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t NESBITTS REPORT. | ; the Commissioner Has to f to Georgia Farmers for the Month of February, 1594 iS FOR THE COMING YEAR. in Farming, Renova tion and Rotation, Success in Cotton Planting, Fertilizers. Orchard and Garden. Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, Feb. 1, 1594. In January the careful farmer has -carefully mapped out his plans tor the imiuiing year, and having beguu prompt ly to execute them, the present mouth ■iihonld find him well advanced in his ■.preparations for planting. The excep- j rtionally dry fall and early part of the ■winter have been favorable to the deep plowing so important at this season. Where the stubble from peas, roots and osteins, grass sod, clover, or the natural -growth on the land has beeu turned un •dor, a supply of available plant food is asw, by natural processes, being manu factured for the coming year's crops— assore or less valuable as the growth ■turned under is rich in the necessary el •aments and easy of decomposition. Let it be borne in mind that the peas «2ul clover are the only agents among "those mentioiK 1 which have the power -at appropriating und depositing the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, which fact be remembered in selecting sup plementary fertilizers for each crop. .the nkf.ds of each crop .■ahould also bear an importunt place in -aur calculations. We know that certain rjfants do well on certain kinds of soil, sad that on special artificial foods they *lse thrive; and that on others they dc ;»et reach the full measure of their pow sitrv of growth or yield. The soil, if deii ' ■went must therefore be prepared for thoii ; growth by supplying what is lacking. We also know that judicious and abun »fant manuring will enable the soil tc (row almost any crop, and that this soil will, in succession, yield fuller crops it these crops be so varied as to extract /from the soil, one alter another, the sev -**l different elements it is known to -uantain. the land grows sick srf one crop, but in the hands of tlw stsnDful farmer it can be made to yield successive crops, and, at the same time, it's deficiencies be so supplied that it will aM kept up to a high degree of product iSwaaeaa. In establishing AN ARTIFICIAL rotation <mt crops. We but follow the precedent, which nature has set for us. How often we notice that where an oak forest , *nca stood the pine saplings take it place. JUS. over Georgia the “pine thickets” at test the localities where majestic oaks reared ther heads. By following .stfeese signs, which nature sets up for us, •we may, in manuring for special crops, attain a certain degree of success, with iijat the aid of science, but if we would .learn the shortest, most simple, most -wsmomical, and at the same time, the snoet perfect processes, we must accept the help, which scientific principles offer ■sa. “with this'end in view we should i«*eno opport .iity of studying the agricul toxallaws of cause and effect, and of mak ojug practical application of the knowl Jdge thus gained. The experiments at th» various experiment stations bear di rectly on these problems, and are of in estimable value to the thinking farmer. They throw light on questions as to feed ing, fertilization, composting, rotation renovation, which he being often ham pered by unfavorable surroundings, has Esot the time or the means to investigate Air himself. For instance, careful ex periment has demonstrated six months, horse manure, thrown into a loose pile, an exposed to the weather, will lose one-half its fertilizing qualities. Otw manure thus exposed lost two thirds; mixed with other ingredients, of which muck was the leading constit voent. the loss was not quite one third. I vefer to these facts again because the •present imperative need on most tarms ;•.» more care in gathering and con -ewvlng these precious elements of fertil ity, which, through carelessness and im proper methods, are allowed to waste. Experiment has also shown that the value of barn yard manure depends not much upon its actual elements of •gfant food, these having been shown by Analysis to be comparatively small, as upon its effect upon the physical -sandition of the soil. It improves ts msohanical condition of soils th light and heavy, and induces fer mentive changes, by which latent plant faod Is utilized. It also draws the water l»the soil toward the surface, thus ad 41ag to the supply both of water and lbod for the growing plants. At the New Hampshire station the fallowing experiment was tried: Three .fasres were set aside. On one the lot manure wm spread and plowed under in fall. On another it was spread in fae fall and allowed to lie on the surface 4sdl»turbed. On the third it was spread (he spring. In summing up results, It was found that the largest yield was 6wtZ) the acre on which the manure was flowed to remain on the surface during the winter. Again, some interesting ex {Mflments at our Georgia Experiment station go to prove, that the time and labor expended in mixing and ferment ing ootton seed and other materials be fore applying to the soil, could be better employed, as this plan causes no increase n a yield over that in which cotton seed aod other materials were applied to the -alfl separately. But conditions vary, and while these -experiments are valuable in a general «anse, their promulgation should not prevent individual experiment, where sack experiment is possible. Neither are •Jseee experiment stations to be consid -Sead iron bound rule 3, but as fnraishing -faia as it were by and from which each mwvwm-v -jaw mtiwr. iiwum ■■xvHMM'HMMBHHIi man ian work out his own conclusions. As evidence of what pluck and energy combined with careful observation and experimentation can accomplish, the success of Mr George W. Truitt, of La Grange, furnishes an illustrious exam ple. He has been pheuo ninally andpr •- ; eminently successful. He says, “I hat » raised 100 bushels oats on oee acre; I bushels corn on one acre; four bales cot tou. 450 pou ids each, on one acre.” In regard to be met sis he save; - Thet • are many, who believe that i:i*i lay the is no lertility, I wou I ask them. wl. such luxuriant vegetation on nulrn .1 embankinen . from oirt originally twenty feet, aider the surface? Mv cun viction is ‘lucerne rooted,’ that ju -t as deep as you torn land, just th.it deep will your land grow rich.” burely, if one man can by industry and system bring up one run down Geor gia farm to this high degree of product iveness. others seeing his success can grasp the same means, and push forward to independence. One advantage the farmer lias the present se;ison. of which hu lias been de prived for several years, is more eusilv obtained ami more steadily settl ed labor. This is one 1 result of tbe general hard j times, high meat, and low cot. on. , | Where indifference as to hiring once | reigned, we now find anxiety, even i eagerness for employment. This is no 1 small advantage, for with our class of field laborers it is not an unusual occur rence for the Christmas jollifications to extend far into January, and to obtain regular or steady work becomes a diffi cult undertaking until the last of the ■ month or the first of February. I be- ! lieve it is my first experience since the j war in which the plows were all ready, man, mule, ami implements for a start the first day of January. Since that time wo have had much bad weath er, often TOO WliT too pt.ow. Plowing when ihe land is too w°t is a mistake to be carefully guarded against. One error in judgment here will cause trouble through the entire crop season. A rule, familiar to most experienced farmers, is not to plow land when a handful of the soil pressed to 'her re mains a compart mass. Who., oo wet for tiie plow to be at work there is always something to be done in the way of lepairs—fences, ditches, terraces, fence corners, and spots overgrown with briars and bushes, all to be put in order, compost to be hauled and spread, and, when the rains are too heavy for outdoor work, tools to be overhauled and put in working order, plows made ready, in order that no time may be lost, when the sun is shining and work, in preparation or cultivation, is pressing. In this matter of farm implements, farmers should bo on the alert, and as far as ablo, invest in well tested and im proved plows, harrows and necessary farm machinery. In the one item of feeding, a good feed cutter will more than pay for its price in one season, and by its use much valuable material which is otherwise wasted, can be utilized for food, and consequently for manure. A reliabln cutaway harrow, besides put ting the land in better order for the plow, is the agent by which every par ticle of vegetable matter left in the soil can be made to do duty in producing another crop. It is these lessons of economy in small things, in learning to judiciously invest in order to reap larger profits, that we all need to study. On the subject of economy our farmers could learn a most valuable lesson from our fertilizer industries. On almost all ordinary farms the most valuable ma nurial elements are allowed to waste. Much that could be saved and applied with profit, becomes valueless from neg lect. On the other hand, the fertilizer factory gathers refuse, apparently worthless material, and converts it into valuable manurial agents. oats and grass and clover. Now is the time for sowing the spring oats, better than in January, as there is less risk of killing. The land should be well prepared and liberally manured. Sow an early variety of seed and don’t stint the quantity. Remember that the spring crop has only a short time to ma ture, and should be given every oppor tunity, in preparation, manuring, in quality and quantity of seed, to produce a heavy crop. Grass seed and clover also should be sown now. Orchard, tall oat, rescue, red top and Bermuda,' all suit our cli mate and soil. Plow and harrow, then sow the seed and roll, do not plow or harrow after the seed are Bown, simply pass a heavy roller over the surface. It is best to prepare the land for this pur pose, but if preferred the seed can be sown on growing grain crops. If tb" latter plan is chosen, run a light liarro’. over the grain, sow the clover or grass seed, and roll. Where the seed is sow with a grain crop, the better plan, how ever, is to sow in the fall after the oats or wheat is put in, sow the grass seed on the freshly harrowed surface. By this plan, with favorable seasons the oat crop, and two heavy cuttings of native grasses have been taken from the land during the summer or fall, before leav ing it in permanent possession of the sown grass. IV THE GARDEN. Seeds of nearly every plant grown in our climate may be sown this month, either in the open ground or in cold frames; but it is not desirable that the more tender varieties should be sown, unless one has well constructed cold frames or other ample means of protec tion in case of sudden cold. In the lati tude of middle Georgia, Irish potatoes, beets, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, leeks, onions, English peas, turnips, spinach, salsify, and corn can all be planted. In selecting your seed potatoes, get the very best, and use only those which you have found adapted to your soil. If your own seed, from the fall crop do well, use them of course, otherwise the eastern seed are the best. In closing I wish to mention, that among the hun dreds |of letters received at the depart ment, the most cheerful and hopeful are those written by farmers who raise their own supplies, and diversify their crops. The tone of these letters is in marked contrast to others, breathing dissatisfac tion and distrust, because of the high price of provisions, and the general un profitableness of farming. In both I find strong proof of my oft repeated asser tion, that the bed-rock of successful farming is, raising home supplies and rotating and therefore diversifying crops. R. T. Nesbitt. The French farmer has learned that raising sugar beets increases the yield of the land. The process is an indirect one. The refuse from the beet roots enables him to keep more stock, and their ma nure improves the soil. WALKER COUNTY MESSENGER-FEBRUARY 22,1831. Gordon Springs. It takes time and thought to hriu? about refonuation. No oue will say that the present sys tem of caring for the aired and indigent poor, is perfect. 1 plead for a la’-v bused upon first princi ples. The present law of pauper fiims,strikes us as being too low. It is like uuto the practice of economy to “mean savings.'’ An intelligent Christian sentiment ' demands somethin? better. It is I shocking to our seusihilities to iiidiscrn. iuately make paupers out of our aged poor. If any (me in N rth Georgia desires to be sunt to the pauper farm when I they become old and infirm let ibnu speak out. Some of the more d*'serving a-«d needy sutler rather ill,in go to the poor house. This class never go only as the last r* sort, and consequently are a burden to those who are already borne down. I simply speak in the interest of humanity and to inspire noble hearts to noble j ends. So far as I know, Austria leads on the line of humanity. We clipped the enclosed from “The Review of Reviews.” Occasionally. “After seventy, or if feeble at. uu earlier age, the Austrian poor are freed from work, and can claim, as a right, admittance into the municipal almshouses, where they enjoy the fullest lib erty together with the comforts of a home. This,then (in its bar est outline,; is the Austrian sys tem, and it is quoted to show how a Poor Law can be based on the truest principles; how, in fact, whilst it relieves distress.it avoids pauperizing the people, and, whi'st it cultivates individual and national viuues, it tends to check their corresponding vices. Sure ly, wbat the efforts of Austrian legislators hare so successfully accomplished need prove no in surmountable task for the com bined wisdom of our own law makers to undertake. OLD AGE PENSIONS. “In Macmillan another writer dascribes the Austrian Poor Law with more detail under the title of “A Humane Poor Law,” and certainly it seems to demand our attention, not merely because of the great care which it takes to prevent the children being pau perized, but because of the able and successful efforts made to provide for the temporarily des titute and the aged poor. In dealing with the aged poor, the Emperor Joseph 11. settled the question of old age pensions in a very summary fashion: “He de cided that at sixty a man should have the right to claim from his native town or commune a pen sion equal to one-third of the average daily wage he had re ceived during his working years. This pension was to be regarded in exactly the same light as a sol dier’s pension—not as a charity, but as the reward for past ser vices. This is still the guiding principle of the Austrian 'Poor Law, for although its legislators have often disagreed on the amount of the pension, all recog nize the right of the old and feeble to be supported by ' the young and vigorous.” Strength and Health. If you arp not feeling strong and healthy, try Electric Bitters. If “La Grippe”,has left you weak, weary, use Electric Bitters. This remedy acts directly on Liver, Stomach and Kidneys, gently aiding those organs to perform their functions. If you are af flicted with Sick Headache, you will find speedy and permanent relief by taking Electric Bitters. 1 One trial will convince you that jthis is the remedy you need. Large bottles only 25c. at J. D. Fariss k Co’s Drug Store. Strayed from the undersigned Feb. 10th, near Ur. Jones’ a black hog weighing about 80 pounds; white fape; marked crop off the left ear and slit in the light; short tail.. Information will Vie thank fully received. J. N. 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