The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1892-10-06

! cumstances. Is it surprising that the
| average farmer goes to the wall when it
IS conceded that he pays higher rate of
interest than men engaged in other pur-
suits, because he has to borrow for a
longer time, and that his profits are, as
| rule, smaller in proportion to the cap
ital and labor invested?
BETTER METHODS
| and a new and wide awake farm policy
are the imperative needs of the time
We raise seventy-fve per cent. of all the
cotton made in the world, and only one
seventh of this crop is manufac
tured in this country. Is it not most
importont that we should consider care
fully the markets of the old world, and
determine what proportion of our lands
we can safely and proftably devote to
cotton? For the past few years produc-
ton has so far outstripped the demands
OF trade, that we are now confronted
with its consequences in a condition of
affairs alarming to every one who desires
the prosperity of the South and the sue
cess of her great agricultural industry.
The low price of cotton is sensibly felt
In all our main centers of trade, because
every occupation rests upon the great
foundation stone-agriculture and when
| that is undermined the whole structure
Is in danger. The experience Of the past
| quarter of century clearly indicates
that we must make radical changes in
our farm management-home-r sup
! plies, diversity of crops and a determine
| ton to build up and improve our lands,
LIST, by fewer acres in crops requiring
clean culture; I'd, by larger area in rye
and other small grain crops, following
these with peas, and these in turn by our
standard crops. This plan will insure
supply of vegetable matter in the soil to
be utilized by subsequent corn and cot
ton crops, prevents washing and leach
ing and gives the land a rest from the
/ exhaustlng processes under which it has
| suffered so many years. Diversity should
| be the slogan from one end of this land
to the other-diversity of crops, diversity
| of pursuits etc. Our large crops of cot
| ton have have not only injured our lands,
but have heavily taxed our resources,
| brain and credit and muscle, and to COM
| pute our losses would require no ordinary
! calculation. In the last season alone the
| Southern farmers lost over one hundred
| millions.
And it has become proverb that every
man who handles cotton realizes more
| on it than the farmer who produces it.
To illustrate: Great Britain imported
| 3,000,0 900 worth of raw cotton; man
ufactured and sold 1910, 447 ,210 worth of
| goods-more than one hundred millions
| proft-besides keeping enough cotton to
| supply the wants of forty millions of
inhabitants. Had the South manufac-'
! tnred even her share of this amount, how
much money would have been kept at
home, put in circulation and finally
sought permanent investment within her
E..
given employment to class of people
who are averse and unaccustomed to a
country life; would have opened up
markets for products which, under the
present system, are often wasted on the
farm, and the thousands of bushels of
fruit and vegetables which have been
allowed to decay for want of a market,
would now be converted into cash and
in the farmers pocket. There is no
estimating the possibilities of our section
when the energy and intelligence of our
people become diverted from the old and
unsatisfactory channels into which they
have run for the past third of a century
The lumber industry is very impor-
tant one and represents nearly as much
capital as cotton. Even under present
conditions, the grain product is worth
more than our COTTON, but one-third of
the gross value of our cotton crop goes
to the West to purchase breadstuffs In
the last two months over 100000
pounds of meat have been shipped to the
South from Chicago alone; representing
over s. 200, 900, which ought to have
been kept at home.
OTHER PAYING INDUSTRIES.
When proper knowledge of the land
best suited, OF the most approved methods
for planting, cultivating, curing and
marketing tobacco, shall have been thor
oughly mastered and intelligently APP
piled, we will have crop that pays
larger dividend per acre than any crop
we now cultivate, and trust it will be
only few years before our enterprising
farmers will be enjoying the fruits Of
this new industry.
Another industry, which has proven
most profitable to the Northern farmer,
is the
MANUFACTURE OF CHEESE.
It has been demonstrated beyond a
doubt that at the South we can produce,
and at less cost, the finest of cream
cheese, and with cold storage convenient,
1t can be preserved indefinitely. A smaller
quantity of milk is required here to pro-
duce pound of cheese than in thu state
of Ohio, and when our cheap landS, bet
ter opportunities for keeping cattle and
shorter winters are considered, we will,
l hope soon see this new field of profit
able employment thoroughly worded.
AT the experiment station at Griffin this
industry is being thoroughly tested, and
there is now being conducted there, in
daily operation, a successful
CHEESE FACTORY.
Any man in the state who feels an in
terest in this question and is DESTROYS of
studying all its details, will be welcomed
at the experiment farm, and in thirty
days competent man can gain such an
insight into correct methods as will en-
able him to manage factory for him
self and neighbors. He, Of course, pays
his travelling expenses and board for
that time.
| Heretofore, in keeping any consider
able number of cows, the great difficulty
the farmer has encountered has been the
want of ready and convenient market
for the surplus milk. But if we can sell
our milk as it is brought from the barns,
or can convert it into cheese, and can