The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-03-16
COMMISSIONER NESBIT'T
HIS MONTHLY TALK WITH THE
GEORGIA FARMERS
On Subjects of General Interest Per-
tanning to the Farm and
en--Good Advice.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
ATLANTA, GA, March /, 1893.

ATLANTA, GA, March /, 1898.
The list of March finds the farmers in
a most backward state of preparation.
The weather has been such, first freez-
ing and then raining. that it has been
impossible to pillow the red lands. and
even on the gray lands very little has
been accomplished. There are draw
backs and hlndrances to every occupa-
ton, and these are but the disappoint-
ments incident to our avocation: but
when difficulties confront us
WE SHOULD SUMMON OUR BEST ENERGIES
to meet and combat them. Trials and
difficulties develop and make the strong
man; they paraliZe and DESTROY the
weak. We still have much to be thank
full for: the unerring return of the sea-
sons; the blessing of the early and lat
ter rain; the perennial hope which
springs in the farmers breast as he goes
out to begin his years work and sees all
nature donning her fresh spring.robe; the
pleasure of witnessing the soft respond
to our efforts, and the gradual develop
ment of the different crops from seed
time to harvest. Surely the farmer in
his work comes nearest to God, and
takes its results more directly from the
hand of the great ruler of the universe.
How important, then, that he study to
make no mistake in executing his part
of the contract!
hope my farmer friends have util-
lied these muggy days in
REPAIRING,
as far as possible, the farm buildings
and fences, and in making compost, the
latter most important factor in the
farm economy. Every moment, when
the land is too wet to pillow, can be util-
lied to the best advantage in giving
your farms more home-like and COM
Portable appearance, and even when the
rain keeps the farmer indoors, there are
many jobs in the way of mending and
preparing implements, wagons, plow-
stocks, harness, etc, for the coming
strain, which should not be neglected;
and always there are the stables and
yards to be cleaned out and attended to-,
leaves to be hauled and cattle and stock
comfortably bedded On stranger the
impression of well-kept farm is be-
yond estimating. Even
ONE UGHLY-CULTIvATED, WELL
KEPT FARM
in neighborhood is All object lesson to
be seen and appreciated, not only by
farmers, but by every passing traveller.
AT first 1t may not seem to exert any
sensible influence, but gradually adioin-
ing places begin to touch up; the lands
are better prepared; more manure and
of better quality is made; more pro-
gressive methods are undertaken; a
spirit of emulation is reused; evidences
of thrift are seen on every side, and ere
long the improved condition of the
neighborhood is the subject of favorable
comment throughout the county.
OURS Is A POSITION OF HONOR AND RE
sPoNsIBILITY,
and if we expect to fill it with credit to
ourselves and families, we must fit our
selves for it as do successful men in
other avocations, by careful study and
by well-directed energy and diligence
Every moment, every hour is worth so
much to us; they are not to be wasted
II we expect success to crown our eff
forts. The slothful. indolent man, no
! matter in what occupation he may be
| engaged, has no reasonable hope for
even moderate prosperity. Let us OBJ
serve the methodical, systematic energy
q the successful merchant; the "snap'
anu VIII WHICH CUdIdCIGTlZ6 UU6 sue
| cessful lawyer or banker. No idling in
the hours devoted to business, no put
| ting off until tomorrow the work which
demands attention today.
THE FARMER, MORE THAN ANY OF THESE,
comes directly in contact with nature.
and has the better opportunity of study
! ing her in her various moods. Why
should not he draw inspiration from her
perfect work, lying all around him, and
portrayed in the smallest plant. the min
| utest blade of grass-no detail lacking,
each complete, of its kind? understand
| that there can be a.4
no ARBITRARY RULE
laid down by which each individual
farmer is to be governed, but in these
monthly talks" wish to make sugges-
lions which will not only arrest the at
tention of farmers, but which will pro-
| woke discussion on the lines I advocate
On one point
WE ARE ALL AGREED,
and that is that we will have to build
up our lands or stop cultivating them
and that we must make our farms self
supporting. But when we begin to dis
cuss the plans for accomplishing these
much-to-be-desired ends, we differ, be-
! cause our circumstances and conditions,
individual, climatic and otherwise, are
such as to preclude the possibility of all
/ working by the same rule. For in
stance, one farmer has large family,
many of the members are old enough to
| help him in his work, and he owns a
| piece of good bottom land Such man
can make his home supplies on a few
| acres, and then devote the rest of his
farm to the production of cotton, or
some other money crop, which can be
worked successfully and cheaply by his
immediate family. Another man owns
farm, the larger part of which is so
poor that until the land is improved
there is no hope for him to succeed.
Common sense teaches him to try and
build up few acres each year, and cul-
tivate only such spots as will yield some
return for the time and labor bestowed
upon them. Again, take the weather
which has prevailed during January and
February. In north and middle Geor-
gia, the lands for the most part being
stiff and adhesive, the continued rains
have prevented any progress in blowing.
In southern and more especially eastern
Georgia, rain has been needed for the