The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1905-01-12
COMMISSIONERS TALK
Cotton Crop One of the Largest
On Record.
PROCESS IN GROWING CANE


The Farmer Must Diversity His Crops
and He viii Then Be the Happiest
and Most independent Man of the
Human Race.
Atlanta, Ga, Dec. Is, 1904
During the last spring and summer
the condition and prospects of the cot.
ton crop were far from being encour
aging; but the bright, sunny days of
late fall came to the rescue and
Georgia in common with the whole
South, ro joces in one among the larg
est cotton crops on record.
Many reports of surprising yields on
ordinary land have come into this Of
flee, and there is gratifying evidence
of improved cultivation. More farm.
ers than ever before in the history OF
our State are using the best methods
and improved machinery.
Never since the war has the finan
cial condition of our farmers been in
such good shape. More of them than
at any previous period are in such a
state of independence that they can
sell or hold their cotton, as their inter
ess may demand.
In some sections cotton picking was
delayed by the scarcity of labor. But
new hope has arisen that at no distant
day this difficulty will be surmounted.
The new cotton picker, though far
from perfect, gives assurance that ere
very long, when it shall have passed
It's crude beginning and grown into a
first-class machine, the labor problem
of the cotton planter will be solved.
OF one thing the Southern planter
can be sure. In his cotton, if wisely
managed, he possesses a reliable and
safe money crop. But, as we have
repeatedly urged, let nothing tempt
him to make it his sole reliance.
His wheat, corn. vegetables and hay
and abundance of every kind Of stock
feed should be raised at home. so as
to make him the independent man
that every farmer ought to be. Let
him, by diversity OF crops. careful fer.
tilization and diligent cultivation OF
the soil seek the favor of Nature, who
will not fail to amply reward his well.
directed efforts. We note with jleas.
ure the inclination of our farmers to
do this very thing, and the fact that
they are accepting the idea of increas.
ing their cotton production on the
same acreage by rotation, better fertil.
ization and improved cultivation while,
at the same time, raising sufficient
home supplies for man and beast.
On account of long continued dry
weather, cow peas will be scarce and
high next season. Be sure, therefore,
to save enough to put upon your land
at the proper time. No up-to-date
farmer will long run field in cotton
without applying to it this great rem.
ovator and panacea for the Ills that af.
f1ict the soil.
We fear that on account OF the dry
fall many farmers have failed to SOW
wheat IF so, those woh can possibly
do it, should SOW it now so as to get it
up by Christmas. Those living in sec.
lions where it Is too late to do this
and even those who can SOW the wheat
and yet have land enough would do
we'll at the first good season in Feb.
ruary to put in oats on good ground
well MANFRED and prepared. They will
then have good prospect of fine
supply Of spring oat crop.
To those who have not yet turned
their fields we would say, do SO this
month Let this be done thoroughly
and well, and as deep as possible, SO
that freezes and winter rains may add
fertility to our fields.
Again we are gratified at the fact
that the sugar-cane growers and strip
manufacturers Of Georgia are making
progress toward increasing their indi.
vidual wealth as we'll as that of the
State by improved cultivation, the in.
PRODUCTION of new and better machin.
cry for sugar and sirup-making and
the wise use of remedies both new and
old for the prevention Of fermentation
of cane sirups.
Once more We desire to congratulate
the farmers of our great and growing
State on the fact that they are keep
ing pace in the march OF progress with
all the other great industries that are
adding to the wealth and influence OF
Georgia.
o. B. STEVENS,
Commissioner of Agriculture