The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-07-10
FARMERS AL1ANcE.
The Agricultural Situalb bn a Serious
Problem.
Commissioners Nesbitt oaliA Attention
to "a Defective syster& and
Proposes RemedieA

Proposes RemedieA
The Hon. r. T. Nesbitt, STAY Com
missioner OF Agriculture Of GeorAa. bos
saws:
IA defective systeh Of aericAt,,,e
long. and ruinously coftiuued has redSced
our farming industryto such a condition.
that many owners ofeven large tractaof
land are seeking employment in otlsr
channels. In wh9ever direction we turn
we find dissatisfaction and feeling Of
Snsest SsSS TO or 2, lssRs are gsa.i.s,s ~
higher, our staple crops less and less re
munerative. agriculture has in all ages
had more than lis share of the burdens
Of government, and in many instances has
fallen beneath the weight, and vet It has
always been the foundation stone upou
which every other OCCUPATION is built.
Our farmers, from their numerical,
strength, il from no other cause, should
have share in the affairs of State, but
from adverse circumstances and unfayoy-
able national laws, this class of our peo-
pie have been only the burden bearers.
Poverty, ignorance and an inability to
meet and cope successfully with their
more enlightened fellow-meu in other
occupations, have made them timid and
shrinking, and while other have gone
rapidly to the front in state and national
affairs they have remained in the back
ground until driven TO desperation by
circumstances, often beyond their con-
troll; they have been forced into combi-
nations for obtaining relief, of which the
grange, the Alliance and other orRaniza-
tions are the AoutEr6wtf.o,s
1t IS only necessary to- glance backward
with Col. Nesbitt to the old days, and
then look at the present, to see that the
depression OF agriculture is condition
and not theory. There was time in
the recollection of men now living when
our farms were moro than self -sust aiming
when plenty sat with peace at every
fireside, and when the average farmer
was thoroughly independent, out Of debt
and with cash in hand.
We now live under very different con.
ditions. We raise cotton at au actual
loss OF several cents q pound. Wede.
pend upon the West for our grain and
meat, despite the fact that we could
raise it for about what IL costs to freight
our supplies here. Worse than all, our
farmers are in debt, and getting ont very
slowly.
Col. Nesbitt thinks that It will take
years OF scientific, diversified farming TO
reclair nnr Mots-out dands, aud make
them profitable after they have been sc
long under q mistaken system, and the
sooner We begin the better. We must
regulate cotton production less OF
that staple aud more food crops. We
must reclaim our lands by judicious fer.
tilization and culture. In this work the
commissioner thinks that the agricultural
departments can render efficient aid il
properly backed by the States. II is his
idea that the departments should send
out experienced and successful farmers to
impart their methods to their less fortu
nate neighbors, and to make experiments Is
in various sections.
1--WE must NOT only regulate the pro.
duction of cotton, but we must reel ain
our lands. Too much stress cannot be
laid on this all important aues ton.
with our clean cultured crops we mus
constantly add fertilizing properties tc
the soil, thus repairing the waste which i
constantly going on.
Science us tlsat<0tir subsou con.
| tains all the properties which once ex
listed In the surface soiL, except, perhaps
tue hdmils, and chat with proper methods
OF ditnhing and terracing to preven
washing, we have only towait on nature
silent agencies to recover from the iuiur,
inhicted ny mans injudicious and inn
povideDt methods.
"We have spent thousands Of dollar
to iudut Q immigration, why not apply
small part of tIia; s',m to helping thos
within ow own borders? l,laye sup
geated that The agricultural lepsttmeS
De allowed 10 undertake experiments /,
the four sections Of the State Of Georpi,
thus by Object lessons, proving that In,
lands eau be acclaimed aud opening tb,
way for that intensive system which mus
come, aud which will be The ayr icnltura
satvatiou o. the South. Every kuowr
plan TO plevei,: o,,r lands from Ieachina
Or washing should be studied and tried,
antl the Information should be scattered
broa0cast over our country.
j Ietnkl lie 4Stpt Instruct her farmers.
shrougn these agencies, how to re .cloths
these barren fields aud liillsides and edu
cate them 10 inore Intelligent and profit
able methods. We have our teachers
institutes, aud cycu now hundreds .oi
teachers are being Instructed in more
! progressive aud better methods The
farmers have put millions OF dollars into
school funds. Tx |; asking too much
that small portion be returned to them
10 enable. them to better understand
their surroundings aud 10 qiasp the DOS
sibiiitics within thcir reach2 The STATE
should by every reasonable means foster
the industry ON which her prosperity de-
peads. / am anxious to see the press
i n m IL 4 IA