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Subscription and -Advertising Kates.
Thf Georgia Grange, representing and advocat-
• T Vk imprests of the Patrons of Husbandry in this
sute already numbering a membership of forty thou-
Mate, ane. J increasing from day to day, presents
*> ever" cla« of 'our citizens, both in Georgia and else
where one of the most efficient and valuable advertis
ing mediums in the land. It will circulate in every
PAnnti-in the State, and will doubtless come under the
eves of a hundred thousand persons. All interested
should not fail to take notice of this fact.
Our advertising rates are as follows: Two Dollars per
square each insertion.
Eight lines make one square. Large cuts and heavy
lettering double price. .
All transient advertisements must be paid in ad
vance ; regular advertisements quarterly.
Terms of Subscription.
One Year 9°
ToClubsof ten and upwards . »1 w
Address letters and communications to
GEORGIA GAANGE PUBLISHING CO.,
P. O. Drawer 24, Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia State Agricultural Society.
NOTES BY THE SECRETARY.
The Next Semi-Annual Convention of
the State Agricultural Society.
Our next Convention will be held, in
the town of Thomasville, on the 2d
Tuesday in February, 9th day.
In order that all may know who are
duly accredited members of the Con
vention, and all societies may know
how many delegates to elect, the fol
lowing extract from the Constitution
on that subject is given—to wit:
Article 111. — Members. — The body is com
posed of delegates from lesser societies, life
members, and the officers and all ex-Presidents
of the Society.
1. Delegates from any society or club here
tofore connecred with this Society, shall be ad
mitted on the following basis of representation,
viz: One delegate for any number of members
from ten to twenty ; two delegates for any
number of members from over twenty and not
exceeding forty ; three delegates for any num
ber exceeding forty members; provided that
not more than three delegates shall be admit
ted from any one county. Such delegates to
be elected at the January meeting of the society
or club, for one year. The credentials of dele
gates to be signed by the President and Secre
tary of the society or club, and be accompanied
by a report of the number of meetings held in
the preceding six months, and a list of officers
and members.
We hope, through the liberality of
the railroad companies, to continue to
get free passes for the delegates, both
ways, and to this end the returns of all
societies should be received at the of
fice of the Secratary in Atlanta, by the
25th January, at farthest.
Programme.
So far, we have arranged for the fol
lowing addresses at the Convention.
We hope to add others before the time,
if possible.
First, then, the exercises will be
opened with an Agricultural Ode or
Pastoral Poem, by James A. Stewart,
Esq., of Atlanta.
2. Report from the Experimental
Farm, by Dr. E. M. Pendleton.
3. Green Soiling, with report of ex
periments relating thereto, by Dr. E.
C. Hood, Columbus.
4. Cotton Seed, its’agricultural value
and uses, by Dr. W. L. Jones, Athens.
5. The Moon, its influence upon
vegetation and animals, by Col. W.
Leßoy Brown, Athens.
6. Gardening, R. If. Hardaway, Esq.,
Thomasville.
► ♦
The Cost of Producing Cotton.
We understand from a gentleman
who has been corresponding on the
subject with*several farmers, that Mr.
David Dickson," of Hancock, says it
takes, under the present system of la
bor, sixteen cents to produce a pound
of cotton. Dr. Lavender, of Pike county
states, from his own expesience, that
last year, it cost him seventeen cents
per pound, and the year immediately
after the war eight cents. Mr. Hard
awav, of Thomasville, says it costs
twelve cents, based upon calculations
taken from his own books.
We beg to call attention to this verv
important question touching the farm
ing interest, and should like to see it
considered and discussed generally, as
well as that which is of more import
ance, viz., “the means of raising cheap
cotton.”
—" » ■ ■ - < ■
Do Plants Feed Directly on Humin)
This is an undecided question, and
on it rests the whole theory of green
soiling. But whether plants feed di
rectly upon hunu’s or not, it seems to
be a very generally admitted fact that
humus acts very beneficially and pow
erfully a? an incidental fertilizer, as a
retainer of heat and moisture. This
involves, too, the question of whether
or net plants feed on carßm through
their roots, (hr.mis being chiefly car
’■!.' a •'■'int 'ttv universally denied
I ; -h Dusts. A se'. i‘s of exp'iiments
reportcit'' the St ' Mountain Con
vention (August, I<7D by Dr. E. C.
Hood, es C 'lumbus, would go to show
that humus was in all probability a
direct fertilizer, as well as being a sol
vent and prom 'ter of ferti’ir.ition in an
indirect way. Dr. Pendleton contends
■hmSRS SEOEiWA AEANfiE—
that the benefits derived from humus,
or vegetable matter in the soil, and
hence green-soiling are due to its power
and property of retaining heat and mois
ture, and that plant food does not and
cannot be derived immediately from it.
This question will come up at the next
Convention. It is an interesting and
important one, and we hope to see it
fully elaborated.
Premiums on Field Crops.
We present herewith the premiums
offered for field crops at the next State
Fair of 1875. Our farmers can thus
have an opportunity of beginning to
prepare for them this winter:
FIELD CROPS.
PROVISION CROPS—CEREALS.
Best five acres of upland corn SIOO
Best one acre of upland corn 25
Best live acres of lowland corn 100
Best one acre of lowland corn 25
Best five acres of wheat 50
Best one acre of wheat 20
Best five acres of oats 50
Best one acre of oats. ....... 20
Best five acres of rye 25
Best one acre of rye 10
Best one acre of barley 25
HAY CROPS.
Best five acres clover hay SSO
Best one acre of clover hay, minimum
2A tons 20
Best five acres lucern hay 50
Best one acre lucern hay, minimum 2|
tons 20
Best one acre of native grass hay, mini-
mum, 2j tons 25
Best one acre of timothy hay, minimum,
2 tons 25
Best one acre red top or Herd’s grass hay,
minimum, 2 tons 25
Best one acre pea vine Lay, minimum,
1 j tons 25
Best one acre corn forage, minimum, 6
tons 25
ROOT CROPS.
Best one acre of sweet potatoes $ 20
Best half acre of sweetpotatoes 10
Best acre of Irish potatoes 20
Best quarter acre cf Irish potatoes 10
Best two acres of turnips 30
Best quarter acre of turnips 10
Best one acre of ground peas 20
Best quarter acrcof ground peas 10
Best one acre beets 20
Best quarter acre of beets 10
Best acre of chufas 20
PEA CROPS.
Best five acres field peas $ 20
Best one acre field peas 10
Best one acre beans 20
Best quarter acre beans 10
MONEY CROPS.
Best five acres of cotton $ 50
Best one acre of cotton 25
Best one acre of tobacco 25
Best one acre of Southern cane 40
Best quarter acre Southern cane 10
Best acre of rice, unland 25
Best acre of rice, lowland, minimum, GO
bushels 25
Best acre of broom corn 25
Messrs. Cary, Adams, Lawton, Hahn,
Browne, Committee.
Transactions of the Fair.
We have received from the press, and
are now sending out the “ Transactions
of the Georgia State Fair, at Atlanta,
October, 1874.” Any one desiring a
copy can get one by addressing the
Secretary, at Atlanta. We trust it will
be found a useful and instructive pub
lication.
How to Make Money by Fanning.
Much labor is done on farms that is
not farming in its true sense. By such
labor no money is ever made. A man
may support himself and family, keep
out of debt, and have a few dollars in
his pocket by practicing the most rigid
economy. If he is otherwise than in
dustrious and sober, he is on the down
grade with loose brakes, and the end is
soon reached.
But farming in its true sense is a
profession equal in dignity to the law
or medicine, and needs equal study,
mental capacity, and intelligently di
rected labor to command success in it.
The principles which underlie the prac
tice of the true farmer must be well
understood, and a steady, consistent
course of operations must be followed.
Having thoroughly learned the nature
and capacity of the soil he possesses,
and chosen the rotation most suitable,
and the stock to be most profitably
kept on it, he doos not swerve from his
ehoson course, but in good markets and
bad, raises his regular crops, and keeps
his land in regular increasing fertility.
No special cry tempts or affrights
him. He does not talk dairy this sea
son and crops the next, but, doubtless,
if and particular product be in demand
and brings a good price, he has some to
sell, ami reaps his share of the advan
tage. He saves as much money as some
men make, by care ami c ' nomy in pur
chasing and t reserving tools, so.'ds.
an I machines, and his busin ss habits
an i constant rt'ivlir.css tor all ■' i-ici.s
hi - ••• s irib gain tfht
eff’'ts of adv rs* seaions a l bad
weather. Always prepared, he is r. 'ver
too late; always calm, he is never too
soon ; and thus, “taking time by the
forelock.'’ he has the stern uld tyrant at
his e unmand, an I turns him at his will.
He has no losses, and his gains are
steadv.
We have already published several
essays on “Diversified Farming,” and
on other subjects, in The Georgia
Grange, either of which is worth to
the reader five times the cost of sub
scription. We make no invidious com
parisons as to the merits of these pub
lications ; they have been gotten up by
men of experience and men of known
ability, and are all so worth the attention
of every farmer in Georgia that we do
wish they could not only be read but
carefully studied by all the yeomanry
of the land. In this issue, the essay
of Col. Sam Barnett appears. We
want all to remember that Col. B. is
not only a writer on agriculture, but a
practical farmer. He was, a few years
ago, the Commissioner for the State
Agricultural Society, and did more to
enlighten, the people by his lectures, all
over Georgia, than any man in it. The
publishers of The Georgia Grange
desire now to give to the public, through
its columns, all the theory and practice
we can obtain from such men as Col.
B. and his peers in th : s great agricul
tural work which is to redeem the State
from its poverty, and raise it to the ele
vated position of the Empire State of the
South. While on a visit, a short time
since, to the house of Col. Barnett,
we were invited by the Colonel and
his intelligent and polite farmer son,
Mr. Frank Barnett, to walk into
the farm, near at hand. After pas
sing through a magnificent grove
of sturdy old oaks, we arrived at the
gate of the farm. The first thing that
attracted our eye, was an acre of cot
ton which had been cultivated entirely
by the Colonel’s youngest son, a lad
fifteen years old. This cotton will make
at least a bale of 500 pounds of lint.
We found a fine crop of oats growing in
this cotton, which had been sowed
during the last ploughing. Ve| next
came to the corn patch. We estimated
that the corn would make twenty-five
bushels per acre. Across the fence and
over in the .pasture, we wore attracted
by the appearance of a fine mare and
colt. Mr. Frank told us that the colt
was only seven months old. It is cer
tainly one of the most completely de
veloped animals of its age we have ever
seen. We saw the whole of this beau
tiful little farm, consisting of about
100 acres in cultivation, perhaps twenty
of which is in corn, and thirty in cot
ton, and the remainder in stubble, from
which Mr. Frank Barnett took twenty
seven bushels of oats per acre last
spring. All of the cotton Will make a
bale per acre, and the whole, cotton and
coin, has now on it a splendid stand of
oats, which will be ready for harvesting
next spring, without further trouble,
other than thrashing down the old
stalks of corn and cotton during the
winter.
We have made this statement, be
cause men arc too willing to condemn
those who write and lecture on farm
ing as “book farmers,” and not prac
tical workers. This old idea has been
exploded, and men who would succeed
must read or they will live and die in
ignorance, and to meet this want, we
present to them The Georgia Grange,
a paper which has received the plaudit
of “well done” from almost every writer
and reader of Agriculture in its scope.
At the recent meeting of the Conven
tion of Patrons and Farmers, the Mas
ter of the State Grange, Col. T. J.
Smith, urged upon every one present
to go home and send subscribers to the
paper. IL 1 stated that it had now be
come a necessity ; as for himselt, he
must have an Organ, and The Georgia
Grange he preferred to all others, for
tho simple reason that it was the advo
cate of the Order, and the true friend
of the farmer. A resolution to the ef
fect that ail present would endorse the
paper, and procure as many subscribers
as possible, was unanimously passed.
We cal! the attention of our brethren,
to these facts, and hope that at the
meeting of the Georgia State Grange,
this month, at Macon, that some de
cided action will be had on the subject
of the circulation and support of the
paper, so that in a very short time we
may commence a weekly issue instead
of monthly, as it now exists.
The Georgia Grange will be .-“nt free
for one year to anyone who will send a
club of five or more snbscriliers. with the
•r.Will not the Masters <•.;• StcreUiri s
o' 1 cal Granges etch send us acluV' and
let ::s hive the weekly.
The Grangers' f Arkansas are petitioning
the I. 'gislature of th.it State to exempt from
tax ition capital invested in mining and
m imitactaring enterprises.
A M. Hardin, Esq., has received the ap
pointment of Agent, in St. L >uis, of the
LouiMAiia and Mississippi >:ate Granges.
Not an Idle Recommendation.
The address of Worthy Master Lang
to the Patrons of Texas, which we find
in a recent issue of the Waco Examiner,
is worthy the thoughtful perusal of
farmers in every section of the country.
It sets forth very clearly the errors of
the past, and points out the duty of
Southern farmers in matters pertaining
to their material welfare.
Col. Lang was in attendance at the
Cotton States Congress in this city last
spring, and made many warm Georgia
friends.
Prominent and active among the peo
ple of his State, he is doing much
good. We are informed that the policy
of the Texas State Grange, and the
Worthy Master, in recommendingutter
and absolute economy in expenditures
to the members of the organization,
has not been idly or carelessly received
by them, as is abundantly evinced by
the very observable shrinkage in expen
ditures as compared with those of the
corresponding season last year, and had
the cotton and other crops been up to
an average yield, the condition of the
farmers of the State would have been
enviable indeed. As it is, however,
they are much more independent, much
more favorably situated with reference
to future agricultural operations, than
they would have been, had the same
reckless system of expenditures which
characterized the years past, been pur
sued last season. While Texas farmers,
as a rule, have small balances, if any,
in their favor, they most certainly
have no debt pushing them ; crippling
and chilling their efforts and hopes.
The wisdom of the Grange in recom
mending and enjoining upon the mem
bers of the Order the most rigid and
careful economy in all things pertaining
to them as farmers and citizens, has
been, as we have remarked before,
abundantly established.
The duty, as we understand it, does
not stop at the mere expenditure of
money, but it includes time as well.
The farmer has fewer hours out the
twenty-four to lavish on amusement or
self-indulgence, than any other worker.
Time is more surely money to him than
any one else, and he is far from being
economical who wantonly wastes the
precious hours which should be devoted
to labor. He may fail in this quality
of economy, by bad, faulty or partial
cu lt«p it ion. of his land, or by neglecting
to plant it all, or secure its cultivation
by leasing it, where he has more than
ho can manage by his own exertions. It
is the worst sort of extravagance to
own and pay taxes on large bodies of
unproductive lands, worse still, if possi
ble, to have them fenced and otherwise
improved, and then suffer them to lay
idle, and non-producing at the same
time ; the owner is paying taxes and
keeping up repairs upon them.
Every farmer knows what is meant
by th-? phrase, “over cropping ourself,”
but few of them have stopped long
enough to consider that under this
phrase is hidden r spirit of wasteful
and unreasonable extravagance. The
labor necessary to prepare the ground,
the time consumed, the seed, the imple
ments, the horse-power and all that, is
uselessly and reckless thrown away- In
this age of “tight times,” it is necessary
for the farmer to make “ every edge
cut,” and we but show where effort mav
be thrown away, where an “ edge” may
be held against one, and instead of
proving of value, may become a means
of positive disadvantage. There are
some indulgences which are as culpably
blameable, as would be the act of
throwing money away, by the handful.
Thtye are some whistles that always
cost too much, and this one of owning
and attempting to cultivate more land
than is practicable is one that never
varies. It is always “ too dear.”
The Grange mill at Waterford, Min
nesota, has proved an undoubted sue- i
cess. Since the 26th of January last,
it has exchanged with the farmers 12,-
000 bushels of wheat, equal to 387,500
lbs. of flour. It is now turning out
140 barrels of flour daily, which is
shipped direct to Chicago, and com
mands a ready sale. Receiving from
' to 2.00 > bushels of wheat a Jar,
at $1.04 a bushel, and ex>-L.angii.g I-’
to 200 bushels, equal to thirty :S.
barrels of fl-ur. the i xcha. _•
There may be live Granges with :
members in them, but tber- car. ’ ■ :.■>
dead Granges with iiv • mem’ ers t •
then* A half dozen iiv.*, vigorous,
Patruns will 1; ep any Grange
o intry in a healthy nditi i
and are worth a whole regiment ofc ' 1.
lukewarm, half -nd half members.
Practical Suggestions.
To the Editors of The Georgia Grange :
The time for the annual session of
the State Grange is near at hand, in
which event all good Patrons of xlus
bandry doubtless take a deep interest.
The great objects of our Order are the
restoration of agriculture to prosperity,
the good and happiness of one another,
and the welfare of our State. In all
our proceedings, then, how important
to keep an eye single to their accom
plishment, and to regard not only
“ wisdom, justice and moderation,”
but co-operation and union in all we do.
There are many things of moment,
which will demand the attention of the
State Grange at its next session, and it
behooves every one who may attend it
to lay aside all personal, selfish or am
bitious motives, and devote themselves
to the good, harmony and unity of our
Order. Such a spirit will vouchsafe
discreet and wise counsels in all our
proceedings, and tend greatly to estab
lish our organization as a permanent
power in the land. We should iet noth
ing, therefore, divide us, or alienate our
hearts from one another, or the good
worlc we have in view. It would be out
of place to name the order of business
here, or to allude to many questions
which will necessarily occupy the atten
tion of the State Grange, but a sug
gestion on the subject of the election of
officers for the next two years will not
be out of order or violation of any es
tablished precedent.
In my humble judgement, our suc
cess depends greatly upon our having
good and true men in office, whose
hearts are thoroughly enlisted in the
welfare of our Order ; men who have no
selfish or ulterior motives to subserve
by seeking these high positions of trust
in the State Grange. Let us be on our
guard here, and allow no political as
pirant for office, nor any man who is
indifferent to our success to occupy any
official position in our Order. I think
it would be a safe rule to officer our
State and subordinate Granges with
strickly agricultural men. Our Order
is, or ought to be, strictly agricultural,
and it is eminently fit and proper our
officers should be men who are devoting
themselves to that pursuit in life which
we are trying to build up and restore to
prosperity. Let this rule be observed,
and, my word for it, we shall make few
mistakes in the selection of our officers.
Beware of the men who are trying to
ride our Order into office and power.
They may be our friends, but they are
not the men for us to put on guard. This
without any disparagement to any of
our present corps of State Grange offi
ceers, for so far as I know they are all
worthy, good and true men, and I shall
vote for their re-election as at present
advised. I wish, in this connection, to
suggest the unanimous re-election of
our worthy Master, T. J. Smith. Col.
Smith is strictly an agricultural man
and has devoted himself with great zeal
and fidelity to the inauguration and
building up of our organization in
Georgia for the past two years. He has
spent his time and money in the good
work ; has proved himself worthy of the
high trust reposed in him, faithfully
discharging all its duties with a fidelity
that no man will dare question, and de
serves the emphatic endorsement of the
Order, and in my humble judgement,
re-election without opposition.
Hoping that you, Messrs. Editors,
and the brethren generally, will agree
with me in the foregoing views.
I am, fraternally, etc., T.
A Word to Patrons. —Now is your
time to work in securing new members
to the Grange. The winter months
will fly rapidly, the spring will slip
away before you know it, and then no
more can be done until next winter.
Be alive. There is scarcely a brother
or sister who cannot influence one oY
more neighbors to join the Grange.
Let the revival reach every neighbor
hood. Have meetings, invite speakers,
have the neighborhood come in and
hear ; have songs, and once in a while a
feast, and let the world outside the
jates know and feel that the members
of the Orde-r are happier than they have
ever been before, and that they love
an . Ord r to which they be-
- .ii ‘i, th • r.ink.s v/here desert-
L tve lit gaps in them. Up and to
r £ while it is c ille 1 to-day.
_. ' ~
i hl ' lEor.. ;ia < Grange will lie sent free I
f -r < ni- year to anyou? who will send us a I
b < f five or more subscribers, with the
m Riey. Will not the Masters or Secretaries
' f local Granges each send is acli b? and
L-t us have the weekly.
—
Have c c.Sdence in each other and in the
Caiir**? you represent.
System in Farm Labor,
The amount of muscle that can be
saved by a little brain labor is wonder
ful. And \et the science of doing every
thing in proper season and place, in
fact, properly, is something that agri
cultural papers or farming bookp cannot
teach. Experience, calculation, fore
thought arc the mentors. A month
before a piece of machinery is to be
used, a glance at it will show where it
is defective. A rainy day, a spare hour
a chance to take it to town to be mended
without going on purpose. These
present themselves to the intelligent
farmer, and when the harvest is ripe,
or the corn ready for the cultivator,
there will be no delay for the mending
of damaged machinery.
There is no such laziness or wicked
waste of time and opportunity as the
man practices who never has time to do
anything properly. He goes to town
with three errands, and comes back
with only one finished ; he had no time
for the others. He'plows for fifty acres
of corn, but only time to get in forty.
He plows with a dull plow and chops
with a dull ax for lack of time to sharp
en them. All these are the results of
forethought and system. A neglect to
use the brain that God has given him
to shape and direct and save the muscle.
An ox will do the work, but he cannot
plant. The horse is powerful but he is
controlled by Lis master, and his power
utilized. Man’s labor is but brute
strength, and the strong brain force
that is brought to bear upon it the
more surely every stroke tells, and the
more grand will be tho results.
Our IMilcl, Cows.
There is no animal that desires to be
held in higher appreciation than the
cow that furnishes our milk and butter.
Her daily contributions for the support
of the family are by no means inconsid
able in quantity, value or quality.
Nothing, in our opinion, is more enjoy
able than good milk and butter. Very
little in addition will constitute a repast
of which a royal household might well
be grateful.
With the above facts patent.to every
one who is the fortunate owner of a
good milch cow, it is strange, but true,
that no animal is move ungratefully or
cruelly neglected. A majority are ex
pected to yield tho needed supplies of
milk and butter as a clear profit to the
proprietor, and are, therefore, left to
gather their food from the uncertain
treasury of the woods, if in the country,
or if in the city to filch a meager sup
port from market wagons, from sample
articles at the door vs groceries and
supply stores, or glean from the leakage
of ware-houses, etc. Thus they be
come noted as public nuisances, and re
ceive many a blow from stick and stone,
which are more appropriately due to
their stingy, unappreciative and cruel
masters. This is not all—the poor,
faithful creatures are left in a majority
of instances unprotected from the winds,
the rains, and the snows of winter. The
horse has his stable, the hog finds a
shelter at pleasure, and even the worth
less cur is invited to shield himself
from inclement weather, but the cow
that contributes so much to our com
fort is left out in the chilly winds or
pelting snows.
This is neither just to man or the
beast. Every milch cow should be
provided with a warm stable in winter.
Give her this and you will be largely
repaid in the increased supplies she
will furnish. It is vain to calculate on
either a good quantity or quality of
milk when the cow is left to shift for
herself, cither as to gathering her food
or finding shelter.
■—► • * -
At a regular meeting of Mercer
Grange, No. 601, of Fulton county,
held at Adamsville, December 19,1874,
the following officers were elected for
the present term : A. B. Davis, Master;
Henry Bankston, O; Thomas Knight,
L; Premascus McDaniel, S; James
Knight, A. S.; Rev. A. 8. Smith, Chap.;
John Pope, Tres.; Andrew Smith, Sec.;
Tilman Knight, G. K.; Miss Fannie
Davis, Ceres; Miss Lou Davis, Pomona;
Miss Olena Knight, Flora ; Miss Ma
hulda Knight, L. A. S.
The f-ixth annual convention of the Ver
mont Dairyman’s Association, will be held in
the village of Georgia, on the 19:h, 20th and
21st in.-ts. The previous meetings of this or
ganization have been of great interest, and
largely attended by men of science as well as
pr.te.ical dairymen and farmers. Other States
have been liberally represented at these anni
versaries and will no doubt be at the one now
in anticipation.
It is a fact that roaches will not remain in
a house if alum is sprinkled about the floor.
5