The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-03-12
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA. GA March l. 1895

ATLANTA, La Marcn l, 1880.
The farmers have been the recipients
OF SO much gratuitous advice ON the cot
ton area question. that we almost hest
tate 70 add another to the many warn
lngS. which have been Numbered into
apparently deaf ears AL the indica-
lions point to an increased cotton area,
and Notwithstanding the fact that every
argument has been exhausted to deter
them from this folly, the majority Of
farmers seem determined to commit
themselves irrevocably to the conse-
quences OF an overwhelming cotton
crop. 1t is perhaps too late to change
the determination of the large body Of
farmers, that, we have already endeav-
ored to accomplish by every means in
onr power, but we still feel it our duty
to urge the safe and more conservative
course. II only q few men are in
tiuencea to choose the wiser plan, to
them sc least disappointment and disas
ter viii be ayeTted. d IS i1hmaterial
what our neighbor does; it is. in 8 large
meaa2re, immaterial to us, individually,
whether the cotton area be large or
small. Let Us narrow this question
down to the boundaries of our own
farms, and there Let Us decide it. We
may set 1t down as fact that the man
who succeeds this year is he who. re-
gardless of outside influences, calmly
makes up his mind to plant pro-
vision crops, ample for all possible
needs, and then as much cotton as he
can afford to manure highly and cul-
tlvate thoroughly. In any event he is
secure. Short or large crop, high or
low price, he stands the first chance to
win, and if the details of preparation,
fertilization and cultivation are so man
aged that he gets the largest yield from
the smallest area, he has mastered the
secret Of successful cotton production.
Itswould seem that to the practical man
this would be SO plain as to need no
demonstration. We can only stand
amazed, that, even the present price Of
cotton can tempt those who have suffered
from the same mistake IN the past, to
again plunge themselves into this sea Of
agricultural and financial troubles. 1t
will be too late after this month is
passed to alter our decision. After this
we must follow out our policy, whatever
that may be, to the end. It is TO be
hoped that some, II only few, who are
AOW 6OSSOtSIAAS III Wv DSAAAA VI u1uGHY"
taintY, may turn back to the safer
ground Of more carefully considered and
successful business methods. A Bale Of
cotton and so bushels Of corn to the acre
can be produced with less labor and
more profit than the usual one third Of
bale and or 10 bushels of corn. These
higher results are in the reach of most
southern farmers, and the system which
brings them about means emancipation
from debt, and return of the pros
perity to which we have been so long
strangers. The foothold which the farm
ers have gained in the past few years is
due in large measure to fuller under
standing and a more general adoption
OF these principles, and it is to be re-
gretted that there is disposition to de-
sert we'll proven and assured certainty
for mere probability, however tempt
ing. In the inquiry columns will be
found reply to question which COW
ers this whole ground. Indeed, the in
quiries this month cover such a wide
scope that there is little left to add in
the way of advice beyond the caution to
make the cultivation of our standard
crops as shallow as is consistent with
the controlling of all foreign growth.
R. T. NESBITT.