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4 ’a® Lii ti 3 ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MARCH, 1874. Agricultural Congress in Atlanta. We call attention to the announce ment of the meeting of the Agricul ! tural Congress in Atlanta. We earn i <estly hope that this Congress will be largely attended, as matters of vital importance to the whole South will be discussed and acted upon. Come one, come all! To Masters of Granges in Georgia. We call special attention of Masters of Granges in this State to the appoint ments of the Worthy Master, pub lished elsewhere of this issue. His stay at many of the places will necessarily be brief; hence, great promptness on your part is desired, in order that our or ganization may be put in thorough working order, as speedily as practica ble. Where numbers of you cannot attend the appointments, delegate one or more to do so, who can be empowered to instruct the others. Premiums for the State Fair, 1874. The Committee on Premiums of the State Agricultural Society have been busy for several days past in perfecting one of the finest and most valuable premium lists for the State Fair, to be held in Atlanta this fall, that has ever been presented to the people of Geor gia. In a short time, a full printed list of premiums will be distributed to the public by the energetic and accom plished Secretary, Colonel Malcolm Johnston. Agricultural Bureau. The measure of the late Legislature, touching the establishment of an Agri cultural Bureau for the State, possesses more of vital interest to the planter than any that has engaged the atten tion of our law-makers since the war, and will meet with the hearty approba tion of all good people. Consequent upon its becoming a law, we see the names of many good and true men an nounced for State Commissioner of Agriculture. Among the more promin ent are our friends Dr. T. P. Janes, of Greene county, and Col. T. G. Holt, of Bibb, both of whom would discharge the duties of the position with marked ability. Direct Trade. The responses to calls for subscription of stock in the “ Direct Trade Union,” are pouring in daily ; and, in a very short time, we will be authorized to order an election of officers, and put this grand ball of reform and profit in motion. Our indefatigable pioneer, E. T. Paine, is ever on the alert to advance this great interest. Let our brothers, all over the State, rally as one man to push forward this enterprise. Think of it, Patrons, one share per member of our Order, in this State, would ag gregate $165,000. Your brothers of Alabama and South Carolina are wil ling and anxious to join you. Then cheer on the good work with your aid. The State Fair. Extensive preparations are now in progress for holding the State Agricul tural Fair in Atlanta next fall. A com mittee of able, experienced and pro gressive agriculturists has been in session here for the past week, arrang ing the premium list. This list, when announced, will create a deeper interest in the State Fair, on the part of our own people, and those beyond our State limits, than has yet been experienced. It will be comprehensive and liberal. Every important branch of industry and interest has received all proper consideration. The initiative is the step upon which hinges the success of the Fair, and the Society in making up the Premium List Committee from its ablest minds, has given the best possi ble evidence that that important step has been properly guarded. In this connection, we are glad to learn, that Atlanta has responded most L nobly to the requests of the Society, ® making appropriations fully eommen surate with matured plans and pur nL poses. .y Talbot county, Ga., has over half of her cot n > ton crop of last year still on hand, as well as KP a considerable amount left over from former y years. National Grange Pronnnclamento. We most cordially invite the careful attention of every true patriot in the land to the platform of principles enun ciated in this document. We care not whether the reader be Patron or other wise, he can not fail to discover in it, the teachings of an enlightened and philanthropic statesmanship. Nor can we for a moment, allow ourselves to entertain the opinion that it is the mere ad captandum utterance of party platform builders. There is a deep, underlying sense in the hearts of our brotherhood to plant this standard in the deep, deep soil of honest determin ation and purpose, and water and nur ture it with a Patron’s hopes, a Patrons energy,and a Patron’s prayers. Though like the mustard seed in the not very remote past, yet we cherish an abiding hope and faith that ere long the weary and broken spirits of every laudable industry shall rest under its genial shade, gathering new life and thrift. With the grand old ship of American State riven upon the rocks of sectional discord and hate—our people afloat upon the polluted waters of the turbid deep, frantically grasping at the shiv ered spars of civil liberty and purity — the genius of our noble Order launches out the life-boat,and with manly wooing, pleads for your willing passage to the Shores of Deliverance. To our sincere opponents, who, with more than mortal ken, have detected the Trojan horse of Northern hate and tyranny bearing down upon our sorrow crowned homes to intensify the bitter ness of our desolation, we must oppose that unbroken array of hearty welcome, hightoned liberality, Southland favor, and entente cor diale which animates the hearts of an intelligant band of patriots. To the sphinx-eyed, who see under the Grange mask the hideous form of agrarianism or communism, we say, with all the burning heat of unutter able scorn, that no true Patron’s heart gives home to such dogma. We find in no Delphic terms the denial of cru sades against the rights and interests of any class of our fellow-men. We will not, however, farther pursue this review. With malice toward none, and in unshaken faith in the God of the Husbandman, relying upon His protec tion and guidances alone, and with no ble resolve by every legitimate and horn table means to reti i we our shattered fortunes, to lend dignity and grace and power to the humble tiller of the soil, to develop his intellectual capacity, to throw around him the purifying influ ences of social culture, to beautify and fructify his rural home, and make him a wiser, better, happier man, we echo to this resume of principles, as set forth by our National brothers, a long re sponsive—Amen! The Agricultural Outlook. The effect of the action of our State Grange, and the deliberations of the thoughtful and practical men who con stitute the btate Agricultural Society, relative to the necessity of a new era in the conduct of our farming interest, a “new departure” for the establishment of strict economy and a wise diversity of crops, is beginning to be felt all over the State. The necessity of reform is appreciated, and it needed but the guide-post of practical experience, and the plain, practical teachings of men honored in agricultural science, to engender a spirit of wise emulation in the hearts of our farmers in the race for general prosperity. It is pleasant to note that resolutions full of wisdom have not only been made, but they are being carried out to the letter, and already a very healthy tone in farming and planting circles is observable. The lessons of the late panic have not been without their good uses, and from the nettle “Danger” we pluck the flower “Safety.” Altogether the present condition of our farming interests give augury of a coming healthy prosperity. Macon District Grange Inion, We see, from the published proceed ings, that the above association was organized in the city of Macon, on the 17th ult. There were seventy.eight Granges represented. We find suffi cient guarantee that business, profitable and honorable, is meant in the array of true and tried names that compose the Executive Committee —A. J. Lane, B. F. Tharpe. G.W. Jordan, J.W. Stubbs, 0. A. Horne, T. G. Holt and M. T. McCullough. The next meeting of the Union will be held in the City Hall of Macon, on the 10th day of March, at 10 o’clock, AM. GE®SOS &MK&W The Southern Staple. One of our New York exchanges, commenting on the succesful efforts which the Western farmers have made to reduce extravagant freight tariffs on the railroads of that section, and the increased profit which will, in conse quence thereof, flow into the pocket of the producer from the grain exported to Eu rope to supply the deficiences in trans- Atlantic countries, calls attention to the fact that it is estimated Great Britian will require to import ninety-six million bushels of wheat to make up for the deficiency, while other author ities place the deficiency at even a higher figure. It is also estimated that France will require forty-eight million bushels to supply her needs, beyond her own production, previous to the harvest of this year. The Baltic, Black Sea and Danubian grain-growing provinces will have less to spare than usual; consequently their surplus will fall far short of meeting the demand of Western Europe, which must natu rally look to the United States for the supply of a portion of its wants. It is very probable that the United States cannot spare more than thirty millions of bushels, and, as a conse qunce, the prices of grain will rule high for some time to come. The same argument, as to the desira bility of larger profits going into the pockets of the producer than has been the case heretofore, holds good in rela tion to the cotton crop, and the planters of the South. Our crop ought to realize for our ]feo ple at least two hundred million dollars net. We are as deeply interested in keep ing this vast amount of money under our own control, and out of the pock ets of speculators, as the Western farm ers are in the matter of their grain. We can accomplish this and throw off our old yoke of dependence upon the speculative North, and her emissa ries, by shipping our crops direct to foreign markets, getting coin in return, by direct trade generally, and by the investment of capital and energy in the cause of developing the inestimable re sources of coal, iron, minerals and other natural wealth in the possession of our favored section. This will se cure all that we ought to strive for as a people. A Lenon for Georgia Farmers. A correspondent writing from Au burn, Alabama, says: “The cotton crop throughout this section, as in portions of Northern and Western Alabama,was an entire failure. Fortunately, many farmers in this vicinity did not risk their ‘all’ in cot ton, but planted produce generally. They, consequently, realized good crops of corn, potatoes, turnips, and, in some cases, a good supply of wheat. The land is very poor, but by good manage ment, and the use of cheap fertilizers, such as cotton seed and stable manure, the wheat crop averaged twenty bushels per acre." Direct Trade Economy --- Diversified Crop*. The principles of direct trade, close domestic economy, and diversification of crops, will assist our getting out of debt with marvelous potency. The old system of Southern vassalage to North ern speculators and money magnates, will be abolished in that way, and only in that way, and, in becoming freer of debt our people will necessarily become nobler and stronger in every respset. This economy leads to riches, and the richer we become through legiti mate profits accruing from the sale of the products of our own labor, the bet ter will we be enabled to attend to our domestic affairs. We will be enabled to build up our home prosperity without the fear of danger, the wiles of selfish speculators, or of the financial collapse of the purse string holders of the country. The time haa come for the power of the Farmer to be felt! Thanks. w e are indebted to the kindness of Col. Malcolm Johnson, the efficient and popular Secretary of the State Agri cultural Society, for two interesting articles, in this issue of The Georgia Grange, on the culture of corn. The sworn statements and valuable details of the experiments, as made by Mr. K. H. Hardaway, and also Dr. Jas. I S. Lawton, is profitable reading to every intelligent farmer in the State, and we commend both articles to the careful perusal of our readers. The Ohio State Grange ha-i passed stirring resolutions endorsing the Western women’s 1 temperance movement. Meeting of the Cotton States Agricul tural Congress. At the session of the Cotton States Agricultural congress, held last Novem ber, on motion of Mr. Berry, of Missis sippi, the following resolutions were adopted : Unsolved, That this convention, when it ad journs, will adjourn to meet under the call of the President on sixty days notice, through the newspapers of the Cotton States, at such time and place as he may designate. Delegates composing said meeting shall be appointed by the State Granges when in session or in vaca tion by the Master. Each State shall be en titled to one delegate for each Representative and Senator they are entitled to in the United States Congress and the Masters of the State Granges, and that the State Agricultural So ciety of the Southern States be requested to send delegates to said convention. Resolved, That in view of making our farms self-sustaining by sowing down one-third of the available lands in small grain and grasses, and plant one-third in corn and one-third in cotton, we hereby recommend the Masters of the respective Cotton States Granges to submit this policy to the subordinate Granges for their adoption, and that the Masters of subordinate Granges be requested to urge the voluntary pledges thereto, and report result to the Mas ters of their State Granges, who will then re port to the President of this Convention the number of subordinate Granges in each State that have pledged themselves to this policy, and such information will be diffused through the public press by the President. The representatives, designated in the above resolutions, are hereby noti fied to meet in the city of ATLANTA, GEORGIA, JUNE 3d, 1374. Each of the organizations named will see to it that there respective delegates are duly appointed. It is expected that this meeting will result in much good to the farmer, and the agricultural interests of the South generally. Important matters demand your at tention. Many, and serious evils are in existence, and the condition of num bers of our people presents a subject worthy of profound consideration. By the time you assemble, the crops planted will be well in hand, and the information as to the acreage of each will be valuable to all. The barley, rye, oats and wheat will be nearly ready for the harvest, and reports of the probable yield will be of general inter est. The progress then made in the cul ture of corn and cotton will be not less important. It is now demonstrated that the overproduction of cotton has ruined thousands of the people in these States. As in Hindoostan, this excess of cotton at the expense of provision crops, will, in a few years, produce a. famine. Al ready, by reason of the low price for the crop of 1873, the resources of many farmers have been exhausted, their credit destroyed, and bankruptcy is the inevitable result. This statement is believed to be true as to all the Cotton States. May not the hope be indulged, that, this spring, before an acre is planted in cotton, every farmer will fill his fields with corn, and then the “patches” will be the extent of cotton culture. By the authority of general consent, in harmony with general necessity, let a partial em bargo, and a blockade (slightly open,) be laid on cotton —a questionable friend, at least, if not already a publie enemy. All newspapers in the Cotton States, friendly to the proposed Congress, will please call attention to the subject, and give notice of the time and place of meeting. D. E. Butler. Madison, Ga., March 5, 1874. Economy is Liberty and Eaw Swift said : “ I have no other notion of economy than that it is the parent of liberty and ease.” Does not common sense and history prove the truth of the saying? Do we not, ought we not, as a people desire the blessings of “ liberty and ease ?” Certainly we do. Then let us act like wise men, and, in our daily lives and business transactions, live up to the principles of “economy” faithfully and consistently. We have neglected the invaluable prize too long; let us strive to secure it like sensible and patriotic men and women. It is within our reach. We must blame only our own indolence, or stupidity, should we fail to secure healthful ease and desirable liberty. Central Railroad. In another column will be found the schedule of this splendid railway, and connections. The road is doing a heavy business. Under the personal watchful care of that capital railroad man, Col. Wm. Rogers, it could not be otherwise. Col. J. G. Foreacre is the efficient and accommodating Superintendent of the Atlanta division. Indeed, we believe no line in the land is more perfectly officered or freeer from accidents and I delavs. Diversified Farming. The following excellent advice, em braced in a memorial to the Patrons of Husbandry in the Cotton States, was signed by the Masters of the State Granges of South and North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Arkan sas, Louisiana and Tennessee, and was not only heartily approved by the Com mittee on Resolutions, but endorsed by every member of the National Grange, at its recent session in St. Louis : “ During the past seven years our cotton fields have added to the wealth of the world two thousand million dol lars, and caused prosperity to smile upon every one who has handled our crops save those who struggle for its produc tion annually. The energies of the cot ton planters have been exhausted in at tempting to produce a maximum crop of a single sample whilst quite as fre quently he has reduced his means in supplying his necessary wants. A sys tem based upon such policy, and produc ing such results, must be radically wrong, and, if persisted in, will lead to bankruptcy and ruin. No people can become prosperous who are not self sustaining. Our exhaustless mineral wealth, abundant water-power, and gen erally salubrious climate, avails us nothing if annually we expend mil lions for subsistence. It is generally con ceded that home grain bread is cheaper than purchased supplies, and the ob servation of every planter is, that the Southern farmers who live within them selves are more independent and less encumbered with debt than those who have relied solely upon the cotton crop. Were it otherwise, it is hazardous for American people to rely upon others for a supply of those articles which are necessary for their daily consumption.” It then refers to the famine which has occurred more than once in India, owing to the attempts of the people to grow cotton to the exclusion of bread stuffs, and adds : “During the past year portions of lowa, Minnesota and Dekotah have been invaded by grasshoppers, and they de stoyed every vestage of vegetation. Imagine your condition, should a simi lar invasion become general in the north west. Couple with this idea the total failure of a cotton crop, either from the worm, drought, or any other unavoid able cause. Improbable as such visi tations may appear, have we the power to avert them, and is it wise to subject ourselves to the possibility of becoming the victims of such calamities ? Our wisest and safest policy is, as far as prac ticable, to produce at home our neces sary supplies. Is there a farm in the South upon which this cannot be done, and at the same time produce an aver age cotton crop as the net result of the farmers annual labors ? We believe there is not. Annually, four millions bales of cotton are produced upon Southern soil, but what proportion of this vast amount is returned to indicate our prosperity ? One-half of it is ex pended for necessary supplies, whilst the remainder is divided between labor and taxes. Hence, the cost of produc tion has exceeded the value of the ar ticle produced. Shall this policy con tinue ? Extensive cotton crops have evinced our unity of purpose and en tailed poverty upon us. An equally fair adhesion to mixed husbandry would secure our recuperation. “Cotton is a necessity, and the extent of the necessity can be calculated with exactness. If 3,500,000 bales are grown, they will be consumed before another can be gathered, and a remu nerative market price will be sustained by the consequent demands. If 4,500,- 000 bales are grown, the large margi nal excess will control and 'depress the market. The alternatives for success are numerous, but we need to rely upon the single one of co-operating in the de termination to subsist at home. With this end attained, there is no reason whv we should not be the happiest, most independent and prosperous peo ple on the earth.” Grumbling. The business does not make the man, it ,’s the man that makes the business. Grumbling and complaining is not going to help the farming interests of the State. Give the various crops the thought and labor they demand, and it will be found that the cry, “farming don’t pay,” is all moonshine. We must help ourselves and not de pend upon sympathy, and resolutions and newspaper articles of complaint. Men who think a great deal and work earnestly have not much time to waste on grumbling. State Fair Premiums, 1874. Below w r e give, from advance sheets, a few of the premiums offered by the Georgia State Agricultural Society for its Annual Fair of 1874, to be held in Atlanta, in October next. For most economical result, with full report, on the following crops : PROVISION CROPS CEREALS. Corn, one acre uplandsso 00 “ “ lowland 50 00 Wheat, one acre 50 00 Oats, one acre 50 00 Rye, “ “ 25 00 Barley, one acre 25 00 HAY CROPS. Clover hay, one acre, minimum 2| tons, SSO 00 Lucern hay “ “ “ 2| . “ 25 00 Native grass hay, one acre, minimum 11 tons 25 00 Timothy hay, one acre, minimum 2 tons 25 00 Red top hay, or herds, one acre, mini- mum 2 tons 25 00 Pea vine hay, one acre, minimum 2J tons 25 00 Corn forage, “ “ “ 6 “ 25 00 ROOT CROPS. Sweet potatoes, one acres2o 00 Irish “ “ “ 20 00 Turnips, “ “ 20 00 Ground peas, <c “ 00 00 Beets, “ “ 20 00 Chufas, “ “ 20 00 PEA CROPS. Field peas, one acres2o 00 Beans, “ “ 20 00 Cotton, one acre. 50 00 Largest and most valuable yield cultiva- ted by boy under t 2O years old 50 00 Cotton, one acre, by boy under 16 years, 25 00 Corn, “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 25 00 SMALL EARMS. For the best rosults from a one-horse farm with affidavits as to cultivation, production and expense, etcsso 00 Eor the best results from a two-horse farm with affidavits as to cultivation, production and expense, etc 50 00 For the most ample and generous sup- port sufficient for a family of eight white persons to be produced on the lowest number of acres and at the least expense. This support to include provision for the work and milk stock used. The amount of breadstuffs, meats, fruits, butter and milk, honey and garden stuff to be given, and also the details of culture and manuring... 250 00 The Profit of Sheep Raising in the South The raising of sheep in Georgia is one of the rich sources of domestic wealth which has been too long neg lected. Efforts are being made by en terprising and thoughtful men to intro duce them more liberally upon our farms, and to explain the beneficial effect of their more general introduc tion upon the farming interests of the State. In this connection the experi ence of a planter in Fairfield county, South Carolina, is an ample illustration, and the results are as applicable to Georgia as they are to South Carolina. This gentleman, in January, 1866, bought thirty-eight sheep which he turned into his pasture, and soon after bought a Bakewell ram, and afterward a Merino and then a Southdown ram. This was the total of his purchases. In November, 1873, he had 350 sheep worth SI,OOO. His wool netted him S9OO, and his mutton netted $376, besides what his family consumed, and mutton has been their only meat during summer and fall of every year. No care was taken of the sheep except to salt them and to give them a little cot ton seed in the winter. The manure, with very little effort to save it, has enriched thirty acres, of land so that it now averages one thousand pounds of seed cotton per acre, instead of two hundred pounds previously. The sheep have a little more than doubled in number each year except last year. This exception was caused by the fact that one hundred of the flock strayed off in December, and when found late in January they had lost alUheir lambs but sixteen. The experience of this gentleman proves that sheep would be very profitable in the South with care ful management. The profit would arise not alone from this mutton and wool, but in supplanting commercial fertilizers on all hands lying at a dis tance from railroads. Our Worthy Master. Colonel T. J. Smith, of Washington, honored our sanctum with his presence to-day. We were glad to find him so full of the good things he witnessed at the National Grange meeting, in St. Louis, that he couldn’t help running over. If our brothers could only hear him “ relate his experience ” while in that grand body, we know they would take fresh courage, and vow to make more faithful Patrons in the future— and pledge more unswerving adherence to the principles of the Patrons of Hus bandry. He and sister Smith received most cordial demonstrations of friend ship from our entire Northern Brother hood, betokning the near dawn on American soil of peace and goodwill. The whole soul of our Worthy Master is engaged in his work, and we bid him God speed! A very fatal and unknown disease is killing the cattle in Washington county.