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About Conyers weekly. (Conyers, GA.) 1895-1901 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1896)
NESBITT’S TALK TO TH E FARMERS Monthly Letter cf the Commis¬ sioner of Agriculture. * IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED Attention Ct»Ueil t» the Condition or Crop* oo Tift (ids sui'pllod rt <lh !lum«*. In Coo *r*.t to Those Where Coiuinai eial Ter tlltrem Atom, Worn IVpeufled Upon to Kun»i*h «>* Growth. Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, Nov. 1, 1893. Our accounts for the year 1898 must soon be made up. In summing up these accounts, and in taking a general re¬ view of farm operations for tho past year, there are certain facts, which stand <mt in bold relief. It is from these that We should deduce conclusions to be re¬ membered in planning for anil man aging tho crops for another year, The immunity of tho onrly plautod cotton from many of the disastt rs which befell the later plantings we have already re¬ ferred to, but we wish now to call at¬ tention to the condition of tho cotton crop and indeed, of all crop* on lands supplied with humus, in contrast to those where the commercial fertilizer alone was depended upon to supply all the elements of plant growth. But, we hear some farmers say, the commercial fertilizers profess to contain all these el¬ ements, and if this is true, why need we supply anything else, except the necessary preparation and cultivation of the land. This is in a measure reason¬ able. Reliable fertilizers do contain all the main elements of plant appropri¬ growtn, but in order that plants may ate these elements to the greatest ad¬ vantage in the proper fruit, development certain condi¬ of •talk, foliage ami tions of the soil are absolutely neces¬ sary, se me of the most important of which are moisture, a deep seed bed, a fluoly pulverized surface. All of these may be largely supplied by judicious plans of preparation and cultivation, but every experienced farmer knows how much easier these conditions are reached if there is plenty of vegetable matter in tho soil. Iu such protr icted drouths as we have suffered from tho past season, the contrast iu the crops is even more marked. In September of the past season many cotton fields were bare of both leaves and green bolls, ■while on lands well supplied with hu¬ mus, the frost, which came about the middle of October, found the plants still covered with leaves aud a top crop of bolls maturing. At this writing all further growth has been checked, but even now the appearanco of these plants is altogether different from those oil lands from which almost every vestige of vegetable matter has been used up. Let us examine into some of THE USES OF HUMUS, and wc will at once understand the wonderful effects its presence exercises on all plaut growth. But before wo en¬ ter into this subject we must first un¬ derstand that by the term ••humus” wo mean decaying vegetable matter. This is of course at first unavailable, but by gradual decomposition it becomes not only available itself, but iu the process of its own decomposition forms combi¬ nations, by which the surrounding soil is also decomposed. Nearly every soil is rich in the mineral elements of plaut food, but in such form that we cannot appropriate them to our use. As an agent for unlocking these valuable stores •‘humus” cannot bo too highly valued. The process is partly as follows: The decomposing vegetable matter or liumns is constantly generating carbonic acid, which is known to be a powerful solvent of mineral substances. The carbonic acid thus formed uniting, with the soil water, becomes the powerful, though si¬ lent agent, by which we break down and dissolve immense deposits of plant food otherwise useless, because insolu¬ ble iu water alone, EFFECTS or .HUMUS ON DIFFERENT SOILS. Another benefit derived from hnmus is its mechanical effect on different ■oils. It loosens stiff clay soils, in¬ creases their power to take up water from rains, and also to absorb moisture aud gases from the atmosphere. On loose saifdy soil its office is to bind it to • gather—make it more compact. This will prevent the rains from carrying off tho available plant food, and enables the soil to hold whatever moisture there may be deposited in it. A porous soil of this kind, when tilled with humus, has also the power in very large degree of absorbing moisture from the air. This may be illustrated at any time by an examination of such soil, but is more marked during a drouth, or early in tho morning. Lauds, which are well filled with hums , whether they be stiff clay lands suffer or from the lighter samiy soils, do not drouth to the same degree as lands destitute of vegetable matter, aud the stillest clay soils, well supplied with hnmus, rarely bake or crust even during a drouth. water holding power of humus. The addition of humus to the soil not only increases its power of absorption from the atmosphere, but during dry weather the soakage in the subsoil is constantly returning toward the sur¬ face, where the humus will hold it and prevent The its escape into tho atmosphere. amount of water needed for healthy plant development cannot be reduced without injury to crops, but we may, by the use of humus and other means, no¬ tably, shallow surface cultivation and destruction of ail unnecessary plants and weeds, which also draw on the wa¬ ter supply, control for the use of our growing crops the reserve supplies of moisture, which would otherwise be •vnporated into the atmosphere or ap¬ propriated by grass and weeds. That HUMUS IS A SOURCE OF NITROGEN has also beeu proven. This is the more When es plemeil pecially from peavines and clover true all uuder. but is measurably of decaying vegetation. HUMUS ABSORBS HEAT. By dnrkeuing tho soil humus certainly increases its power to absorb heat. This is a very important fact, to those who realize the necessity of pushing forward their crups iu the early spring. HUMUS IS NOT ____________ FAVORABLE TO w INSECT ,,, ^vT bclTg LIFE The carbonic acid gv w b ia .* *” generated iff all lands * supplied with hu ■ \- l". A i n son that crops on fresh land are freei from blight and disease than on old land, where commercial fertilizers alone have been used for several successive years, with the result that nearly every from vestige of humus has disappeared the soil. RTE, as an improver of the land, takes almost the same place in winter that peas do in summer. It also prevents washing. 11 may be sown all through the fall and it a valuable green food for stock during winter. Turned under during early spring it contributes a large share of the needed humus to the soil. Even the natural growth of WEEDS AND GTS APS, which spring up after every cultivated crop, can be turned under and made tc do duty in manufacturing plant food foi fnture crops. Don’t wait for heavy frost to destroy tho most valuable con¬ stituents in these spontaneous crops, but turn them under they as soon will as possi¬ only ble. Treated thus not decompose, but, if the furrows are only partly turned, they will keep tho soil open and porous, and prevent washing by gathering up the winter rains and storing them in lower depths. If the vegetable growth is very heavy, an ap¬ plication of lime will be found to hasten decomposition. It also helps to liberate otherwise unavailable materials con¬ tained in the soil. In executing this FALL PLOWING lay off the beds across the fall of ths land, so that the water will not run iu the line of the plow and wash away the soil. If this precaution is observed washing will be checked and tho water will eventually roach a lower level by a glower aud less destructive process. • It will thus be seen that in SUPPLYING LAND WITII HUMUS we are furnishing one of the most need¬ ful, as well as most important, helps to our agriculture, lecause we give the laud, besides the actual plaut food which we put into it, the power to appropriate aud supply to our growing crops the locked up elements which it already contains. It is not yet too late to sow WHEAT, but every effort should be made by cross plowing, harrowing and rolling to put tire land iu the very best possible condition. oats may also he sown. In the Atlantic and Gulf stateR the crop stands a bettei chance to escape winter killing when sown late than in higher latitudes. The protracted drouth prevented the early seeding of this crop, aud many farmers Will take the chances now. As a gen¬ eral rule, however, it is safer when the sowing is so long delayed to defer it un¬ til after Christmas. All of these green crops furnish more or loss humus to the soil, but rye more especially is an im¬ prover of tho land. Where it is possi¬ ble all unoccupied land should be seeded in some one of these greeu crops. Few farmers have carefully studied this question of protecting their lands from washing aud from deterioration. It Should be their aim to secure both these conditions at tho smallest possible cost. If the wonderful processes of nature arc observed, aud her laws carefully fol¬ lowed in prosecuting this important work, iu other words, if we will give her the necessary raw materials at tho proper time, she will at once take hold of them ami begin the important work of converting them into valuable plaut food, to be ready for the demands of tho spring crops. The work of COMPOSTING nil available materials should bo stead¬ ily followed all during tho winter. One can scarcely employ his spare time more profitably than in gathering up and pro paring to give back to his land some part of what he has been taking from it year after year. The stables should be supplied with bedding, aud the accu¬ mulated manure, liquid and solid, should he removed as often as necessary. It not composted or put under shelter, it should be hauled at once and spread on the land rather than allowed to lose some of its most valuable constituents by being thrown out into tho open barn¬ yard. fattening hogs should not be kept after they are in con¬ dition for good pork. The plan is to push them now, to be ready for the first cold spell. We have generally found that pork killed before Oliistmas stands a be tier chance for keeping than that killed later. We cannot expect the best quality of meat unless all the details ol cleanliness and comfort are attended to. See that there is plenty of clean food and pure water, and that the pens arc kept free of filth. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner. Planting Oat*. Question.— I want to plant a large oat crop: would you advise me to plant it all now, nnd what kiud of seed oats would you recommend? Answer. —On account of the frequent wiuter-killiug of oats, I would advise planting half your laud now, and the rest of your crop iu the spring. In this way you do not take the risk of having all your crops killed, and are moderately 6ure of at least a partial crop. If your laud is rich, or if you propose to fertil¬ ize, I would recommend the winter grazing oat. They stand the cold bet¬ ter than any other variety, and on good laud will make you a fine crop, sow from a bushel and a half to two bushels per acre. Should yon not be able to get these, or if your land is only fairly good, sow the Texas rust-proof oats, and for fall sowing, always use seed from fall sown oats, as they are without doubt mors hardy than seed from those sowed in the spring. Foryour spring planting use the Burt oat, sowing at least a bushel aud a half to the acre. The Burt oat is very light, and therefore not as valuable for feeding as other varieties, but it grows off rapidly and matures early, aud there is more certainty of a crop from them than from any othei variety, when sowed in the spring. Don’t be afraid to fertilize your land foi the oat- crop, for none responds more readily to thorough preparation than this, the cheapest and best food crops for ocr horses and mules. After taking off t>te ° * to tl ' ,rt «unun«r,. don’t failtc the land in peas, and thus keep up the fertility of. your fields,—State Agri * ! *1; P*-* a uurJl i biMN ■ • ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES Commissioner Nesbitt’s Ques¬ tion Box For the Month. VALUABLE INFORMATDN GIVEN Whjr So Ftw Sh»«p Art In Otorjl*. Morn About th« Hire Cotton Tie— Jem mIhh Artichoke* »a a Fond Fur Hoc* and How t.» Plant Them—Importance of the Selection of Good Seed. Qubbtion.— Why is it that in Georgia, many parts of which state are pecu¬ liarly adapted to sheep raising. th*re are so few sheep raised? One would suppose that if properly managed it could he made a most profitable business. Answer. —In southern Georgia there are a good many sheep raised. Several yonrs ago one of the largest sheep own¬ ers there reported that he clipped an¬ nually 00 cents worth of wool from sheep, which cost him only 14 cents a head in expenses. There is only one reason why sheep husbandry is not one of the lending industries of the state, and that is, there is no law for their protection against the dogs which roam at will through the country. It has been said by men of experience that one acre well sodded in Bermuda grass will support five sheep nine months of each year. This was on ordinary land, which had not yielded profitable returns in other crops. For the remaining three months We have other crops, such as rye, turnips, barley, potatoes and the hardy native grasses, all of which can be grown in abnndnnce. The sheep more than pay for their keep in fhe increased fertility of land on which they are folded. One hundred sheep regularly folded will fertilize eight acres of land to such a degree as will enable it to double the crops produced on it. Besides the added value to the lands in the droppings we have the crop of wool and the in rease of the flock, which last may be reasona¬ bly calculated as 00 per cent of the whole. Nor are these all. The charac¬ ter of the crops required to support the sheep are just those needed to recuper¬ ate our too often exhausted lands. Ber¬ muda is particularly adapted to these lands and the grass roots serve to hold the soil together and prevent the wash¬ ing away of the accumulating vegeta¬ ble matter. Many worn fields could bo thus rehabilitated, that now offer no encouragement to cultivation in other crops. We trust the day will dawn when the present difficulties in the way of successful sheep raising will be re moved, and instead of about 500,009, the present number of sheop iu the stato, Georgia will contain at least 8,000,000 or 4,000,000. Our mild winters and early springs give us many advantages, of which growers north of us are de¬ prived. In somo sections of the stato the sheep receive no attention beyond the annual clipping, and until the price of wool was so much reduced they were even under this careless management found profitable. If more attention were given to raising crops for them, to improving the breeds, and to the gen¬ eral care of the flocks, there is no rea¬ son, except the one mentioned, why sheep raising should not be made profit¬ able in our section. An experienced sheep raiser iu Southeastern Georgia once said to me, that it was cheaper in that section to raise a sheep than a chicken, because the chickenB had to be fed, while the only attention the' sheep received was an occasional salting.— State Agricultural Department. How to Tel I the Age ef She.p, Question.— How can I tell the age of sheep? Answer.—B y examining the front teeth. The first year, eight small teeth make their appearance. The second year the two middle ones are shod, and two teeth of much larger size take their place. The third year two other small teeth are shed, one on each side of the two center teeth, and they are replaced by two large teeth; thus giving them four large teeth in front, on each side of which are two small, pointed ones. In tho fourth year, this process is re¬ peated, the animal then having six large teeth in front, flanked on each side by one small tooth. In the fifth year the last of the small teeth are lost, and are replaced by large ones, thus giving them eight large front teeth. In the sixth or seventh year, they generally begin to drop out, and if not they will begin to break or show signs of wearing.— State Agricultural Department. Wire Tie*. Question. —I notice that there is much complaint from compresses as to the wire ties with which some of the cotton has been baled. Are these the same ties of which you speak in your last mouth’s report, or are there other patents on the market? Answer.— There have been several ties used, all more or less unsatisfactory on account of the inflexible quality of the wire, light weight and inconvenient methods of fastening. Most of these are single, large wires, without buckles or other means of fastening quickly and securely. The Hitt patent wire tie, to which we called attention last month, consists of two flexible wires, with pat eut buckle, which can be quickly and securely adjusted, and weighs 50 pounds *° the bundle. Wherever this has been tried it has proven not only equal to, but superior iu many respects, to the tie. Had it been patented earlier in seasou, then u no doubt that it UP TO DATE! ----------- That h True Of Our 2.® and Notions a c T3 a ^ We have the la'est and most ylisli patterns— cc O = — PLEASE ALL THE LADIES And leave a surplus in the purse. ]V[illineiy goods. We have the handsomest line of Millinery ever brought to Conyers and Mrs. Eaks will sell you a hat (hat you can be jusdy proud of. A CUSTOMER PLEASED IS OUR BEST ijTiiTiiiiim WE WILL TRY TO PLEASE YOU. J. J. LANGFORd. DELICATE BFLAUFXEIjD'8 FEMALE REGULATOR. IT IS ft SUPERB TONIC and exerts a wonderful influence in strengthening her system by driving through the proper chan¬ nel aii impurities. Health and strength are guaranteed to result from its use. My wife was BRADF1KLD bedridden for FEMALE eighteen months, after using S REGU¬ LATOR for two months, is getting well.— J. M. JOHNSON, Malvern, Ark. BBlDFTEUl REGULATOR CO., ATLANTA, 6A. Bald by *11 Oruggiati »* *1.00 *•• bottle. "trtf v Vi K. » X Vk K h m 4 h Of * 2 & K 'a ■Ji !/n„,L V l •saj >J> i/J. \ V v J Superior To All Sarsaparillas. 4 wh»t Down In Georgia, over fifty years ago, a marvelous medicine was discovered. It was Is now known as P. p. P., ( Lippman's Great Remedy ), and its fame and reputation has beea growing with the years. joint* For Rheumatism, Blood Poisoning, Pain In the side, wrists, shoulders, back tnd Dyspepsia, Malaria, Scrofula, and all Blood and Skin Diseases, it has never been equalled. banished Its wonderful Pam is subjugated, influence. Health Renewed, Appetite restored and sleepless nights P. P. P. is a wonderful tonic and strengthener. Weak women should always tax* V P. P. P. It builds them up. It has the universal commendation of medical men throughout the country, because we publish the formula on every bottle, and one trial will connate tl* most skeptical that it it .i ger cine health restorer. Read The Truth And Be Convinced; A Wonderful Cure. ccllent thing. We handle about on* dottfl tottlwi X was a martyr to mutcuttr rheuraatisrt f f: thirty Bra'. J. M. * M. T. RICHARDSON, Fitdmost, S. C years; trie*! ail medicines and doctors wit*. no per tnaaenl relief. I was advised to take P. P. P-. and befote X had finished two bottles my j-.qip subsided Hot Springs 8urp«M«ch »o X wasable to work. X feel better t.t i. 1 have for I®®*®** n years, and ssa confident of a complete recovery. A bottle of P. P. P., ha* done me more J. S. DUPRISS. KcwnanviUe, Fta. three months’ treatment at the Hot 6pnag«, Brown Atx. JAMES M. NEWTON, Abcrdee*. Testimony from the Mayor. ft f suffered with Rheumatism for fifteen years, tried Pimples. Sores and Eruption* Curod. •!l the so-called specifics, but to no purpose. My take great pleasure in testlfyinf to tht *»*■» grandson sot me • bottle of P. P. and X feel like a I medicine »kia new man. qualities cf the popular lor W. H. WILDER, of Albany, known as r. 1>. P. I suffered lor Kveral ytM» * Mayor an unsightly and disagreeable eruption on tor /i After taking three bottle* in »ccord»nce with cap¬ i From Two Well-known Physicians. tions, 1 am entirely cured. JOHHSTOR. We *re having a big sale for your P. P. P., and C*pt- J- D- Johaiton*^ wc prescribe it in a greatmany cases, and find it an ex* Savannah. Ca. , of ; . mi The above letters are taken from many received by ns. P. P. P., {LiPP m ** . Great Remedy,) is a medicine whose virtues are known from the Atlantic to the ?*«***• P. P. P. begins its work by purifying the blood, which is the source of all l* Ie i \ *>nd does not cease until a perfect and entire cure is effected. The mortifying eruptions that disfigure the complexion, the tired feeling that pj*" vents thorough accomplishments of the daily tasks, sleepless nights, loss of irritability of disposition, all mean a derangement of the system consequent fro® ■ a to impure be P. the blood, P. Greatest P. which ( Lippman’s can Blood and Great Purifier will be Remedy), cured of the by is Age. P. conceded P. P. It positively by physicians and and pemanMW thepwp ® .. ’ii cures. For sale by all druggists or direct from us; price |i a bottle, six bottles faf tv IIPPMJIB BROS •» nOftllTOM, HU Lippman Block. SAVANNAH. 8A * A I* r /"s ~rn T CTri' ' . »* tV? Gr .k •i.-: --- CSC* ' 1 ■ iVi'i ' Read our ‘adds. ’ Amid v"®r Maker W/M Jeweler iS. Office in Johnson’s tin shop on Commerce street. Repairing ot all Mi (Line iiromptly. Bring in your time-pieces and have them pud in good running order. ssipg Ot» 0 >’ advert! ^ernentg } on money if »jjj them. you kill IU LITTLJ tl ONES Are the j°y and sunlight homes. Use all care to \ little { ones in health. Do N them nauseous doses. yJ overcome their troubles tJ King’s Royal Germeti They all like to take it does not taste like a nt but like a lemonade. overcoj It cures] in young children, bowel troubles, gives good did and quiet, healthful sleep. As a tonic for weak child J as a remedy for use in teething the greatest in the world. CSPSold by Druggists, new; large bottle, 10S Doses, One Manufactured only by The Atlanta Chemloi! Co., II Writs for fg-rnge Boot, lillei FOR SALE BY DR. W. H. LEE, Dri
