The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1905-10-26

Commissioner of Agriculture T. c.
Hudson, Gives Good Advice to Pro-
ducers-Raise Plenty to Eat and
Plant Cotton as supIus Crop.
In this my first talk with the farm
ers Of Georgia. | take occasion 10 con-
graduate them on the present pros
pexous condition of our beloved state.
According to the Comprehension
erals report for 1906 the assessed
valuation Of all property in Georgia
shows an increase of 100000 over
last year. In every line, agriculture,
manufactures and commerce, Georgia
shows gratifying progress. But what
most interests us is on agricultural con
dition. Although the thirteen and one
half million bale cotton crop of last
year was the largest in the worlds
history and Georgia far outstripped
any previous records of production,
the average price, 8 IL cents pound,
brought into the State more than $685.,
100000. AT one time it seemed that
Che bumper crop was going to be
disposed of at figures that would be
DISASTROUS to the cotton producers,
but through the blessings of a be.
nign Providence the Southern Cot
ton Association, which was organized
last January in the city of New Or
leans with Hon. Harvey Jordan as
President, and backed up by the bank,
ers and merchants and other business
men OF the South, was able to stem tie
tory
Under the firm and judicious man
agement of the chosen officers of the
Southern Cotton Association, the slump
that sent tle price of our great sta
pie down to 6h cents pound was
checked In mid career and the price
again went UP to II cents a pound.
Ii our great crop Of last season was
30 we'll and successfully handled in
spite of those who attempted to
bear the market, the handling of this
seasons crop, so greatly reduced, will
be an easier matter. But eternal Wig
Hence is the price of safety. and the
farmers of Georgia must stand faith
fully by the Southern Cotton Associa.
ton, if they would continue to reap the
fruits of their victory We therefore
urge toe farmerse in all the counties
who have not organized, to do so at
once in every militia district of every
county and promptly pay the dues nee.
essary for the proper maintenance of
the Southern Cotton Association. This
is day of organization and it behooves
the farmers to band togather in a
strong union and in view OF what has
been accomplished, We urge
that the Southern Cotton Association
offers them the strongest combination
That they can enter. That the farm.
ers may be better able to hold their
crop for a remunerative price. we
would urge them to raise an abund.
ance of food crops, such as wleat.
oats, barley, rye and that they pay
special attention to pasturage. The
cotton crop will soon be about all har.
vested and the preparation for the
sowing of the important food crops
just named, should commence at once
and continue during the early and late
fall. All waste lands should be put in
grasses this fall so as to increase
pasturage for all kinds of stock which
should be carefully selected Be sure
TO plant first of all sufficiency of food
crops for man and beast. and then
raise as much cotton as possible by
better fertilization, more thorough pre-.
paTatlon and better cultivation. To
do the necessary work successfully.
we must use the very best improved
machinery of every kind. Primitive
implements and old time methods will
not do in this day of progress. The
farmer who does not keep abreast with
the times will soon find himself left
far behind by the more enterprising
who will grow richer in the same PRO.
portion in which he is growing poorer
Modern machinery and better methods
III all farm work will go far toward
overcoming the disadvantages that
arise from scarcity of labor or the IN
reliability Of laborers.
T. G. HUDSON,
Commissioner OF Agriculture.