Newspaper Page Text
4
v 7 \ ■ •■
- ■•■ __J\ " ; ; 1
hw
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, JANUARY, 1875.
Work lor the Month.
It is a difficult undertaking to say to
our fanning friends what they should
do this month,with such a sooty canopy
hanging nearly to the top of our heads,
and the rain coming down as if it meant
to reduce the entire earth to a state of
navigable fluidity. But by docking
ahead we can believe that this state of
things must alter, and that again we
stand on jerra Jirnia. Well, then, in
that expection, we will say take care of
the stock. If possible, keep it housed
from the pelting rains like the one now
descending upon us as we write. It is
not only cruel, but most unthrifty
management to keep exposed
to our inclement winters. A cow that
<•om.es out of the month of March in
fair condition will give the next sum
mer better milk, and more of it, than
one which is hardly able to stand up
after her winter’s fight with starvation
and death. If a cow has one gallon
of cotton seed, with just a small por
tion of salt and bran given her each
day and has a range in the woods,
she can find her own “ roughage ’’ if
better cannot be done for her. In win
tering stock we find cotton seed at 20
cents a bushel by odds the cheapest
food we can use. And if the manure is
properly saved, the seed lose but little
in passing through the stomachs of
cattle.
Let stubble lands intended for cotton
be broken up right off. As a general
thing we think a great many dollars
are thrown away in Georgia by winter
breaking of land. Our hard, packing
winter rains, as our experience tells us,
will run the soil together, and by
March or April will look as if we had
helped it very little by our winter work
on it. But this does not apply to
stubble land that has been in grain and
has a full coating of vegetable fibre re
maining on it. Lauds, too, that are to
go down in spring oats it would be well
to break now. In the meantime go on
with the hauling in of any rough litter
for coating the cow pens and bedding
the stables. While on the subject of
manures we give another first rate for
mula worth a great deal of money. We
charge nothing for it, only a great deal
of good will to The Grange:
2,000 pounds of good stable manure;
1,000 pounds of plaster;
500 pounds of dirty salt;
1.000 pounds of Etiwan dissolved
bone;
1,500 pounds of cotton seed ;
50 pounds of muriate of potash.
Wet down the cotton seed with brine
made of the salt, mix layer by layer
the plaster, bone and manure with the
seed and let the pilp stand for six
weeks it possible. Apply 300 pounds
per acre. This manure will cost about
sl7 per ton, and we think cannot be
beat.
■—— 1 •« •
The State U range Meeting.
The State Grange meeting promises
to be one of unusual interest. As the
subject of reduced representation will
be decided by limiting same in all fu
ture meetings, the coming session
promises to have the largest attend
ance the Grunge will ever have. Upon
those who are entitled to receive it, the
Fifth Degree of Patrons of Husbandry
will be conferred. We trust as many
of the Brotherhood as can attend will
do so. and let them counsel together
for the good of our Order and the up
building of our languishing farming
interest. Our railroads have displayed
their usual liberality in transporting
our delegates at reduced rates, and the
hotels and boarding houses of the citv
of Macon proffer us like liberalitv.
Elsewhere will he found the tick-1 ar
rangements of the railn ads, fare of
Imt ‘ls, t’.me and place of meeting, etc.
Business men are shrewd, and thev
are tins winter vicing with each
other in securing the trade amin • d will
f ■ ... tagoods . f i
ike .li>s< .uaou «.. tl.e Ord- .. and
oui .-euni s i m.t lay the ilaitoiin,
unction to the sou! that the sv s tim
U y l.a’.e so cordially is short lived.
► ♦
Mom: tli in 12,000 new Granges have been
organic J during the last year in the United
uni t'auada.
THE GEORGIA GRANGE.
New Year’s Greeting.
We extend cordial greetings of the
New Year to the readers of The
Grange. May kind Heaven bestow
upon you, and each of you, the blessings
of peace and increased prosperity.
From the errors of the Old let us gather
wisdom and experience for the conflicts
of the New. Thanks to a merciful God,
and the teachings of The Grange
regarding the one-third system, our
granaries arc more nearly satisfied, in
creased area of small grain sown for
the New Year, and more than all,.we
are learning not to want. Under the
oft-repeated injunctions of our noble
Order, to practice economy in all thipgs,
temperance in all things, let us, and
each of us,learn to sav of every idle
luxury, “ I can’t afford it.” This emi
nently behooves us under tlje contingen
cies of impaired credit, and chances
for earning a livehood for ourselves
and families.
Beloved readers, may the fond hopes
of the checkered Old Year be abund
antly realized by you throughout the
Now ! '
The Fint Annual Report of the Com
missioner of Agriculture,
Dr. Thomas P. .janes, the Commis
sioner of Agriculture, has just com
plete!, and handed to the Governor, the
first report of bis Department,which we
have been permitted to look over be
fore going to press. We regret that
we are not able to lay it entire before
the readers of The Grange in this
issue. It will soon be printed, and we
hope every farmer in Georgia will care
fully read it. V» . believe it will be
very beneficial to planters and the cause
of agriculture.
In it the Commissioner treats of the
organization and objects of the Depart
ment, a hand-book for each of the
several counties of the State,(which the
Act creating the Department requires
him to prepare,) soil and mineral ana
lysis, agricultural statistics, farm labor,
general farm economy, entomology,
sheep-husbandry, and fertilizers and
their inspection.
These interesting subjects are dis
cussed practically. The report shows
that Dr. Janes has brought to bear, in
discharging the duties of bis office, the
same eminent practicability which so
characterized him as a /urmer, having
been one of the most successful in the
State. He inherited considerable wealth,
and but few persons among us have re
ceived a more thorough education in
all the sciences. He chose farming for
his occupation, and made it pay. He is
energetic and untiring in his habits,
and possesses great executive and finan
cial ability. He is thoroughly posted
in the most advanced stages of the
sciences of agriculture, ami the report
shows that he knows how to make
scientific ami other knowledge available
to every farmer in the State.
W<) trust the people of Georgia wil
foster and encourage this State Depart
ment of Agriculture, and in the mean
time we earnstly invoke a careful pe
rusal of the report, which will soon be
printed and distributed.
<'<>ii*ql idal ion ol Granges.
We have cheerful indications result
ing from the consolidation of our nu
merically weaker Granges all over the
State. In our haste to have the State
thoroughly organized, manv Granges
were brought in with minimum num
bers, and probably with but limited
material around from which to aug
ment their strength. Hence, co-oper
ation in such Granges was shorn of its
power, and lukewarmness ensued. As a
proper and legitimate remedy, several
instances of consolidation of Granges
have occurred with very beneficial re
sults. Granges similarly conditioned,
would derive increased benefit from a
like course.
Hymeneal.—lt was our pleasure, on
December 22J, at the residence of Job.
E. Taylor, of Monroe county, to attend
the marriage ceremony, by Elder A. L.
Moncrief, of that bonne homnie gentle
i man and orthy Master Jack Smith
I Grange, Macon Warthen,of Wasliing
-1 ton county, and the ac -ompl.shed Miss
i Georgia E. Carden, of Monroe county,
, and former Ceres of Grange No. 13.
•■• i st . y, tin i lai party returns 1
to Id 'Washington, where warm h-arts
• ‘ *■ '• >*a. gre t.ngs ,;W..it d tLua.
- t “Baity Pate”
wou.d win a good Granger, and so he
did. His loving bride has never wav
ered in her allegiance to our principles.
Wo w ift them our earnest adieus, ami
may clouds of sorrow ever cross
[ their onward, upward pathway.
A Retrospect.
Certain periods appear suggestive of
the propriety and duty of retrospec
tion The conclusion of a year is uni
versally regarded as appropriate ‘to
this purpose, and, now, as the last
hours of 1874 are moving to the bosom
of the past, we turn to ponder a mo
ment upon its events.
A glance through the departing year
results in a view of commingling causes
of sorrow and joy, which, as usual, have
played their parts upon the human
heart. By some, the period will be
cherished as replete with happiness,
while others remember it as the meas
ure of time which, to them, has been
most fraught with bereavement and
sorrow. It would be an endless task
to gather, and weigh in the (balances
the details of its effects upon individ
ual life.
In a political point M view,. 1874
may be truly declared a glorious period
for our country. It marks the decline
of misrule and oppression ; the resto
ration of peace and, fraternity ; the re
turn of the people to a true conception
of our form of government, and a
appreciation of civil liberty, and givety
promise that the republic shall .con
tinue to exist as the home of the free.
The night of gloom and oppression
that succeeded the strife, in which our
cause was lost, was full of evil to the
States of the South. The blindness
and prejudice of our conquerors, heaped
upon us wrongs whose pressure was
intense. Our only power consisted in
the privilege of heroic endurance.
Well and nobly have we illustrated this
virtue, and now we stand in the light
of a splendid political redemption,
waving a grateful adieu to the passing
yerr with hearts cheered by the hope
of a glorious future.
The industries of the country have
been generally blessed with abundant
fruits. The arts and sciences are con
tributing, annually, new discoveries to
lighten the burden of labor and in
crease its rewards. In Georgia the
hand ofs cience is actively devoted to
the groat interest of agriculture, and
we have reason to anticipate many
benefits from the workings of our
new created Agricultural Bureau. Its
enlightened chief is assiduously per
forming his duties, and we predict that
the energy and muscle of our husband
men will feel a most profitable influ
ence from intelligent guidance and
direction. The classification of the
soil, with an expose of the peculiar
adaptation of its different kinds to cer
tain productions, together with the
particular fertilizers required for each
soil and product, will be found of ma
terial benefit to agriculture.
The increase of our manufactures is
a gratifying feature in the review of
the year. The people seem to be
awaking to the importance of convert
ing their raw material into manufac
tured articles. Our cotton, our iron,
and our timber, is destined, in the fu
ture, to find larger home sales for home
manufactories. Material additions to
our factories and foundries have oc
curred during this year, and progress is
written plainly in favor of this depart
ment of industry.
The mines of gold, copper, and other
minerals, which have slept undisturbed
in the bosom of our soil, have the
promise of earlv development under
the intelligent direction of our State
Geologist. What has been done in
this department, hitherto, has embar
rassed the reputation of our mines.
The blind application of money and
labor to their development has, gen
erally, resulted in failure, which has
impressed distant capitalists with the
belief that their value has been over
rated.
Georgia, and indeed tee whole coun
try, has been saved from the visitation
of desolating contagions and epidemics.
Unusual healthfulness has prevailed,
for which the hearts of the people
should feel profound gratitude.
In every portion of the republic God
has blessed His people with the reviving
influences of his Holy Spirit. From
Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, the
same glorious tidings come. The zeal,
faith an 1 devotion of ministers and
•r. inkers have been increased: thous
ands who were strarg< r° to God's love
have been converted to His service;
and the church- s feel th t they have
been greatly strengthened. The re
ligious events of 1574 abound in con
solation to true Christian hearts, and
the year will be long celebrated for the
enlargement of th«> Master's kingdom
in the world.
The songs of the missionaries in
every land beneath the sun, join with
the joyous refrains of our own land,
and pronounce 1874 a period for the
special manifestation of the reviving
and converting power of God.
Turning from this hasty retrospect,
we perceive much to give us hope for
the future, in all that pertains to the
welfare of the church and State. Let
us do our duty as citizens and Chris
tians, looking to our Heavenly Father,
by a living faith, for the blessings of
His providence.
Juda* I*cariot*.
Those who are opposed to the Grange
movement are very naturally inclined
to make prominent notice of those who,
by treachery and dishonesty, have pre
judiced the financial interests of cer
tain divisions of the organization.
These occurrences are remarkably sel
dom, considering the vast moneyed in
terests under the control of the Order.
We remember but two instances of di
rect, palpable villany in the entire his
tory of the organization, and in one of
these instances the property of the de
faulter, which was opened to attach
ment, proved ample to cover the entire
deficit. In the other, and later in
stance, it has not transpired whether
there will be an ultimate loss.
Notwithstanding the above facts, the
enemies of the Order will use the few
instances of dishonesty as a foundation
for serious admonition against the
Grange. It is very certain that all hu
man associations embrace some who are
unworthy of confidence, and who will
betray the confidence reposed in them
when the time comes for doing so with
financial profit. Even the church has
its Judas Iscariots, who love money
more than correct principles, and who
will win the bag of silver at the cost of
the most extreme sacrifices of right and
honor. The danger of fraud is ever
present with every society, and if this
should be regarded a just argument
against the Grange, it would prove
sufficient to dissolve all charitable and
even religious institutions.
We may thus far proudly point to
the record of honesty which is pre
sented in the history of our Order. Out
of thousands of fiduciary officers only
two or three have fallen before the
power of temptation. This is a most
splendid exhibit, which will bear com
parison with any association in this or
auy other age or country of the world.
The Freedman’* Bank.
If the corruption which is concealed
in the secret history of the Freedman’s
Bank conld be revealed, even the poor
confiding negroes whose hard earnings
have gone to pamper the avarice of its
officers, would begin to doubt the sin
cerity of yankee professions of regard.
Whether the revelation will ever be
made remains to be seen.
The result of the management of this
institution convinces ail unprejudiced
minds th it it was conducted with the
one idea of plunder, and what is worse
the plundering of a class of beings,
who, by reason of their natural imbe
cility and general ignorance, were help
less to avert the consequences.
The branch of this concern in our
city, gathered into its vaults many a
hard earned penny of the confiding ne
groes. The poor deluded creatures de
posited with the expectation of future
enjoyment; but, alas ! not a dime is
likely to be returned. The little rem
nant of assets which has been gathered
from the wreck, will doubtless be ob
sorbed in the payment of the commis
sioners engaged in winding up the
affairs of the Bank.
If this institution had been placed
under the control of Southern gentle
men, very few negroes would have de
posited in its vaults. A necessary fea
ture to render it popular with that race,
was the fact that its interests were to
be under the control of Northern men.
The poor, ignorant, deluded an 1 duped
creatures imagined, vainly, that their
former masters were their enemies,while
the cunning yar.k- e held the position
of unquestionable friendship.
The wholesale villany practiced in
this • nterprise is well cilculated to
teach the victims a healthful 1. ssmi.
Tln-v ought to begin to realize the truth
that their former mast-* 1 ..- are better
fi iei.ds to them than they will ver fin 1
am ng th ia minting yaiikt s, a I in
stead of s tt ' . ■ • - t
the latter, it wo il I be wiser to
repose confidence in the former. This
rule will apply in every instance which
requires a display of bom r, good policy
•?r common honesty, whether it be a
financial or political question. i
Meeting of the National Grange in
(Jliarleaton
The National Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry, of the United States, will
commence its annual session in Char
leston, on the first Wednesday in Feb
ruary next. It will be a great occa
sion for that city, for the State of South
Carolina, and for the South generally
—indeed, we may say, for the whole
country, since it will promote, as noth
ing else could, the true unity of the
Republic and fraternal feeling and
kindliness among the people of all parts
of our land. It will bring here repre
sentative men from every State and
Territory of the Union, and from the
British Provinces, all working together
for the common good and all bound to
each other by the most sacred obligations
and the closest brotherly ties. The spec
tacle will be impressive and its signifi
cance of the gravest import. The re
presentatives of the Granges assemble
for work, and that work will be of the
most serious and important character.
We trust it will be wisely performed.
But we believe in recreation as well as in
work, and the Patrons of Charleston
and of the State, as we learn from the
Hural Carolinian intend to provide such
means of recreation as will make the
visit of our brothers and sisters from
abroad as pleasant as we have no doubt
it will be profitable. Next month we
hope to be able to give the programme
of reception and entertainment in full.
In the meantime, brothers and sisters
of the North, the South, the East, and
the West, be assured that a warm,
hearty, fraternal welcome awaits you in
this famous and historic “ City by the
Sea.” t
The Farmer’s Mass Meeting.
The mass meeting of Georgia farmers, at
Atlanta, on the 16th December, 1874, was or
ganized by calling Col. D. E. Butler, of Mor
gan county, to the chair, and Mr. Malcom
Johnston to the Secretary’s desk. Only fifty
three delegates were present. The first busi
ness was the following resolution :
Hesolvcl, That the recommendation made by
the Cotton States Agricultural Convention,
that one-third of land be planted in corn, one
third in small grain, and one-third in cotton,
be adopted by this convention; and that a
committee be appointed to draft an address
appealing to all planters to carry out this sys
tem this year.
This question was discussed by Dr. Lawton,
Lewis Smith, M. C. Fulton, and A. S. Atkin
son.
Gen. Colquitt offered as an amendment:
That the Commissioners of Agriculture be
requested to issue a circular, embodying the
views of the foregoing resolution.
The resolution as amended was adopted.
On motion, the committee was made to con
sist of nine, one from each Congressional dis
trict. This disposed of the first topic of con
sideration.
The second subject, that of fertilizers, was
then taken up and discussed at much length by
various members ; each one giving in his ex
perience with regard to the use of fertilizers.
But nothing was said about beautifying homes
or increasing the permanent value of lands.
At the afternoon session the following reso
lution on fertilizers was adopted :
ile-tylved, As the sense of this Convention,
that it is the policy of the farmer to collect and
save all the available manure of every charac
ter upon his farm, and to compound the same
with other ingredients, having in view proper
chemical relations, in reference to using strict
ly commercial fertilizers. And especially
would we commend, as a fertilizing agency,
green soiling with lime.
After some remarks on direct trade by Gen
eral Colquitt and others, the following resolu
tion was passed :
Resolved, That the people of the Southern
and Southwestern States are invoked by con
sideration of the most enlarged patriotism, as
well as of our enlightened self-interest, to foster
every attempt to establish direct trade with
Europe.
Resolved, That we will encourage and pa
tronize the enterprise set on foot by the Patrons
of Husb.ndry under the name of the Direct
Trade Union of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Tiie meeting then tackled the usury question,
and adopted these resolutions :
Resolved, That it is the sense of this Cover.-
tion, that the repeal of the usury law by the
last Legislature of Georgia was unwise, and
has resulted in wide-spread disaster to the ma
terial progress and prosperity of the country.
Resolved, That we earnestly request the ap
proaching General Assembly to re-enact a wise
and stringent usury law.
Resolved, That a committee of nine, one from
each district, be appointed to memorialize the
next Legislature on the re-enactment of* the
usury law.
The resolution was adopted.
Gn motion, General Toombs was made one
of the committee.
■ The committee appointed consists of the fol
lowing gentlemen: M. C. Fulton, chairman;
J. B. Mulligan J. B. Jones, Dr. Cook, E. C.
Hood, R. A. Alston, E. Steadman. G. N. Les
ter, J. 11. Christy, R. Toombs from the State J
at large.
Mr. Carmh hj.J, of Coweta, offered the fol-
Ijv ii g. which was adopted.
, I • b appointed to
memorialize the L gislaturc !«■ prohibit the
p -u:e, r leliverv ; a .farm products
i'. -ween -uns-.t and sunri-e.
The committee on usury w re ii.-‘.ii:cte 1 to '
i: Ind • this resolution in eir memorial to
the Legislature.
On the subject of labor there was consider- i
able discussion, but no resolution- were either ;
oSered or adopted.
w- -•
Ohio i- going to send to ‘he centennial '
show a cheese weighing fourteen tone. 1
Visit the Brethren. Q
There are numbers of Patrons who j
really take a great interest in the ft
Order, who * are almost always
present at the meetings, but who have
never stepped inside any lodge-room
except their own. These members
do not realize how much of enjoy
ment and actual, tangible good they
are losing by not visiting neighboring
Granges. If you always stay at home,
and especially if you get your knowl
edge of the outside Granges fiom the
local press, you go on from week to
week working in your little home pen,
not being able to realize that your
Grange is only a link in the vast chain
of Granges that stretches all over the
country. If you remain isolated, you
are simply a local agricultural society,
good enough in its narrow sphere, but
falling far short of its possible destiny.
During the winter months, when farm
work is not confining, the Patrons
should make it a point to harness up
once a week and visit the brethren and
sisters in the Granges about them.
Their presence will prove pleasant to
the visited as well as the visitors, and
much can be learned as well as enjoyed
by comparing experiences, and culti
vating a more intimate acquaintance
ship.
The negro population in Georgia will
be gradually reduced by emigration to
the West The machinations of hired
agents will have their effect. Native
Georgians, who are their truest friends,
may advise againste xpatriation for the
negro’s good, but many will, neverthe
less, annually leave our borders to re
turn no more.
This gradual, but certain emigration
constitutes a serious drain upon our
labor, and common prudence dictates
the adoption of some policy that will
meet this consequence. There are vari
ous opinions in regard to what would
best subserve our proposes undsr the
circumstances. Some favor the intro
duction of white laborers from Europe,
and others propose to induce the im
migration. of a class who are possessed
of the means to purchasa and improve
such lands as may supply their neces
sities.
We regard the latter proposition as
promising the best results. Indeed,
we have no hope of permanent relief
from the introduction of European men
ials, possessed of neither property nor
honor. These characters are altogether
unreliable.
The question which is most embar
rassing is, “ how can the frugal and
worthy foreigner be induced to cast
his lot with us ? ” It is impossible to
answer this definitely, and with a sug
gestion of a single plan. The only so
lution is to be found in persevering
experiments until success results.
In some States land owners propose
to divide their real estate into small
tracts, and to donate every alternate
division to actual and permanent white
settlers. This, it seems, would prove
effectual if foreigners were advised of the
great advantages which the country
would afford them. But it must be re
membered that a vast majority of such
as may be disposed to emigrate are igno
rant of the character of the South, and,
owing the presence of the negroes,’are
likely to follow the great tide of emi
gration westward, unless special efforts
to inform them and lure them to this
section, are put in operation.
Reliable agents in Germany, Sweden,
France, England and Scotland, and
also, in New York, could accomplish
much to bring us the right kind of
emigrants; and, unless, agencies at
these points—and perhaps others—are
created, the State will find herself with
labor depleted and lands lying waste.
Georgia is possessed of so many ad
vantages that she can compete with
Mississippi and Louisiana (States in
which the proposition to give alter
nate tracts has been made,) in bringing
emigrant settlers, and charge reason
able prices for lands. Climate, soil,
varied products, schools, churches, lib
eral laws, and quiet citizens, are them
selves, when known great inducements.
Agents might be induced to undertake
this matter in the European countries
mentioned for a small salary and a per
centage on land sold through their in- |
strumentalitv. The New York agent j
shotil l receive an ample cash salary so i
as to feel p- rfectly independent in his '
movements. Som/thing mast be done.
The Georgia Grange will be sent free
for one year to anyone who will send us a Ki
club of five or more subscriber. 0 , with the Q
money. Wil! not the Masters or Secretaries Jp
of local Granges each send us a’clubr and M 2
let us have the weekly.