Newspaper Page Text
Uses and Abuses of Fertilizers
By Prof. R. J. H. De Loach, Director of Georgia Experiment Station.
1. THE USE OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS—HISTORY.
The First of a Series of Six Articles.
We would not di: cd to try to Rive a complete history of the use of
commercial fertilizer, hut only to show how this (treat Industry began and
grew in th< Southern Unite!! Slates. Generally speaking, the farmers of this
generation inherited the habit of applying fertilizers to soils, but have not
been taught ihe underlying principles of the Industry.
The use of some kind i manures on soils with crops for the purpose of in
creasing the y.t-idr gfM hack to ancient times. We know that many ancient
people applied animal manure to their soils for this purpose. The Chinese,
centuries hi/i., apj>ii< •! manures of various kinds to their soils and gardens and
with phenomenal ~.-ull In Von Tshudi’s Travels in Peru we find that as
early as the middle of the last century notes were being taken on the actual
value of Guano by the Peruvians.
Housingault speaks of seeing fields In Peru on which wheat grew every
year for two centuries, and ihe yield still high and the growers prosperous.
The practice of using mineral fertilizers was Introduced direct from Pe
ru to the United State, in the year 1846, and was based on such reports
a we find shove li had already been used in England before it found Its
way into the United States, but Peru seems to be the country In which the
application of mineral.- to soils as plant food originated. We do not
know lids Is (rue, but all evidence points to this. It Is of greater Interest
to us therefore that we know about the customs In Peru.
The First Use of Peruvian Guano.
The first man In the Southern States to use this Peruvian guano was David
Dickson, of Sparta, Ga., who aw an advertisement of It In the old Ameri
can Farmer published in Baltimore. The South has perhaps never had a
more stn ii ■ fill farmer than David Dixon, who made many millions of
dollars farming, and who was a pioneer In many other lines as well as in
the use of mineral fertilizers. In the year 1846, the year after it was intro
duced Into the United St tiles, he bought three sacks and used it, and on find
ing that it paid him, bought it in increasing quantities till the year 1855
and 1866, when he "went into it fully.” As is suggested above this is no
doubt the first instance of the use of a concentrated mineral fertilizer on
cotton in the United States
The unlvei>'il ucce with which Mr. Dickson met In the use of this Pe
ruvian guano led many other prominent farmers to follow his example,
and In every reported case, success followed Its use. We are constrained
to believe that the application of this mineral fertilizer to the
cotton and other crops in Ihe South could not possibly have been an acci
dent. Its success was unquestionably based on the actual needs of the soil.
A quickly available manure was what the crop needed, and when this was
once applied results were evident.
After a time it wit: found that the Peruvian guano, which contained prin
cipally nitrogen, produced too much stnlk and not much Increase In the
yield of fruit, and lienee it> use was somewhat discouraged for a season.
The First Use of German Potash.
About this time the war between the States began, and at the same
time the discovery of the potash beds of Germany, also, the offering on the
market of various kinds of mineral fertilizers resulting from the teach
ings of Von I.iehig of Germany, who was ut that time the greatest cham
pion in the world of agriculture and Its possibilities. As a result the pop
ularly of Peruvian guano subsided and more study was given to the gen
eral question of the use ol mineral manures, both by farmers themselves
flint the students of agriculture.
Two great rontribullng factors to the rise of the fertilizer trade In the
South are first the abolition of slavery, and second, the rise of agricul
tural education He tore the war the question of land was secondary. If
growing farm crop:; In the South “wore the land out,” there were plenty of
slaves to "take in more land” It was cheaper to take in land than to pay
for any artificial manure. In 1562, the Morrill Hill passed Congress,
creating agricultural college: in the various states, after which there be
gan a campaign for improving methods in agriculture. Experiments ut
public expense were begun on a small scale, and the public was induced to
make greater use of plain foods of all kinds, as well as to Improve methods
of tillage. This, of com m, caused an immediate Increase In the use of min
eral plant foods, and out of which grew demands for great quantities of
fertilizers. From llii great demand there sprang up fertilizer factories in
all parts of the country All kinds of materials were tried out, some was
good, anil mm ■ was not, hut much of both kinds used. The factories had
no restrictions and many of them palmed off on the farmers anything that
would moll strong at.il that could be put in sacks. This condition on ac
count of <t 'to law did not last long Wo begin the next article by giving a
resume of tin pert taken In the rise of the trade by the states themselves.
Sumter County Boys
Presented with Pigs.
Americus, Ga., March 27.
Forty-five Sumter county hoys
have been presented with a pig
eaph by prominent people through
County Demonstator J. G. Oliver.
The boys will raise the thorough
bred Duroc pi o s and rt'turn a
portion of the profit to the man
who presented the hog. After
this contract is fulfilled the pig
will become the property of the
boy.
Lankford’s Successor
Appointed by Governor.
Atlanta, Ga., March 28. —
Governor Nat K. Harris Tuesday
morning appointed Walter C.
Bryan, judge of the city court of
Douglas. CctTee county, to suc
ceed .hidge W. C. Lankford, whoi
recently resigned to make the
race for Congress in the Eleventh
congressional distriot.
The appointment of Mr. Bryan
is effective May 1 next and is for
the unexpired term only.
j SAFETY FIRST DEPOSITS INSURED
IBANK OF UVALDA j
Deposit your money with the Hank of j
I valdti—the Hank that cares for its de- j
« positors in all emergencies.
I Bank by mail. We send 21 receipt for i
| your deposit, placing: you at our door j
Deposits are Insured Against Loss in this Bank
! BANK OF UVALDA|
UVALDA, GA.
| G. L GRIFFIN, Cashier j!
New Road Notice.
Georgia— Montgomery County.
Office of Commissioners of
Honda and Revenues Montgomery
County, March 7, 1810.
J. Is. Powell, A. Gill is, G. B
Graham, A. A. Calhoun, Lester
Gillia and others having applied
for the opening and establishing
of a new public road beginning at
; (.b land and running eastward
t hrough the lands of \V. R. Green
I way, E. G. Gillia, striking the
line of K. G. Gillis and B. Green
wav and following same to d cer
tain pond, thence crossing E. G.
Gillis’s land and mtersectii g
with J E. Tharpe’s lane and the
] lane of Mrs. J. H. Davis, turning
iat end of said lane and crossing
| lands of Mrs. J. H. Davis and
running through lands of W. I)
I Martin, Mrs. J. B. Davis, estate
of T. J. James, Jodie Powell, J
D. Reynolds, P. E. and George
Williams and J L). Wilson, and
intersecting with the Orianna
j and So per ton road on the east.
And the reviewers appointed to
l lay out and survey said road hav
ing tiled their return, notice is
hereby given that said road will
be granted on the tirst Tuesday
in May, IP It), if no good cause be
shown to the contrary.
Elijah Miller, Chm.
Will. Jones, Clerk, C. C.
THE MONTGOMERY MONITOR-THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 191*3
MANY DISORDERS
ON THE BORDER
... ■
Mexicans Have Made Numerous
Raids Into United States Ter
ritory Recently.
AMERICANS QUITE PATIENT
But Soldiers Have Been Restive Un
der Restraint Imposed—They Have
Been Provoked Often by the
Bniping Sharpshooters.
Ever since the Mexican war there
has been a disorder, more or less,
along the International boundary line,
which runs through sparsely settled
j country, lending Itself well to the ex-
I plolts of bravos. Since 1910 raids by
Mexicans into the land of the hated
Gringoes have been fairly numerous.
Many Americans have been killed, al
though nothing approaching the scale
j of the present Columbus massacre is
recorded.
Three hundred Mexicans on Novem
ber 15, 1910, attacked Marathon and
Rock Springs, Tex. Cowboys gath
ered to give battle and drove them
back. At the same time sixty Mexi
cans made a foray toward Marfa, Tex.,
and looted many ranches. There were
numerous raids during the next four
years, but few men were Involved and
little damage was done. Not many
of these incursions resulted in fights
between Americans and the Invaders.
During 1915 Mexican raiders became
more daring and numerous. Despite
the fact that American troops were
stationed all along the border, the
Mexicans slipped through the cordon
and In some instances attacked Unit
ed States soldiers. On August 6. 1915,
Mexicans sacked Sebastian. Tex., 37
miles north of Brownsville, killed Al
bert Austrian and his wife and
wounded their son.
Slaughtered Much Cattle.
Eight days later Mexicans In,uni
form crossed the border 15 miles west
of Nogales. Ariz., and slaughtered
many head of cattle. Cavalry and
ranchers in automobiles went after the
Invaderß, but failed to capture any. On
the same day 80 men dashed into
Texas at Laredo, looted several
ranches and escaped after a fight with
citizens.
On August 15, 20 Mexicans slipped
Into the United States at Mercedes.
Tex. They were surrounded by armed
Texans, and a squad of cavalry, losing
several killed and wounding three
Texans. Fifty United States soldiers
and a score of Mexicans clashed at
Progresso, Tex., on August 26, and the
looters were repulsed.
On September 1 two Americans were
captured and slain by Mexicans, who
Invaded the United States north of
Brownsville. American soldiers at
tacked the hand and killed one raider
and wounded several others.
Three days later cowboys and
ranchers fought ofT bandits near
Eonial, Tex., and one American de
fender was slain. On the same day
soldiers discovered a squad of Mexi
cans near Brownsville, killed one and
drove the rest across the boundary.
Mexicans in uniform fired across the
border but hit nobody.
Mexicans Shot Soldier.
On November 24, 25 Mexicans
crossed the border near Nogales, Ariz.,
and shot an American soldier before
they were driven back.
There were also many Individual
clashes between Mexicans and Ameri
cans In border towns, while numerous
Americans were killed In Mexico, the
most extensive offense of the latter
sort being the massacre of a score of
American mining men near Chihuahua
a few weeks ago.
The other tnstance in which United
States troops entered Mexican terri
tory in pursuit of Mexican soldiers
took place near Brownsville recently.
Several soldiers were bathing in the
Rio Grande and two of them were
kidnaped by Mexican soldiers Com
panions of the captured men crossed
the boundary, armed, in pursuit of
the captors, but later returned, the
Americans having been released. The
commander of this invasion is held for
trial by court-martial. Several Ameri
can soldiers were drowned In attempt
ing to swim the river.
MAY USE CHICAGO TAXICABS
War Department Hai Offer of a Con
alderable Number of Cara for
Use in Mexico.
Tart of the forces sent after "Pan
' Villa may use a fleet of taxicabs.
If the war department accepts the of
fer of a Chicago taxicab company.
Cars sufficient to carry 1,000 men,
with chauffeurs to operate the ma
chines. have been placed at the dis
! pos&l of the government through John
Hertz, general manager of the com
pauy.
Mr. Hertz sent the following tele
gram to Adjutant General McCaine at
Washington.
"Some time ago we offered our en
tire equipment of taxicabs to be useu
for mobilizing troops We thought at
this time 4 ou could use them on the
, Mexican border for patrol and mob
ilizing purposes All out chauffeurs
have volunteered to drive and care
for the cars If you can use the 2tH»
cars and men please let us hear from
you so that we can get them ready
lor transput laliuu."
FOR BETTER RURAL
EDUCATION IN GEORGIA
Conference on Rural Education to Be
Held at University of Georgia
During Week Beginning
July 17.
Athens, Ga. —The annual conference
for rural education in Georgia is to
be held at the University of Georgia
at Athens during the week beginning
with July 17. This will be during
the Summer School that will be in
session here. It will very appropriate
ly fit in with the special emphasis
which is being put on rural educa
tion and vocational training at the
Summer School this year. The coun
ty superintendents wili be looked to
for practical information about Geor
gia problems.
State Superintendent Brittain and
others who know the conditions in
this state will lead the thought of
the meeting, w'hile specialists of higli
standing like Hon. Thos. E. Fir.nne
gan of New York state and represen
tatives of the United States Bureau
of Education will be looked to for
inspirational talks and guidance out
of their wide observation and study.
During this conference the agricul
tural club work among the boys and
girls will come in for a large share
of discussion, with a view to increas
ing the effectiveness and numbers
of these clubs. The part which the
school can play not only in boys and
girls clubs but in the home econo
mics work contemplated by the
Smith-Lever bill, will be presented by
the leaders now directing the work
in the state.
In the courses offered at the Sum
mer School of the University of Geor
gia increasing attention is given to
making rural teaching more effective
not only in aligning the schools with
agricultural club work but in fitting
the rural teacher to teach agricul
ture In an intelligent and interesting
way; in preparing them for teaching
handicraft as represented by draw
ing, basketery and manual training;
in qualifying them to present the fun
damentals of home economics with
respect to food values, cooking, sew
ing, etc.
GEORGIA'S SOMMER SCHOOL
TO UTILIZE NORMAL SCHOOL
Rapid Growth of School for Teachers
Makes Additional Quarters Neces
sary—Large Open-Air Audi
torium to be Constructed.
Athens, Ga. —It is announced that
the summer school of the University
of Georgia has obtained the use of
the State Normal School of Athens in
addition to the use of the University,
in order to accommodate the increase
in attendance of. students. The Nor
mal School will be used for instruct
ing teachers in primary work. The
institution affords splendid equipment
for this by reason of its practice
school work. The Normal School
dormitories and facilities in general
will be at the disposal of the Dean
Wooster in housing the large num
ber of Georgia school teachers.
In addition to utilizing the Normal
School, a special open-air auditorium
is being erected to accommodate the
general assembly of the students and
faculty. Heretofore the chapel of tlie
University has been used but its ca
pacity will be overtaxed, and the need
of a more open structure for the sum
mer night lectures and entertain
ments has been felt.
The registration of students who
are to attend the summer school of
the University of Georgia, will be held
at two places this year, those taking
the primary work registering at the
Normal School and those taking oth
er school work, at Peabody Hall on
the University campus.
COTTON GRADING COURSE
OFFERED AT UNIVERSITY
Co-incident with the teachers’ sum
mer school at the University of Geor
gia, and as a part of the summer
work if the College of Agriculture of
work of the College of Agriculture
cotton grading course. This work has
been given for several years, and has
proven very practical. The course is
largely drills in actual cotton grad
ing. The standards established by
the United States government are
used and under the direction of Prof.
Hast, the cotton expert in charge, ef
ficient cotton graders have been turn
ed out in a month's time, who have
been able to go into warehouses and
render satisfactory service. Like oth
er courses offered there is no tuition
charged, other than a five dollar in;
tiation fee to cover samples and ma
terials used.
-
TEACHERS CERTIFICATES
IN GEORGIA.
About 5,000 "bite teachers in Geor
gia hold first grade teachers certi
ficates, about 2,000 second grade
certificates and about 1,000 third grade
certificates. Those who advance
from the lower to the higher grades
and thereby command larger salaries,
find the summer school their led
means. In fact the summer schec-is
of the country have become practical
ly the one means which teuche:s are
able to utilize for their advancement.
Each year sees the number of teach
ers enrolled in summer schools in
creased.
j§ OMi&®:OM ||
I LOCAL - PERSONAL I
I —: ——— -77——r— — M
0 '&l030I& r M‘M Qi
Mr. W. A. Johnson of Long
pond, one of Montgomery’s most
practical farmers, was here on
Monday morning.
Mr. Will Sumner of Erick,
brother of Mrs. C. B. Cummings
here, spent Sunday in Mt, Vernon.
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Folsom,
and Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Folsom
went, down to Vidalia Friday af
ternoon to see the great film
showing Georgia’s varied re
sources. Capt. M. D. Hughes
was a member of the party.
Col. and Mrs. J. B. Geiger were
shopping in Vidalia Friday after
noon.
Fancy Groceries that measure
up to the highest standard of
purity and freshness. O. H. \
Morrison, Mt. Vernon.
Messrs. Harry Geiger, Troy!
Mason and John Stanford, three*
of Mt. Vernon’s most available
young men, matrimonially speak
ing, were casting “sheep’s eyes”
at Soperton maidens Sunday.
Mr. A. W. Mobley, farming at
Longpond, was a visitor to our
office Thursday.
Mr. D. J. Mcßae of Mcßae was
among relatives and friends here
last week.
Miss Anna Morrison visited
friends at Alston last week.
Prof. B. A. Walker, in charge
of the Alston school, was a visitor
here Saturday.
Messrs. Thompson and Patter
son, citizens of Alamo, were visi
tors here Monday.
Fresh Meats, the choicest, can
be found at 0. H. Morrison’s,
Mt. Vernon.
Mr. H. H. Johnson of Longpond
was a visitor here Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Mcßae
went up to Atlanta Sunday for a
few days.
Rev. J. B. Blackwell has re
turned to Mt. Vernon after an
extended visit to points in Flori
da.
Whether your boy or your girl
is a participant in the county
school contest or not, bring them
to Mt. Vernon on April 28, that
they may learn a great object
lesson and enjoy the day.
The Use of Time.
A great artist was strolling
along the street one day, seeking
inspiration for a painting, when
he saw a beautiful child playing
in the road. The inspiration
was found. The little boy, with
big blue eyes and golden hair,
was the most beautiful the artist
had ever seen. The boy was the
son of very poor parents. The
artist arranged to paint a pic
ture of the wonderfully beautiful
face.
Years later, as he gazed on the
painting of the blue eyes and
golden hair, he decided to paint
a contrast to it. In the park, on
a bench, he found his subject, a
tramp with the most repulsive
face he had ever seen, and he
arranged with this model for
sittings.
Finally the painting was com
pleted. The tramp looked at it,
tired and ashamed. Then the
artist brought out the picture of
the child’s face and placed it be
i side of the one just completed.
| The tramp uttered an exclama
tion of surprise.
“You wouldn’t think,” the
artist thoughtfully remarked,
“that God would make such a
big difference in faces.”
The tramp stepped to the pic
tures and pointing with his grimy
finger said:
“God doesn’t. He made this
beautiful boy; I, with the help of
modern society, made this man;
for both of these paintings are of
—me!” —The Mystic Worker.
Dr. M. Morrison of Glen wood
was a visitor here Monday fore
noon.
Cashier J. E. Hall of the Bank
of Soperton was a visitor here
Monday.
Col. and Mrs. A. B. Hutcheson
and daughter, Miss Carol, visited
Soperton Sunday, returning in
time for Sunday school in the
afternoon.
Mr. John M. D. McGregor of
Ailey attended preaching service
here Sunday morning.
Miss Juanita Fountain of Vi
dalia visited relatives here during
the chautauqua.
Mr. T. H. Cockfield, traveling
out of Savannah, was here over
Sunday with his parents.
Miss Mattie Mcßride, who has
been teaching at Stuckey, has
returned home, the term being
completed.
Mr. W. T. Stuckey of Glen
wood, spent Sunday with friends
here.
Though somewhat indisposed,
Rev. C. E. Cook filled his ap
pointment at Glenwood Sunday
morning.
Hot Lunches served at all hours.
No delay in getting what you
order and no unpleasant recollec
tions. At my place you eat the
best and most wholesome. O. H.
Morrison, Mt. Vernon, Ga.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Jones
spent Saturday and Sunday with
relatives and friends in Dublin.
Work on the store house of
Mr. J. W. Morrison is progress
ing rapidly, and the building will
be finished in a few days.
Col. G. W. Lankford of Lyons
was here on business yesterday
morning.
The residence of Mr. Thos. J.
| Mcßae was destroyed at Mcßae
last Wednesday morning. The
greater part of the furniture was
saved. The Montgomery county
friends of Mr. and Mrs. Mcßae
regret their loss. The dwelling
was insured.
Rev. J. D. Rabun of Lyons
was a visitor here yesterday
among former parishioners and
friends.
The Tin Can Peril.
The United States public
health service suggests that
when we throw away an empty
tin can we should take the pre
caution to punch a hole in the
bottom of it, so that it cannot
hold rain water. This counsel
anticipates the mosquito-breed
ing season. —The Providence
Journal.
Early Velvet Beans.
I have for sale Early Speckled
Velvet Beans. This kind makes
vines equal to old kind. Good
sound seed $2.00 per bushel.
D. S. Williamson,
Uvalda, Ga.
Cut Your Store Bill
Down One Half
Tens of thousands of farmers as well as
town and city folks cut down their store
bills one-half last year and saved money
in spite of generally short crops and re
duced wages.
Absolutely millions of dollars were
saved and countless families lived better
than ever before in the face of the cotton
crisis and general business depression.
How were these burdensome store bills
cut down? By the real money-saving
power of good home gardens, rightly
planted and kept planted and tended
through the season.
Hastings 1916 Seed Catalogue tells how
to cut store bills down; telLs about gar
den and farm seeds of kinds and a qual
ity that cannot be bought from your mer
chant or druggist. It’s full of garden and
farm information. It’s free if you ask
for it. Write for it now. H. G. HASTINGS
CO . Atlanta. Ga. —(Advt.)
