The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-02-14
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

immusahle laws of our calling which
we cannot transgress without eventu-
ally paying the penalty. For years we
have presumed on the almost unbound.
ed resources of our section and have
apparently escaped some punishment,
but the time has come when we cannot
longer evade the issue.
And, however difficult the task may
be. We must, if we would prosper, be
guided by the teachings Of some agri-
cultural economy, and 80 regulate our
business that no matter what the fiuc-
tnations or depression of the cotton
market, we are at least secure of an
independent hons living for ourselves
hpd families. To epable us to take
this position, it viii become our duty.
not only to study everything in our
reach pertaining to scientific and suc-
cessfnl agriculture, but to give our at
tentlon also to many questions Of politi-
ga as well as agricultural economy. OF
these the
REDUCTION OF THE COTTON ACREAGE
Is just now perhaps the most important
ana the most pressing, because each
FARMER must decide in the next few
weeks, If he has not already done So
his individual responsibility In this
matter. Many have realized the error
OF our proftless one crop and many
acre system, and are laying the founda-
lions broad and deep for o more inten.
s1ve and reasonable plan of farm man
agement. But others are still heAta.
ting, the force Of habit is strong, and
they argue that if there is general re.
duct1on OF the area the price will be
good, and it is SO much easier to work
| on the accustomed lines than to venture
on new and heretofore untried plans.
1t is to these still unconvinced farmers
that we will appeal for a careful con-
slderation Of this question, not only as
1t may affect them individually, but as
regards the general welfare Of their
state and section. We would not be
understood as advising them to run
after new and untried crops, far from
1t. There are already many which the
southern farmer understands and which,
II he will 81 We them the same care that
ne bestows on his cotton crop, will pay
him fair profit. The past year the
profit on our individual hog crop was
four or five times as large as that from
our cotton, and with far less expense
and worry. Let US turn our attention
to the profitable cultivation, not by the
old, careless, Indifferent methods, of
corn, oats, forage crops, peas, potatoes,
etc. The cheapness with which we can
produce eli food crops, for man and
beast, and our superior climatic condi-
! tons, should forever set at rest the
question OF home supplies, of beef, NUT
ton, chickens, eggs, butter, lard, pork,
etc. When we accomplish this we have
entered on system OF reasonable agri-
culture, by which we not only produce
our cotton at less cost, but are return.
ing to our lands in the form Of home
manures the larger part of the elements
removed, and are also laying the basis
Tor that steady adjustment of supply
and demand, without which there can
be no profitable agriculture Of any du.
ration. We have bsen sending vast
sums to the north and west for meat,
bread, butter, cheese. forage clothes,
furniture, farm implements. horses,
mules, wagons, puggies, and so on
through long list OF articles, for which
we have the material facilities here at
home, and which we could have raised
and manufactured at less cost. But
when the annual cotton crop Of Georgia
was worth from $50, 900, 900 to $50, OO0,-
600 1t was possible to send off for these
articles OF every day use and still keep
part OF that large amount for home cir
culation.
Our mistaken policy Of crowding the
cotton market has reduced our income
from that source to hardly csc, 900
and when we would still import all
these nscessaries instead Of raisia Z
tharns the cotton money is CONSUMED
and there is hething Left to keep fhe
home wheels Of commerce and trade
moving the consequence is general dis.
treas. At the recent convention Of
cotton growers, held in jackson, Miss.
the following appeal was made:
The gravity Of the conditions con-
fronting the cotton growers is recog-
Iized. To what extent this may be
traced to financial legislation is useless
to discuss. The overproduction Of cot
ton is recognized as one Of the chief
oanses This must be corrected. or
universal bankruptcy will follow. Self
Interest must impel the grower to a
change. Every farmer is appealed to
not to plant 80 much cotton. A de.
crease Of not less than 20 per cent is
recommended; so per cent would be
better. The farmers should be made
self sustaining by planting peas, corn,
potatoes, oats, etc., and raising plenty
Of meat. The tide of immigration
TURNED this way viii change methods.
Farmers are urged to form county or
CARNATIONS all over the south to carry
out these resolutions. Cold storage
houses are recommended wherever
practicable. The committee promises
better times and higher prices for cotton
tSSts recommendations are Observed"
On this subject S. NJ Inman, of At.
lanta, high authority, says
'Tfo be prosperous the farmers of the
south must radse less cotton than they
are doing, the crop is entirely too large.
The price has gone down and down and
cannot reasonably be hoped to rise to
any considerable degree until there is
less cotton promised for the future. The
one SOLUTION of the whole business is q
decrease in the crop. This must come
right speedily for the safety of the cot
ton planters OF the south. II is as plain
a matter us two and two make four.
We Americans have only ourselves to