Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1904-09-06
COMMISSIONERS TALK
Interesting Letter From Hon.
O. B. Stevens.
AS TO CROPS OF GEORGIA
Marked Improvement In Both Cotton
and corn-Peaoh Crop VIII Bring
100000 Into the state Of Georgia.

Each crop year has It's own peculiar
tiles, and this Is no exception. Last
year corn and cotton were retarded
by cool weather, rains and cool nights,
while this year they were retarded
over large areas by long-cont1nued
drouth. Yet the farmers of Georgia
raised paying crops last year, and we
trust that by the blessing Of God they
will do the same this year.
At the time that we sent out letters
for information concerning the crop
conditions for our May-June report,
things did not look very promising, ex-
cept for fruit. Since then there has
been marked improvement in both
cotton and corn, and the promise of
the best peach year ever known in
Georgia has been fulfilled. With
about 100000 coming into our State
from the peach orchards and the hope
Of remunerative crops OF corn and
cotton, even If they should happen to
fail below normal in production, our
farmers should take courage and labor
with renewed energy. The ravages
Of the cotton boil weevil in certain
sections of Texas have awakened con-
siderable apprehension among the
farmrs Of the South. This pest has
not yet crossed the Mississippi, and it
is to be hoped that the measures for
preventing it's spread may prove sue
cessful.
The Georgia Department Of Agricul-
ture, the State chronological Depart
nent, the Horticultural and Agricul-
:ural Societies held consultations and
tn eoutcome Of these deliberations is
the legislation providing quarantine
regulation against the weevil. While
it behooves us to take every precau-
ton against it's introduction into our
fields, we feel assured that a remedy
against this insect will be discovered,
as Has ben done in the case OF all pre-.
Yious enemies Of our crops.
Professor o. F. Cook, of the United
States chronological Bureau, has
been experimenting with the Guate.
malan ant, which, he says, IS the great
destroyer Of the weevil and other ene-
mics Of cotton and itself in no way
harmful to crops. Of course, we are
inclined to look with suspicion upon
all such defenders, lest they prove as
great a pest as the English Sparrow.
But, II the Guatemalan ant is what
Professor Cook claims for it, then we
can congratulate ourselves that the
remedy has ben discovered.
There are some who claim that the
South can, by more scientific sys-
tenn of cultivation, raise 100000
bales Of cotton each year, and still
others say that within the present lin.
Its the South will some day raise So.
100000 bales. Whether these extrav.
agant fugres shall ever be reached is
Of little practical advantage To us just
now.
We, think we can congratulate our
selves that FOR several years at least
the supply will fall enough short of
the demand for our great staple, to in.
sure us remunerative prices and to
PIT the prosperity Of Southern farm
4rs on permanent basis.
1t Is difficult under present labor
Nonditions to see how our farmers are
50 Increase the production of cotton.
Perhaps 1t may be done, if they can
draw away laborers, that have focked
60 the cities and towns Ii they can
do this, 1t may be to the detriment of
manufacturing interests. Will not in.
tensive farming go far towards the So
luton OF this prohlemF
Some contend that In immigration
y found our best solution, The De.
partment Of Agriculture is In favor of
progress and considers the bringing
into Georgia of desirable class OF
immigrants step in the right direc.
ton. But what we want is immigra.
ton of Americans from other States
of the Union, people who are imbued
with American ideas and a clear un.
derstanding Of them, so that the South
may continue to be, as In the past,
the best example of true Americanism
in race and in principles.
SUGAR CANE.
Encouraging reports come to us
about sugar care. We have informa.
ton that leads us to believe that this
industry is taking on new life in Geor
gia and encourages our hope that at
no distant day the Empire State Of the
South will take the rank that she is
capable of holding as a strip and su.
gar producing State,
In order to bring this to pass 1t is
not necessary to dveote a single acre
less to corn and cotton, the two lead.
ling staples of Georgia. We desire
e to see our State hold even q higher
rank than now as a corn and cotton.
growing country, but we will also glad
Iy hall the day. when Georgia brings