The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-04-13

Total. Observation-Disclosures. ). 90
1870 January ,.....-. ,......... .9I
1S93-February. .................. 1.91
l693-March to date. ... .93
From this it will be seen that the
average temperature for the three
months is about the same. while the
rainfall Is greater for 1892.
But the present year, though we have
had fewer heavy rains. they have been
longer continued and there have been
many consecutive days when the lands
have been too wet to pillow.
a THE PROGRESS MADE
= by the wideawake farmers in the lower
portion of the state, both in preparation
and planting, is all that could be de-
sired, but with those of us living on the
red, heavy lands of middle and north
Georgia the delays have been most vex-
atious, and the exercise of the greatest
energy and sound Judgment will be
necessary to enable us to make good
this heavy loss of time. | have repeat
eddy urged upon my fellow farmers
THE NECESSITY OF MORE THOUGHTFUL
CARE AND DISCRIMINATION
in the general disposition and character
of their crops. have urgently advised
such a crop division as, with ordinary
seasons, would ensure an abundance of
home supplies, and corn surplus for a
chance purchaser. l have also urged a
reduction of the area to be put in cotton.
Letters received at the department from
intelligent correspondents, and an ex-
tended intercourse with the people gen
orally, lead me to believe that this last
advice has, to great extent, been I'M
needed. Ordinarily
THE SALE OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS
reported at this Office is an indication of
the probable cotton area. But, while
the sales for the present season are fully
as large, if not larger, than for the heavy
cotton crop of 1891, this fact cannot
now be taken as certain indication of
increased cotton acreage for the reason
that the high price of cotton seed has
induced many farmers to dispose of their
supply and in their place use the com
mercial fertilizers under their corn and
other crops.
1t is gratifying to state that there has
been an increase in
THE AREA DEVOTED TO GRAIN,
and thus, If the cotton crop should
reach anywhere near the enormous fig
ure of 1891, the farmers will in all prob
ability be better fortified with home
supplies against the probable low price
of their staple crop. Naturally, each
farmer considers that he is the best
judge as to the line of policy to be pur-
sued in the management of his farm.
and in the main he is correct, because
he understands better than any outsider
the many difficulties and obstacles
IL, 1,o;
reason he is becoming impatient of the
advice which is so freely bestowed upon
him from all directions and often from
men whose knowledge of farming he
knows is confined to the mere handling
and selling of farm products. But in
Understanding this advice he some
times commits a grave error. These
men have view of business conditions
and general knowledge of the worlds
markets which are denied to the indi-
vidual farmer. For instance, although
the crop of 1892 was short one, it is
now known to business men that in con-
sequence of labor troubles, the shutting
down of the British mills and general
stagnation of business, there may be an
actual surplus on hand at the end of the
season, and also that any disturbance of
the peace of the world. would result
diSastrously to the cotton market,
even small war cloud in Europe, COM
ing at a critical period might prove the
death knoll to southern prosperity
Again when we
EXAMINE CAREFULLY
And thoughtfully into the cause affect.
ing our prosperity, we must conclude
that an agricultural system which an
nually depletes our lands and renders
them with each succeeding year less
valuable, less productive, Is radically
wrong. If we valued these lands as we
should, if we realized the absolute ne.
cessity for each farmer to pursue such
division of crops, such system of ro
tatlon and cultivation as would keep his
lands supplied with vegetable matter
we would in fewer acres given up tC
briars and old field pines we would
have less grumbling and we could
reasonably expect a better interest
than we at present realize from the
large amount of principal locked up in
our farms. Various reasons have been
assigned for our present unfortunate
condition. Some assign our unwise and
unfavorable national legislation as the
cause, maintaining that the unjust
methods of taxation which force the
farmer to pay tribute on all he possesses
while the holder of bonds gives no re-
turn for his millions, should be repealed
BY these laws undoubtedly the heaviest
burden is placed on those least able tC
bear it. Others attribute the trouble
in mart at least to the entire destruction