The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1900-09-05
COTTON Is THEIR KING.
COMMISSIONERS OF AGRiCOL-
TURE DIsCUSSTHE STAPLE.
Secretary Wilson Spoke OF the
South's Advantages. PresI-
dent Stevens Declined
Reelection.

The commissioners of agriculture OF
the southern states, who met in con
vention at Raleigh, NC, adjourned
Friday after three days session.
Mills of three States.
Tn President O. b. Stevens, annual
report to the convention he said IN
part:
"If the Textile World is correct
in its figures, South Carolina
stands first in the southern states in
the number of spindles; North Caro-
lima. which we know is first in the
number of mills is second in thenumber
of spindles; while Georgia is the third
manufacturing state in the south, I'M
less the product of her mills exceed IN
value that of either Of her Carolina
sisters. which was the case in 1890.
but what would especially please
every member OF this convention Is
the fact that the whole south is march
inc on to the goal of industrial lnde-
pendence. For the season OF lo99 ana
1900 the south, for the first time IN ] IS
history, fixed the price Of cotton. Ii
the growth of the cotton mill industry
in the south continues at its present
rapid rate, with the consequent in
creased consumption by the mills OF
the world, we may confidently expect
the south will henceforth be able to
fix the price of her own great staple.
Drought in the South
Secretary Jas. A. Wilson of the de-
partment of agriculture at Washing
ton delivered an address before the
body.
He referred to the fact that the
southern states have a much heavier
rainfall than the northern states, and
that the southern states suffer much
more from the drought than do the
states of the Mississippi valley. The
cause, he said, is TO be found in the
condition of the soil. In the new pOr-
ton of the country where there Is a
sufficient rainfall to grow the crops,
and where there is a deep soil full OF
humus, much less rainfall will mature
crops. The southern states have been
under cultivation for a long time.
Humus, decayed vegetation, is becom-
ing scarce in the soil. When the soil
is well stocked with humus it is able 10
retain moisture.
He suggested the practicability of
the southern cultivatOrS replacing the
humus in their soil by growing grasses
and legumes. because there is great
demand at the present time, and PROB
ably always will be, for tirst-class
horses, cattle, sheep and other graz
inc animals. The southern cultlvator,
he said. is famed for his excellence as
a flock master.
"The cotton crop of the south, he
said, 'has been suffering on account OF
drought and on account of heavy rains.
There are of course methods by which
the bad effects of heavy rain on bottom
lands can be avoided that, no doubt,
are we'll known to intelligent cultiVa-
tors of the south. A greater problem
is the loss of crops from drOugh and
the necessity of adopting systems OF
management TO prepare the soil TO re-
sist to as great extent as possible the
effect of the long continued droughts.
1t would be entirely practicable on
your billy lands TO double the amount
of cotton grown by putting the lands
into grazing pastures or even lhIo
meadow condition, where the crop is
taken off by the mower or by greeu
manuring,"
New President Eelected.
President Stevens declined re- cleo
ton, and Commissioner Frank Hill OF
Arkansas was elected president of the
association.
Hot days followed by cool nights
will breed malaria in the body that is
bilious or costive. Prickly Ash Bit
tiers is very active at this time for keep