The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-17

Plain Talk to Farmers.

The farmers of Georgia have never had
better advice given them than that con
tanned in the address Of Mr. Northen, de
lvered at the meeting Of the state agri-
cultural society at Brunswick, and if they
are wise they will be- guided by it. Mr..
NortheI pointed out that one Of the great
draw backs to farming in this state is the
tenant system. OF the 600 farms in
the state 80, 900 are in the hands Of tenants,
who do not make the interests of the land
lords their own, and whose sole object in
many instances, is t. get all they can from
the farms during the short time they ex-
pect to occupy them. As a general thing
the landlords do not see their farms for
years, and make no effort to Keep them in
good condition. The consequence is that
the farms deteriorate until they become al
most valuless.
Mr. Northern quoted some rather start
ling figures relative to the use of CONNER
cial fertilizers. Every year the farmers Of
Georgia pay from 100000 to S6,O0O0O0
for these fertilizers. They produce crops
Of the value Of SG7, 900, 00O. For every S13
worth Of their products therefore, they
they pay to tho fertilizer companies one
thirteenth Of all they realize from their
farms. In Wisconsin the value of
the average annual crop product is
$72,000,000. and the amount spent
for fertilizers is only $4,000; in
Kentucky it is s63, 900 600, and only Sl45OO0
is spent for fertilizers, and in Ohio, where
it is $l5G, OO00O0 only $3.50, 900 is spent for
fertilizers. Georgia spends as much for
fertilizers as Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. Is
it to be wondered at, therefore, that Geor-
gia farmers are complaning4
Mr. Northen does not object to CONNER
cial fertilizers, but he does not believe that
the Georgia farmers can afford to buy them
to such an extent as they do. He advises
the use OF home made fertilizers, and this
advice, if followed, will produce a revolu-
ton in farming in Georgia, because it will
bring about tho raising of stock, and crops
such as are needed to feed stock If stock
is raised more hay and corn will be raised,
and the money that goes abroad for farm
supplies will be kept at home.
The farmers Of Georgia waste every year
hundreds of thousands, and it may be
millions, Of dollars worth of manure They
sell their cotton seed for a very small part
of its value to them, and they make no
effort to save the droppjngs of their cattle
for fertilizing purposes. 1t is safe to say
that if every farmer in the state should ex-
ercise care and judgment in collecting
materials to be found on his farm, that are
fit for fertilzing purposes, he would not
have to buy tenth part Of the fertilizers
he does now and if he should increase the
number Of his cattle and hogs, and save the
manure from them he would soon have his
farm in first-class condition.
1t seems that Georgia pays out every
year S., 600, 900 for horses, mules, COWS and
hogs Why should not Georgia farmers
raise all Of these animals they need Why
should they send such an immense sum out
of the state each year for what they them
selves can profitably raise
Unless Georgia farmers change their sys-
TEN Of farming they may expect to grow
steadily poorer. No business will pay that is
not managed economically and intelhgently,
and from the facts and figures given by
Mr. Northen, the conclusion is inevitable
that the system Of farming in Georgia leads
to poverty instead Of prosperity. 1t is a
source Of satisfaction that it is being grad
ually abandoned, and addresses like that of
Mr. Northen will hasten the day when 1t
will be abandoned altOpether