Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-11-11
Talk of the Commissioner.


l have written many letters urgins
the farmers of Georgia to take the one
step that will make our great State
absolutely self-supporting, and some.
times I have feared that my persIs'
tence would weary them. But when
one knows that he is right, he must
perseYere.
In recent talks from this department
it has been shown that Georgia is not
yet the selfsupporting State that she
was previous to the civil war. Though
there is in this respect great improve.
ment. much yet remains to be done.
Until every needed step has been TAX
en-, it behooves the Georgia Depart
ment of Agriculture to give line upon
line and precept upon precept.
In many sections Of our State there
is still time for the sowing of wheat,
rye and barley. By as much as we
have, through unfavorable seasons,
fallen short in our crops of cotton aud
corn, by so much is the necessity up.
on us to make up the deficiency in the
abundance of other crops. Unfagging
energy is the price OF success, and
this is as true of farming as of any
ether business. 1t is the diligent man,
who shT1nks not at any necessary toll,
who makes his mark upon his day
and generation.
One of the best signs of the times
10 the restlessness of the people in
every industrial pursuit, the constant
striving after better things.
A scientific farmer is a learned man,
in that particular branch of education.
Time was when no man was called
ploma from college. Now the man
skilled in his profession, whatever that
may be, Is classed among the scientific.
1t is the duty of every man to aim
high He, who makes his living by
agriculture, should consider himself
under obligation to do his work in such
a way as will Lest promote the pros.
perity and happiness of his family
Whether he believes it or not, he has
no right to go on in the old slipshod
way, making a bare living out of the
soil which holds within it's bosom un.
told wealth for him who seeks it in
the right way. He is unworthy the
name of farmer, who sits idly down,
whining about his bad luck, Instead OF
bestirring himself like man to force
fortunes smile.
Of course, it is hard to be disappoint.
ed and to have ones expectations cut
short by unfavorable seasons; but the
remedy is his going right at 1t again.
What If the sky is overcast?
The dark appearance will not last;
Expect better day!."
But, it is folly to expect anything
TO turn up, unless you make it tur.4 up
The following suggestions from The
Southern Planter" farm journal
published in Richmond, Va, are SO
practical that take the liberty of Civ.
them 70 our Georgia farmers:
1T should always be borne in mind
that all the cultivation that can be
gwen either Of these crops wheat and
winter OATS, except it may be a har.
rowing Of the crop in the spring, which
though often omitted, Is of great use
in helping the crop, must be given
before the crop Is seeded; hence, the
Importance of leaving nothing undone
that can conduce to a finely broken
surface soil and a compact subsoil.
Plow deep, harrow and roll frequently
Much good has been found to result
IN the west from subsurface packing.
This is practically a reversion to a
practice that has been in use in Eng
land ever since we can recollect. The
roller used for the purpose in England
ts one made with two large wheels,
having the rolling surface made V.
shaped, the point of the V being left
about one inch broad These two
wheels are set on an axle, so as to run
one on each side of the furrow thrown
by the pillow, so as to pack the seam
between each furrow. A third wheeI
is set on the other end of the axle to
run on the unplowed land. This
roller follows the pillow, waiting tc
start until three burrows have been
turned. It's use has been found OF
great benefit, especially when plowina
sod land for wheat. The close pack
ing of the seams of the furrow pre-
vents seed from getting down under
the furrow, where it rarely terminates
or grows, and thus leads to thin
growth of the crop. These subsurface
packing rollers can be had from West
ern implement dealers, but we have
not seen them advertised in the east
We have used the English form O.
roller and can speak favorably of it
In it's absence, the corrugated iror
roller advertised in our columns BY
a Charlottesville firm, which is prac
tically the same as the roller know
in England as a Cambridge roller, car
be usefully substituted"
The same writer suggests that afte,
the soil has been packed well, the sur
face should be finely narrowed.