot that a second crop could be
safely grown on the same ground, provid
ed a fertiliser rich tn potash was used. But
planted new land every year. Experience,
which is the hardest and best teacher has
clearly demonstrated that it is safest to
rotate the crop and not risk a second
year's planting on the same land. Perhaps
we may discover some day a means for
perpetuating the melon crop on the same
land as we do cotton, but it Is neither
needful at this time nor is it safe to do so.
Preparation and Fertilization.
The soil should be well broken and
thoroughly harrowed. In sandy lands
light breaking is preferable, though in
the stiff red clay lands of the more
northern belt it would be better to break
deeper, going down below the hard pan.
The roots of the watermelon prefer to I
grow laterally, and make the best develop
ment when conditions are not such as to
force the roots downward either in search
of moisture or where the soil has been
deeply broken. Pulverise the top soil with
the harrow until a fine, nice tilth has
been secured. Following a field planted the
year previously in cow peas will make the
soil soft and pliable. In laying off the
rows the distance should be gauged ac
cording to the fertility of the land. On
very rich land where a luxuriant growth
of the vine is likely to be decured, a
distance of 12x12 feet would not be too
much, though the average of 10x10 feet
is moot frequently employed. The l&nd
should always be checkedc so that the
hills will be equidistant apart. Check the
plat by running a light scooter furrow
in both directions, then the rows into
VIRGINIA-CAROLINA
CHEMICAL COMPANY,
ATLANTA, GA. RICHMOND, VA. CHARLESTON, S. C.
Largest Manufacturers of
FERTILIZERS
IN THE SOUTH.
Importers of
PURE GERMAN KAINIT, MURIATE OF POTASH,
NITRATE OF BODA, SULPHATE OF POTASH.
In baying fertilisers it is important, not only to secure goods of estab
lished reputation and high grade, but to buy where
YOUR WANTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION CAN BE SUPPLIED.
We are in position, with our unparalleled facilities and our many plants
located al! over the territory, to furnish all classes of goods and in such
quantities as buyers desire. When vou buv of us, with our immense
capacity, you know you can get the goods, and all you want of them.
See our nearest agent to you, or write us dPect.
Address VIRGINIA-CAROLINA CHEMICAL CO.,
ATLANTA, GA.
fee* for «*t Vlrylnia.Cmtin3 Almeaac. Free tor the asking.
' which the fertilisers are to be placed
should be opened out deep and wide with
a shovel plow*. After drilling In the fertil
iser and mixing it with the soil by one
or two trips in the row with scooter, list
on the row with turn plow, three furrows
on each side. The middles can be broken
out later. At planting time place from
10 to 15 seed in each hill, laying the seed
around in a circle, and pressing each
seed down with the finger, not deeper
than an inch. Some seed in this way w’ill
be more likely to escape the attacks of
insects and mice, than where they are all
dumped into place. Some growers re
plant every week, not waiting for the
first planting to germinate. At all events
plant shallow. The best fertilizer for
watermelons is well rotted stable ma
nure with a mixture of phosphoric acid
and potash, Drill In the manure, and «n
top of that a mixture of 409 pounds of
add and 400 pounds kainlt per acre or at
that ratio for smaller patches, and mix
the ingredients in the fgrrow with scooter
plow. If the stable manure cannot be
had use 400 pounds of cotton seed meal in
the mixture with other ingredients per
acre.
A teaapoonful of nitrate of soda drop
ped around each hill after the plants are
up. care be taken not to allow the fertil
iser to touch the leaves of the plant, will
give a quick and rapid growth.
Cultivation of Plants.
As soon as the seed are well up and a
stand secured, the plants should be thin
ned down so one vigorous plant. Some
growers leave two plants to hill, and while
a greater number of melons may result
they will not be so large or desirable.
After the first rain after planting break
out the middles with turners. The crop,
after the plants are up, should be worked
entirely with the cultivator, sweep or
scrape.
Shallow culture is the plan.
Plow always from the vines, that Is
never under any circumstances turn them
about for the purpose of working.
At second plowing it would be well
enough to sow a few peas broadcast near
the vines and so on until the vines have
covered the entire area, and will not per
mit any further working with plow or hoe.
There are a large number of varieties,
and ft is hard to advise whicn melon is
the best. For shipping, the Georgia Rat
tlesnake. Kolb Gem. and Jones stand at
I about the head. For the table or small
family use. the thin rind varieties such as
Seminole. Gray Jacket. Sibley's Triumph
1 and Dixie are among the most desirable.
The thick rind melons should never be
used for home consumption, when the
thin rind varieties are so much superior.
HARVIE JORDAN,
INQUIRY DEPARTMENT.
In your ‘Timely Talks With Farmers.”
give me the following information: I have
a lot of hard wood ashes and wish to
use them with phosphoric acid and cotton
seed meal. Please give me the amount of
potash in 100 pounds of such ashes.
Garlindville, Ga. J. R P.
Answer: In good, unleached hard wood
ashes you have about 5 per cent to
the ton, or 5 pounds of potash in each 100
pounds of ashes, nearly half the amount
of potash there is in German kanit.
I have a gilt that will'litter afeout the
20th of March. She can now scarcely
walk and the trouble seems to be In her
feet. It may be that the little holes are
stopped up. Please give me remedy.
Logansville, Ga. C. C. G.
Answer: Your sow has probably con
tracted a species of rheumatism caused
by lying in damp quarters. Place her in
dry lot.with good shelter and bedding. She
will doubtless soon recover.
Please give me the different available In
gredients of plant food contained in 100
bushels of green cotton seed. How much
oil would there be in 100 bushels of green
seed and how much meal and hulls and
lint?
Will it pay to sell green seed an<j put
the proceeds in standard fertilisers? 'Will
you give me the proper analysis of a fer
tilizer for corn and also for cotton to be
used on our red pimple clay lands in
Dodge county. Can you teil me where I
can buy a good durable stalk cutter?
Is nitrate of soda beneficial for cotton,
if so. at what stage should It be applied
and how much per acre?
Eastman. Ga. J. T. G.
Answer.—The following amounts Ts
plant food are contained in 100 bushels of
green cotton seed. , , .
S 3 pounds of nitrogen @ 15c $13.95
39 pounds of phosphoric acid © 5c.... 1.95
36 pounds of potash @ 5c 1.80
Total value plant food <17.70
The total amount of oil, meal, hulls and
linters contained in 100 bushel of cotton
seed would be about as follows:
60 gallons of oil at 35c $21.00
1.087 pounds of meal at $1.15 12.50
1.350 pounds of hulls at 25c 3.37
Linters , 1.65
Total value of products $38.52
You will observe that the value of the
plant food In the 100 bushels of cotton seed
Is about the same as the total value of the
meal, hulls and lint after being worked up
at the mill. But the value of the oil Is Ml
at present prices, which cannot be com
puted at anything in valuing the seed for
fertilizing purposes. The thing to do is to
exchange the oil In your seed at a fair
value to the mills and get back your meal
and hulls. There are a number of co-oper
ative ginneries owned by farmers in differ
ent neighborhoods where small plantation
oil mills will be Installed and the oil press-
THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL,• ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1902.
ed out of the seed so it can be sold and the
meal and hulls kept at home. They can
then buy the needed acid and potash, mix
up their own guano at home and save a
good profit to themselves. The best thing
for you to do is to exchange your seed for
meal and buy the acid and potash and
make your guano at home. It will be much
cheaper and equally as good as the best
grades of guano on the market. The best
general fertilizer for cotton is one which
will analyze 9 per cent ammonia and 3 per
cent potash, or as near that proportion as
you can get the mixture to analyze. For
corn, wheat or oats, use a fertilizer, ana
lyzing 10 per cent phosphoric acid 5 per
cent ammonia and 2 per cent potash, or a
mixture as near that ratio in a high grade
goods as possible. Write to the King
Hardware company, of Atlanta, Ga., for a
stalk cutter. They can either sell you or
advice you who handles them. Nitrate of
soda would only be advisable for cotton or
any other long maturing crop when ap
plied as a top dressing during the early
stages of growth. With cotton it might be
applied to advantage at the second plow
ing, using about 75 pounds per acre.
< I s♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦■s♦♦♦♦♦♦♦+♦
♦ WITH THE EXCHANGES. ♦
♦ +
About Millet.
Farm and Ranch.
Millet is ndt a safe feed for horses. It
has been fully shown that millet seed af
fect the kidneys of horses, and will event
ually kill them if such feed is long contin
ued. Fed with other hay, the effects are
not serious, but it is as a full feed that it
is dangerous.
Raising Mules.
Farm and Ranch.
The mule is as necessary as a factor of
modern warfare as soldiers. England is
recognizing that fact and purchasing
largely’ in Texas and the west. True the
Britons attributed one of their defeats at
the hands of the Boers to the disorderly
conduct of their army mules. England is
probably the first to use mules as scape
goats, to bear in their bodies the sins of
her generals, but in this the mules seem
to have been a failure, as the sin is still
attributed to the British officers. But as
a sure-footed and unkillable beast 6f bur
den, the mule has no equal among domes
tic animals. Armies when removed from
their base of supplies must have wagon
trains, and the wagons must have teams.
For this purpose mules are pre-eminent
on account of their patien|, plodding hab
its, and adaptability to rough roads, mud
dy road, or sandy roads. And above all,
they can better than the horse withstand
the privations of army life and the cruelty
of army teamsters. Wars inevitably ben
efit mule raisers, but are rather tough on
the mules. But armies must have cavalry,
too, a fact the British army in Africa has
recently learned, and this fact, and the
casualties of war, promise to stimulate the
raising of horses as well as mules. Our
own government being engaged in an en
terprise similar to that of the British in
South Africa, must become a large con
sumer of both horses and mules. There
fore, the premises considered, the raisers
of these animals have* cause of encour
agement.
Note premium list In this issue,
make your selection and subscribe at
once. ' i
A YOUTHFUL PROdTgY.
He Is a Connoisseur in Tobacco at the
Age of Four.
Exchange.
A smoker of cigars at 2 years of age and
a connoisseur in tobacco at 4, is the re
markable record of Russell J. Henry, the
little son of Joseph Henry, of No. 3637
State street, Chicago. The boy has just
entered a kindergarten school, but he
knows more about fine brands of Havana'
than he does his A. B. C*S, says the Mem
phis Commercial-Appeal.
He sat upon a rocking horse-today at
his home, puffing a big black cigar. “I
like strong cigars best,” he said, "be
cause they taste sweeter. I like a pipe,
too. I’ve got a lot of pipes. Most of
them I bought with my pennies. I don’t
like cigarettes.”
Russell has light hair and clear brown
eyes. His cheeks are rosy, and, with the
exception of his remarkable appetite for
tobacco, he seems an ordinary child. His
parents believe he will lose his liking for
tobacco before any evil consequences re
sult. The father consulted a physician
once and was told that there was little
danger of the child hurting himself.
“I have never been a heavy smoker my
self and do not see how the youngster
could have inherited his taste for tobac
co,” said Mr. Henry. "When he was two
years old his uncle gave him a cigar and
when he began to puff some one lit the
cigar. Russell took a mouthful of smoke,
held it a second and then blew it out,
laughing all over. Then he took another
puff. I never saw a child so well pleased.
From that day on the boy has been a
smoker. He would sit in his cradle and
puff a cigar with* the utmost delight and
it never made him sick.”
When Russell started to the kindergart
en school a month ago he promised his
mother and teacher that he would stop
smoking, and since then he has been
"tapering oft” on three cigars a day.
He has a collection of 300 pipes.
BIRDS AND
HARMONIOUSLY ALLIED
When any given form is the fashion,
many sides of life are curiously affected
by it. •
A striking instance is the .heart shape,
a shape pretty, easy to make and very
adaptable.
For some years it has raged on rings and
lockets, sachets, floral decorations, sofa
pillows, bon bonnleres and on articles in
congruous and absurd. Cakes have al
ways run to hearts, but of late years the
prosaic beaten biscuit takes on the like
ness of a valentine.
From causes too remote to guess, ser
pents can become the mode. Pigs, dogs,'
frogs, lizzards—anything.
When one of these breaks out (so to
speak), the alert manufacturer sees his
profit in it. adapting the shape Ho his pe
culiar line, be it jewelry or soap.
Birds are now making their way into
favor.
What started as a serious effort for their
protection is working its way out in un
dreamed of effects.
In addition to “Bird Days” in public
schools, articles and poems in periodica)
and paper, birds now figure on picture
cards and quiver on hat pins.
One of the great seedsmen for this spring
sends out a remarkably fine annual, full
of pretty colored plates. Like most suc
cessful men, qtiick to feel the public pulse
and enter into the fads of his cultured
patrons, he devotes a page to a new ge
ranium. calling it the bird geranium and
the varieties. “Bobolink,’’ “Nightingale,”
"Skylark.” He gives the picture of a nest
full of eggs and claims that his new
blooms resemble them.
While the resemblance cannot be said to
be striking, tfie up-to-dateness of Mr.
Henderson is remarkably so.
Mrs. T. B. Rice, wife of the mayor of
Greensboro, Ga., sends her name for pub
lication as a Bird Lover.
A woman of influence who uses that in
fluence for good, is a blessing to any com
munity.
Edward Bok’s Lenten Message.
Here is the Lenten season upon us: a season
given to us for quiet thought and a withdrawal
from the things of the world. Could there be
a more appropriate season for just a little re
flection? We ought, in reality, to take an
honest accounting of ourselves once a year, at
least, and twice a year would be none too
often for most of us. There Is a tremendous
amount of good to be had by getting off into
the quiet byways of life every once In a
while and leaving the busy thoroughfares en
tirely behind. There is nothing so good as an
occasional readjustment of ourselves.—Edward
Eok, in the March Ladies' Home Journal.
Carroll County Times: Atlanta's trou
bles never end; the Southern gives the
new depot proposition the frozen heart.
HON. MARTIN V. CAL VIN TALKS
ABOUT HOW TO GROW CORN
Every year has its duties, but occasion
ally a year dawns upon, us the duties of
which are more specific and exacting
than those of any preceding year. That
is the condition which rules this good
year of grace, 1902. .
The year just past was by eminence to
a large majority of farmers the most dis
astrous in a quarter of a century.
The seasons throughout the year were
exceedingly unpropltlous. We are “long”
on rain, so "long” the weather man tells
us that we have inches by inches of ex
cessive rainfall to our credit.
We should not be dismayed by the dis
couraging events of the past, but so pitch
our crops the current year, both as to
variety and time, that, with favorable
seasons, we may find ourselves on high
ground.
Every farmer, whatever else he may
plant, ought to plant for an unusually
large crop of .corn.
As I have frequently stated, eotton is
the only farm product south which pos
sesses the dignity of collateral. This fact
remains, and it stands at the front today,
that a small corn crop and resultant emp
ty cribs materially affect the value of the
collateral. The latter loses very much of
its importance—to the farmer.
I received a day or two ago, from a
leading firm of eotton factors of this city
a letter in which they used thia language:
"We commend your efforts to make our
farmers realize the importance of giving
proper attention to that (corn) crop. The
most prosperous years our section has ex
perienced has been when there was little
or no com to buy. Cotton factors are of
ten blamed for the lack of attention given
to growing corn, but this is very unjust.
You will find the factors urging their cus
tomers to raise plenty of com, and the
farmer who has the best credit with his
factor is the one that does not have to buy
corn.”
This firm, Messrs. Pope & Fleming, in
another branch of their business is offer
ing a cash prize of SSO to the farmer who
produces on a measured acre the largest
number of bushels es corn.
I am glad to note that in other sections
of the state similar prizes are being offer
ed. Let as many as will take advantage
of these offers and strive intelligently and
energetically for the mastery.
I want to emphasize the wisdom of
planting measured acres, whether there be
three or three hundred. There is tod much
guess work on the average farm. Very
recently I heard of a farmer who directed
that twenty acres in a certain field should
be seeded to oats. The sbil was prepared
and the oats broadcasted on a twenty-acre
basis. Later the strip was measured and
was short just seven acres. The piece was
sown by estimate.
A measured acre means economy in the
use of fertilizers and seed. At harvest
State Press On the Gubernatorial Campaign.
Ringgold New South: Politicians predict
that the gubernatorial primary will be
held about May 15th or 20th. Perhaps
some of the aspirants will decide not to
continue in the race after that date.
Waycross Journal: It looks like a joint
debate will be the only way Terrell or
Guerry will get an audience,
Abbeville Chronicle: Colonel Estill con
tinues his still hunt in South Georgia and
wherever he makes hie appearance he is
greeted enthusiastically by his friends
whose number Is rapidly increasing in
every town and hamlet of South Georgia.
Indeed Colonel Eatfll’s popularity is not
confined to South Georgia but extends
from the center to the circumference of
the state. Unless we are very much sur
prised there is a revelation in store for
those who think that Mr. Terrell has a
mortgage on the solid North Georgia vote.
As we before have remarked, if South
Georgia does her duty in this campaign
somebody is going to be greatly surprised.
Elberton Star: It looks like Col. James
M. Smith will announce in a few days as
a candidate for governor. If there is any
man in the state who can beat Hon. Jo
seph M. Terrell, we believe Colonel Smith
is the man. With the colonel in the race,
it will be a live campaign, sure.
Cordele Sentinel: We shouldn’t judge
Mr. Estill will drop out of the guberna
torial race by June Ist, as some editor so
gratuitously predicted, judging from the
way he is skipping about over the country
meeting the people.
Cherokee Advance: Colonel Terrell came
by invitation of the Terrell club to meet
the people of Cherokee and to make the
opening speech in his campaign. Notwith
standing he had already made many
friends-in Chbrokee, his coming strength
ened him and caused many others to de
clare for him who had not before given
much thought to the governor’s race and
consequently had not expressed a prefer
ence. Now. it is quite evident Colonel
Terrell may safely count on Cherokee,
judging from the expressions we hear and
the Interest that is taken in his Candida
cy by the people in all parts of the county.
Macon Telegraph: The Telegraph will
support the nominee of the democratic
party: it will print all the legitimate news
of this or any other campaign; but it will
not become the personal organ of any
individual seeking a party nomination.
This fact—this position taken by The Tel
egraph as soon as it came under the pres
ent management—is no reflection on any
gentleman seeking the nomination for
governor. Whatever may be the personal
attitude of the editor of The Telegraph
is another affair. He will exercise the
right of other citisens, and select and
vote for his own personal choice for gov
ernor in the primary.
We have long regarded the personal
organ as the bane of Georgia politics.
Mr. Estill's own paper is setting a most
admirable example in this particular.
He is making it in no sense his own
organ in this campaign. It is also a
matter of congratulation that the Atlanta
Constitution, the Atlanta Journal, the Au
gusta papers, and the Albany Herald as
well, are taking The Telegraph's line
this year—the line marked out four years
ago.
The old idea that a newspaper must
champion violently the personal ambi
tion of a candidate for governor, claim
the victory when he wins, file a fixst
lien on him and then boss him after
he is governor, is playing out, and ought
to play out, because it is harmful to
every principle that republics hold dear.
■ ■■■ »
Meriwether Vindicator: Col. Guerry’s
numerous interviews remind one of the
realistic poem of the Mississippi pilot
whose scow went down beneath the wa
ters of the mighty stream. He says of his
little craft:
"She heaved and she sot.
She sot and she heaved.
And high her rudder flung.
And every time she heaved and sot,
The worser leak she sprung.”
Walker County Messenger: The Meri
wether Vindicator accuses Mr. Guerry of
being afflicted with the cacoethes loquen
dl and the cacoethes scribendi. That is
the worst thing we have heard against
Mr. Guerry yet and if it is true it ought
to defeat him.
Dublin Courier - Dispatch: Barrooms
have been run out of Rojne. 'Tis true
that a dispensary takes their place, but
one dispensary is very much preferable
to thirteen barrooms. In fact, one bar
room is worse than thirteen dispensaries.
The South Georgian: We learn that
HBn. Robert Mitchell, of Thomas county,
will be a candidate for judge of this cir
cuit. If that be so there will be no walk
over in the judges’ race. We are glad the
time, if estimates be not the rule, there
will be drawn from the acre a lesson more
or less encouraging. To the wise farmer it
will prove to be a valuable lesson. What
have we been doing in Georgia, North
Carolina and South Carolina in the matter
of growing corn? Let us take the years
1892 and 1898 and see what each of these
states did for herself. In 1892 Georgia
made 32,992,000 bushels on 2.954,708 acres,
11.2 bushels per acre. In 1898 she made
26,586,548 bushels on 2,954,072 acres—an aver
age of 9 bushels per acre.
In 1892 North Carolina made 25,374.000
bushels on 2,485,010 acres, an average of
10.1! bushels per acre. In 1898 shp made
34,079,400 bushels on 2.433.600 acres, an aver
age of 14 bushels per acre.
In 1892 South Carolina made 16,713,000
bushels on 1,591,677 acres, an average of
10.5 bushels per acre. In 1898 she made 17,-
519,070 bushels on 1,751,907 acres, an aver
age of 10 bushels per acre.
My information is that North Carolina
farmers have been gradually but steadily
increasing the quantity of highgrade com
mercial fertilizers applied to corn. In 1898
they reduced’ the acreage given to corn
by 51,410 acres, but, by the free use of
commercial fertilizers, Increased the yield
over that of 1892 by 8,705,400 bushels. From
•an average yield of 10.2 bushels per acre
she pushed up to 14 bushels.
The result chronicled above is but an
earnest of what can be done in growing
corn successfully and profitably south.
Georgia and South Carolina failed to make
a showing as favorable as that of North
Carolina.
This year these two states ought to in
augurate a reform along the line blazed
out by North Caroling,
Georgia and South Carolina ought each
learn the lesson of producing a larger
number of bushels of corn per acre; this
can be accomplished through three agen
cies; a thorough preparation of the soil;
purchasing and planting the best seed;
applying to each measured acre a liberal
supply of a commercial fertilizer rich in
plant food—phosphoric acid, ammonia and
potash in proper proportions, the nature
of the soil and previous treatment being’
considered.
I do not believe that the average yield
of corn per acre credited to the three
states named represent them with even
seeming accuracy. The yield per acre is
insignificant compared with that of other
states whose soil conditions are about
the same as those of the states referred
to. Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina ought any time measure corn
per acre with Delaware, New Jersey and
Connecticut. But that phase of the case
aside; our people need to give larger and
more particular attention to growing corn
this year. Their every interest demands
it; a sound policy and existing conditions
require it.
Augusta, Ga.
judges are to be elected by the people and
not by the legislature. No worse lobby
ing and wire pulling was ever known than
have .been common in the election of
judges by the legislature.
Sparta Ismaelite: DuPont Guerry Js ac
tively canvassing the state, Ln the interest
of his candidacy for the gubernatorial
nomination. He is an able man and a
good speaker, and those who give him a
patient hearing are sure to hear some
thing worth thinking about. The Ismdelite
considers him the ablest man tn the field
for the office of governor. In addition to
this, he is, distinctively, the candidate
who embodies most of the reforms needed
in the administration of the affairs of the
state.
Jackson Economist: If one of thf can
didates for governor could Induce all the
other candidates for the various offices in
Georgia, from bailiff up, who will run in
the Democratic primary to vote for him,
he would get the nomination without re
ceiving any other vote whatever."
TAX PAYERS HAVE RIGHT TO
VOTE,EVEN IF THEY ARE WOMEN
To the Editor of The Journal: Some
time b.ack The Journal announced that
some of the women of-Atlanta wanted to
vote, that they wanted the city charter,
when revised to give them municipal suf
frage.
Now, I, in company with (I think I may
say) the great majority of your readers,
took this assertion as a little newspaper
joke. But in mentioning the matter as
such to a number of ladies I gradually
arrived at facts that surprised me and
sure would be an eye-opener to Atlantians
in general.
Try for yourself and see how many wo
men want school suffrage; who think that
women should be on the board of educa
tion; that they arertieeded in the sanitary
department (of course Whitehall street
is responsible for,this last.) Taxpaying
women warm to the subject of taxation,
and think they should have a finger in the
political pie of lue city.
‘ Not being a woman naturally I’ve never
given woman suffrage much thought,
but if the women want to vote—if they
are not satisfied with the present state of
city affairs (I don’t blame them much if
they’re not), I for one am in favor of let
ting every taxpaying woman of the city
have the satisfaction of helping in the
management of our municipal housekeep
ing. I can see no harm that could come
of giving the taxpaying women of our
town the right to vote, and as they
an intelligent, moral class of citizens, I
feel sure the city would derive much ben
efit from their direct influence.
W. F. LANVERS.
CASTOR IA
For Infants and Children.
Hit Kind You Hate Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
Woman Candidate for Judge.
Missouri has the possibility of having
a. woman as a judge.
It is Miss Daisy Dorothy Barbee.
She is a lawyer of St. Louis, and is said
to enjoy a lucrative practice in the fed
eral, civil and criminal courts.
Miss Barbee is a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for judge of the
probate court. *
“This is my first essay into politics,”
she stated to the Post-Dispatch. "Last
campaign the managers of the Democratic
canvass asked me to take the stump, but
I refused. I always hated politics and did
not approve at all of women taklng'any
part in political controversies. I feel the
same way yet, only I want to be probate
judge.
VI was going to run for justice of the
court of appeals, but 12 years is too long
a term. The probate court is better, and
then I have practiced a great deal there
and know that I am competent to fill the
position.
“I was in court one day and musing on
how nice it would be to be a judge. I
recalled that no woman in the United
-States was judge of anything. That even
ing I looked up the law and found that
my sex does not bar me from probate
judge, judge of the court of appeals or
justice of the supreme court. A circuit
judge must be a qualified voter.
“Os these I prefer the probate judge
ship because I am more familiar with the
duties, and again It permits one to attend
to private practice. I mentioned my desire
to several friends and they all indorsed me
and have led me to believe that I can
make a successful capvass.” j
SUGGESTIONS FROM I
OUR CORRESPONDENTS I
REGRETS TERRELL’S REFUSAL
TO MEET MB GUERRY
I am among those who regret "the refu
sal of Mr. Terrell to meet Mr. Guerry on
the stump. This regret is not owing to
any interest in the present campaign, but
its effects in the education of our people.
Georgia has been declining for many
years in oratory and in an alert, popular
intelligence. The cause assigned by the
best thinkers is our one-sided politics that
does not favor public and full discussion
of the great issues of the day. Other states
have not these conditions, and the dis
cussion of the tariff, money, imperialism
and similar subjects on the stump has
greatly tended to advance their popular
inteligence. Down here we follow the dull
monotony of our ways.
The reason assigned by Mr. Terrell is
the great one favoring the debate. Our
people need to learn self-control. Our
ipse dixit plan of managing politics has
given a slavish feeling to the people, and
when any little interruption of the boss
rule occurs the bosses resort to bulldozing
to suppress independence.
One result of the neglect of joint discus
sion is the adoption of machine methods
to elect our rulers. The committees of the
dominant faction, the expectants of fu
ture promotion, the beneficiaries of past
favors, the present appointees to the civil
service combine their forces and do all in
their power to prevent free and full dis
cussion of measures. We have in Georgia
an elegant institution for guiding out of
fice-holders, but it can scarcely be said
we have a school of statesmen.
Look at our representatives in congress!
Can it be truthfully said that since the
disappearance of Turner, Crisp and Law
son Georgia holds a place in our national
legislation equal to her past history, her
present industrial progress or her future
promise? Is this not the outcome of the
same machine methods?
Turn, now, to the oratorical view. The
decay of the literary societies in our col
leges has been much lamented. I under
stand that a committee of the trustees of
the university was appointed to inquire
into the facts as to other institutions. I
learn that the results are about as fel
lows: In the south, where free discussion
is deplored and, outside of South Carolina,
tabooed, the societies have notably declin
ed and little attention is paid to oratory.
In New England and the great west,
where there are two sides to each ques
tion, and the people are not too childish
to be trusted te hear both sides presented,
there has been a revival of interest in the
debating societies.
Aside, then, from the present campaign,
the action of Mr. Terrell is to be regret
ted. A. M. WILLIAMS.
BLACKBURN BLAMES
SENATOR SPOONER
As a reader and admirer of your paper
I desire to take issue with your editorial
expression that “Senators Tillman and
McLaurin disgraced their state and the
country in their sensational fisticuff in the
senate chamber.”
I also protest against the implication
that places Preston Brooks in this cate
gory of disfraceful demeanor on account
of his eminently just chastisement of
Charles Sumner for his brutal assault up
on the South Carolinian’s uncle.
If Senator Tillman was in possession of
information going to show that his col
league had betrayed his party for official
patronage, it was his duty to bls party
to uncover the treacherous deal.
Whether guilty or not. Senator McLau
, rin could not afford to allow the charge
of perfidy to pass, without some show of
outraged innocense. Even a guilty official
must protect the people who have given
him his commission, so long as he is per
mitted to enjoy the society of others who
are true to public trust. He owes this to
an abused constituency.
But Senator McLaurin should have met
the charge of corruption with a dignified
privilege statement, followed by a chal
lenge under the code duello. It was un
becoming and coarse to use such language
as he employed against his colleague, in
a representative body. More than this, it
was not a fit way to meet a charge im
pugning personal honor.
When this bitter and out-of-place lan
guage was employed, it was natural that
every instinct of manhood should have
been fired beyond control, in the breast of
his antagonist, and the scene that follow
ed was therfore to have been expected.
Tilman was forced to resent the denun
ciation of McLaurin, on the spot, and
while the entire affair ‘may be deprecated,
there is certainly no disgrace in giving a
blow under such circumstances.
Cowards frequently dodge behind tradi
tional dignity, but Tillman is not that
kind of a senator, and the south can af
ford to do without such.
Nor is there any use in being hysterical
about the matter. Such scenes occur al
most every year in the national legisla
tures of Europe, and the United States
Senate is not so holy as to make them
sacralegious here.
According to my view, the disgrace, in
this particular instance falls upon Sena
tor Spooner, who acted the Ransy Sniffle
in the debate that led up to the charge,
and the president of the senate, whom
your Washington correspondent says, hur
ried a page to inform Senator McLaurin
of what was taking place. The idea of
such men talking about dignity is ridicu
lous hypocrisy.
Then President Roosevelt, in withdraw
ing the invitation that he had addressed
to Senator Tillman on account of his be
ing in contempt, requesting his presence
at the reception to Prince Henry, showed
a degree of littleness that suggests he is
sadly in need of conventional training.
Senator Tillman occupies a position in
gentility far above that exhibited by
Spooner and Frye—Notwithstanding his
fisticuff in the senate chamber.
All fisticuffs are common-place but how
are gentlemen to act, in the face of the
cowardice of legislatures in outlawing the
code duello, on which traditional courtesy
rests. B. M. BLACKBURN.
TAKES ISSUE WITH SAM JONES
AS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In his letfar of January 27, Rev. Sam P.
Jones "jumps onto our common schools
with both feet.”
We would respectfully suggest to Bro
Jones that two other things are about as
free and common, and of equally as ques
tionable value, as these schools, viz., free
criticism and free advice.
The education of the masses is a matter
of the gravest importance to all free peo
ple. Our system of free public schools is
the most potent educational factor we
have, and Is the outgrowth of the broad
est patriotism, the most earnest thought,
and the most faithful work that have
marked the development of any of our in
stitutions.
If Brother Jones has worked out a bet
ter plan, millions of good people will wel
come it, but abuse or unkind criticism
will accomplish no, good.
We do not claim that the system as it
exists in Georgia is perfect, but until he
offers something better he has no right to
destroy it.
He is pleased to divide the patrons of
these schools into three classes: •
1. Those who are taking advantage of
the best schools available.
2. Those who send their children to
school because it is fashionable.
3. Those who send them there because
they don’t know what else to do with
them.
1. To a large number of our people the
free schools are the only ones of which
they can take advantage and the state
has wisely planned to place within their
reach Instruction that is oiten far supe-
rior to that obtained in private school* at
a much greater cost.
In our native state the children of itz
greatest railway magnate were educated
in the public schools for the simple rea
son that they were as good as could be
found.
In many cases schools are free to some
while others pay tuition, or free for a
term to all, then all pay. The advantage*
are the same.
We know of one school where pupils re-,
siding in the district were admitted ,at a
public cost of seventy-five cents per
month, while those from outside paid
four dollars per month for admission to
the same classes.
Many of the best students in that school
could not have paid the tuition.
Free schools are, the most economical,
and for that reason are a blessing to all
to whom the cost is a consideration.
2. If there really are any parents who
send their children to school because it
is fashionable we should thank God for
that one fashion!
3. If there were only the last class to
deal with, the mission of the public school
would be a grand one, and amply repay
the whole coqt. We must admit that
many children are born in homes so ut
terly benighted* that their parents would
never think of educating them if it were
not for the public schools. There are
thousands of the most earnest, faithful
Christian men and women in the state en<
rolled as teachers in our public schools,
who are carrying the light of education
into all the slums of our cities and the
darkest comers of the rural districts. We
are not willing to grant that any profes
sion or calling is marked by a more ear
nest consecration or a greater fidelity to
an important trust than that of the nor
mal schools, the teachers’ institutes or
the Chautauqua meetings, and you find
the teachers of these schools in evidence,
seeking every opportunity to better fit
themselves to meet the solemn responsi
bilities of their high calling.
There is no Investment made by the
state that brings a better return than the
money paid to the public school teachers.
As to Brother Jones’ rotten potato illus
tration. we think out teachers have quite
as much sense as any old farmer. They
can throw out the rotten ones and keep
the good. That is the way we did when
we were a teacher, "and the public said
amen!”
Yours truly. .
W. A. McNEELY.
ANSWER TO J. C. C. CARLTON
FROM J. B. ARMSTRONG!
I beg leave to reply in a few words to
what J. C. C. Carlton had yj say in last
Thursday's Journal.
The point in question in my first letter
was not with reference to the time when
a soul enters heaven. I only gave the con
ditions upon which a soul could be ad
mitted; hence what Brother Carlton al«‘
leges to be my view is wholly assumed- :
He says my “ideas are more or less un
scrlptural,” but he fails to specify where
in. I think' Brother Carlton’s ideas are
very manifestly unscriptural. Among oth
er detached clauses he quotes: “The dead
know not anythin®.*’—Ecc. lx, 5. Thia
seems to put Brother Carlton In that class
who think the soul as well as the body
remains in an unconscious state from
death till the resurrection. If that were
the case how happened Moses and Elites
on the Mount of Transfiguration, or how
was it that Lazarus and the Rich man
were respectively comforted and torment
ed? Christ said to the thief—Luke xxli, 43:,.
“Today shalt thou be with me in para
dise.” St. Taul referring to his vision
in the 12th chapter of second Corinthians,
uses the expression: "Caught up to the
third heaven” and "caught up into para
dise” as identical phrases. He saysc “X (
have been reading and studying the Bible
for more than 45 years and have never
yet been able to find where God has ever;
promised to reward any one by taking
them to heaven at death or at any other
time. There is no such promise in the
Bible. There is no such heaven brought
to view in «he Bible as that to which.
Christians aspire, and all who hold to
euch a view are simply following a de-'
iusion.” It is very remarkable that he has
devoted 45 years to this study and over
looked the promises of heaven. Permit
me. Brother Carlton, to cite you to a few
“And Enoch walked with God, and he was
not, for God took him-'* —Genesis v, 24.
"By faith Enoch was translated that he
should not see death.” —Hebrew xL 5.
You say: "The reward of the saintaTs to
be something more than a blissful home ip
an Imaginary heaven,” please read Mat
thew v, 12: “Rejoice and be exceeding glad
for great is your reward in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written
in heaven.” "For our conversation is in
heaven.” "Set your affection on things
which are above.” "Lay pp for yourselves
treasures in heaven.” “Here we have no
continuing city; we seek one to come.’’ All
these scripture texts are'- given to’ urge
upon us the need of preparing to enter
upon the rewards of heaven. While the
hope of heaven is fiot the chief cause to
actuate a Christian life, it is a great in
centive. The author of the Hebrews said
of Christ: “Who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross and despised
the shame.” '
While our conceptions of heaven may be
very meager, we think. Brother Carlton,-
we are scriptural as far as we go. With
much gratitude for your endeavor to en
large our spiritual horizon,* I submit
this with the same humble hope for your
self. J. B. ARMSTRONG.
Norwood, Ga.
•
For $1.40 we will send The Semi-
Weekly one year and the Five Vaseline
Toilet Articles and any one of the
premium papers offered with The
Semi-Weekly at SI.OO. This le the
greatest offer ever made and you
should take advantage of It without
delay.
To Write of Birds as People.
Neltje Blanchan, whose delightful nature
books have been so successful, will begin in
the March issue of The Ladies' Home Journal
a series of articles dealing with the “person
al” side of the birds. This elever woman has
made a close study of bird-life, and her dis
coveries and observations are most interesting.
She has found among the feathered songsters
many striking resemblances to men and women,
and in this series of articles she will tell of
these. In some instances the almost human
actions of birds, as she tells of them, are as
tonishing.
There is another good reason, so we are
told, why we need those West Indian is
lands; they vMll make such fine winter re
sorts. If somebody will now tell us how
to get there for awhile we are ready to
ratify the purchase.
BOSTROM’S IMPROVED FARM LEVEL
Is not a tuusiirr, but
jhe best one made for Ter-
C& .Wmß racing Ditdmtg and Drain-
- age. Price 15.00. includtair
Tr.pod and Sliding Target
• *1 Rod. Send for desuivMM
ZTx circular and HiustraCM
Wfc* Treatise on Terracing, free.
J. M. ALEXANDER A CO..
I* & $g s. Pryor St.. Atlanta. Ga.
BRANCH’S GENUINE
Rattlesnake Watermelon Seed I
Only pure strain In United State*, caretwlly
selected, kept pure thirty years. No ether va
riety planted on a plantation ot I,sa® acres.
Pkt., 10 cents; 1 os . 15c 2 oss.. 25e; % lb, 40c;
H th.. Me; 1 Jl.2a delivered. Remit regiatsr
ed letter or money order. Send for seed annuel.
M. I. Branch. Berselia, Columbia Co., Georfia.
5