Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1905-04-29
COMMISSIONERS TALK
Sale Of Fertilizer Tags Has
Not Been Reduced.
100000 BALE CROP A CALAMITY

The Surest Way to Prevent an Over
production Is for Every Farmer to
Raise His Own Supplies at Home.
..other Agricultural News.
April "a. 1905.
If we are to judge by the sale OF
tags. it seems that the farmers have
not decreased their purchase of COM
mercial fertilizers. Reports, however,
come to this office to the effect that
a considerable amount of the fertiliz-
ers shipped out have not yet been sold,
and may be left on the hands of the
agents
We are also informed by letters
from many sources and conversations
with persons representing every Sec
ton of the State that a much greater
percentage of fertilizers than ever be-
fore is being applied to crops other
than cotton, and that the farmers are
standing by their pledge to reduce the
cotton acreage. We sincerely hope
that this Is true.
AS we have said in recent letttr
from this department, crop OF more
than 100000 bales for next season
will be a calamity to the planters OF
the South, from which they will find
it difficult to rally soon.
A large percentage of the present
crop will probably be carried over to
next season, and will, therefore, form
part of next years supply. Hence
the great necessity of reducing the
cotton acreage.
The difficulty of securing hearty CO.
operation of all the cotton-growers in
movement of this kind has been
demonstrated more than once.
We wish to repeat what has been
said over and over again-the surest
protection against the evil effects of
over-production of cotton is for the
farmer to live at home by raising as
far as possible all his food supply for
man and beast. With no necessity
for paying out money to feed himself
and stock, low prices for cotton will
not hurt so much. For with no debts
to pay, his cotton will bring him a
good amount of surplus money, even
III that surplus is not so large as he
would like. He is in a fairly safe
condition, with whom the question is
how much can h eput in bank? and
not what percentage of his debts can
he pay?
We are thankful to say that more
of our people than formerly appreciate
this fact, and are conducting their
planting operations on the same sound
business principles that guide sue
cessful merchant, manufacturer or
banker
A cotton-grower, to be successful,
must study diligently the law of sup
ply and demand. He must be as care
full to provide for his next years
stoc in trade what he can sell at a
good profit and no more, as is the
merchant who goes north to lay in his
supply for the fall or spring trade. A
haphazard manner of conducting ones
business must result in disaster,
whether he be merchant who buys
without proper calculation of expen-
ses and probable profits, a banker who
lends without regard to the ability of
the borrower to pay, manufacturer
who spends more for equipment and
raw material than the manufactured
product can be reasonably expected to
bring, or farmer who spends money
for what he ought to raise himself
and stakes all upon single crop.
We do not waste any time urging
Southern farmers to plant cotton, be-
cause we know they will do that; but
we have continually urged them to
raise all needed home supplies, such
as wheat, corn, oats, rye, peas and
soil is suited, to raise also their own
beef, pork, chickens and other poul.
try, thus having a farm we'll stocked
with every needful kind of food.
For the purpose of encouraging an
increase in the corn acreage as well
as to impart useful information, this
department has just issued bulletin
on THE Selection and Preparation OF
Seed Corn" by Professor Charles w.
Davis, of the North Georgia Agricul
tural College, at Dahlonega.
Professor Davis has given his sub
ject much thought and careful study
from a practical as we'll as scientific
standpoint. We have not enough OF
these bulletins to, send out promiscu.
ously, but we shall be glad to mail
one, free of cost, to any farmer who
feels sufficient interest in this sub
ject to apply for one.
About three years ago a professor
in Iowa be0aD delivering lectures IN