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MB, 0. B, STEVENS’ INTERESTING TALK Georgia Commissioner ol Agriculture’s Hints. The scientific farmer. It is the Duty of Every Man to Aim High—He Who Makes His Living by Tilling the Soil Should De no Ex ception to This Rule. Talk of the Commiesioncr. I have written many letters urging the farmers of Georgia to take the ouo step that will make our great Statu absolutely self-supporting, "and some times I have feared that my persis tence would weary them. Hut when one know* that ho is right, lie niu3t persevere. In recent ta.ks from this department It has been shown that Georgia is not yet the self-supiioitlng Slate that sho was previous to the civil war. Tnough there is in this respect great Improve ment, much yet remains to be done. Until every needed step has been tak en, it behooves the Georgia Depart ment of Agriculture to give line upon Lue and precept u|k>u precept. In many sections of our State tho.’ Is still time for the sowing of wheat, rye and barley. By as much as w h have, through unfavorable seasons, fallen short In our crops of cotton and corn, by so much is the necessity up- I on us to make up the deficiency In the abundance of other crops. Unflagging energy is the price o' success, and this Is as true of farming as of any other business. It Is the diligent man, who shrinks not at any necessary toil, who makes his mark upon his day and generation. One of the beat signs of the times 1s the restlessness of the people in every Industrial pursuit, the constant striving after better things. A scientific farmer Is a learned mart, in that particular branch of education. Time was when no man was called educated who had not received a di ploma from a college. Now the man skilled in his proiesaion, whatever that may be, is classed among the scientific. It is the duty of every man to aim high. He. who makes his living by agriculture, should consider hlinsel! under obligation to do his work in such a way no will best promote the pros perity and happiness of his family. Whether ho believes it or not, he has no right to go on In the old slipshod way, making a bare living out of the soil which holds within Its bosom un told wealth for him who seeks It in the right way. He is unworthy the name of farmer, who sits Idly down, winning about his bad luck. Instead of •bestirring himself like a man to force fortune's smile. Of course, It la hard to be disappoint ed and to have one's expectations cut short by unfavorable seasons; hut the remedy is his going right, at it. again. "What If the ssy Is overcast? The dark appearance will not last; Expect a better day!." But, It is folly to expect anything to turn up, unless you make it turn up. The following suggestions from "The Southern Planter,” a farm journal published in Richmond, Va., are so practical tVat I take the liberty of glv tbem to our Georgia, farmers: "It should always bo home In mind that all t.he cultivation that can ho given either of these crops iwheat and winter oats), except it may be a har rowing of the crop in the spring, which though oft an omitted, is of great use in helping the crop, must ho given before the nop is seeded; hence, tno importance of leaving nothing undone that can conduce to a finely broken surface soli and a compact subsoil. Plow deep, harrow and roll frequently. Much good has been found to result in the west from subsurface packing. This is practically a reversion to a practice that has been in use in Eng land ever sli.ve we can recollect. The roller used for the purpose In England is one made with two large wheels, having the rolling surface made V shaped, the point of the V being leit about one inch broad. These two wheels are set on an axle, so as to run one on each side of the furrow thrown l>y the plow, so as to pack the seam "between each furrow. A third wheel is set on the other end of the axle to run on the unplowed land. This roller follows the plow, watting to •tart until three furrows have been turned. Ita use has been found of great benefit, especially when plowing •od land for wheat. The close pack *ng of the seams of the furrow pre sents seed from getting down under the furrow, where It rarely germinates or grows, and thus leads to a thin growth of the crop. These subsurface packing rollers can be had from West era Implement dealers, but we have not seen them advertised In the east. ■We have used the English form of roller and can apeak favorably of it. In Its alTsence, the corrugated Iron roller advertised In our columns by •a Charlottesville firm, which is prac tically the same as the roller known in England as a Cambridge roller, can be usefully substituted." .The same writer suggests that after the toll has been packed well, the sur face should be finely harrowed. To get rid of the ravages of the Hessian fly he suggests that in sec tion* specially annoyed by this pest, wheat should not be sown until after th© files have been trapped on a atrip of wheat seeded early and then plowed down, thus i. •r'lroying the eggs and pupa. About Cotton. As to cotton, see that it is pic "ked at fast as It opens, so that, it may not, by remaining on the plants, be stained anj wasted by storms. I would suggest that farmers, who are able to hold their cotton, should not be in too bij a hurry to get their crop to market end thus cause prior s to drop below the point of good profit. Shelter for Stock. In vome portions of Georgia It if necessary to provide shelter for sto r, during the winter, and, in fact, over a large part of the state stork will thrive better, if thus cared for during our cold spells. Now is a good time to have all barns, sheds and pens thor oughly cleaned, repalied and white washed, so as to be in the beat possi ble condition for housing your stock comfortably. Farm Implements. The careful fanner saves himself great loss by looking after his farm Implements. This is a good time to sec that all those not at this time in use shall be thoroughly cleaned and! placed under cover. O. B. STEVENS, Corn, of Agriculture. Silk Culture In Georgia. When the colony of Georgia was first founded, it was intended to make! It a great silk-producing country; hut; when the cotton gin was invented, the fleecy staple catne prominently to the: front and King Cotton, mounting his throne, for a long time ruled Georgia with despotic sway, supplanting all other industries. But the time ha 9 come for the old king to take a lower place and share with other Industries In promoting the strength and great ness of our noblo commonwealth. Efforts are being made to arous9 once more an interest among the peo ple of Georgia In silk culture. North Carolina has of Into years made somo progress on (his lino. Thinking that there Is something of promise to Geor gia In the silk industry, we publish ttio following correspondence: “Tallulah, Falls, Ga., Oct. 18, 1902. Mr. Ft. F. Wright, (Asr’t. Com. Dopt Agriculture) Atlanta, Ua.: Dear Sir; Referring to our conversation of recent date, I beg leave herewith to en ase you a letter referring to the organization of a "Silk Culture League,” which you may print In your monthly talks through the various papers that you control. I also beg leave to enclose list of names to whom I have addressed a let ter similar to the one sent to you Oct. sth. I will he glad to have you make mo a list of about 25 to 50 prominent men and women throughout the state to whom l would like to address an Invi tation to assist in the formation of the proposed "Silk Culture League.” Thanking you for many jvast favors, I am, your truly, Ixiuls B. Magid. Tallulah Falls, Ga. ( OOct. 5, 1902. To tho Editor: I note lu the press with much inter est. that certain |>eople of Georgia are making worthy efforts to honor Gener al James Edward Oglethorpe with the erection of a monument to his memo ry. Tills noble work is commendable within itself. One hundred and sixty-eight yoara ago when General Oglethorpe first set. tied the colony of Georgia, he encour aged and introduced silk raising. Tne press lias given considerable attention to my recent efforts to en courage the people of Georgia to re vive and reintroduce the raising of silk. Since the commencement of ray actual operations in the introduction of silk-raising in this vicinity, 1 am the recplent of a great number of let ters from people throughout the state and sister states with the general in quiry, "How should we begin silk raising?, a leading motive with them being to improve their present condi tions and circumstances. Many of the writers tell me that they are widows and some are In ill health or other imperfect surround ings which prevent them from earning an uonest living. Silk raising is a simple and light industry, lasting only six weejos. but most people are ignor ant of the art of producing the raw •ilk. 811 k raising in Georgia would diversify the product* of the farm, and afford to many an aoceptabls in crease of Income. I t>eg to offer the following sugges tions to the people of our elate, espe cially to the more prosperous people who have the Interests of the state at heart and are able to assist those who are not so fortunate, especially those people living in the rural districts who need some simple occupation, for instance; widows, orphans and even old men who are too feeble to do any or dinary - field work. I will gladly answer all letters and give all the Information at my command, as it Is partly for this puri*ose that I have located here, to demonstrate the art of silk raising to the people of Georgia. In the Southern State* silk raising can be Introduced and made to pay. I. therefore, appeal to the people of Georgia in their own behalf, to form an organisation to be known fte -The Silk Culture League of Georgia." the purpose of which shall be to collect and acquire all proper information, based on scientific methods, as to the production and raising of silk, and through this Silk Culture to diffuse and encourage the knowledge and art of silk raising in our state. I have already mentioned this mat ter to several prominent Georgians, THE BARNESVILLE NEWS-GAZETTE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1002 who have the intert -st of the farming people of our state at heart, including the commissioner and assistant com missioner of the agricultural depart ment. of the State. These have ail assured me of their hearty co-opera tion. I shall be glad to near more from Georgians on the subject and re ceive such suggestions as with their co-operation will help to organize this propos :A "Silk Culture League oi Georgia.** Such aa organization to revive silk culture in Georgia which was th dream of General Oglethorpe, would he a second monument to the Gener al’s memory. Respectfully, Louis B. Magid. The Department of Agriculture has for many months been in correspon dence with Mr. Magid on this impor tant question and not only has given him all possible encouragement, but will continue to do so. Through the agency of this department Mr. d was present at the meeting in Nash ville of the Agricultural Commission of the Southern States, and made before them an earnest plea for seri-culturs In the South. lion. R. J. Redding, director <i the Experiment Station, in a recent letter to Mr. Stevens, says: “It strikes mu that it may bo well for us to take up at this station a line of experimental work in Silk Cul ture, and if you, as Commissioner of Agriculture, will handle the commer cial end of the proposition, that is: looking to the supply of mulberry trees and silk worm eggs, i will attend to the experimental part. What Jo you think of it? * * * I can apply for 100 trees on the terms mentioned in Mr. McCarthy’s circular, and have them ready for operations when they become large enough.” The circular of Mr. McCarthy re ferred to by Mr. Redding Is as fol lows: Free Mulberry Trees for Silk Growers! The first season’s experience in silk growing in North Carolina has proved a most gratifying success. It has demonstrated that the women and ch’l dren of the State may, by light and in. teresting work during six weeks of early summer, earn, without interfer ing seriously with their ordinary du ties, at lest S3O. Those Who can de vote more time to the work may earn much more. To place silk growing upon a permit nent basis we must increase the out put of silk cocoons to a volume which will attract to the State silk reelers and weavers, thus creating a home market for the product of the Bilk worm. The first and most necessary step is to increase the available supply of silk worm food. We must plant mul berry trees until each farm suited for this kind of work has at least 100 trees. Every farm having dry soil, lying betwen Goldsboro and States ville or Asheville, can successfully grow silk. In order to encourage the planting of the mulberry, the State Department of Agriculture will distribute among the farmers of North Carolina in lets of 50 and 100 rooted seedling trees of the varieties best suited for feeding the silk worm. Not more than 100 will be sent to one person. Those who want more will be supplied at cost prices. We do not recommend the planting of more than 100 trees by any farmer. Recipients of trees will be required to pay postage or expressage at the rate of 1 cent per tree. This must ho enclosed with application. Trees will Lh delivered during No vember, which is the best month for planting in this Stare. Full direc tions for planting and caring for the trees will be sent to each applicant. Silk growing will prove a valuable nature study, and a remunerative art in schools, and is well worth the ab tention of all who havo supervision over educational institutions. It is also well adapted for charitable Insti tutions. Public Institutions which wish to experiment with silk grow ing, will be supplied with trees at a nominal price. Applications will be filled In the or der of reception. Address, General McCarthy, Biologist, N. C. Department of Agriculture, Raleigh, N, C, ~ „ * - -;! 9 In ‘‘Georgia Historical and Industri al." published by this department in the fall of 1901, is found the following paragraph (page 847): | "Silk industry which in the last few years has grown rap id ly in the United Statee ie the manu facture of silk. In 1890 there were 718,360 spindlea and 20,822 looms. In 1900 there were 1,426.246 splndlee and 48.246 looms. It is mostly confined to the Northern States; but Virginia and North Carolina havs entered this field, each with 30,000 spindles. North Carolina has also 1,455 looms, and Vir ginia 350. "Although Georgia was originally In. tended to be a silk-producing country, at this time the State Is taking no part in tnls bus ness. Yet the founder* of the colony of Georgia thought that its chief industry would be the pro duction of raw silk. General Ogle thorpe in speaking of the possibilities of the colony said: 'lt must be a weak hand indeed, that cannot earn bread where ellk worms and white mul berry trec6 are so plentiful.’ Perhaps at some future day Georgia will real ise in this industry the expectations of its founders.” The Department of Agriculture of Georgia heartily indorsee every effort to Introduce anew industry into our State. GA DEPT, of AGRICULTURE. L. O. Benton, W. B, Smith, J- A. McCrary, President. Vice-President. Cashier, THE First National Bank Barnesville, = Georgia. ESTABLISHED MAY Ist, 1902. Capital Stock . . . $30,000.00 Stockholders’ Liability . $30,000.00 Deposits .... $45,000.00 -Jf JI Profits, Less Expenses . $ 1,777.58 "We take care of all customers. Plenty of money and easy to get. Investigate our condition and you will then give us your account. MEANSVILLE. We have at last had hog killing weather. Mrs. J. Luther Aldredge has returned from quite a pleasant visit to her former home in Mon tezuma. Mr. S. D. Holsey, of Atlanta, was with us several days last week. Messers T. E. Whittle, J.C. Slade and J. C. Collier spent last Saturday in Barnesville. Mrs. J. R. Mangram died at her home near here last Frsday on the 28th. She has been quite ill for some time. Mrs. J. L. Aldredge has returned home from Fort Valley, after spending several weeks with her granddaughter, Little Miss \\ illie Harvey. Mrs. J. M. Means and children spent Thanksgiving in Zebulon with Judge and Mrs. J. M. Means. JiThe family reunion of Mrs. B. M. Taylor on her 75th birthday on Thanksgiving was very much enjoyed, Dr. Hannah, ofThom aston, Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Mat thews. Miss Willie Branner, of Atlanta. Mrs. B. M. Taylor and Misses Julia and Laura Taylor were present. Misses Susie McGinty and Lil lie Fackler spent last week in Zeb ulon the guest of friends and rel atives. Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Whittle are entertaining a fine boy that has come to make his home with them. There has been a lodge of the Woodmen of the W'orld” organ ized here. Mrs. R. M. Williams and chil dren visited Mr. and Mrs. R. W . McGinty on last Saturday and Sunday. “Cogie. WHY SUFFER HEADACHE OR LA GRIPPE ? CURE YOURSELF WITH CAPUDI NE. No Bad Effects. Sold at all Drugstores. DIRECTORS: W. B. SMITH, of J. G. Smith & Sons. F. M. STAFFORD, of J. W r . Stafford & Sons. A. P. KEMP, Physician. OTIS A. MURPHEY, Insurance. W. H. MITCHELL, with Robt. Mitchell. L. O. BENTON, Merchant and Banker. .T. A. McCRARY, Cashier. Your" Choice 2 for 25c. Ladies, you should see our line of beautiful Lamps, Vases, China and other Holiday Goods before you buy. We have everything you can think of for the little ones. B. F. REEVES. GROCERIES! I atft hot a “cutter.” I can’t afford to bate you, and CUT it out of the next article. I expect to continue business in Barnesville, and sell goods, instead of my customers. I Handle Only the Best of everything in my line, and do it on as small margin as is consistent with business principles. My trade i9 increasing every day, tnd I attribute it to the above facts. Try some of the new.... Cereals, Presto, Ralston’s Health Oats, etc. Pride of Barnesville Flour makes the best biscuits. South Georgia Cane SYRUP—the best sop. But don’t take my word for it. JOHN T. MIDDLEBROOKS,