The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-12

and tho board of trade, and the business
houses of the city, especially the cotton
houses on the Bay.
The convention was inclined to accept
President Warren's invitation, and on mo
ton of Hon. I. J. Lyon the invitation was
accepted.
The secretary read invitations from the
cotton exchange aud the board of trade ex-
tending the privileges of the exchanges to
the society, which were accepted.
Hon. j. ]. hampton Of Cedartown moved
the appointment of a committee TO confer
with the state officials to know what are the
rights of the society in the matter of the
state appropriation to the agricultural
society, which 1t has never received. The
motion was carried.
The president later on announced the fol-
lowing committee:
First District-W. r. Kemps.
Second District-A. Q. Moody.
Third DISTRICT. G. Clements.
Fourth District-C L. Moses.
Fifth District-J. d. Boyd.
Sixth District-R. E. Park.
Seventh DISTRICT. j. Hampton.
Eighth DISTRICT. @. McBryde
Ninth District - Twitty.
Tenth District-James Barrett.
COMMISSIONER NEsBITT's REPORT.
Hon. Robert T. Nesbitt. commissioner of
upon the condition Of agriculture in Georgia
in the afternoon. BY request of the So
ciety a change in the programme was
made, and Col. Nesbitt followed President
Waddell:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLow FARMERs-It is
source of qualification to me TO appear before
you to-day, and while do not intend to weary
you with a formal address, do wish TO submit
for your patient hearing and careful considera-
ton some OF the grave questions which con-
front us as farmers.
The first and most formidable il the gradual
deterioration of our lands. Many OF you who
are here to-day were just budding into young
manhood when the war between the states be-
gan, and can remember the magnificent growth
ana splendid yield OF our standard crops on our
best lands, then comparatively fresh These
crops were made on large areas, without the ap-
plication OF fertilizers except such material
as was gathered about the lots and the
excess of cotton seed which was applied to the
corn crops. During the war, when the confed-
crate government passed restrictive law per-
uniting only small part OF our tillable lands
20 be planted in cotton the energies of our
farming population were devoted to raising
food crops and, until our lands were devas-
tzted, We succeeded not only in supporting our
home population, but IN sending large food
tilttieS ceased the high price OF cotton tempted
many to put every available acre in this crop,
and to look to the overhowing barns and pack
ing houses OF the west for their corn and meat
Our lands were filed with humus, the result
of our agricultural methods for
the -FOUR proceeding years. and
were in the most favorable condition
to receive and utilize for plant food the highly
ammoniated Peruvian guanos, then so largely
invested In. Doubtless many of you remember
how the young plants would respond to the
and even at 800 and 800 a ton we
cheerfully made the Investment, never
doubling its remunerative returns.
At that period many of US
laborer, and feared that he would cease to be an
important factor in the production of cotton
But time, that settler of many vexed questions,
has proven our mistake, and though some have
left the cotton fields. their places have been
more than filed by white labor, chiefly on small
farms, and by the use OF commercial fertilizers.
TOO MUCH COTTON.
In 1866 the crop in Georgia was $4,000 bales.
with scarcely pound of fertilizer. In 1890 by
largely increased acreage and the use of
nearly 300, 900 tons of commercial fertilizers we
produced nearly 100000 bales. We have gone
ON onndlY adding acre after acre to our cotton
gard to the soil, or adaptability of the manure
TO the plant food required And
while our cotton crop has been treblsd,
what good results have the farmers de-
rived from the increase, aud in what condition
do we find our lands? With few individual
exceptions, the large number, fully IS per cent
or our farmers have either retreated aud given
up the fight, or are only by the most strenuous
our lands-what OF them? They are at last
revenging themselves for the ruthless butchery
practiced on them for SO many years and are
gradually deteriorating and losing each year
much of their productive power.
When we add to this the fact that cotton, the
crop produced at such tremendous outlay of
time, money and labor, and on which we de-
pend TO meet our obligations scarcely pays the
cost OF production, have we not the key to the
anomalous condition of affairs which places
the farming interest next to last in the list Of
profitable Industries. ALI other industries are
prospecting and building up, towns 11e per cent,
railroads 800 per cent, iron works and foundries
1877 per cent, banking capital 1888 per cent, cot
ton mills 44b per cent, farming SO per cent. !
Why should all other industries be quick
ened into renewed life, while their very
mudsl and sustaining power, the power
which has made their success posi-
ble languishes and grows less profitable each
year? Why this disposition on the part of our
people to abandon the far and seek employ
ment In the towns and citiesS If not checked
viii it not eventuate in relinquishing our farms
into the hands OF tenants who cannot feel the
interest, and in many cases do not appreciate
the necessity for that thorough Preparation
and fertilization. skillful cultivation and care
full marketing which are so essential to sIlccessP
Does the history Of any country show that
favorable results have followed such o system?
TIME TO CALL HALT.
When we know that this course, persisted Ia,
will result in poverty to the individual and ruin
to the farms, can we not call q halt and con.
ton TO the increase Of town property, railroads
factories, etc. We have built cities, extended
our railroads. building last year more miles than
any other southern state, factories and smaller
industries are spriuging up all over the state.
but the farmers are simply holding on at the
bottom of the list When we inquire into the
causes which have brought about this
condition of things / believe q ma
5ority of this body will sustain me
when I say that 1t is from system of
farm management which puts every available
acre in cotton, and only enough in food crops
to supply. under favorable circumstances. our
est necessities. The cotton takes from our
The price scarce pays for the production. The
average Of good grain crops is about one in
three. Thus it takes only glance
ating, food supplies, at besr, only enough, and
every expense, clothing, medical bill, schooling,
farm utensils, and often work animals to be
comes out LACKING. and often with debt, that
years OF toll exposure and bitter hardship will
not meet.
The question for us to consider il, how shall
we remedy thisg Permit me as one OF your
number who for years 1oundered in the pitfalls
and sloughs OF our agricultural mistakes to
suggest that we reduce our farms. Farming on a
large scale demands a large financial backing, a
bank account hat will stand the strain OF occa-
sional failure. AS long as the big plantations,
with tenants working on shares, or renting by
the year. are kept up, SO long VIII the south be
compelled to get her meat aad bread and mules
from the west.t The hope OF the south, aeri-
arraC kfwaW ID -a~ala