The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-06-15
COMMISSIONER NESBITT,
HIS MONTHLY TALK WITH THE
GEORGIA FARMERS
On Subjects of General Interest Per-
tanning to t4.e Farm and
Garden--Good Advice.
DEPARTMENT Or AGRICULTURE.
ATLANTA, Ga, June /, 1898.


we had seasonable rains. but these were
Followed BY such high, cold winds that
me cotton, more especially. was serious
y affected, Its growth retarded, and or
the thin, gray lands of some sections
the stand" completely DESTROYED.
Ihese unfavorable conditions have not
only imposed
ADDITIONAL WORK
on the farmer, in that he has in many
cases been compelled to plow up ana 70
plant his cotton, but where bare stand
has been left the cultivation has been
more difficult, on account of the care
necessary to save each little plant.
WhlIe the crops in the northern portion
> OF the state are backward. the weather
Tor the latter portion of the month has
Droughtabout most encouraging growth
and development, and as q rule the
crops are fairly we'll advanced Every
month should be bus one on the
farm, but if there is any one period into
which more should be crowded than at
any other time, the work for
THE MONTH OF JUNE
rs that, which requires more thought
closer attention to the various needs OF
the dl1terent crops, greater care in the
cultivation. more intelligent direction
IN every way. A mistake now NAV
prove fatal
CORN CROP
can, at this period, be utterly ruined bv
one 1nJudicious blowing. Remember
that 1t needs all the support it can draw
from the soil through its roots. They
We're put there and their office is to take
IN the elements of plant food suited ia
ITS growth and development, and should
they be injured, the vitality of the plant
is impaired to just that extent. How
important. then, that the plan of cult
vatlon should be such as to conserve
every influence of heat and light and
ar to the best development of the plant
BEFORE this talk reaches the farmers in
the more southern portion of the state.
the corn crop will have been "laid bv.'
but IN middle and northern GEORGIA
much OF the crop will have to receive
another working. This difference is
even more marked than usual because
OF the very unpropitious weather dur
ing portions of April and Nav. AS a
rule the last working should be given
to corn just as the stalks bunch to tas-
sci. For this purpose, arrange YOUR
scrapes to run as level as possible, and
where you can possibly manage to do
the work
SOW PEAS
broadcast, and while YOU NAV receive
no benefit in the shape of matured peas.
you will be repaid in the fertillziuc
properties which this crop has deposit
ed IN your soil, and your land will be
put IN better condition for succeeding
crops. No farmer can regret sowing
peas even II he never gathers the crop
Ihere is an idea that this is wasted If it
never reaches the barn, but the grateful
shade they furnish the land, the crowd.
ing out OF noXious weeds and grasses.
which take up the fertilizer and return
nothing except additional work and
worry for the farmers; the fertilizir q
material they absorb into the soil will
more than repay for the time and labor
expended. Don't allow other work TO
crowd out this important crop. We
must restore some of the elements of
fertility to our exhausted lands. and
there can no better time be found to
commence this needed reform than lust
now. On your oat stubble scatter a
phosphate and sow bushel of peas to
the acre. With seasons you will get a
good cutting of vines for your stock,
and by turning the stubble under in the
falI, you lay the foundation for marked
Improvement in the crops which follow
II you do not need the vines for stock
feed, leave them until they attain ma
turity and then turn under.
COTTON
should be cultivated fiat and shallow
and with the leading thought that the
work should be fastened in such man
ner that the plants will be encouraged
to mature ana begin taking on fruit ct
fhn grs.
farmer who succeeds in this has reason
to congratulate himself that he has
= pursued an intelligent and remunera-
tive plan. The time at which cultiva-
ton should cease, depends so much on
the character Of the land and its gen
eral condition, that it is impossible TO
lay down any fixed time for the suspen-
sion of this work.
When, however, the fruitlng season
arrives. the fields being in good filth.
the cultivation having been such as TO
best appropriate the elements of plant
growth and development, it matters not
whether you have plowed your crop over
three times or six times, you have
reached the period when further cult
vatlon may result in harm.
On old and very stiff land have
sometimes seen good results from a
blowing late in July, but where the
conditions are favorable it is best to
clay by" early in July. The effect of
commercial fertilizers has been to has.
ten the maturing of the crop and thus
materially shorten the crop season.
This month also finds us with
SMALL GRAIN
to be harvested, which is a heavy draf;
on the resources of the farm, and unless
arranged for with careful forethoupht,
entails much inconvenience. AS our
farms are usually managed the harvest
comes when every nerve is strained in
taking care of the other main crops,
and unless additional labor can be pro.
cured. loss must follow If mower
can be hired and your lands admit of its
use, save the grain with that But if il
is necessary to use cradles as many are
compelled to do, additional help must
be hired, because the regular force must
be kept at the cultivated crops. Shock
carefully and cap securely, thus avoid.
ing the waste which too often results
from careless haste in these important
particulars By careful management
the harvesting can pO on and the otber