The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1883-01-06
Number 2.

The Executive Committee asked
and obtained leave to defer their re-
port till tomorrow morning.
Bro. Galtney, of Amite, offered
the following, which was referred
to the committee on Agriculture:
Whereas, The years cotton crop
is estimated at 81 to 7 million bales,
the largest ever made in the United
States, and which accounts for the
decline in the price of the staple
from I24 cents at the opening of the
commercial year to 9 cents, with the
prospect of further declension; and
whereas, the production of so much
cotton to the comparative neglect of
other essential crops, is the cause of
the almost universal financial en-
barrassment of the farmers of the
country; and whereas, diversified
agriculture, by which all articles
necessary for home consumption to
which our soil and climate are well
adapted, is the only policy by which
the farmer class can be relieved of
present embarrassments and secure
future prosperity, independence and
happiness; therefore,
Resolved, That the farmers of the
Cotton States be advised to abandon
cotton as a leading crop, and to SO
diversity their products as to secure
in abundance home made supplies
of all articles indispensable for use
of the home and farm.
Resolved, That the cultivation of
iute as staple crop is an industry
which, although new, is one which,
from its intrinsic importance, is be-
ginning to attract the attention of
the farmers of the South; that it is
a plant we'll adapted. to the cotton
region, growing and yielding well
son any kind of soil that will produce
cotton, unaffected to any great ex
tent by drought or excessive mois-
ture, possessing properties which
are nexious to animal or insect life
and therefore free from all the depre-
dations and disasters incident to all
other crops, requiring in its cultiva-
ton and preparation for market less
than half the cost of labor and capi-
tai, and yielding in actual net re-
turns per acre from 100 to 200 per
cent more tnan cotton, and that the
cultivation of the plant does not ne.
cessarily interfere, to any material
extent, with the production of me-
dunn cotton crop at the same time
on the same farm, thus securing two
commercial crops during the same
season and the certain profits which
are sure to result from one or both;
that the comparative inexpensive
ness of the culture md manufacture
into fibre of the jute plant, the enor-
nous yield per acre, and the great
value of the manufactured article
when put into merchantable shape,
which may be easily and quickly
done by means of machinery re.
Gently invented and patented, afford
the strongest inducements to the
f farmers of the country to engage in
the cultivation Of Jute as the mos
: remunerative and best diversifying
. crop they can plant.
Resolved, That the manufacture
/ of sugar and syrup from sugar cane
f and sorgum is business which also
makes good returns for the labol
E and capital invested. A few acres
devoted to cane and sorgum viii
e give to every family raising the same
n all the sugar and syrup they ma.
need and some to spare to their les
: thrifty neighbors. The products o
: these sweet-iulce canes are ranket
r among the common necessaries o
: life. and their production on the farm
It in quantities sufficient to meet tn
:. demand for home consumption,
y in perfect harmony with those prin
d ciples of domestic economy whic
E, should find practical recognition o.
;. eyery farm. As important diversi
2 2 fying crops, we heartily commen
= them TO the consideration OF OF
4 farmers.
be Resolved, That our native grasse
A. which grow luxuriantly on almo
E any kind of tillable land are susceI
v table of being converted into hay
ne excellent, if not superior in its nj
tritious qualities, as the best IN
4, ported from the West-nct excep
ing the r-famed blue grass
Kentucky-and which. with lit
~ labor and the use of labor-savil
90 implements, the result of recent
IS ventions, can be grown and hi
(, vested in such abundance as to ms
every demand and supply eve
x want. That with an adequate 81
- =, ply of this valuable and necesss
,c- article stock raising may be mad
Id lucrative business and eontrib'
he greatly to the prosperity and in,
i!n III, pendence Of our farmers. The
Nv crop of our country exceeds IN va
md that of any other, and as diversl
ing crop claims the serious cons
the Grafton of Southern agriculturaii'
IN Resolved, That the Soufnt
pin 3;s States embrace the finest agrle
, to tural country in the world.
ef variety Of its soil, climate ana ?
aaesons; its streams ana FlKessl