Newspaper Page Text
Houston Home Journal Supplement.
RETURNED to THE DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 31, 1890.
State of Georgia,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Atlanta, January, 1891.
GENERAL COMMENTS.
The year 1890 dawned upon us under most favorable auspices for the farmers;
the cotton crop of the previous year was large, and brought remunerative prices;
the com cribs were full from a bountiful harvest, and a mild winter encouraged
early preparation
OATS.
A large area was sown in oafs, but in an imperfect manner, the poorest land
as a rule being selected for this purpose, and as poor results were assumed
from the first, the preparation was correspondingly careless. The very early
sowing was well advanced, when the March freeze greatly injured, and in some
instances entirely destroyed, the “stands.” In exceptional cases, where
thorough preparation and high fertilization characterized the work, the results
are most encouraging. The average yield for the State is 9 bushels. In view
of the short grain crops throughout the country, I would urge the farmers to
prepare most thoroughly, fertilize highly and sow as large an area in oats as
the individual ability of each man will permit.
CORNj ,
While good com crops have-blessed the farmer in lower Georgia, assuring in
most counties an abundance for home consumption, in many portions of
middle, and notably in North Georgia, a drouth of a few weeks worked such
injury to this crop, that the supply will fall short of the demand. The average
for the State is .87.
COTTON. 1
The cold spring in the more northern portion of the State retarded the
growth and development of the cotton plant, and in some localities severe
drouth during the summer prevented the early and perfect maturing of the
bolls. In lower Georgia, the excessive rains during the maturing season
caused an excessive plant growth at the expense of fruit, but on the whole
the crop is a good one; though from the above causes, and the difficulty of se
curing the necessary labor to gather the crop as it opened, the sample is poor.
It is noticeable that where the farmers and their families have themselves
gathered this crop the sample rates higher. The average for the State is .93.
No damage is reported from insects, except from rust in a few localities,
j OTHER CROPS.
The average for wheat is .32; oats, .59; sugar-cane syrup, .93; sorghum, .74;
rice, .93; peas, .73; ground peas, .79; sweet potatoes, .94; clover hay, .83;
other hay, .72. From which it would appear that wheat is not a profitable
crop in this State, while sugar-cane syrup, rice and sweet potatoes rank high.
The general results of the year are both encouraging and discouraging.
Encouraging, because we are steadily getting out of debt and our lands are
steadily increasing in price. We are raising more home supplies and narrow
ing the margin between cash and credit prices; practicing -more economy and
cultivating more thrift; gaining more information, and becoming less depend
ent. Much of this good work should be credited to the influence of the Far
mers’ Alliance, which is bringing home to our fireside a better understanding
of our condition and surroundings. Much of it is due to the gradual recogni
tion among other classes of the relation that farming sustains to other indus
trial pursuits. There is considerable waking up on the subject of stock raising
and fruit culture, which are so important to our general and permanent pros
perity. The grape and poultry possibilities are worthy our most earnest study
and hearty encouragement. Almost half the list of grapes grow well in Geor
gia. Seuppernongs and Concords flourish everywhere. A large revenue could
be realized to our wives and children each year by studying and applying the
rules governing poultry and their products.
On the other hand, the results are discouraging in so far as they show our
continued enslavement to cotton, “ the oppressing king.” While the price of
cotton continues to fall, and the price of corn to rise, our prosperity is not well
established. We are rapidly destroying our supply of timber and replacing
the virgin soil with fields worn by cotton culture. Our public highways are in
sad need of attention, causing the necessary travel and hauling to consume
unnecessary time and money.
Our school-houses, except in towns and cities, are in woful need of improve
ment. A general awakening on this subject is much needed.
The reports from seeds sent out by this department are very encouraging.
We will continue to do all in our power in this direction, though, with the
limited means at our command, we cannot accomplish as much as we would
like.
ADDRESS TO THE FARMERS OF GEORGIA.
This Department exists for your benefit, and it should therefore be adminis
tered in your interest. The present administration desires your hearty co
operation, and all suggestions having in view the general good of the produ
cers, will be gladly received and respectfully considered.
DISPLAY ROOMS.
The Department will be pleased to receive specimens of minerals and crops
suitable for our “ display room. ” We desire to make this room a representa
tive epitome of Georgia’s resources, the pride of every Georgian who may
look into it. And here our lady friends might aid us, for we wish to make it
attractive, as well as instructive, to every stranger who may come within our
gates.
HELP*TO THE FARMERS.
But above all things, we desire to help the farmers at home, to furnish
them such information and distribute among them such seeds as will help them
to make more remunerative crops.
We hail with delight the spirit of progress abroad in the land, and with all
our heart we bid God speed to everything that looks to bettering the condition
of the farmer.
Valuation and Percentage of Increase in Different Properties in ' Georgia.
City and Town Property
Lands
Live Stock
Farm Implements
Household Furniture
Merchandise
Money and Solvent Debts
Cotton Mills-
Iron Works and Foundries....
Mining Capital
Banking Capital-
Shipping
Stocks and Bonds
Railroads
1879.
1890.
Per Ct.
of In
crease.
$ 49,007,286 00
$103,812,563 00
112
90,433,822 00
121,341,352 00
33
21,017,634 00
28,130,775 00
39
2,971,372 00
5,338,952 00
79
9,156,404 00
14*920,637 00
63
12,012,755 00
20,790,335 00
72
25,513,005 00
38,933,258 00
52
1,640,000 00
8,940,285 00
445
295,640 00
877,501 00
197
97,580 00
261,338 00
167
4,667,567 00
12,025,205 00
158
896,003 00
1,132,090 00
26
4,869,354 00
-7,026,969 00
44
9,366,129 00
37,342,078 00
299
abreast with others. The cities are growing nearly four times as fast as the
country, the railroads nearly nine times as fast, cotton mills thirteen and a
half times, and other manufacturing enterprises about six times; yet every one
who thinks, must see t hat all and each of these are dependent on the farmers
for their prosperity. Why. should we be lowest, except in shipping, in the
list of industries, when we contribute so largely to the prosperity of all the rest ?
Without undertaking to exhaustively treat so important a subject, we ask your
attention while we suggest a few points.
taking care of land.
It is a well known fact that in the past our methods have been such as to
rapidly wear out or exhaust the soil. A system of clean and close cotton cul
ture has taken the cream from our lands, and they have rapidly, declined in
productive power. We should remember that our soil is our capital, and that
it is the productive power of the farm, rather than the number of acres, that
determines its value. Hence it is of the highest importance to preserve what
ever of fertility we may find in the soil. Growth does not necessarily impov
erish. A crop may be made and the land left no poorer by producing it.
SOURCES OF LOSS.
The two chief sources of loss of fertility have been leaching and washing.
Leaching takes the fertile and pulverized parts of the soil out, but does not
produce gullies or galls. Washing takes the coarser as well as the finer parts
of the soil, and leaves both gullies and galled spots. Much land is seriously
injured that is not gullied.
THE PREVENTIVES.
The best remedies for both evils are, first, plow deep—plow deeper and on a
level. If the land is rocky, instead of throwing up a level, take a two-horse
plow, throw out a good deep furrow exactly level and put the rock in this fur
row. Burn nothing, plow in everything and let it decay.
REST YOUR LAND. *
We should also give our land absolute rest once in every three years. By ju
dicious rotation of crops, thorough preparation and high fertilization, two-
thirds of the land can be made to produce what the wh<5e has under the old
system. In this way one-third can be rested each year. By rest we do not
mean to sow it down simply, unless the crop sown is turned under and thus
returned to the land.
But after sowing and gathering the crop sowed, not only turn under that
crop of grass, but let it rest the year following and then turn in all that grows
upon it and you are ready to get the full benefit of rest.
Individual instances have been brought to our knowledge, where reduced
acreage, thoroughly and deeply prepared, highly fertilized, rapidly and skil
fully cultivated, have produced astonishing results.
What one man of judgment, energy and intelligence can accomplish can be
done by many, and the day is not. far distant when hundreds, yea thousands,
of farmers will be reaping the benefits of these improved methods.
IMPROVEMENT OF LAND.
We should not be satisfied with simply taking care of the soil; every energy
should be directed to improving it. We should try to make the poor soil rich
and the rich soil richer. To prove that this can be done it is only necessary
to bring forward a few facts well known but little studied. In many of the
oldest countries of the world, and in city and town gardens, we see plats of
ground producing enormously year after year and getting richer all the while.
The valley of the Nile supports millions, and is as fertile to-day as when Joseph
fed the famishing nations from Egyptian cribs. An example nearer home is
in our old and worn pine and sedge fields. When by our ignorance we have
exhausted their productive power, nature’s silent processes take, hold and ere
long they become fertile again. We need to study nature’s laws and conform
our work to these laws.
HOW THIS MAY EE DONE.
Deep and thorough pulverization of the soil is essential. Pulverization en
riches the soil. We should also plant crops which feed largely upon air or
draw nitrogen and other fertilizing properties from the air and deposit them
in the earth. Clover, pea vines and bermuda grass are efficient agents in this
work. Return to the soil all the vegetable matter possible, use freely every
form of soil food, especially phosphates and potash, either as commercial fertili
zers or as composts, better as the latter.
HIGH MANURING PAYS.
The profit in farming is largely a question of manuring. Plowing, hoeing, etc.,
are much the same on a poor crop as on a good one. The gathering is the princi
pal item of increase in the expense. Hence, it is better to raise a bale on‘ one
acre than the same amount on two acres. Where it is possible, we should keep
more stock and pay more attention to the’saving of home manures. If not
convenient to compost these, the best plan is to cart them out each day and
spread on the land, thus saving much that is otherwise wasted. This question
of waste is a serious one for the farmers. Our forefathers, with a more prim
itive system, but making everything at home, in the way of food and cloth
ing and farm supplies, lived comfortably, and in many instances grew rich.
To-day, the poorest farmer, if near a town or railroad, finds it more conven
ient to buy everything ready made. He even prefers his manures prepared for
him, his own going to waste, because the commercial brands are more easily
handled. While we cannot become entirely independent, we can do much to
improve our condition. We can think more and plan better. Too much of
our labor has gone for naught; too much of our energy has not been wisely
directed. Plan well, do not raise crops which fail to pay, or buy that which
can be better raised at home. Let our motto be, “ Deep'and thorough prepa
ration, high manuring, shallow cultivation.’’ Georgia’s wondrously vaned
climate, and free and often fertile soil, will yield a remunerative harvest to
him who tills it aright. Prosperity and happiness can and will come as a
reward to intelligent farming. A distinguished man has said: “No portion
of the earth’s surface is more inviting to the cultivator than the fertile soil of
Georgia.”
RAISING STOCK.
By all means let us endeavor to raise more stock. The annual drain upon
our resources in this one item is enormous, being about one-sixth of the
cotton crop in money value. Yet experience is in favor of the Georgia raised
horse and mule, ratherthan the imported animals. The horse and male trade
of Atlanta for 1889, was 47,580 (forty-seven thousand five hundred and
eighty), making Atlanta the second largest stock market in the world. These
were valued at $5,462,500. • The cotton crop of Georgia for 1889, was 870,000
bales, valued at $31,000,000.
STOCK FEED.
The attention of the farmers is called to the nutritious qualities and also the
cheapness of cotton seed hulls and cotton seed meal mixed, in the proportion
of 1 part meal to 4 parts hulls. A gentleman who has been experimenting
with this mixture in feeding beef cattle, as well as milk cows, asserts that he
has used no food that is more nutritious, or which is sooner assimilated. The
cost is much less than other feed, as it can be bought for $6.50 per ton. The
manure is exceedingly rich in ammonia. In view of the short grain crop,
would it not be well for the farmers to give this food a fair trial ? Farmers
DO NOT PLANT TOO LARGELY OF COTTON.
The experience of the past year should convince every sensible farmer of the
has locked up much capital which should nowbe in circulation, and it is evi
dent that with fair prices in the new year, the low grade of so large a part of the
crop, will cause disappointment and m many instances decided embarrassment
to those who bore the heat and burden of the day in making and gathering
the crop. It would seem that the best plan to increase the price is to reduce
the acreage to be planted in cotton the coming year.
SECTIONS.
Cotton—
Lbs. lint.
Corn—
Bushels.
1 Wheat-
Bushels.
Outs—
Bushels.
Sugar 0. Syrup-
Gallons.
1 Sorghum Syrup—
| Gallons.
1 Rice—
I Bushels.
1 Sweet Potatoes—
' Bushels.
Field Peas—
Bushels.
Ground Peas—
Bushels.
Clover Hay-
Tons.
m
a
o
r
oa
W
3
a
P
210
14
2
11
62
70
81
11
30
i
i
Middle Georgia
183
9
3
9
126
103
95
6
20
i
i*
Southwest Georgia
172
10
4
8
241
85
47
131
6
21
2
East Georgia
178
9
9
9
260
90
18
108
7
33
1
Southeast Georgia
150
10
0
7
266
22
122
7
20
1
For State
178
11
5
9
189
70
29
107
71
25
l
1
INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.
Before closing this article the attention of the farmers is called to the fact
that every effort has been made bv the Department to give them greater pro
tection in the inspection of fertilizers. But until a different law is perfected,
the inspections will have to be conducted as heretofore. When the present
law first went in force the amount of fertilizers sold each year was between
thirty and forty thousand tons. It is now nearly three hundred thousand tons.
A glance will suffice to show that with this tremendous increase, different pro
visions should be made. The Legislat ure will doubtless, at the summer session,
act in this matter. Until then the farmers may rest assured their interest will
be protected as far as possible. In justice to the manufacturers and to facili
tate the movement of theje goods and enable the farmers to secure them when
needed, the inspection cannot always be made in sacks. The inspectors will
exercise all possible care in discharging their duties. It is to the interest of
the farmer, the manufacturer and the merchant, that an inspection law be
framed, and so thoroughly enforced, as to do away with the present feeling of
unrest and suspicion existing among the farmers in regard to the character ana
quality of the goods they buy. R. T. Nesbitt,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
YIELD COMPARED TO AN AVERAGE CROP.
>
SECTIONS.
Cotton.
Corn.
Wheat.
Oats.
Sugar Cane.
| Sorghum.
Rico.
| Sweet Potatoes.
Field Peas.
| Ground Peas.
j Glover Hay.
I
K
©
£
o
101
88
32
54
96
100
80
85
85
90
Middle Georgia
101
82
33
54
81
91
100
100
74
82
80
71
Southwest Georgia
80
90
20
60
97
90
93
97
67
83
86
96
100
94
70
71
98
80
90
93
67
78
95
Southeast Georgia
80
90
20
60
97
90
93
97
67
83
86
96
For State
93
87
34
59
93
74
93
94
73
79
83
72
YIELD PER ACRE PRESENT YEAR OF—
AVERAGE PRICE DECEMBER 15, OF—
North Georgia
Middle Georgia.
Southwest Georgia-
East Georgia
Southeast Georgia...
For State-
71 73 67 27 23 89 4014.00
B
12.00
12.00
16.00
14.00
15.00
AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE—“ONE YEAR WITH ANOTHER”—FOR
A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS.
SECTIONS.
North Georgia
Middle Georgia.
Southwest Georgia-
East Georgia —
Southeast Georgia...
For State....
167 11 11 15 188 75 20 101
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF AVERAGE CROP FOR 1889 AND 1890.
FOR STATE.
Cotton.
Corn.
Wheat.
o
| Sugar Cane.
a
1?
o
00
| Rice.
| Sweet Potatoes.
| Field Peas.
s
PH
T3
a
S3
2
o
Clover Hay.
1
&
*
o
88
103
83
80
94
96
91
84
84
92
96
101
1890
93
87
34
59
93
74
93
94
73
79
83
72
5
2
10
Decrease
16
49
21
1
22
11
13
13
29
AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE OF 1890 COMPARED WITH AVERAGE
YIELD FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.
FOR STATE.
Cotton.
| Corn.
Wheat.
i
■ eS
o
| Sugar 0. Syrup.
Sorghum Syrup.
©
s
Sweet Potatoes.
Clover Hay.
£
w
1
o
Last 10 Years-
167
11
11
15
188
75
20
101
'1
l
1890
178
11
5
9
189
70
29
107
1
l
11
1
9
6
Decrease
6
6
5