The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-03-16

part OF farmers to pursue such a sensi-
bic farm policy as will not only bridge
over our present unfortunate condition,
but give US an assurance of future sue
cess. The blind worship,of cotton is,
trust, becoming q thing of the past for
the self-ipficted punishment, which the
farmers have had to suffer. has taught
them salutary lesson. Wherever the
farmers are studying their surround
ing and conditions with an eye to ulti-
mate results; where they are giving
more thoughtful consideration to the
reasons which should control them in
the direction of their affairs, good
results are beginning to be seen. They
realize their past mistakes and are
applying themselves to the task of cor
recting them.
TO THOSE FARMERS,
who are still considering the advisable
lty OF an all-cotton policy, I would
utter word of warning. It is the far
mer who has not thought to provide for
his corn crib or smokehouse until the
past two months, who is suffering most
today. Meat at 123 cents, with the lard
pressed out. is not very pleasant sub
ject for the all-cotton farmer to con-
slider, except as it may release him from
the thraidom of mistaken methods and
policies. And the man who expects to
buy his lard, and sells his cotton seed to
the oil mills under the mistaken idea
that he Is making good trade, pays
two or three times its value, when it
comes back to him in the lard at Is
cents pound. The selling of the cot
ton seed to the merchant is all right.
| for in each ton of raw COTTON seed
| applied to land there is SEQ worth of
oil which is absolutely wasted as the
| oil possesses no manurial value. and cot
! ton seed meal is the better fertilizel
but the farmer. who buys his laru al
meat is playing losing game.
IF CAN INDUCE MY FELLOW FARMER
to read and discuss these ideas, even if
they fail to agree with me, l will feel
that one important step has been gained,
/. e., that these discussions will bring to
the front new ideas, and stronger rea-
sons for the abandonment of our rum
ously false system, and the substitution
of better and more remunerative
methods. OF course MY opinions are
not invulnerable Already have had
farmers dissent from them, and my sug-
gestions do not always receive the cor
dial support of my thinking friends, but
l do not object to fair criticism, and the
good results of such discussions will be
seen later on. If every neighborhood
| throughout the state would reorganize
| their alliance clubs, with the distinct
| understanding that their object is to
foster and build up an interest on every
thing pertaining to agriculture and to
! permanently advance every interest
| connected with the farm, and permit
only such questions to be discussed in
Nv L.
thrown on these questions fraught with
such deep interest to every struggling
farmer, and there would soon be revi-
val of that loye for our country homes,
once so general among our people. The
friction produced by the ideas brought
outin these meetings, whenintelligently
discussed, would have a most salutarv
effect on our entire farm economy.
The fruit men, the truck men, have
gained valuable aid and information
from an exchange of ideas. If they can
perfect an organization to protect and
| advertise and advance their interest,
why cannot the general farmer?
l hope the farmers will study the
| results of the experiments made at the
| experimental station in crops and fer
tilizers for the past season.
WISH ALSO TO CALL THEIR ATTENTION
to the paper read before the agricultu-
raj convention during its recent meeting
in Augusta, which is published in this
report. From this can be learned the
nature of some of the duties devolving
on me, as Commissioner of Agriculture.
Acquaint yourselves with these duties.
and find out if they are being faithfully
executed, and if your interest is being
protected and advanced. The latter
part of this paper is devoted to the advis-
ability of teaching agriculture in our
public schools. Read it carefully, and l
think you will agree with me that there
are very strong reasons why it should be
| taught.
1 cannot close this article without
making
| AN APPEAL
for broad acres of oats. corn millet, DO
tatoes, cane, and only so much cotton as
you can produce at profit Ordinarily
land which produces only a bale to
three acres is worked at a dead loss.
Think seriously before you embark in
such a ruinous undertaking.
Elsewhere in this report l publish a
letter from prominent farmer, which
puts this question in such strong light
that nothing more need be said,
r. 7. NEsBITT,
Commissioner Agriculture.