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IR. NESBITT IN
SOUTH GEORGIA
Tiie Commissioner Writes of
His Observations.
FARMERS FORGING TO THE FRONT
Only on Plantations Where Tenants Are
Entrusted With the of Af.
fairs Is Evidence of Stagnation Notices*
ble—Kaislugr Home Supplies—Work For
the Month Delayed.
Department of Agriculture,
Atlanta, May 4, 1897.
A recent and rather extended visit to
the southwestern section of the state
has much encouraged our belief in the
advance of Georgia agriculture. Farms,
which for years have been given over
to broomsedge and briars, are being re
claimed, and what were a few years
ago trackless pine forests, are now
dotted over with neat farm houses and
well kept farms. It is only on the
laig'r plantations, where tenants are
entrusted with the management or mis
management of farm affairs, that one
notices the evidence of stagnation. The
watchword seems to be ‘’Progress” and
farmers as a rule are attaining to a
comfort and independence unknown in
the years immediately succeeding the
war. Of course there are exceptions,
but in the main, where men have raised
their home supplies and farmed on
strictly business principles, the reward
has been sure and it has not been long
delayed. In many cases men who were
formerly working for standing wages,
or renting a one or two-mule tarm, by
this “open Sesame” of oareful manage
ment, and of producing at home all the
bread and meat needed to carry on their
business, have been enabled to enter on
the enjoyment of an independent home
life whose equal for comfort and free
dom from the rush and struggle of the
general business world is not found on
the globe. One negro man, who 15
years ago was hiring at SIO.OO a month,
today owns a 600-acre farm with com
fortable 8-room house and necessary
putbuildings, among which is a smoke
house containing 800 pounds of home
raised meat and cribs stored with corn
and forage for the coming year’s de
mands. Another man, white, who was
once a renter with only a small force at
his command, today runs 30 plows and
owns hundreds of acres of land. On
inquiry we found that the inflexible
rule in both cases has been ample pro
vision crops and as much cotton as could
be well taken care of. In the first case,
the man’s own family of boys have
helped him to gain his position. In the
second, the goal has been reached by a
strict adherence to agricultural business
principles, coupled with a sagacity,
which has enabled the owner to steer
clear of speculation and produce his cot
ton at a figure several degrees below
the selling price. What is in tne land
for these two men is there for others of
equal pluck and energy.
THE WORK FOE THE MONTH
has been very much delayed, more
especially in the middle and northern
sections of the state. The southern sec
tions were not visited by the heavy
r.iins of the winter and early spring,
which the farmers farther north had to
contend against, and as a rule work
there is very well advanced. On ac
count of numerous delays farther north,
from the constant rains, many farmers
were unable to give the corn land the
thorough preparation so necessary for a
successful crop, and some have simply
opened the rows, put in the manure,
thrown two furrows on this and planted
on the “list.” Where this is the oase,
now is the time to give the corn land a
thorough and deep breaking out. After
this time it will be imposiible to put
the plow in ciose and deep without
breaking off some of the delicate, feed
ing roots, which begin to extend in
every direction not very far from the
surface.
Where the land has been thoroughly
prepared and is in good condition, the
harrow will be found a very effective
implement pushing forward effective
work. Run diagonally across the rows;
it will not hurt the young plants, but
will effectually kill the coming crop of
grass, and by its rapid work enable the
farmer to give his attention to other
pressing duties. In the more southern
sections of the state the corn crop will
soon be ready for the second working.
Our object then should be to conserve
moisture as well as kill grass and weeds,
and this is best accomplished by culti
vating as shallow and as flat as possi
ble.
Over the cotton beds, where a crust
has formed, the harrow does most effi
cient work, and unless the “stand” is
very imperfect, does not injure the cot
ton. After harrowing allow the plants
to remain until they can be brought to
a “stand” at the first hoeing. This ob
viates the expensive and needless ‘-block
ing out” once so extensively practiced.
This plan presupposes the land in good
condition. On rough or poorly prepared
laud, resort must be had to the scooter
or narrow shovel, using a fender to pre
vent the close siding from covering the
young cotton and bolting on a half
scrape behind the foot of the plow, to
cover the young grass in the middles.
FORAGE CROPS.
All sorts of forage crops may bu
started this month. Sorghum, about
which we have several answers in the
columns, cow peas, Spanish
ground peas, millets, etc. Kaffir corn
is attracting considerable attention on
account of its drouth resisting qualities.
R. T. Nesbitt, Commission*.
CONDITION OF JHE CROPS.
luorease In the Cotton Ae-cage—Heavy
Rains Retnr.l Cora Crop.
COTTON.
The reports from the different sec
tions of the state woo and indicate an in
crease of from a to 10 per cent in the
acreage of this crop. Planting from ten
to 30 days late. Not enough yet up to
indicate the stand. That already up
(in the lower portion of the state) look
ing badly, from the unusually cool
nights. Long continued wet weather
all over the state has caused a good deal
of delay in farming operations, and I
fear that much land will be planted
with but very poor preparation.
CORN.
The acreage is reported as about the
same as last year, with preparation not
so good. In some counties in South and
Southwest Georgia corn has had to be
replanted on account of the excessive
rainfall, by which many fields were
completely drowned out. Too early to
estimate the stand. Laud in many
cases poorly prepared, because of the
time lost by continued rains.
OATS.
The acreage 10 per cent greater than
last year, and the condition very much
better. Quite 50 per cent of the oat
crop was sowed last fall, and as nearly
all of it escaped winter killings, there
is a good prospect for a fine crop.
WHEAT.
More wheat planted than for several
years past. The crop is reported as
looking unusually well, but I fear it
will yet be seriously injuted by rust,
which is reported from several counties
in the middle and lower portions of thi
state. No rust yet reported from North
Georgia, where wheat is largely planted.
FRUIT.
The reports vary very much as re
gards peaches, ranging from 10 per cent
in some counties up to a full crop in
others. After a careful study of re
ports, I conclude that the shipment of
peaches from Georgia this season will
be light, while there will be plenty for
home consumption. The same may be
said of pears. Apples and grapes prom
ise a full crop. Piutns, cherries and
strawberries are all more or less injured,
but will make fair crops.
STOOK.
The report on stock of all kinds, as
regards both condition and numbers,
compares favorably with last year,
showing a slight increase. No diseases
reported, except cholera among hogs,
which is doing much damage in a few
counties.
The FiiiineiN Hoy.
The boy on the farm is just about tha
same kind of a boy you will find every
where. He is susceptible to the same
influences, and, given the same oppor
tunity, he will accomplish about the
same results as his fellow in the town
or city. With perhaps this to his ad
vantage: The farmer boy is nearer to
nature’s great heart and comes to un
derstand her ways; and again, the soli
tude of the farm gives him opportunity
for communion with self, if he is a
thinking boy, to come to better under
standing with himself and to know his
powers and limitations better than his
his urban prototype.
Boys everywhere need the stimulus of
self interest, and this is too often de
nied them on the farm. What he does
goes into the general fund, as it were,
and he does not see how much he is do
ing to swell it. If the farmer would
keep his boy on the farm and make him
a factor in its successful operations; lit
the young man to take his place and
carry on the work when he is gone, or
keep him from seeking a home and for
tune out in the great world so full of
doubt and uncertainty, he should at an
early period of the boy’s career give
him something to do for himself, tha
returns from which will be his own.
If the farmer raises sheep, then a few
well bred sheep; if horses and cattle,
some colts and a cow or two; if near a
market a, coop of nice chickens, or a
garden plot for his own cultivation
—something that shall be the boy’s
own peculiar property and the returns
from which shall be his to do with
just as he he will. Not only will ha
grow in independence and learn for
himself the lessons of failure and suc
cess; he will have an enthusiasm for tha
work in hand, which of itself will be a
guarantee of success; without which
life itself, in its best sense, is a ’’allure,
and a vexed problem in many homes,
will be forever settled.—Exchange.
\Vh*at t Seed Cotton and Corn.
Question. —How much in pounds of
the three fertilizing elements—nitro
gen, phosphoric acid and potash —are
taken from toe soil per acre by a crop
of 10 bushels of wheat; how much by
a crop of 1,200 pounds of seed cotton,
and by ten bushels of corn.
Answer —A e op of 10 bushels of
wheat will take from the soil 12 pounds
of nitrogen, 6 pounds of phosphoric
acid and 8 93 pounds of potash. Should
you take off ot the laud at the same
time 1,200 pounds of straw, there would
be taken from the soil an additional 6
pounds of nitrogen, 2.68 pounds of
phosphoric acid and 9 pounds of potash,
besides 8 42 pounds of lime and 2.68
pounds of ciiloriu
In a crop of 1,200 pounds of seed cot
ton per acre there will be taken from
the soil 29 20 pounds of nitrogen, 10.26
pounds of phosphoric acid and 10.69
ponnds of potash; in addition to these
Should be added 4.25 of lime. Most of
these elements are contaiued in the
seed, the lint containing no nitrogen,
only a trace of phosphoric acid and a
very small imowt of potash.
Iu a crop of 10 bushels of corn. In
cluding the stalk as well as tl/e ear,
there is taken from the soil 14 pounds
of nitrogen, 0 pound of acid phospha.t
aud 12 pouuds of p dash. —State A*
cultural Department.
THE TIMES: BRUNSWICK, GA„ SUNDAY MORNING, 9, 1896.
SOIIGHUJI AS A *
FORAGE CROP
Preparation, Time of Planting,
Fertilizing, Etc.
Hot injurious to the laud
ttcsista Drouth Much Hotter Than Corn.
Howto Destroy Weevils—Valle of Salt
and Lime as Fertilizers—A Plan to Save
Pea Vine Hay—Many Other luquiriM
Answered.
Question. I see that you advise
planting sorghum as a forage crop.
Will you please advise me as to prepara
tion for, time of planting, fertilizing,
feeding etc.? I have raised this crop
for syrup, but not for forage; indeed,
have always been told that it was dan
gerous as a stock food.
Answer. —The variety of sorghum to
be chosen for a forage crop differs from
the syrup making varieties, in that it
should be hardy, quick growing aud
maturing, with abundant seed of soft
quality and free from astringeney. For
this purpose the Amber varieties are
extensively used at the south as well as
the north aud west, but many southern
farmers prefer the Orange varieties.
These are rather later than the Amber,
aud are of coarser growth. Asa gen
eral rule the same preparation should
be given to the land as that required for
a crop of corn or cotton. If the land is
rough or cloddy it should be smoothed
with a harrow aud bedded as for cot
ton. The seed should be sown much
thicker when the crop is intended for
forage than where syrup is the object.
If planted in drills it should be given
about the same cultivation as corn, cul
tivating shallow and often. The time
of planting should be decided by the
season, any time from the middle of
April to the middle of May, after the
ground is well warmed. The plants
grow slowly above ground at first, but
the root growth is rapid, and as soon as
these are well established the stems be
gin to develop very rapidly, aud owing
to their abundant and long roots the
plants resist drouth more successfully
than corn. The cuttiug may begin as
6oon as theJieads begin to form, but the
best time is when the seeds are half
ripe. After the first cuffing, if tha
field is again cultivated, a second, a
third and even a fourth cuttiug may,
under favorable conditions, be obtained.
Often peas, beans, corn or millet is
sown with the sorghum broadcast, and
the field may be pastured, or the crop
cut for hay. The practice of sowing
legumes, as peas, beans, etc., with the
sorghum is a most excellent one because
the legumes furnish the muscle making
materials, while the sorghutn is rich in
fat-forming substances, aud the two
combined make a more perfect feed.
Another advantage is that, although
the sorghum draws very little upon tho
nitrogen of the soil, the peas will re
place whatever of this element is taken
off. This would indicate that a fertil
izer running very low in nitrogen, with
a full per cent of potash aud phosphoric
acid, should be selected for this crop.—
State Agricultural Department.
Sorghum In Sevnrt* Drouth*—Does It In
jure Land ?
(Question. Does sorghum resist
drouth more surely than corn or other
forage crops, and is it as injurious to
the laud as millet? /
Answer. —Both the saeharine and
nonsachariue varieties of sorghum resist
drouth much better than corn.
has been proven xu those sections of the
south and west where severe drouths
sometimes occur. The sorghutn has
been found to remain fresh and green,
when the corn was almost ruined. Dry
weather may somewhat check its
growth, but when the supply of moist
ure is renewed it will recover aud grow
as luxuriantly as ever. This is perhaps
owing to its deep feeding roots, which,
nnlike corn, extend far below the sur
face. Owing to this peculiarity it ia
also less exhaustive on the soil thah
millet aud many other crops, which
draw their elements of growth from the
upper soil. It is also a small consumer
of nitrogen. When planted late, or
sown with cowpeaa, it it is cut before
the seeds ripen and the field plowed as
soon as the crop is taken off, the land is
left in splendid condition for succeeding
crops. Where the canes are large and
coarse, as is the case when the crop is
planted for syrup, it is important that
this plowing be deeply and thoroughly
done as soon as the crop is harvested,
otherwise the stubble might interfere
with working other crops. If the cane
is sown thickly in drills or broadcast
for harvesting or pasturing,little trouble
iu this respect is experienced. In all
cases it is best, however, to plow the
land as soon as the crop is gathered.
Experienced farmers know that cotton,
small grains and potatoes do well after
sorghum.—State Agricultural Depart
ment.
Sorffliain a A Knsmter of Drouth*
Question. — I have been informed that
sorghum is a good tesiste- of drouth
and also a splendid forage plant, for
soiling aud for curing both in the silo
and in the field. lam thinking of put
ting in.'iuite a large area to supplant
other food crops, but as I have had only
a limited experience in the usual small
“patches” for greeu feeding aud syrup
’aking, would be glad if you would
tell me something of the methods of
harvesting and curing. Is it safe to use
the second and third growths for arj
purpos'' I have been told that the
are very dangerous for feeding to any
kind of stock.
Answer. —Sorghum is successfully
used for soiling, pasturage, hay and en
silage. For soiling it is usually sown
in drills, and should be cut when the
“heads” are formed. For pasturage the
best plau is to sow broadcast, and if
peas are sown with it the feeding value
of both crops is greatly increased, the
peas furnishing the muscle making and
the sorghum the fat making elements.
The best hay is obtained by cuttiug the
torghum soon after it begins to bloom.
For ensilage the crop should be cut
when the seed is in the “dough.”
The usual plan of harvesting the
drilled grain is to cut with a scythe,
but the mower may be used. In our
climate, where tliere is not much moist
ure during the late summer and early
fall months, the crop may be cured
very successfully. Where sown broad
cast cut with the mower, and allow tho
hay to cure thoroughly, which will re
quire more or less time according to tho
weather, from four to six days usually.
It may be then stored in the barn or
put into stacks, topped off with coarse
grass. The following plan is recom
mended by the Texas Experiment Sta
tion and is an excellent one:
After mowing, allow the sorghum to
lie upon the ground sufficiently long to
dry out at the ends of the blades. If
the crop is thick it should be turned
over upon the ground to expose the bot
tom portion of the crop to the sun for a
short time; usually one full day’s sun
is required to dry it sufficiently to bo
put into the “cock.” These haycocks
may be 5 feet high and 4 in diameter,
of the shape of an oldfashioned beehive.
All of the hay that is put up iu this
manner should be well settled as it is
laid on the piie. After having con
structed it to the proper height, raka
the loose sorghum away from the sides,
leaving a neat pile of hay that will turn
water in case it should rain. Allow it
to remain in this shape for two or three
days for fermentation to take place,
which is evidenced by the “heating”
and the deposit of dew upon the inte
rior parts of the cock. When thoroughly
warm aud before the hay loses its natu
ral color, open the oook aud expose tho
hay to four or six hours’ sun, according
to the weight of the crop per acre and
the size of stacks; then the hay is ready
to haul to the barn or be placed in
stacks, where it may safely be expected
to remain without moulding or heating
further. If the hay is allowed to re
main iu the cocks too long, the fermen
tation proceeds too far and the hay sours
and then rots in the field. It will re
main longer in the cocks without dam
age the less of water or sap it contains
when put up. * * * Use no salt or
other applications to preserve the hay.
The hay may be baled safely if given
six to ten hours’ sun from the cock, de
pending on the size of the stalks.
With ordinary precautions no fear of
injury to stock need be entertained. In
nearly all cases of trouble from feed
ing sorghum, it has been found
that it was caused from careless
feeding. Discretion should be exercised
in regulating the feed and the animals
should not be allowed to have too much
at first, particularly if they are hun
gry. All kinds of stock are very fond
of it, hut, like clover, it is liable to
cause bloating if fed in too large quan
tities at first. Iu pasturing, it is well
to allow the dew to dry off before turn
ing the animals on it, and to keep them
on only a short time until they have be
come accustomed to the forage. As
the forage contains an excess of fat
forming substauces, it attains its high
est value when giveu with other foods
containing muscle making elements. If
animals are turned on a field of sor
ghum when hungry and allowed to
gorge themselves, whether it be the
first, second or third growth, trouble
may be expected, aud the same is true
of clover and other grass foods. —State
Agricultural Department.
Ihfl ‘‘Plum Ciirculio. w
Question. —I send you some small
bugs, that I think are ruiuiug my plums
and peaches every year. I have never
seen any of them until recently. Please
tell me what they are, and how to pre
vent their ravages. They pierce the
fruit, apparently, and after awhile, the
plums and peaches so pierced, drop off
prematurely.
Answer —The iusect which is giving
you so much trouble is the “Plum Our
culio,” the very worst enemy to all
growers of stone fruit, such as plums,
peaches, etc. They are very numerous
throughout this state, and indeed in all
sections of the country. The female
attacks the young fruit as soon as it is
well “set,” cutting a crescent-shaped
incision in the skin in which to deposit
her egtfh These eggs soon hatch and
the little grubs feed upon the palp of
the fruit, gradually working their way
to the stone. About the time thejlarvm
are full grown, the infested fruit drops
to the ground. Then the larva; leave the
fruit and burrow a short distance into
the soil, where they change to pupae.
In a few weeks they again change and
come forth as perfect beetles. There
are two remedies recommended, neither
of which is entirely satisfactory.
The first is spraying with "Paris
Green”—4 ounces to 50 gallons of wa
ter, to whibfl some lime should bo
added, as several of the varieties of
plum and peach trees are very easily in
jured by the arsenites. Three or four
Bprayings are necessary: the first just
before the blooms open, the second soon
after the h' shave fallen, the third
ten days after tha second, and the fourth
15 or 18 days after the third.
The method of fighting this
pest is by what is called “jarring."
Wheu a tree is “jarred” by a blow, the
insect—“playing possum”—drops from
the limbs as if dead. A sheet spread
beneath the tree catches the curculios,
which may then be collected and de
stroyed. If not killed very soon after fall
ingon the sheet they will cease ‘ ‘playing’
possum” aud fly away. the
sheet, many large growers use a recep
tacle shaped like an inverted umbrella,
mounted on wheels; it has sloping sides,
down which the insect rolls towards the
center, where it falls into a vessel con
taining water with a little kerosine.
Dropping into this tho curculios perish
quickly. Jarring is most successfully
done in the cool of the morning, aud
has to be frequently repeated. Avery
large peach grower in this state is said
to have speut in ib9s $7,000, using this
remedy against the curculio, but ha
saved his crop and was well repaid for
his expenditure. Pad or muffle the in
strument with which you strike tha
tree to produce the “jarring,” that the
bark may not be bruised or knocked
off.—State Agricultural Department.
The Granary Weevil,
Question.—How do weevils get into
corn, and how does tho “bisulphide of
carbon,” which you recommend, de
stroy them ?
Answer. —The common granary wee
vil, so destructive to corn aud other
grains in warm latitudes, is a wiugless
insect, which may be found iu our
fields, woods or barns. They can only
survive the cold winters of more north
ern latitudes in the shelter afforded by
barns and other buildings, and in such
sections are consequently few in num
ber aud do but little damage. In this
state, and especially in the southern
portion, they easily survive the mild
winters, and sometimes do great injury
to the corn crop even before it is housed,
though the chief damage is done after
the crop is gathered. They work in tha
following manner: Tho female weevil
bores a very small hole into the grain
of corn and deposits therein one or two,
and sometimes three eggs. These eggs
soon hatch into little larvae, that eat
out the soft heart of the graiu, and in a
few weeks develop into full grown
beetles, which then cut their way out
of the kernel in which they have been
confined. The females among them
quickly commence their egg laying iu
the uninjured kernels, and thus genera
tion after generation is produced in one
season. The grown weevils feed indis
criminately on the hard hs well as the
soft parts of the graiu. When very nu
merous, the corn is rendered unfit for
food for either man or beast. To de
stroy this pest is not impossible, though
many farmers take that view. As soon
as your corn is housed, place on top of
the pile, in shallow vessels, such as soup
plates, or small tin pans, bisulphide of
carbon, at the rate of J fii to 2 pounds to
every 100 bushels of corn. This quickly
vaporizes, aud the vapor being heavier
than the air, descends and penetrates
into every portion of the pile of corn,
killing all insects with which it comes
in contact, as well as rats and mice.
Such of the weevils as escape the first
application, by reason of being buried
in the interior of the grains of corn, can
be killed by a second application, fol
lowing in four weeks after the first.
The closer the crib the more effectually
will the work be done. Always remem
ber that the bisulphide of carbon is a
deadly poison aud very inflammable,
and no fire, not even a lighted pipe or
cigar should be taken near it. This
danger ends wuen all odor of the vapor
has passed away, say in two or three
days at utmost. The use of this remedy
does not injure the grain, either for
food or seed purposes, if used as recom
mended; if used iu larger quantities the
grain is liable to injury as seed. I
would be pleased if some of our South
Georgia farmers would give this remedy
a fair trial and report tho results to this
department.—State Agricultural De
partment.
Pea Vine Hay.
Question. —Tell me how to save pea
vine hay. Can I stack it in the field
and leave it until wanted for use? Do
chufas injure land? What would be a
good fertilizer for them?
ANSWER-'-Pea vines can be stacked
in the field and left there until wanted
for use, aud this can bo doue easily and
cheaply and w.th absolute success in
the Wowing manner: Cat threo forked
poles the size cf a man’s arm and 8 feet
long. In trimming off the limbs from
these poles leave prongs from 10 to 12
inches long, wherever you can. 7h*fl
place the poles in the form of a tripod,
locking them firmly together by means
of the forked tops, at the same time
pressing the other ends sufficiently deep
into the ground to prevent their slip
ping and falling down. Then as the
pea vines are brought to the spot throw
them with t> pitchfork, or by hand, on
these poles at a distance of some 2 feet
from the ground, wnere they will catch
on the forks projecting from the poles,
making thus a base, for the stack. Then
pile on the vinos, distributing them
with some little care, and carrying th 9
stack up as long as you can throw the
vines to the top with a pitchfork. This
is a simple way, and will make good
pea vine hay, regardless of the weather.
I have tried it during a light rain,
when the vines were thoroughly wet,
and made fine hay. While not essen
tial, it wil ;st to cap the stack with
grass, or with a stack cap. The vines
could be cut with a sharp grass blade,
or with a reaper with the cradle re
moved, and this should be done when
the first peas are beginning to ripen.
If left later the vines become too woody,
and the leaves shed off too. readily.
Chufas grow best on a sandy loam.
The ground should be well broken and
pulverized. Where tho nuts "are fed off
‘By hogs, aud the grasslike blades are
not cut for hay, there is but slight loss
of plant food in the soil, therefore
chufas are not, under such circum
stances, an exhaustive crop. When,
however, the tops are cut for hay and
the nuts dug for seed they become quite
exhaustive to the soil. They are planted
to a considerable extent in South Geor
gia (they should be planted more largely
iu all parts of tho state) for fattening
hogs aud are excellent for that purpose.
Any complete fertilizer will add largely
to the yield of chutas, preic-i ahi v , ,ow
ever, one carrying from 3 to 4 por cent
of potash.—State Agricultural Depart
ment.
Brook* County Self Supporting,
Question. —Is there any section or
couuty in Georgia which might be
called self supporting?
Answer. —As an answer to your
question I take pleasure in publishing
the report of a reliably cruf) correspond
ent from Brooks county, received last
week.
“This (Brooks) is the banner county
of Georgia when it comes to ’hog and
hominy.’ Wo raise lots of moat, corn,
oats; peanuts, peas, etc. There Is
enough meat raised here each year to
run thecounty three years without buy
ing any western meat. Our merchants
ship meat-, lard, corn, etc., all over South
Georgia. A great many of our farmers
carry balances to their credit, in tho
bank here, of from SI,OOO to $3,000.
They run their farms from sale of meat,
corn, etc., and make their cotton a sur
plus crop.”
Now I ask you and every other farmer
In Georgia to read and ponder the above
statement. Is the condition of Brooks
county one to be envied or not? Is it a
desirable thing for a farmer to have an
abuudanoe of all kinds of provision
crops, besides money in the bank, or is
it not? Why can’t you aud every other
farmer in Georgia place yourselves in
the same condition as the farmers of
Brooks couuty? There is but one ob
stacle in the way, aud that is the craze
for cotton. Bring about a cure in this
respect and all the rest follows as a mat
ter of course. I assert, without fear of.
contradiction, that if every county in
the state was doing just as Brooks
county is doing, Georgia would be the
most prosperous state in the Union, and
could bid defiance to trusts, Dingley
tariffs and other like abominations.-
State Agricultural Department.
Value of Salt ami I.iiuo as Fertilizer*.
Question. —What is the value of salt
as a fertilizer? What of lime?
Answer. —While salt is not essential
to the growth of' agricultural plants,
nevertheless it is found to be service
able as a fertilizer in some cases. It is
probable that the salt brings about de
composition of substances already in
the soil, and by this moans renders
thorn available as plant food.. It also
attracts moisture. It is supposed by
many that it destroys fungi aud insects
in the soil, rendering plants more
healthy and vigorous. Many believe
that au application of 800 to 400 pounds
to the acre will prevent rust in cotton,
awllfrlso increase tlio yield and improve
the quality. Most soils contain suffi
cient lime for the needs of the great ma
jority of cultivated crops. Lime is not
used for a fertilizer as much as for
merly, many persons contending that
there is no appreciable benefit to be de
rived from its use. It may, however,
be used to advantage to correct acidity
in the soil. It tends to disintegrate
rocks and minerals. It may destroy in
sects aud some injurious fungi, it in
creases the power of the soil for fixing
and holding pctadi. It disiuteg ates
and makes more friable, stiff soils, while
at the same time it binds together and
puts light, sandy soils iu better mechan
ical condition. Some crops, such as
ground peas tor instance, will make al
most a total failure in soils deficient in
lime, and their cultivation should not
be undertaken In such soils, without
first applying to them a liberal dose of
lime.—State Agricultural Department.
••Big-Head” and ••Big-Jaw.’'
Question. —I have a fine mare suffer
ing with “big-head” and "big-jaw.” Is
there anything that will cure her?
Answer. —This is a common disease
among horses aud mules at the south,
and various are the causes assigned for
it. SomV say it is caused by damaged
corn, others attribute it to what are
called blind teeth, and many think is is
caused by feeding corn raised on new
grounds. The truth is the veterinary
6urgeons do not know the oause of thie
disease, which carries off many horses
and mules annually. The disease, if
well advanced, is absolutely incurable,
aud the animal suffering with it should
not be tortured by burning holes into
the nose and lower jaw, applying se
tous, etc., as is too often done. There
is no satisfactory treatment. In the
first stage of the disease, if the animal
is put upon a limestone pasture, given
good care and fed well on bright, clean
oats, the disease is sometimes checked,
aud occasionally even completely cured.
State Agricultural Department,
3