Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-14

laDor. with our lands up to their highest
possibilities, our methods skillfully and dill
gently pursued, the same personal attention
given TO the details Of the business as is re-
CURED for success in every other pursuit, with
good labor, why should there not be as much
money in farming as in any other legitimate
business where the same capital is invested?
As we bring up our lands by proper rota-
ton of crops, the application OF manures and
leaving in the soil such growth OF vegetable
matter as experience has taugnt us Is Valu-
able, further economy viii require that OBJ
structiOns shall be removed from the fields;
the soil must be held in its place by judici0us
terracing. or ditching; such crops must be
cultivated as are adapted TO the
section and determined by home
necessities and market convent
ence: and, then. through all our efforts there
must run a prudent economy as to home pro-
auctions and farm eXpenseS-the thread, al
last. upon which our final success must hang.
Successful farming always seeks Improvement
and progress. Scrub cattle are not allowed
place; the best hogs are raised as the cheap
est; good barns are considered partial crops;
good strong gates, a labor saving Improvement
over draw bars and fence gaps, and strong
fences the safeguards of the farm. If these
things be so, let rs hide the galded glare of
our fields; tear down the dilapidated log huts
about our homes; build neat and comfortable
quarters for our labor; suitable barns for our
stock; hang the outlook with good degree of
cheer and thrift, and our energies will be
quickened and eventual success assured.
One great trouble at the South has been that
labor for very small result. How many
OF US cultivate three acres, when one would
produce the same results2 How many farm
ers in this convention bring all their water up
from spring? How many
take their stock to the branch instead of fur
nlshlng them water at the barnf How many
study the economy of labor and the applica-
ton of machines to farm service? How many
farmers i'll Georgia ever give to the profession
labor saving implements TO do their work?
Good farm economy required that we snail DO
a great deal of work in little time and at
small outlay. We have made much progress,
but there is still more to be done. L remem-
Der distinctly when farmers threshed their
grain by riding upon it IN a circle on the
ground. Other gentlemen, little more ad-
yanced in years, doubtless recall the fireside
cotton plckiHgs as the farmers wives and
daughters gathered the lint from the seed
with their fingers. Until very recently gin
house stood upon my fathers farm, with
round hole in the floor, through which his
men would pack the cotton with crOwbar.
We have made some advance upon TINS, and
now very strange these methods appear TO us
now, and yet we are doubtless guilty
Of equal folly. If it be true
that South Carolina is about to give us a ma
chine that will pick four bales of cotton in a
day, VIII 1t not appear strange to the next
generation that we ever got our consent to
grow cotton when we had no better method
for saving it than to pick out with our fingers
each boil distinct and to itself? If it be true
chine that will gather seventy-fve bushels of
peas in day, will it not appear strange
twenty-five years from to-day that this peo-
pie neglected crop that gave such valuable
and abundant food for stock, and such excel
lent manure for our soil: When the manip-
ulatlOn and application of barn yard manure
shall have reached the perfection to which
they are fastening, VIII it not appear strange
that we hired men to go over our fields with
bags on their backs to deposit little piles like
ant hills for our crOpss beg to say that we
are altogether too primitive in our methods.
We need to study economy Of time and labor,
as we find 1t IN the use OF labor saving ma
chimes on the farm.
If at last we get all our appliances in the
best order, and our methods the most APP
proved, and then give our time to improper
crops, all our efforts will be wasted. 1t Is
well understood that every section has its
staple crops, and farmers as a general thing
respect this provision of nature. Farmers in
Vermont would not undertake the growth of
oranges, nor in Dakota would they expect
much profit from the culture of cotton. While
this principle Is invariably true, there is no
section adapted 70 any one crop to the eXclu-s
sion of all others. These attendant crops,
farmers in Georgia have neglected. Proper
farm economy with us demands, of course,
the cultivation of cotton. This Is our staple.
Whatever the competition of the West, the
poverty of the soil, and the scarcity of good
labor, it will be an unfortunate day for GeOr-
gia when our .armers are compelled to aban-
don the growth of cotton. Upon this we
must greatly relv for our money. and
we must make 1t profitable by such
methods as progress will suggest. This l can
not believe will ever be done by the exclusion
Of a suflicency of home raised grain, grasses
potatoes, cattle and hogs to supply all the
possible demands of an emergency.
The policy Of orr farmers, first, as to buying
their supplies at all, and secondly, as to buy
ing at the fearful cost Of time prices. has
been runOus. The Commissioner of Agrcul-
ture, thoroughly impressed with the evil of
this course, has continued to hold before the
e . Nn.s IL
receiving from this practice. After diligent
inquiry from different sections of the State
the cash and time prices paid for bacon and
corn has been published for the consideration
IF farmers and their attention called to the
fact that no class of citizens could prosper I'M
Ter the heavy burden of expense that the
farmers of Georgia deliberately took upon
Notwithstanding at times Tor some sec
ions to 40 per cent. interest, and averaging
or the state for the last several years about
20 per cent. upon an original heavy charge. /
These things. together with the difficulties
the radical changes OF the times /
md repeated failures, have very greatly |
)aralyzed our energies. Farmers need to be |
encouragement by empty words that bring |
10 relief, but by solid results that make their |
,wn reward. Upon this wild waste of for /
unes an occasional beacon has lit up the /
darkness and shed its cheer over the posi- !
lilities of the future. Here and there dis |
lirited farmers have gathered hope IN the /
light. When in all history was there not a !
hero to lead the fortunes of his dis
;ouraged fellOwsg Time would fail to tell of /
he brave men. the great men. the good men !
tho have led the forlOrn hopes of the past. |
We have them among us-not such as come |
With peculiar and superior advantages of |
climate, money, crops and soil, but, cOmmeRc- !
ng at the extremes OF opportunity, have an |
icipated the grand destinies ahead Of US.
Here and there. all through the land, there I
rOps out some startling success made by con- /
MANFRED, well managed and well worked. 4 /
ecent agricultural journal has entertained I
IS readers with a statement as to the products /
f a small farm at the West. The results are |
abulous, and the description reads like a fairy |
ale. Commencing SIX years ago, barren !
waste, the land has averaged since that time I
yield of sos per acre.
Again. distinguished citizen of Ohio COM I
nenced work upon his farm in 1865, and had a /
ross receipt of $500 the first year. With high |
and thorough tillage, the gross re- /
eipts of the same farm in lSI7-twelVe years /
Acknowledgement $500. Another farm lit /
lie north of us reports sale of products /
to SIS per acre, in addition to an I
abundance of supplies retained Tor home con- |
umptiOn.
More than all this, who needs to despair in
he light of our lamented Furman's successt /
Taking hold with us, he held on until he set /
led beyond all dispute, the coming wealth of I
lis state. Grand man as he was, having dis I
covered the hidden mystery of the farm, he I
lid not hide again his success and reVel in the /
esults of his labOrs; bnt here he came and /
nOdestly told the wOndrOus story of his work. /
Until his burning words aroused our energies |
md cheered our hopes as we gathered his I
acts to enrich our own fields. His results |
we're marvellous, his success incredible, and /
ret. they are possible upon every farm in the /
,tate. All we need Is the man and the man !
lgement; his spirit conquered difficulties; |
lis enterprise foreshadOwed results, and his |
abors solved the problem of farm economy. |
As a progressive, successful farmer, Georgia I
yves him an honor she will never be able to |
,ay; the South tribute no sllvered tongue |
AN tell, and the world recognition, am /
ure, it will be glad to accord.
The order of deferred business was
to the memory Of deceased !
members of the association was dis
,ussed. The Memorial Committee APP |
pointed at the last meeting of the society, /
n Atlanta, consisting of Messrs. Bird, |
Gary and Butler, was made permanent |
committee, and instructed to report some
ime during the convention.
DR.. Oemler, PresidentO of the Chatham /
county Fruit and Vegetable Growers |
Association. offered a resolution in regard
% the shipment of truck to the Northern |
markets by steamship, which was adopt +
I'd.
The report of the committee on new
basis of representation was taken from |
he table and adopted. The changes in |
counties from one district to another in |
he various portions of the State, to new
lpportionment made by the Legislature, /
ire as follows:
Burke, from First to Tenth district;
Campbell, Fourth to Fifth district; Cher /
1lypp Seventh to Ninth district. Columbia /