The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-29
STATES ASSOCIATION
OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF AGRi.
CULTURE IN SESSION.
Secretary stevens said short Cot
ton Crop Would initiate Against
the Affection Craze.

Raleigh. N. c.. August 2s.--The second an
nual convention Of the Cotton States Assoc
citation of the Commissioners Of Agriculture
began here today. Although tho member
ship OF the association Is limited TO commits
sioners OF agriculture and their assistants.
tho directors OF experiment stations. the
heads OF agricultural colleges and professors
of chemistry. the representation was COM
prehensive. After the delivery OF the well
come addresses. Hon. o. B. Stevens OF
Georgia. president OF the association. read
his annual address.
The improved condition OF our Southern
farmers. reported at the last meeting" said
Mr.. Stevens continues with some aed,-
tlonal beltermept. One thing t6at makes Lne
outlook better sull Is the certainty OF an
Ctner short cotton crJp. which PROMISES even
better nrohts during the coming season
There seems to be good reason for the hope
that tie dll-cotton craze OF 1875 Will not
again seize the farmers Of tho South who.
from sad experience, should know that tho
thing OF greatest importance Is 10 raise. nrst
OF ALL focd supplies aad cultivate thelr
cotton within a probable lint
Secretary james IL. Wilson Of the depart
mcnt OF agriculture. tonight delivered an
address, before the body, Secretary Wilson
said there was no agricultural product that
the department OF agriculture makes greater
enort to report upon accurately than The
cOllou eTups FulutlaB 10 the ubuIth Oh tN-
ports OF raw cotton manufactures, Secretary
Wilson said: when we End the United
States loaning money to several foreign
countries and certain lines OF manufactured
goods being bought In the United States by
dealers in Scotland It indicates very en-
phatcslly the position now occupied by cur
country among the natous of the earth"
He referred to the fact that the Southern
STATES have much heavier ra mall than tho
Northern States and that the Southern States
suffer much more from the drouth than do
the States OF the Mississippi valley. The
cause. he said. is to be found In the condi-
lions of the soil. In the new portions OF
the country. where there 10 deep soil full
OF humus, much less rainfall will mature
crops. TIE Southern States have been un-
der cultivation for long time, Humus. de-
cayed vegetation. Is becoming scarce In tho
soil When the soil Is well stocked with
humus 1t is able to retain mo sture, lie
suggested tina prncticability of Southern cul-
tiVators replacing the humus in their soil
by growing grasses and legumes, nec,hse
there Ia great demand at the present time
aud probably always will be for frst-class
horses. cattle. sheen and other grazing ami
mails The Southern cultvator, he said. ia
tanned for his excellence ms a flock master
The secretary passed to the great demand
such horses as are more common 10 the
south than anywhere else. We can produce
he said, such cattle and such meats as aro
wanted In foreign countries and bring tho
produced elsewhere. Two influences. he sa
In conclusion. are Mt work TO help Southern
farmers. One is a bettor homa market, and
The other is less competition from the great
West The former, he said will come large
w from the large percentage of Southern
workers who IN future will devote their lives
to manufacturing, and the latter from The
production OF the great Mississippi valley
the mountain States. the Pacific coast and
tho fer orient.