Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-15
FARMERS OF THE STATE.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
AGAIN IN SESSION.

Demand that the Fees from FertiIi-
zers be Devoted to the Agricultural
Departments of the Branch Uniyersi-
ties-Dr. oemler on Growing Cab
bages in Chatham.
ATLANTA, August 14.-The State Agri-
cultural Society met at DeGive's Opera
House this morning at 10 O'Clock, with a
good attendance of delegates. The ad-
dress of welcome was delivered by Mayor
Goodwin and the response was made bv
President Hardeman, who reviewed the
growth of the society and its work under
his presidency. He paid tender tribute
to the late General Browne, General Horn
and DR.. Means, and closed by announc-
ing his desire to retire from office
at this meeting. The South Carolina del
egatiOn was then presented and cordially
welcomed by the society. 1t is expected
that they will participate in the speeches
during the daily,session.
The afternoon session met at 3 O'Clock
and on motion Of Dr. Cary, of Troup, the
members of the General Assembly were
invited to seats on the floor of the conven-
ton. A committee of three was named
10 prepare resolutions on the death of
Generals Browne and Horne and DR..
Means. The committee are Messrs.
Cary, Butler and Byrd.
Professor White, of the University, re-
ported his experiments with the cotton
plant at the University. He began his
address with a most beautiful tribute to
his lamented associate, General Browne.
Many interesting facts were presented in
regard to experiments with various fer
tllIZers on number of crops. Professor
hitn advocated -
as greatly needed in Georgia. He also
touched upon the fact that the branch
colleges were suffering in the agricultural
department of the University, and the
Legislature ought to relieve the pressure
by taking the branch colleges, and giving
them an annual appropriation separate
from the University fund.
The venerable Mark A. Cooper, eX-
President of the society, was invited to a
seat ON the platform, amidst hearty ap-
plause. L. Z. Howard, of the Agricul-
tural Department, read an address from
Commissioner Henderson. presenting a
condensed statement of the work and ope-
rations of the department during his four
years administration.
Rev. ID. +. Butler moved a committee of
three to join the Joint committee of the
General Assembly and aid them in in
vestigating the Agricultural Department.
Judge Nason, of Dougherty, thought the
resolution did not go far enough. The
S6O,OOO IN inspection fees were taken from
the farmers, and should come back to
them through the Agricultural Depart
ment in some other manner. We should
ask of the Legislature to give it back to
us in support of our branch colleges and
other institutions.
Colonel III. ii. Jones favored this course.
but DR.. Butler explained that his com
mlttee would attend to all this without
any special instructions.
Mr.. A. Cooper said that it was too i'm
pOrtant matter to act hastily on. and he
moved to lay it on the table until to-mOr-
row, and act in the matter calmly and
prudently, in approaching the law-mak-
ing power of the State.
Judge NasOn then offered a separate
resolution covering the subject to be
acted on tomorrow. 1t was tabled until
tomorrow by 81 yeas to y nays.
Prof. j. +. Willett, of Mercer Univer-
slty, read an interesting paper on for
estry. The whites landed at Savannah
one hundred and fifty years ago i'll a for
est that extended over the State, but the
woodman has done great work in that
time i'll devastating our noble forests and
at this time we hear fear expressed that
our State Is liable to be denuded of even
her immense pine forests, but he argued
that Georgia was only lust
entering upon the real ''cutting'' period,
and probably has twenty to fifty years vet
left her to continue the timber traffic.
Professor Willett gave some good advice
in regard to preserving good young trees
and carefully thinning out the poorest.
He opposed burning the woods as un-
necessary and injurious, and not prOfita-
bic for grazing. He also suggested the
planting of forest willows. Cotton
wood, oak, hickory and chestnut might
be planted on wet lands and side hills.
Professor Newman, now of the Ala
bama Agricultural College, was invited
to seat on the platform.
The resolution of George w. Adams. to
amend the constitution so as to hold but
one session yearly was taken up.
NJ. &. Fulton moved to indefinitely post
pone the motion.
Mr.. Adams opposed the postponement,
and said that two meetings a year were too
much OF drain upon the railroads for
free passes, and that he did not believe
the railroads would much longer be able,
owing to competition, to grant these pass
privileges. DIR. Buffers son. with Col.
Fulton, and Col. Fannin, opposed the
change. 1t is one thing for. railroads to
threaten, and another thing to stop free
passes. The railroads have all the time
been SLOW to grant passes, yet they have
never refused them. The resolution was
voted down.
Captain Samuel d. Bradwell, of Liberty
county, Vice President of the society
from the First district, presided at the eX-
perience meeting tonight. There was Il
large attendance ard fine music by the
Union Society Band at the Opera House.
Hon. w. j. NOrthen. of Hancock, said
that he could indorse what Prof White
had said about the great value of cotton
seed meal as a fertilizer for cotton. He
ground his own meal and cOmpOsted it,
and distributed it with Kemp's manure
cart. This interesting statement called
out a hundred questions. Farmers had
better keep and grind their seed for ma
nuring purposes.
Hon. j. NJ. COuper, of Glynn, said that he
would like to hear about oat culture, as the
seaboard was just engaging in oat culture
and needed information. Colonel E. G.
Greer. of Jones, said that he sowed oats
IN October and never failed to get a good
crop, and was never but once hurt by
frost. lie used a bushel and half to the
acre in sowing. The land was mostly
manured by cotton seed. The best food
crop for stock is carrot sOwed in Septem-
ber.
Colonel Cannon, of Floyd, thought the
henderson oats sent out by the Agricul-
tural Department at Washington the best
and safest to sow, but much depends upon
the season and the soil Deep blowing
and proper manuring were also neces-
sary.
Hon. w. j. Davey, of Kentucky. spoke
in glowing terms of North Georgia, op-
posing the planting of cotton there and
giving that section to fruits, grains and
live stock, and South Georgia is the sec
tiOn for cotton.
Mr.. Atkinson said that the Southern
people paid too much for ignorance. and
proceeded to show some ways in which
we spend money abroad for what we can
raise at home. Savannah before the revo-
lutiOnary war made the best silk ever put
on the market, and yet we have almost en-
tirely abandoned silk culture.
DIR. Bellamy, of Atlanta, read an essay
on the Georgia watermelon, and exhibited
a bottle of fine watermelon syrup.
DR.. Oemler then gave an account of the
shipments Of watermelons from Savan-
nah, and also spoke of the profitable cab
bage culture in Chatham county and the
best remedy for the cabbage worm.
The meeting proved quite profitable in
experiences and suggestions.
The WOman's Home Missionary Society.
OCEAN GROVE, n. j., August 14.-At
the anniversary of the founding of the
Women's Home Missionary Society of the