The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-08-12
CROP OUTLOOK
VERY BRIGHT
The Recent Heavy Rains Have
/. Done Great Good. x
GAME JUST IN TIME TO SAVE CORN
Rarely Has There Been FIaer Prospect.
For u Bouatifui Yield Than Il Promised
This feas-Farm Work For the Month
of Ausust-Comn,issioner of Agricuit-
ure Nesbitts Monthly Letter.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA, Aug. !, 1897
The heavy rains during the latter
part Of July have, in some sections of
the state. worked injury to the bottom
land corn. and in some cases have
broken over terraces and bitches, but
they came in time to save the upland
corn, which was beginning to suffer Sc
verely from protracted drouth, and also
to greatly benefit every growing thing.
We have just returned from rather
extended tour through the state and
there has rarely been a finer prospect
for bountiful crops than is promised the
present year. Almost without excep.
ton. where q man has given his per-
sonal attention to his business, and has
farmed nationally. he is now about to
reap the harvest of his skill and intel.
ligence. 1t is only where the ruinous
tenant system prevails, where the owner
has trusted his interests to unreliable
and Indifferent renters, that we mark
evidences of neglect and of haphazard
farm methods 1t is in such localities
that the results Of careless preparation,
Of injudicious manuring. of hasty plant
ling and slipshod cultivation, are appar.
snt In the stunted corn stalks, which
haye not had sufficient depth of well
broken soil in which to send down their
roots in search of food, and where
meagre supply of surface fertilizer has
been long since exhausted The cotton
fields. too, give evidence of mistaken
methods and crop starvation in the puny
plants which cover acres and acres of
the hard run lands. It is also on such
rented and neglected farms that no
preparation is being made for another
year. The wheat and oat stubble fields,
II such crops have been harvested, are
standing as EAsp the grain was tak!en
VR. ho effort having been made to plow
ip Q crop Of peas, that great renovator
Of our worn lands. On these fields the
weeds and bushes now hold full sway.
taking up the fertility Of the land, per.
fecting seeds which will soon be sent
broadcast on their missions Of mischief.
and forming o mass OF roots, stems and
brush. which will greatly hinder the
Subsequent preparation Of the land for
other crops. It is too often the case.
even on otherwise we'll conducted
forms, that this habit of turning over
the sthbble fields to the dominion OF
weeds aud bushes until the spring
preparations begin. has been allowed to
30 on from year to year. No one neg
lect gives the farmer greater trouble, or
Esults, as indicated above, in more
actual waste Of fertility. Where this
has been allowed and the land is now
covered with a rank growth of weeds
and bushes. q good plan is to run the
mower over the fields befopA the seeds
mature. but after they begin to form,
leaving the mass of decaying vegetable
matter just where it falls when cut.
1t will act as beneficial mulch to the
land. during the blazing, hot days of
late summer, and will add something
Of humus making material when turned
under in preparation for other crops. In
killing larger bushes and torouts the
mattock should be used, and one blow
now is worth half dozen struck in the
spring. August is distinctively the
month for doing this work.
AUGUST MEETINGS FOR FARMERS.
August is a month of comparative
leisure from the heavier farm work.
The grain crops have been harvested,
the corn 'laid BY" and the cotton
should be in condition to complete its
growth without much more work. The
farmer can now afford to allow himself
o little time to devote to other duties,
equally important. but up to this sea-
son of the year. held in allegiance by the
exacting demands arising from the pre-
paration, planting and cultivation of
his various crops He now has an op.
portunity Of meeting with his neigh
bors. and while enjoying the social In.
tercourse which this opportunity affords.
he has also q chance of studying his
neighbours perhaps more progressive
methds. or of learning the reason for
such failures as have overtaken him.
The farmers institutes. the farmers
clubs. the various agricultural meetings
being held at this season, bring about
an interchange of plans and opinions,
which is of inestimable value to the In.
dtvidual farmer and to the country at
large Here should be discussed not
only how to produce the greatest yield
of crops at the least cost, but the market
and the market requirements should
also come up for share of attention.
1t is important to know how to make
the crops. but it is equally important to
learn how best to dispose Of them. A
mistake here often marks the profit or
loss for the years work.
Among the oldest and most success.
full agricultural countries on the globe
- AGRICULTURAL FAIRS
Have always been considered as among
the most powerful agents for pro.
noting agricultural good and welfare
Here we see illustrated much of the
beauty and comfort. as we'll as the
utility, Of farm life. To check the tide
Of emigration which Of late years has
turned SO strongly towards the cities,
we need these striking object lessons.
Farm life should not be all dull drudg.
cry. Along with the hard work there
should be opportunities for broader cult.
ure. for progress. for uplifting to =
higher plane. These agricultural meet.
tngs offer the impetus for such forward
and upward movements We see the
progress made by others. we are stimu-
lated to renewed efforts-we realize the