Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-08-29
COMMISSIONERS OF
ACRICUL TURE MEET
Convention Called to Order
by President Stevens.
MAKES AN ABLE ADDRESS

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture
Makes an Eloquent Appeal to the
Southern Farmer to Live at Home.
Best Methods For Doing This.
RALEIGH, Aug. 28.-The second an
nual convention of the Cotton States
Association of Commissioners of Agri-
culture began here at noon today. AL
though the membership Of the associa-
ton is limited to commissioners of agri-
culture, and their assistants, the direct
ors of experiment stations, the heads of
agricultural colleges and professors of
chemistry, the representation was COM
prehensive. After the delivery of the
welcoming addresses, Hon. O. B. Stew
ems OF Georgia, president Of the associa-
ton, delivered his annual address.
"The improved condition of our
southern farmers, reported at the last
meeting said Mr.. Stevens, continues
with some additional betterment. This
is especially true of the farmers of
Georgia, who have harvested more
wheat this year than in any year since
1876; more, it is claimed, than in any
other three years since the civil war.
More attention, too, has been paid to
raising supplies of meat, and the peach
orchards OF Georgia have this year been
a very helpful factor in that state.
''One thing that makes the outlook
better still is the certainty of another
short cotton crop, which promises even
better profits during the coming season.
There seems to be good reason for the
hope that the all-cotton craze of 1898
will not again seize the farmers Of the
south, who, from sad experience, should
know that the thing of greatest import
ance is to raise, first Of all, food supplies
and cultivate their cotton within a
profitable limit.
eff the growth of the cotton mill in
dustry in the south continues at its pres
ent rapid rate, with the consequent in
creased consumption by the southern
mills, we may confidently expect that
the south will henceforth be able to fix
the price of her own great staple. There
is, as yet, no sign Of check in this de-
velopment, which, even in the time of
business depression, was marvellous.
Of course, am most familiar with my
own state There the growth of the
cotton industry since the beginning of
the present year is beyond all precedent.
Twenty or more new mills are now in
the process of construction.
"The possibilities Of the soil and eli
mate of the south are such that ours
ought to be the richest section Of the
Union. Active, continuous, intelligent
supervision Of all the labor on the farm
is necessary to success. One of the great
needs of the day is the formation in
every county of a farmers institute
club, in which may be discussed the
best methods of agriculture, the latest
and best machinery for labor saving and
other things of interest and profit to the
farmers.
"Let us urge the farmers of our re-
spective states to work upon strict bust
ness principles and to live within their
means.
"The farmer serves his generation
best who brings his land to the highest
state of fertility and productiveness. In
the great cotton belt, especially, do they
need to be warned against putting all
their trust in one crop and negleoting
others. If we were called upon to point
out the states whose lands command
the highest prices we would put our
finger on those whose agricultural pro-
ducts and occupations are the most va
Yyfed -