The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1892-08-04

influences of the city, we must deter
mine to make some needed changes and
improvements. A paling nailed on here
and there, coat Of whitewash applied
to outbuildings and fences, few hours
or perhaps day devoted to necessary
repairs, do not cost too much, and add
one hundred per cent. to the value of the
farm.
BUILDING UP THE LANDS.
Another matter which should engage
our setious attention is the building up
and permanent Improvement of our
lands. Under the ruinous tenant system
much land originally good has become
so depleted and exhausted of all vege-
table matter as to render its cultivation
exceedingly hazardous and unsatisfac-
tory. Under this system the plan has
been to apply highly concentrated fer
tilizers in the drill, and of course the
crop must be kept free of all vegetable
growth. The same land has been
planted continuously in the same crop,
and is it any wonder that after a few
years the soil is exhausted and peculiar
ly liable to suffer from drouth or any
extremes in weather conditions. 1t has
required perhaps seventy years to elm
mate the food properties from our soil,
but we have exhausted it, and while this
is a most dlscouraging proposition, we
must face 1t, and bring every means at
our command to meet and overcome it.
BY perseverance and energy believe
this can be done, and we should do it
ourselves, and not permit strangers to
absorb the inheritance for which our
energetic and fearless forefathers strug-
gled. Our farms are our banks, and we
Y11oY kn -,
way as to meet some unexpected de-
mands, for it is farming, perhaps, more
than any other business, that the unex-
pected is always happening. Notice, for
instance. that on the 3,346. 500 acres
planted in cotton in 1891, we raised the
usual average of about bale to three
acres, but at what fearful loss to the
producers. After a years toll and a
heavy outlay of money, the price lacked
several thousand dollars of paying the
expenses of the crop And those who
depended on this crop alone were in
most cases left with only the bare fields
to remind them of their fatal mistake.
Until we have greater diversity and
a rotation of crops, better preparation
and more thorough cultivation there
Will be little improvement. Now that
the crops are about "laid by" let me
urge upon you to begin, if only on a
small scale. TO supply the loss which has
been going on for SO many years / IN
derstand the grave difficulties of the
situation. ! realize that In many cases
it is with the utmost difficulty that the
seed for renovating crops and the neces-
sary fertilizer can be secured. But if
you can begin with only five acres, set
to work at once. Broadcast 100 to $50
pounds of acid phosphate to the acre,
SOW and turn under one bushel of peas
Ii you have an abundance of forage turn
this entire crop under in the fall. If,
however, you are compelled to save for
stock feed, cut it and then turn under
the stubble. Make another application
of phosphate in September and then SOW
rye. one bushel to the acre, If the
spring proves favorable, you will get
two cuttings of forage for stock and
mules. In May put this land in either
corn or cotton and you will be surprised
at the result of one seasons efforts in
restoring fertility to your exhausted
soil. A few years devoted to work on
this line will compensate you for what
may now appear very unnecessary
waste of time, labor and money. The
land will increase in value and you will
be encouraged by vastly superior and
remunerative crops. l trust you will
consider these suggestions and act upon
them. We have an incompatible eli
mate and can raise within the borders
of our own state everything necessary
to support man and beast. Let us utilize
these blessings and build up our homes
and our country.
r. T. NESBITT,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
In the June report I particularly
called attention to the importance of
sowing peas, bat by typographical
oversight it was omitted. r. T. N.
Tobacco In the wiregrass Section.
On the I'd of July, through the cour-
tesy of General Manager Lane, of the
Georgia Southern and Florida RailI Dad,
large number of farmers from the
counties of Bib, Houston. Dooly, and
Irwin We're given pleasant trip and an
interesting and advantageous object