The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-02-27
GuANo QUESTION.

their cause, and makes an honest
appeal in their behalf, through your
much read JOURNAL, aud | frankly
confess, he has rather struck upon
some of the key notes OF the stus>
ton, bu. Mr., Editor "WouId DO,
Farmer" does not go deep enough
into the merits of the matter, he
suggests, aud wisely too, that reason
is an efficient weapon of argument to
correct errors, | hold to the idea that
reason although powerful weapon
must be applied intelligeutly and
with caution, to cure an evil, you
must first ascertain the cause, then
the remedy may be successfully adj
ministered. | have been an attentive
observer of the contest that is now
being waged between the Guauo men
aud the farmers, and submit the as
serlion, that each party have been
deficient 10 their mode of attack,
there is a mutual dependence of one
upon the other that cannot be mis-
taken, hence CO operation of action
is requisite for the general protection
of this great country of ours, Our
interest cannot advance, while the
other retrogrades. We all know
and accept the proposition that the
agricultural department of our body
polite is the basis upon which the
prosperity of all other interest build
up on. The farmers are the bone
and sinew of the land, when they
fail to thrive aud prosper all other
professions suffer to an equal extent,
paralize the interest of the tiIlers of
the soil, and all other resources are
crippled. But, Mr.. Editor, admit,
ting the foregoing truth as fully es
tablished, does not prove that the
dollar of the farmer is worth any
more than the dollar of other classes
of mankind. Though there is iu-
stances where individuals would try
to make you believe their money
should or ought to have a greater
purchasing power. In the contest
between guano manufacturers and
the planters il is a square fight on
the price of Guano VS.. the price Of
Cotton. Were it possible for the
guano men to hold up the price of
cotton to, say, l29 cents per pound,
how easy it would be to sell gusno
at much higher figures than now Of
fered, it is a conceded fact that GU;
ano men are always on the bull side
of the market, but they are TOO weak
to control the great AuctuAtion of
the staple. The increased produc
tons in the cotton growing sections
of tho United States, also in other
countries to such a great extent, has
caused the supply to be apparently
greater than the demand, hence what
is termed speculation has lost its
prestige, and been in manner sup
pressed for want OF margin, between
the producer and the manufactured
Of the staple, and therefore the price
has been forced below tho probable
cost Of production, and the producer
il deprived Of obtaining full re yard |
for his labor. The great problem
which the producer must solve, 10
how to overcome the obstacle pres
sented for his consideration, he beS
one consolation thSt although the /
supply of cotton be great aud still
greater, the demand at some price
never fails, he can a ways sell cOtto II
for money, and if The figure is low
be must raise the more of it, and |
right here. would say to the farm.
ers, learn to diversity your crops,
raise your own bread and meat, hog
and hominy and provender, so that
you may make your cotton crop
rather as surplus, and not be forced
to sell a, low prices, to pay debts
aod buy provisions, don't buy any
thing on credit crccpt manurc, aud
as a wise Quaker has said, lit will
help thee pay the debt When !
commenced to write this article, it
was not to advance any theoretical
plan as a guide to your intelligent
readers, and hope they will not con
sider it so My object is to illustrate
the benctits to be obtained by a ia,
dicious use of commercial fertilizers.
Ia both ancient and modern times it
has been an accepted theory that
suicide is the result OF insanity
Nov propose to show that the farm
ers in this section who fail TO avail
themselves Of the use Of commercial
fertilizers applied to their crops are
pursuing a su cidal policy, that will
result 10 retarding the progress which
has characterized North GeorgIG.
Since the advent of guano among
rs, as you: correspondent Would
be-Farmer" very truthfully asserts,
it has been the chief agent 10 de-
velop;ng our agricultural interest, it
has made our section to rank as the
most favored cline of the South, and
our old Cobb, the banner county OF
Georgia, the empire State. SUD
NIT, Mr.. Editor, the following, the
proof Of the assertion as to the sui
cidsl policy some Of our farmers pro
pose TO pursue.
An acre of our upland will yield
without the aid of Fertilizers say
400 pounds seed cotton, value il r.;