The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-16
FARM,

SOIL now IN CuLL4NdllOIl III \TEDA - al
South Carolina and Florida viii De
devoted TO pasture and meadow. Even
now we are cultivating land in cotton
and corn that ought to have been de-
voted to this purpose ten years ago
for it has paid very little beyond the
expense of cultivation in that time.
When land gets into that condition
that it yields only 125 or lac pounds
of lint cotton or to 10 bushels Of
corn after all the blowing, fertiliz-
ing and etc, required to make crop,
1t is time for the man that farms
it to make a change.
The inevitable law is, that pastoral
farming must in due time follow clean
culture farming. Pastoral farming,
which means the raising one kind oil
stock or another-horses or mules or
cattle or sheep or swine, and for when
pasture must be provided for that
period where grazing is permissible
and for meadow to supply the hay TO
be used in winter when pastureage IS
no longer possible. Clean culture farm
ing, which means that system OF farm
ing which includes the raising of crops
that must be grown with the aid OF
pillow and hoe, must be kept clean for
the season of cropping From spring
to autumn. The one builds up the
soil, enriching it more and more the
other impoVershes it gradually but
surely, until it finally ceases to be
productive There must always be
a liberal proportion of the earth de-
voted to both syStems-the one sup
plying what the other could not FUR
nish Each self-supporting country
should have its just proportion of land
devoted to each system. In fact, IL
should be SO on every large farm, for
the two go well together But as
a rule, 4 speciality more or less is made
of one or the other. The cotton or to-
bacco raiser is not likely to combine
qualities as a stock grower though 1T
is not impossible
There are thousands of acres in Geor-
gia to-day used in growing cotton,
corn. etc, with very little, If any
profit that ought by all rights to be
growing grass and clover-crops that
require no cultivation, that improve
the soil-the hay of which is selling
all over Georgia to-day from SIG to
$50 per ton. Even crabgrass-prai
hay that any 1air soil will make two
tons Of brings pretty much the same
price.
Just think of it! Working hard from
February to November to get IFS to 200
pounds of lint cotton from an acre
that will not average a net product
of so, where twice that much would
come from the same land in a crop
of hay that needed only to be cut and
sent to market.
The hay press viii come ahead OF
the cotton press some day in Georgia.
1t is bound to; it is inevitable. The
law OF progress demands it. The time
is not far off when a farmer with
twenty acres of lucern or the same of
first class Bermuda meadow will get
more of an income than he is getting
to-day from 100 acres in cotton. There
is hardly a farmer in Georgia to-
day that can grow cotton for less than
6 cents a pounds. / costs many more
than that when everything is counted
in and up. How much does the aver
age farmer net to the ploy when he
raises only cotton and corn? Let any
man that the question comes to figure
ii out and see for himself Does it
cost any less to grow these crops now
than il did ten or twenty years ago?
Labor is scarce and getting scarcer.
The more substantial products that
the farmer does not raise and must
buy is as high now or higher than
they we're some years ago. Some few
minor things are cheaper, but are
hardly worth counting.
To the mere corn and cotton raiser
the future presents nothing very
promising, but there is a world of prom
Use to the man who is engaged in lay
ing down good meadows and pastures
or has already done so, and is steadi-
~ increasing his number of stock.
ole oh lo
the man whose only business will be
the production of hay to supply the
ever constant demand of commerce.
The past three years has demonstrate
ed to the hay producer what a sure
demand there is for hay product and
how promising in every way is the
enterprise he is engaged in. He is
making money right along.
The man too, with good pastures and
who is yearly putting on the market
so, 100 or 200 head of beef cattle is
also reaping the reward of his good
judgment. His money comes easy COM
pared to what comes to the corn and
cotton farmer and the difference will
be much greater still a few years from
now, when the terrible and irresistible
cotton boil weevil shall have spread
over the fields of Georgia, as it has
already over the broader fields of
Eastern Texas, causing ruin to many
who would not accept the warning
that should have influenced a reason
able mind.
1t is only a question of whether or
not the boil weevil will continue its
march eastward until it has occupied
the entire territory of cotton produce
ton, whether cotton will be worth the
trouble of planting so far as max
ing seed or lint is concerned. Where
the weevil appears in force cotton
will be worth growing only as a humus
crop. The weavil has no taste for
the leaf and stock. There is every
reason for believing that the boil Wee
vii will, within five years, cover every
square mile of cotton territory in this
country 1t has been shown that its
progress is the same as was that of
the Colorado potato beatle-eastward.
1t is well on its march towards Geor-
gia. 1t is a mere question of time
when its first appearance will be noted
In some Georgia cotton field. 1t is
well to understand that there is no
remedy for this pernicous foe to cot
ton as there is for the caterpillar. 1t
has it all its own way when once it
takes possession.
1t would seem that the direct hand
OF Providence may be seen in the an
pearance and spontaneous spread of
Bermuda grass over the South and
then the appearance now of an insect
that would render cotton growing i'm
possible. Read Alright it means. no
doubt, that the great era of cotton
culture in the South is near its end
and the indicated substitute is pastor,
al farming.
Two Pernicious Pests TO the Made