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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, MARCH 1,1882.
^forufultnyil
Tlie Agricultural Convention nt An*
(RNtR, Georgia.
The usual semi-annual meeting of the
Georgia State Agricultural Society was held
in Augusta, on the 14th ult. About 130
members and delegates were present at the
opening hour, and the Convention was ca.'I
ed to order by Hon. Thomas Hardeman,
Fresident. Col. E. C. Grier, the popular
Secretary, was also at his post.
Maj, W. T. Gary in behalf of the city of
Augusta made a welcome address, and the
Richmond County Agricultural Society put
forward W. H. Fleming, Esq., to express
their hospitable feelingsof the farmer’s. Both
addresses were well conceived and eloquent
ly delivered, but the young spokesman for
the County Society, was exceedingly happy
and witty in his remarks. He begged his
audience not to conclude from the usual
style of Augusta canal orators and newspa
per gmtulations of Augusta enterprises, that
the whole of Richmond county was covered
with the surging waves of the great canal
Here and there within its bounds there were
a few high ridges that had defied the high'
est waves, and whose fields supported a high-
toned, hardy, industrious and progressive
people, whose hearts and homes were open
to their brother farmers of Georgia.
Hon. W. L. Peek, of Rockdale county, re
sponded to these addresses on behalf of the
Convention.
This gentleman lias been repeatedly hon
ored by the citizens of his county with aseat
in the Legislature, where he has proven him
self, on numberless occasions, to be a true
representative of the best interestsof liis bro
ther farmers, and an able advocate of the
cause of agriculture. His speech, though
short, was full of good tilings and sparkling
humor.
President Hardeman then proceeded, in
his own eloquent style, to deliver his semi
annual address. To say that it was elegant
In its rhetoric, solid in logic, wise in sugges
tions and admonition, would be but to
speak the simple truth. Col. Hardeman is
one of the most versatile of men—equally at
home as the presiding officer of the General
Assembly, president of an agricultural con
vention, head of a party, or as the centre of
an admiring social group—a statesman, a
business man and a good citizen. We refer
our readers to his published address in this
issue.
After perfecting the roll of members and
delegates, the regular programme was taken
up. First, Col. J. H. Fannin in a ready off
hand manner gave the convention the bene
fit of his “Observation on Improved Imple
ments and Useful Machinery at the recent
Cotton Exposition at Atlanta,’’ which was
followed by some pertinent discussion in
which several prominent delegates took part,
and just tfltttle flavor of politics was observa
ble in one of the speeches.
Next in order was an essay on “Oats vt.
Corn" by the writer of this article, the read
ing of which provoked an interesting family
talk on the general subject of grain culture,
' which was prolonged to the close of the night
session. The Editor-ik-chuf of the World
flattered us with the request for a copy of
the paper read for publication, and it will be
found in this number.
Wednesday morning Prof. Wm. M.
Browne of the University of Georgia, read
an interesting report of the past year’s ex-
lieriments on the College farm near Athens.
Following, came Dr. J. H. P. Brown, on
bee culture, and a most entertaining and in
structive paper it was.
In the afternoon the convention includ
ing a sprinkling of ladies (notwithstanding
the bad weather and mud,) was greatly edi
fied and delighted by an essay on “Beautify
ing our Homes," by Rev. A. J. Battle, Presi
dent of Mercer University.
Dr. Battle is a finished scholar and an
eloquent speaker, and his address gave evi
dence of his exquisite taste for the beautiful
in Nature and Art.
“Fence or No Fence," was handled in a
plain, practical manner, by Hon. A. P. But
ler, Commissioner of Agriculture of South
Carolina. He reviewed the history of the
Stock law in that State, and with an array of
facts and figures showed the beneficent work
ings of the new system.
Dr. P. J. Berckmans made an address on
“Fruit Growing as a Farm Crop," in the
afternoon, which we, unfortunately did not
hear, and was followed by Mr. J. B. Wade,
of DeKalb county, on “Jersey Cattle in the
South." Mr. Wade showed thorough mas
tery of his subject and an intimate practical
acquaintance with the peculiarities of his
pet breed, and with the details of the dairy.
"Watermelon Culture" was discussed by
Mr. Fred. Little, of Allens, Ga., but we were
denied the pleasure of listening, by the ap
proaching hour for departure for home
again.
The essays were generally followed by dis
cussions of greater or less interest.
It was a source of keen regret that we could
not remain longer than the second day.
Thursday, the lost day, was devoted to
trip up the great canal, and an inspection of
the numerous manufacturing enterprises of
Augusta. There was an unanimous voice of
surprise and gratification (so we heard) on
the part of those who were of the excursion
at the extent of the business enterprises,
and the great possibilities of the immediate
future of the city.
We beg pardon for inflicting so much of
rambling narrative, upon our readers, but
it was the first time in nearly twelve months
that we had been outside of the city limits
of Atlanta, and when we think of the trip or
commence to write of it, time and space are
not thought of.
In future numbers some of the projects
brought before the Convention will be dis
cussed. R. j. R
TIIE FARMER'S TRUE POLICY.
Address or Thomas Hnrdeman, Presi
dent or the State Agricultural Society
delivered at the Seml-Annnal Session
In Augusta, February ltth, 1*N».
Gentlemen of the Convention:
A short, but comprehensive lesson is
found in that simple injunction of Pope,
“Know then thyself.” It addresses itself
forcibly to man in every vocation in life
and to no one, with more earnestness of ex
hortation and power of snggestive examina
tion, than to the agriculturists of Georgia.
A revolution of conflicting elements and
warring sections has been succeeded by a
revolution of industries, of labor systems,
of society organization and individual re
sponslbilities, which has, in a great degree,
left them in a new civilization, or if in the
old, with such altered surroundings, that
they have not fully realized whether they
belong to the old or the new, to the dead
past or the living present. Wandering
through the mazes of this uncertain state,
finding here and there a landmark of the
past, among the fingerboards of the present,
that are pointing in a direction opposite to
that in which they are wont to tread, they
sit down in confusion, afraid to pursue the
almost abandoned paths their fathers trod,
and yet hesitating whether to diverge into
those new ones, whose courses have been
blazed by bold pioneers and along which
science has suspended her beacon lamps to
guide their footsteps. Behind them are the
ruined fortunes of the past; around them
are the surroundings of the present, threat
ening and dark; before them, dimly out
lined in the future, are the wrecks of ven
ture and speculation left by those who, re
gardless of warnings and teachings, attempt
ed to master the new by the effete process of
the old. In this dilemma many are found
to-day, unwilling to recede, yet reluctant
because of old associations, old habits and
former teachings to enter those ngw avenues
that the present and future is opening and
will open before them. A proper solution
of the difficulty that surrounds is the fact
they know not themtehet, and in their igno
rance of self they are unwilling to attempt
a solution of the industrial problem of the
present. This ignorance of self, makes the
planter hit own enemy, and this I shall at
tempt to show today. If self-preservation
is an evidence of self-love, its converse (self-
destruction) should be conclusive of enmity
to self. The one guards with watchful fidel
ity every Interest—protects person and
property from harm or injury; the other in
vites misfortune, dallies with danger, trifles
with providence, neglects opportunities and
in the wantonness of cruelty places in its
bosom an asp, that will poison its life blood.
As the surgeon applies the scalpel to the un
sound limb to restore the patient to health,
so if in my plain practice I wound to-day,
believe me, I do so only to heal; and if I use
not the knife of the skillful operator, it will
be because, in my ignorance, I may think
the blister of the apothecary will restore to
healthy vitality the diseased organs of the
patient.
I assert first; That man is an enemy to
himself who persistently follow a course
that destroys his independence, mars his
peace of mind and adds nothing or but lit
tle to his income or his happiness. Are any
of our farmers pursuing this policy? Im
portant query! More important the answer.
I think that no well informed man will
deny that the system now practiced by many
of them is subject to the criticism I have
made, and may be justly styled a sulci
dal one—destroying at once their indepen
dence and prosperity.'' Independence is de
fined a state in which a person does not rely
upon others for subsistence—a complete eX'
emption from the control or power of oth
ere. How many farmers of Georgia can lay
claim to this independent position? How
many of them, under a damaging system of
credit forming, make the merchant's store
bouse their commissariat and the banker’s
accommodation their only means of main'
tenance? Verily, how many in our State,
upon an examination of barns and larders,
would be found subject to criticism—I will
not say indictment—under that section of the
Code, which speaks of those “having no
visible means of support.” Have our people
ever considered if, under the uncertain op
erations of existing laws, or the inability or
nnwilligness of capitalists, credit should
suddenly be withheld and accommodations
be denied, what would be the condition of
thousands of farmers in Georgia? With but
title corn in the cribs and no bacon jn the
smoke houses, hard, hard indeed would be
the contest for subsistence and the struggle
for bread. And year after year cotton is
almost exclusively cultivated, while scanty
corn supplies are drafted into the barns and
rations of meat are issued in proportion to
the mortgage capacities of the purchasers.
Is that man a friend to himself, who, having
land and stock, depends upon others to fur
nish him and them with subsistence? Say
not under the new civilization it is cheaper
to purchase than Jo raise these supplies.
This is only an unsatisfactory excuse for
the ruinous policy you are pursuing, for I
assert that the cost of transportation of
a bushel of corn or oats from the granaries
of the West to the barn yard of the farmer,
added to the interest charged for your cred
it, would pay for raising the same, thereby
saving to the purchaser the prime cost of
the supplies; but say you, this would be
otherwise but for the exactions of the mer
chant. This, to some extent, would be true,
but who is responsible for this condition of
dependence upon merchants; and when do
you expect the exactions you complain of
will cease? I answer for you: Your system
lives upon credit, and exactions will follow
credit, in every industry and profession, as
long as man can speculate upon the neces
sities of man. Joseph and his brethren—
real characters in the centuries gone—only
typified many in this our day and genera
tion. These exactions are not confined to
merchants alone. They are characteristic
of our fallen nature in every calling in life;
and the farmer of to-day finds himself in
the condition of the Jews during the reign
of Nehemiah, who, after having “mortgaged
their lands, vineyards and houses, that they
might buy corn," and having "borrowed
money for the king's tribute, and thut u]>on
their lands and vineyards" (under a crop
lien, I imagine), complained heavily of
their inability to redeem them because of
the usurious demands of the rulers and
nobles. Exactions were of ancient origin,
and have existed and will exist whenever
and wherever hu necessities invite and
will bear them. Are they imposed upon
you? and do they paralyze your industry
and consume your earnings? Then you are
enemies to yourselves if, having the remedy
in your own hands, you refuse to apply it.
Censure not longer the hand that gives, if
you invite and willingly receive the blow.
Stop the opportunity to crush and exactions
will ceause. Feed yourselves, and your
supplies will not smack of usury, nor your
larder be Ailed with meat that savors of ex
tortion.
Let Paul plant, and God will give the in
crease. Think not that I would destroy
credit—far from it—for credit, based upon
the ability and willingness to pay, is the
life blood of commerce; but credit exacted
from the necessities of humanity and the
sweat of the poor is dangerous in theory and
destructive in practice. But suppose credit
has not entirely failed, but by some forcing
process you could command some, but
owing to some cause crops failed in those
sections, from which your supplies were ex
pected, what would be the condition of
those dependents, who looked to a distant
Egypt for com? I will not answer—will on
ly say there are no Josephs In Egypt now,
and the sacks yousend, if scantily Ailed with
money, will be returned as scantily filled
with corn, leaving you with means exhaust
ed and necessities poorly supplied. But if
this dependence Is damaging to your inter
est, how much more so is it to your inde
pendence of action and your manhood? Are
you freemen, wrhen you are manacled with
obligations to others, forged by your own
necessities? Are you frceholclers—owning
the land from which you should gain sub
sistence and independence—or are you sim
ply tenants by sufferance, liable to be eject
ed on failure to meet your mortgage obliga
tions? Are you the regulator of your own
actions, the controller of the fruits of your
own toil, when all you have is pledged for
bread and all you make is disposed of at
prices ruling at the time of the ma
turity of your promises to pay?
Goddeliverme, my countrymen, from that
self-imposed dependence that will muke
me a “hewer of wood and a drawer of water"
to him whose “yes" to my supplications in
my necessities is often coupled with humil
iating exactions, and whose emphatic “no"
closes my barns and circumscribes my
operations. I speak to-day to the credit farm
ers of Georgia—to the corn and meat buying
agriculturists. Are you not enemies to your
selves to pursue longer this ruinous policy?
Deceive not yourselves and your families
in obtaining these blessings—if blessings
you call them—for though Esau’s hand is
counterfeited in securing them Jacob’s
voice is recognized in the deceptive transac
tion. They are not blessings, my country
men. Providence did not give you this fair
laud of ours, that you should go to Egypt for
corn; it was given you to feed and sustain
you, and you pervert the object of the gift
when you fail to do this. By the sweat of
your brow—ye shall cat bread, is the law of
Heaven—written by God’s own hands on
the land he gave you as unmistakeabiy as
were the laws on the stoney tablet. Pervert
it, if you will, employ otiier agencies than
you are commanded to use, in the end they
will come to misfortune. The waters obtain
ed will he waters of Meribah, in securing,’
which, contrary to Heaven’s decree, you
are debarring yourselves from entering the
Canaan of your hopes. That land you may
think lies elsewhere, and you may send a
man from every tribe “to spy out” the pro
mised Canaan and "see the lund what it is,
and they may journey from Zion unto Re
hab, from Hebron unto Escliol brook, and
though they bring back figs and pomegran-
ites and grapes of Escliol, they will bring
also evil report of the land, for the cities are
walled in and the sons of Anak are there,
and giants of opposition are in the way.”
These retard our march here in this land of
ours, but not more so than in others seem
ingly more inviting. It it the people as much
as it is the country that makes prosperity
and success. The thrifty man will be thrif
ty anywhere. The idle, the extravagant,
the non-progressive will be drones and
thriftless everywhere. The disposition to
emigrate from Georgia homes is prompted
by a want of activity and encouraged by
farming without method, extravugance,
based upon credit too easily obtained, and u
criminal refusal to keep up with the pro
gressive spirit of the age. The lund of pros
perity is only entered through the gates of
difficulty, and the fruits of success are only
gathered by hands who labored to raise
them. And he who enters that land, with
its fruits and its milk and honey, must do so
through those well guarded gates, for if lie
attempts any other entrance he will be
smitten by Amalekite creditors and Cannn-
nite extortioners. And a well adjusted sys
tem of forming, regulated by enlightened
culture and carried od by all the improve
ments of modern invention, will insure suc
cess and prevent emigration; it will fill tho
store houses with provisions, the barn with
cereals, the coffers with money and homes
with comfort and contentment. Emigration
will then cease and mortgage liens will be
classed among the criminal follies of the past.
Homes without household comforts have
no attractions for the young; homes without
supplies and Bupportfornmn and boast have
no permanent hold on the affections of ci til
er young or old. Are you surprised that tho
ambitious boy or the thriftless man desire
to abandom such homes and seek others in
the imaginary Eldoradoes of the West? It
is otherwise witli self-sustaining homes,
where plenty crowns the boards and intelli
gence illuminates the hearth-stones. “Who
ever heard,” said an essayist before my
county society, "of a man moving to
Texas with a crib full of corn? Who
ever heard of a man going into bankruptcy,
or being sold out under a crop lien, with a
crib full of com ?” Who ever heard of a
farmer being ground between the upper and
nether mill stones of want and usury, with
a crib full of corn? Who ever saw a mort
gage mule—that special object of care of the
philanthropic Bergh—being fi. facd from a
crib full of corn ? Self-supporting countries
only furnish cribs full of com. I liked to
have said a crib full of ear corn. That is su
perfluous ; for who ever heard of a crib full