The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-07-13
A REDUCTION IN
THE COTTON AREA
COMMISSIONER or AGRiCULT-
URE STEVENS ESTIMATES 10
PER CENT REDUt TIOS.
GOOD WHEAT BUT POOR OATS
Farmers Urged to Utiliz. Every Avail
able Acre of Land BY Planting
1t la Cowpeas.

able Acre of Land by Planting
1t La Cowpeas.
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE.
ATLANTA, June 20, 1899.
Since our last letter many changes
have taken place on the farm, and much
good work has been done in most all
sections Of the state. The harvesting of
wheat and oats began some weeks since
in South Georgia with fairly good
yield of wheat, but the oat crop will be
short, owing to the fact that the
weather conditions for both fall and
spring were unpropitious for seed
ing, and many sections have suffered for
the want of rain in May. From our crop
reports it will be seen that the acreage
in corn has been very materially in
creased this year, amounting to "a
per cent over last year. Wheat shows
an increase OF Is per cent. 1t would
have been much higher had the weather
conditions for seeding last fall been ia
vorable. We are encouraged to believe
that in the future Georgia will raise her
own corn and wheat and have this grain
ground into meal and -four by mills
within the borders of our own state.
Why not? Can we afford longer not
to do so?
Now, when You have harvested your
small grain crop we would urge the
farmers to utilize every available acre
Of land by planting it in cowpeas. The
cowpea is the salvation of our wornout
and wasted lands, it is the salvation of
our uplands. our lowlands, our rich
lands and our poor lands-we believe.
too. that it will be the solution of the
fertilizer question. Plant one-half your
land in peas and in five years you can
curtail your expense for guano one half,
and your crops will yield as much as
they do under the present system.
After trying this plan for ten years
, we believe that you would find it
necessary to buy very little Of the
high priced ammoniated guanos. if
| any at all. In some way we must dc.
crease the purchase of commercial fertit-
izers, and this, in our Judgment, can be
done by planting large pea crops and
making your own guano at home. This
cannot be done at once, but could be
accomplished in a few years. Won't
! you begin now-this season-and plant
your lands in peas? We can only hint
at these matters, and cannot take space
to elaborate them. Won't you make
this memorable year for large pea
crop. and thereby not only improve
your lands, but obtain splendid forage
| crop besides?
REDUCTION OF COTTON ACREAGE.
We are glad to announce reduc-
ton of the cotton acreage, not only in
Georgia, but throughout the entire cot
ton belt. There has also been a
reduction in the amount OF com.
mercial fertilizers used. While the
reduction of cotton acreage has not
been as large as we might have
wished. still we have made a good
showing For the season of 1897 and
1888 Georgia used up to June l, 1893,
about 423, 900 tons of commercial fertil-
izers. For the season of 1898 and 1899
Georgia used up to June 1. 1899. about
335. 600 tons, or II per cent less than
last season. Last season Georgia spent
the enormous sum, in round numbers,
Of 90. 900, 900 for commercial fertilizers.
For this season Georgia spent about
90. $50. 600 for commercial fertilizers.
Thus about 81, TAO, 600 have been saved
to the farmers of this state. We must
| not forget that considerable amount
OF the fertilizers for this season
of wheat. and other crops than cot.
. ton, for by reference to our crop re.
ports it will be seen that the wheat and
corn acreage has been very materially
increased. Hence we can safely esti.
| mate that the amount of commercial
fertilizers has been reduced 10 per cent
as applied to the cotton crop alone. We
AOto VIII pl0dSuEo tudb Obu6E 5Uab6S
have also reduced their cotton acreage.
In our Judgment, the reduction of the
cotton acreage in some Of the
states is greater than is shown by
the reports of the United States
Agricultural Department. and those
issued by Latham, Alexander & Co.
We have been in direct communi.
cation with the Departments of Agri.
culture for the various cotton producing
states. and from the information re-.
ceived from such sources we are led to
believe that the cotton acreage for the
entire cotton belt has been reduced at
least is per cent this season. We are
mindful that other sources place this
reduction at only 10 per cent, but we
believe that time will prove that we are
| right in this estimate.
The Georgia State Board of Entomol.
ogy has recently issued bulletin deal.
ing with the insect pests and fungous
diseases, designated as dangerously in
furious to plants, with suggestions for
n