Crop report for the month of May, 1885, showing areas planted, condition of growing crops and other matters relating to agriculture in Georgia [1885]

CIRCULAR .. Ie. '}
-'.rl...
CROP REPORT
For tire Mantlr of Nov, 7885
SHOWING
AREAS PLANTED, CO DITIO~ OF GROWING CROPS THE FIRST OF MAY, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO AGRICULTURE:. GEORGIA.
..
CommiSlioner.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Jas 'p HarrllOn &: Co. Prfnten, Binders an" F.lectrotypel'll .
. 1$J8.~.

OirculM No. 66. ~
NBW SBBIBS. ~
CROP

REPORT

FOR TH.l MONTH OF MAY," 1885.

RETURNED TO THE DE~RTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAY 1, 1885.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

l

ATLANTA, GA., May 12, 1885.f ..

CORN.

The acreage in North Georgia is 102, in Middle, Sonthwest and E"St

Georgia 100, in Southwest Georgia 88, and the average for the State 98.

The condition and prospect in North Georgia is 93, in Middle Georgia

95, in Southwest Georgia 90, in E~t Georgia 93, in Southeast Georgia 88,

and the average for the Slate 92.

The planting: owing to the continued cold weather, is nine days later

than an average for the State. In Nvrth Georgia. the time is reported

4 days later, in middle Georgia 5, in Southwest Georgia 9, in East Geor-

gia 11, and in Southeast Georgia 15.

The dry spring has f",vored the preparation of the landa, and the con

dition in this respect is much b9lter than average in all sections of the

State.

OATS.

The acreage in North Georgi'" is 90, Middle G'3orgia 88, Southwest Georga 96, Ea t Georgia. 94, S utheast Georgia 95, aud the average for the State 92.
In North Georgia 25 per cent. of the crop was sown in the fall, in Middle Georgia 39 per cent., in Southwest G90rgia. 3S per cent., in El.st

The Crop Reports represent the conditl'ln of th:l crops on the first day of the months In which they are Issued, and heretofore have borne in the title the name of the preceding month. In the sncceeding nnmbers, as In this Issue, the tiUewlll bech'mged to that of the m)nth wlth which begin the represented conditions of the crops, and in which the reports are pnbll<hed.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.
Georgia 46 per cent., and in Southeast &eorgia 68 per cent. Ninety per cent. of the whole crop of the Slate was sown with rust proof varieties.
The condition and prospect of the fall sowing <,lompared to at> average in ortb Georgia is 23, in Middle Georgia 60, in Southwest Georgia. 86, in East Georgia 90, in ont11east Georgia 95, and the average for the State .71. The condition and prospect of the spring sowing ill the respective sec-tions is 91, 82, 85, 82. 92, and for the State 86. The portion of the crop that Wll.S sown in the fall was serio\l~ly injured by freezes in all the northern part of the State. In many localities the ground was resown ill the spring or planted in other crops. The e ndition and prospect of the whole crop in North and Middle Georgia is 7, in Southwest aud ElI.st Georgia 85, in Southeast Georgia 96, and the average for the State &L
WHEAT.
"The acreage in North Georgia. 95, in Middle Georjlia b8, in Southwest 'Georgia 73, in East Georgia 85 and in Southeast Georgia 100.
The condition and prospect in o1"th Georgia 70, in Middle Georgia 86, in Southwest and East Georgia 90, and in Southe st Georgia 100.
The acreage fur the State, not i .cluding Southeast Georgia, where little is own, is 85, and the condition aud prospect 84.
The injury by freezing and olher casualties is reporte in North Georgia at 31 per cent., in Mid,He Georgia 17 per cent., in Southwe t Georgia 7 per cent., in East Gqorgia 11 per cent., in Southeast Georgia 10 per cent., and the average for the State 15 per cent.
COTTO
The acreage in North Georgia is 101, :Middle Georgia 102, Southwest Georgia 99, East Gevrgia 102, Southeast Georgia 105, and the average for the State 102.
The planting is about eight days laier than the average time of planting for the tate. This varies very much in the sectio!1s. In North Georgia the time is reported as average, in Middle Georgia three days later, in outhwest Georgia eight days later, in E"st Georgia eleven days later, .and in Southeast Georgia sixteen days later.
The dry spring favcred the preparation of the land in the northern part of the State, where wet weather is a common cause of delay in starting this crop, so that the planting in the northern and southern portion of the Sta~e comes much nearer together than is usual with cotton planting.

MAY CROP REPORT-!88S.

In North Georgia 16 per cent. of the crop is up, in Middle Georgia" 39

per cent., in Southweet Georgia 68 per cent. in EJ.st Georgia 4!) percent.

and in Southwest Georgia 72 per cent.

The stand when up compared to an a'-erage in North Georgia is 98, in

Middle Georgia 94, Southwest Georgia 95, East Georgia 89, and Southeast

Georgia 93, and tbecondition of the plant compared to an ayerage in the

respective sections 97, 96,96,93 and 9-.

The condition and prospect of the crop in Yorth and Middle Georgia is,

97, in Southwest Georgia 94, in East Georgia 88, in Southeast Georgi8~96.

and average for the State 94.

RICE.

The acreage in lowland rice, compared to an llyerage, in Middle Geor-

gia 100, in Southwest Georgia 95, in East and Southeast Georgia 96, and

the average fvr the State 97.

The aecrage i:: upland rice in Middle Georgia is 100, in Southwest

Georgia 95, in East and Southeast Georgia 96, and the averaJe for the

State 97.

SUGAR CANE.

The acreage compared to an average in Middle Georgia is 91, in South-

west Georgia 96, in East Georgia 83, in Southeast G'3orgia 89, and the av-

erage for the State 72.

The stand compared to an average in Middle G~orgia. is 87, in South-

west Georgia 92, in East Georgia 85, in Southeast Georgia 93, and the av-

erage for the State 89.

SORGHUM.

The acreage in North Georgia is 106, in Middle and Southeast Georgia

100, in Southwest Georgia 94, in East Georgia 98, and the average for the

the State 99.

.

CLOVER AND GRASSES.

The acreage in clover and cultivated grasses in comparison with an average in North Georgia 101, in Middle Georgia 98, in Southwest Georgia 105, and in the whole Stll.te 101.
The condition and prospect in North Georgia is 97, in Middle Georgia 95, in Southwest Georgia 80, and in the whole State 91.

FRUIT.

The prospect is favorable for a peach crop. in all sections of the State. In North Georgia the per cent. of a full crop thll.t has escaped frost is reported 90, in fiddle Georgia and Southwest Georgia 102, in East Geor-

6

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

gia 88, and in Southeast Georgia 99. A failure of the crop is not reported in any COllDty in the State.
The prospect of the apple crop is 88, the pear 90, and the grape the section agreeing very r.early with the average for the State.
STOCK,
Stock of all kinds are generally repm'ted in healthy conditioD. Cholera among hogs and some exceptional cases of diseases with other stock are mentioned as existing in some sections.
The condition of sheep compared to an average in North Georgia is 87, in Middle Georgia 91, in Southwest and Southeast Georgia 88, in East Georgia 89, and the average for the State 89.
The condition of work stock in North Georgia is 91, in Middle Georgia 94,in Southwest Georgia 96, in East Georgia 95, in Southeast Georgia 97, and the average for the State 97.
The stock ()f hogs of all ages, compared to an average in North Georgia, is 92, in Middle, South~est and East Georgia 88, in Southeast Georgia 99, and the average for the State 87.
CORN, BACON, ETC.
The average cash price for corn, May 1, is 74 cents, and the average time price 98 centl!. The cash and time price for the sections are as follows: North Georgia 75 and 101, Middle Geor~ 77 and 98. Southwest Georgia 78 and 103, East Georgia 75 and 105, and Southeast Georgia 62 and 85.
The supply of corn on hand, compared to an average supply, in North Goorgia 75, in Middle Georgia 84, in Southwest Georgia 95, in East Georgia 94, in Southeast Georgia 81, and for the State 86.
The supply of hay for the respective sections is 63, 74,95,85, 66, and the ayerage for the State 77.
TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL.
The Spring season has been excdptional in the general low temperatur and in the small rainfall in the months of March and April. The temperature for February was nearly nine degrees below the average of the last ten years, and that of .March seven and April one deg..ee below the average. Notwithstanding the ~elleral low temperature of the season, there have been no destru~tive frosts reported in any of the counties.
The amount of rainfall for the month of March~as been unusually uniform throughGut the State, not varying far in any of the sections from

MAY CROP REPORT-188S.

7

three and a half inches This falls about three inches below the average of tho last ten ,.ears for this month in North and Middle Georgia,:but i very near the average for the more southern sections. The rainfall of April is remarkably small, being three inches less than the average of ten years for the State. That of North Georgia has been 2.26 inches, Middle Georg:a 1.62, Southwest Georgia 2.03, East Georgia 1.11, and Southeast Gi:Orgia 1.74. The averages of the last ten yea.rs for the sections in the 0- er here given are 5.38, 4.83, 5.37, 3.96 and 4.19.
The dryness of the season has favored the preparat ion of the lands, pa..ticularly the clay lands of the more northern portions of the State, where wet weather in the spring is a common cause of delay in staJ:ting crops that require a long season. Owing to the peculiarities of the season, the times of planting in the northern and southern partoS 0 the State, and especially with the cotton crop, have been brought much nearer together than is usual

TABLE No. I-Consolidation of Crop ReporUJ for the munth oj MOI!f, 1885.

00

NORTH GEORGIA.

COUNTIES.

CCfrn.

oat8.

Wlleat. Q?tton St/{/Gr

Rice.

~ Ctover &:

Fruit.

-- . Stock. -

Sttpplie8.

----:-;;;- '" I 1 CDC Cd

f&' f S' '" .. 0

g ~ ~ g i O C>

...

d=
....

y'~ "o~' 0

'

"
0

0 "

yi~'3'!9..~.

,5.
!

!

... 0 0 ...

'a"s

y.il s

~j5..8... 'i

~f s W~a Sa
e ~" fIJ Q,)

.~0~..f~g~lc;~0g-o

l! ~ ~ - -Can-e. -fa.- .~C_~I..J~- Gr-a8-8O....

;l
~0

g

-.g..

f!
~Q)

~ ~ .- Q,)

0~ - g
'C 'C

Sl gj, "" s ~S5.d 0
t>

...
0 0""
;S

...
0
go
j;"
Co)

'tl! "...
.. ~ Q.. 0
S

~ ~ ~ ~;,:; .bIl ISB'.

.J"
Q1Q.)

~ tCIS

~ ~~

CIS....
c8

Q)

ttllJ

'g
Cd

~

.1:1 as

~ g-

~ ~ ~88 :;.~ ~~ ~ .:-~ ~ ~ ~ ~.,;~.,; ~~~:o 8!ll;~ ~: ""
8 o
= u~
2

-g

...
~8
0

a""

0
C,)

Q.i

~~ 'u-Qdc~~

.E
d" c~~o;'.a.~c~._:~_I;CC:c:;1~...S. g~.d;.b'.i~feU0J2aJ.?.fS.,~.:,..,'a0:8:g0~QC.~.o,c.)C~l~C>

"u~c")tQ,)~;a~aC~I 'a~~0 .~...Q'8af"!aQi.,.a d.g).I,'8.4;d>..s;'.tg08..~":C~,]"aU0~)'Q~C) c,'!.S0g.:). ~lcUQt!.)_iC"t!9Ig0f~~,~~--Q=gSa,._.s~f...Q.8,U"08~)"GC~fIb!iC:u"80<"Uat.~i .'":;d"!;O3='~:"o~;9,;I.'.3.~.0~... ~u1:.C"8C.;;.;1':Ba.=.'~(0..Ja.hJ~~0QQw8~:,:>.O4>)l-f.a0=3~S~>.C).f;~fa=~o2 d~~'~";.'og~.~"oa.;'Cl-aCa82~-..-~g~~.:~e~'a8f.IE~oo!teS:rool.:-'~a.~~.0~C..Qtl~~S

~~!l ~ ~ ~ ~ r:. r:;; ~:o 5:' ~ ~ r~ ~! ~ ~ ~3 8~.s 'f,g ~ t
..-. '" <ll

!l
Q.;O

.g e-!:J

:;)

:.>

-<


0

8

B8
<ll::.>

:0): c..

<

n

t,
<

8

<t 3.:

8'8 3

<

c..

t
Po<

t
Po<:!l

8 8 -=

go8 OS

0::'> 00'"

00

tj
;te'l
~
is:
t'l Z o-,l
o
"':l

Danks

.

n.now

.

CaronEa ........

103 66 100 Ion 101 105

'(5 90 93

25 80 JO

20 10 15

95 80 l!O

62 9;;' 90 98 1 S................ lOb 100 75J 95 9~ 82 1001 100 85 95 75 1061

80 80 20 1011

.. 100 l!O 75 90 75 .

70 100

88 90 87 110 105 25........

130 103 95 87 9~ JOO 100 82 95 90 75 106

86 80 75 100 75 65

.~: 1: . :~ . :~ . . :~ . . : . .~~ .~: .: .~: :~~ ::~~ : :. :: : : :r::I'~: ~~~ .~: . : ::i~ .:~~ i~ .:~~ ..:: ..::::i~ .:~ ::.~~ :.~~ ChaLtooga.

Cherokee

.

Cobb

.

Dade

..

105 10:; 100 100 100 100 100 90 100 118 JOO 95

28~0

05 25

o~....

20 2~

100 100 10~08

100 75 95 100 100 15... 88 88 68 100 100 26. . 100 IlJO 80 100 88 84 66 100....

Dawlon

.

Fannin

.

l1!i 95 105 100 100 100 100 95 85 90 80 100 75 50

125 i25 100 100 100 75 75 100 100 125 75 100 50 25

"..... 110 100 100...

100.... 100 105....

.

.

150 100 100 100 100 100 100 95 78 115 78 90 80 05

Floyd Forsyth FrllJlklin Gilmer Gordon Gwlnnett

. . . . . .

1~0~2 ..8~85

~~ ~ 90 40......
..85 .. ....

. . . ~O9O5'I

.... 9~02

~102
..

..9~5~

.~9~8

1.090~

100 100 85 25 20 85 75 90 75 105!OO

100 100 65 85...... 75 50 88 78 110 100

.. .. .. .. '1' .. .~O5 :::: .::: :.::.: ::::

111~0

120
100

.1~o1o0

10~0~

9~5

9~5

10~S0 ..:80~

~ ~~ 95 In;!
.. ..

2 .... ... . ..... 105 112 101 88 98 80 90 85 85 90

6................ 100........ 90 100 90 100.... 80 75

.. .775~ .1~0o0o

Sli Sli
:s:. ..s:.

I 75 108
80 110

93 82 75 90

Habersham H.II

.. .

.... .... .. :' ::::

:::::: :::::.,.:..::

::: :::: :::: :::: :::: :..

:::: :::: :::: .::: .::: :::: :.:: :::: :::: .::' ..:.

::::

.::: .::.

:::: '..::': .:'.

Ha.ralaon H.rt. .
Jae~~on

. . .

105 90 100.... 110 90 100 40 25 75 110 60 20......

90 75

90 100 75 95 50 100 75 90 100 90........ 50 50 50 100 80 20...... . .

100 100 100 100.... .... 100 100 100 80 110 IlJO........ 75 75 ... ... .,. 100 100 75 100
67 40 20.... 20 50 60 80 112

8(1 75 75 75 80 55

~ l..l..'
(')
c:
cti:
ll'
i
C'l
ot'l
ll'
C...'l.
~

Lumpkin .....

){adl.on ...

Milton

.

Mnrray ......

j'auldmg......

Pickens

.

Polk

.

Rabun."

.

'joil "'0 "'5 ";'0 ....55

105 00 90 10 ]10 107 101 15

~1O0

102 00 95 Iii 70

105 100 90 20 15

100 100 50 05......
105 .. 100 l'iO SO

'5 ..60"iciO "'5 'ioa 700 'ilil :::: ::: .. ::: :::: 'iciO 100 100"50 "/io "'5 'ioo 'iciO 'jiiJ ius "76 "96 ..60 "25

78 72 85 88 105 78 18........ . .. 100 100 100 100 100 85 60 100 100 85 75 112 a.~ 70

100 95 90 50 112 105 25................ .. 100 100 8'0 75 50 100 95 78 80 75 100 60 M

98 90 97 78 98 100 15........... ... 75 100 100 100 100 100 100 95 92 100 75 105 75 88

90 75 105 75 95 90 16....
100 50 100 7~ 100 tOO 50........ 1001 llQ 112 66. ... ..... ,. .... ....

. .. 105.... .... 110 110 100... 95 100 100 80 100
... 125 100 1(Jo) 100 100 100 !OO 100 100 80 75 100
.. 100 100 tOO.... .... . , .... 90 1001100 76 lQO

112 50

150001

10 85

.~.....

T lOUlI1i!...... .. 105 87 105 15 100 W eb~ter........ 101 99 102 2~ 77
Hf ~ 'OO..H..H." r 'U ~ :: \ I 0'<: .......... 95 60 80 20 100 orth .. .. ...... 100 \lO 100 75 \lO -------_._--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Average. .. . .. . IOU 9" 96 38 86

87 102 .

87 75 75
86

82 80 85

80 ... ....

1 .... ....

103 110 IOU

100 100 100

- - 116 7~ 90 9~ !J.l

8M5 75 60 6d

95 M48~5

80....... 126........ 100.... .... .... . ....

1000 100

1000 100

98 1

9'J 100

100

1 100

*l 1

M77 U102. lO0ll0'1 100 12a 100 lkI

- - 76 100 . .... ....... . 100 100 100 110 100 1 7
76 92 ~6 95 0' 105 80 lu2 91 90 99 88 96 88

75 IOU 100 101 78 103 lIS 96

~~

EAST GEORGIA.

Bulloch.......... 100 95 100 75

SlIrke........

100 100 10! 40

100 105

76 100

100........ 110 103........ 100

90 80

75 2u

76 90

90 80 95.

100

11~000.............

100 100 75....

1001100 60 100

\lO 105

100 103

105 100

Dodge...

100 \lO 100 40 90 90 85..... 100 IOU 50 SO 100....

....

. 76 roO.... 100 00 100 90

90 125 105 50 76 100 103 103 80 110 100 100

J::manllel.

100 95 100 76 100 100 1uo 100 100 100 100 60 75 100 100 100 ...

. 100 50 60 100 100 100 100 76 100 76 76

Waoscock........ 100 95 90 42 87 SO 75 100 95 100 90 20 90 90........ 100

115 100 100 100 96 87 100 76 100 90 100

JeUc1'$on......... 95 92 87 60 78 6S 10 75 60 101 8U 50 62 57........ 70.... . 90 100 76 100 75 \lO 85 7:4 100 87 87

:~~~~Ill.~'::.:::.: .~OO .~~ .~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ :~ .~~ ~~ .~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ .~~ ~~ ~ :~ .~~ .~~ LJaonbrWo~l.o.n..

........ ......

100 110

90 85 80 105

26 80

8U 80

85 ...... 70 7; 10,) IOU 60 90 100,... 100 100 80 70 90 100 110 90 60 \lO 90..... . . . 105.

80........ 60 60 90 i5 85 126 80 \lO 80 85 \lO...... '. .... . .... .. ..

... .... .... :::: ::::

:::: :::: :::: .:::

:::: :::: ..

:::: .. .. ....

.. 71

r:
~

. Richmond.

105 90 85 55 76

Screven

100 95 8 65 95

J'l.'n~{lt:n~a~l:J.:::::::::: ..:~ "~I"~ ~~ 1~

70 85
~

75 75 80 95 85 62 80 75........ 75........ 76 80........ 110 100 100

. . 90 75 100 100 75 lla 85 75 100 85 110....

75 &5 80 100 80 i5 85

:~ :::: :::: ,~~ ..:~ ..~~ ~.. .~~~ .~~ .~OO :::: :::: ::::I'~~ .~~ .~~ .~~ ~~,.~~ ~~

75 100 85 87
. 65 100 95 100
~ .~~ .~~~~ ~.

8~1 951 WMl1ington
WilkInson

~100

90 100

~ 95 ~ 85 ~70~~~ 76 ~ 100 ~ 95 1~ 10 1~ 00 ~ 65 75

100 100

~ . . . .

.

.1.0.0\~1.:0..0:...:....:..:...:.-..:.

1110O181l0\ 0175...9!6!.l0~0~j 11~00

95 100

~80~105~1 ~75

Avera/(u........ 100 93 94 46 90

85 85 90 1u2, 88 46 sa 85 96 97 98... .... 88 lib 80

891 9S 88 77 105 94 Rli

(")
ol'::l
'"II
~
lI'

. ~gurih~:~?~:O~~'::::::.::::::::::: "i.iX:~l ..O~OI ...:O~OI....~:~t ii~Xl

0~0

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

~00

::::
::::

::.:
::::

iio"iiXl
:::: ::::

"80
::::

."8:~5

".0~0~..'i~iX~l

o.o~io~u

.,:1:~:

::::
::::

::::
:.::

:.~:oc::l:::::

::::
::::

.:.~::~:

.:.:~:.

'i~~"..6:0~

i~

..:::~:

'j.iX~~l

::::
::::

7...
00 00
'f'

Cbatluim CCol1Inf~ceb.,......._.... 105 95 90 60 100

96 101 100 100 J02 95 70 9& 100 83 95 100....

80 115 100 83 100 85

. .. 8li 100 100 8T

:: :: :: :: ::: ::: ::: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::,:: =::.:: =: :: :: : Ecllola.

.. ..

.

J;;tIingham........ 100 80 100 55 96 95 92

100 100

Glyun.

110 95 90 95

Liberty:... . - 10. 95 98 115

95 llb

85

100 100 100 116

9~07

90 95

McIntosh........ .... .... .... .... ...... . .... ......

........

~~~,.::::::::::: Pierce .... .. .. . 100 15 100 60 1

100 100..

185 100

.

...

..

26 l\6 '80 100 100... .... 100 100 100 96 80 leO 100

85

100

1

100 100 90 100 80

75 62 100.... 100 100.... . 100 \lO 115 100

98 eo

. .. .... .... .... .... .. ... .... .... ...... ........

98 100 85.. .. 100....

1

:':'~I::::.

.
::::

100
::::

100
::::

100
::::

T~

80 100

. 10

100 6 1

95 110 105 85

.. ...... '" ....

10 120 .

verage

sa 88 95 68 96 112 96 100 100 105 96 n 89 9

92 100.... . 911 9ij 9'7 911

...... 117 79 a.. 81 ..

[86]

.~ g:r&'~~

! I ~
.. ICZ'l

OEgC~~l~i'lQ5l""'.~-Q!""O~ejQ'~'~>"!

lJl
lI/

0 III !"

.:::: ;-

I . . . . I ~ ~8~ 88~S Acreage compareadvteorage.

~ :s1~1S~~iS

Stand compared st8nd.

to

good



~1~Ugj~

Acreage compared average.

to

an

o~x1. "'O'O'C'f)iJlco:O~ Per cent eown In fall.

~188~S~ Condition and pr08jleCt 0

fall sown compared to 0

an average. Condition and proepect of

~

oenol"loIOot-l=!!'';gJ'g<-o

spling @own compared to an average.

ool~",oo Condition and prospect of

6.

...... wholu crop compared to
~CI'IOOOO an avezngc

I: tID
"'"

oo"oo~
OlCC.:oQ'l

Acreage compared to anI ~ average.

~I:

8~~~

Condition and prospect compared to an averBlle

[ .

Acreage compared to an
1-11"""- - .... S ~ii5:8i3~ average.

,i <o1~oo<o.,~ ,g.

.. .a.a.,J

Condition and prospect compared to an average.

... 1~\A.Q:g"'"
00 t-:l0)(X) O'J

Per cent of May 1st.

crop up to

IlS

<ooocooo~ ._...:

Acreage compared to anll

average. Stand compared

to

an

~

..
..

I0~ 0 c<o021to>o;0I.0..,:. average.

.

~
~

'" I~"'<O8: Acreage In low land ricel
-.I CD 0'1 compared to an anrage. III

IlS~88~ Acreage In upland rice ~.

i

compared to an average.

~

:s l-g~~8g Acreage compared , Bor

an average.

gllum.

0=::; 1i I: : ~_

Acreage cempared to anI
c:.noo_ average.

c

~ ~8~ ::'11:

Condition and prospec~1 comp'd to an average. . l<-

I .. - Per cent of full crop of
~ :g~Si38 peachel!.

81~~:g:g!?l if g:1",~<ooo<o 0 ...... 1'0.;1_

Per cent apples.

of

fll1l

crop

of

t'er cent of full
vears.

crop

of

~

t.C1:gfD(o~t.C

~

QCQOOc:n

Grape proepect compared to an average.

~Ig:~~~~

Condition oCeheepcomp'd to au average.

~ l!ll",,,,~,,,., .... gI . -

Condition of work stock comp'd to an &T6fBII:tl

~1C1~&I~:S Condition of stock hogs coml!'d to an a vefBll:6.

~

II

~::IoJ:i~

Cash trice for corn per bus el May 1st.

1

I I ~~g:lili3 .. _ .. Credit price for com per

Ii

bU8hei Ma, 18t.

I S,,,.,, .. - comR';ed to a0n0a.v.e.l.A.ge1

Sl 2!~S~Ql 8Upp,.

.

I

z: Supply of ha, compan.d to an averaae supply.:.

-vIDlI03~:illUll'In::mmv .!IO .LN:ilW.LlIVd:ila .....:.r.... ZI

S1~1j oj WeatMr Report8 from J0IIj1kl'1"Jl i to April 30, 1885.

~

NORTH GEORGIA.

JANUARY. Temperature. Rainfo.J.L

FEBRUARY. Temperature. RainfaJJ..

MAROH.
. - Temperature.. 1loJM/fIIL

APRIL. Temperature. Rairifo.J.L

a a STATIONS.
~" -- -~" .. _.. - '" -" - -- -- -'" Dahlonega.............

8
::l

8

. 8 ~

M
::0a1 -

gl
-::a-

gj
..c:l <J
.E

~
A

~
.~

-z0

:0a1
-

60 15 38.3 10.13 9 66

8 . .c.,i
-::a-
2 36.6

..,
..c:l

cd
~ A

~
.~

<J
.:l

-z0

-::0a1

5.6] Ii 70

cd

~ ., a . .~ l:l ~ z :9 ::a

::;l

iii ..c:l
<J
.:l

01

::l

A

0 ::;l ::;l

.~.,
::;l

- - 21 44.7 2.801- 6 85 S6 58.9

iii Name of Obaerver.

.,cd 01
..c:l A

z <J
,9

0

1.94 8 B. P. Gaillard.

"Ellerslie ............... 55 5 37.0 12.78 10 65 5 34.0 3.00 2 58 22 37.0 5.00 3 69 42 55.0 5.00

Mrs. J. W. Bryan.

...... ...... ...... Gainesville ............
Marietta.................

61 62

18 12

38.5 38.4

.9.25

15 7

60 68

4 37.0 6.20 10 6 39.2 4,45 7

65 73

21 45.8 4.15 20 47.5 6.91

11 83 7 ......

32 ..5..9...6. ..1...5..5.

11 C. B. LaHatte. H. N. Starnes.

~
o ~
'U

Mossy Creek........... 66 16 40.0 8.04 21 60 4 36.1 5.18 10 62 20 44.0 2.77 9 72 51 60.6 1.20 7 Jno. M. Dol'lMlY.

Rabun Gap ............ 58 12 35.5 9.00 7 63 1 32,4 4,40 7 65 12 40.0 1.90 6 ......

Ew'd Sitton.

~

- - - - - - - 64 -5 66 20 - - -_. - - - - - - Rome...................... 60 16 38.0 7.20 10 65 11 38.0 4.50 6 68 24 46.0 3.35 5 83 34 O.O 1.60 8 R. S. Norton.

Means... .............. 60 13 37.9 9.50 11

36 21~n-7

43.6 3.84'. 7 78 39 58.8 2.26 8

MIDDLE GEORGIA.

~
-~
I
00

....... ...... 70 22 44.9 9.,,!, 84 Atlanta ..............._ 63 15 40.0 7.57 10 69 8 39.4 3.79 8 6>1 211 46.5 4.38' 10 ll3 36160.8 1.34 7 R. J. Redding.

Carrollton...... ....... 64 12 39.0 10,45 8 ...................

35 60.2 2.20 6 S. J. Brown.

00
\A

LaGrange....... ........ 67 18 43.6 6.35 13 76 13 42,4 2.33 7 73 27 50.3 3.31 9 86 36 60.2 2.81 7 H. H. Cary.

Milledgeville.......... 71 2l 44.0 8.37 10 71 13 48.9 3.39 8 75 24 49.8 3.32 IS 80 32 63.2 0.9ll 3 S. A. Cook.

Oxford...... ............. 68 20 43.0 2.55 7 70 10 43.0 2.85 6 72 25 50.0 2.60 4 85 44 65.0 0.80 3 Miss E. Stewart.

- - --_._----_.- 6'-; -;17 -8 7i 24 48.0 TbomiOn ............... 75 22 42.0 8.50 Meaos...... ........ 68 18 41.9 7.30

9 70 14 40 9 3.50 10 68 25 46.3 2.05

9 71 12 42.9

3:;n

6 85 -32-58'.2-1.6-0 -5 A. E. Stursis. S6 61.8 1.62 5

Summary of Weather Reports from Jan'UUh'Y 1 to April 30,1885.

...
~

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

JANUAllY.

FEBRUARY.

.MARcn.

APRIL.

STA.TIONS.
.
Americus ..............

Temperature. RaillJall.

p
ill[ 8

a~

.

I :.:~a I ::5:a.::a~

..,,;
..c c()
H

<Ii
~ A
z<3

70 24 48.010.75 9

Tempt:ralure.

S
.;ap;; :o:as
70

S

ap
'Q ~ 12

d
..~..
48"".0

RainJall.

.,;

1>,

~
.c

A"

c()
H

0
~

2.65 3

- - - Temperature. RainJaU.

S
p
.~

8 aP
'Q

"'-"l ~

.,d
<II ~

.<,Ii
..c
()
c
H

.,; I
A'"
0 Z

70 32 51.0 3.15 6

Temperature. Rairifatl.

88

P
.~ '" ....

ap
'13 :iii

.d, ::a

Ii
..c ()
..c..

wi Name of Observer. o>s. A 0 Z

""80 43 65.0 1.60 4 .T. E. Bivins.

tj t'l
~
~
;Io:.:,:J
t'l Z Io.,J

Outhbert............... 77 22 48.0 11.60 11 74 18 470 4.35 8 77 29 52.0 4.95 8 87 40 66.5 2.65 3 B. T. Hunter.

o

=- == == :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: == Coltirobus...............
Fort Valley.............

75 71

23 47.4 8.19 21 46.0 8.60

14 10

78 73

18 46.0 420 17 450 4.50

12 6

74 76

31 62.5 3..14 29 f3.0 2.70

10 6

87 ......

....4.5.

..6.6....1.

..1...8..5.

.....3.

Geo. M. Dews. Mrs. W. J.Anderson

Nashville................ 70 28 51.7 7.73 9 68 34 49.0 4.05 3 ................................................................ H. T. Peeples.

Quitman ............... _~..!!. 52.~ _8.70 ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~:~ _5 ~ ~ ~l.:.:.:.:.::

W. T. Gaulden.

""l
>
C'J
~
H

Means.............. 73 27 48 f\ 9.26 11 72 21 47.7 4.16 6 61 31 53.2 3.56 7 85 43 65.9 2.03 3

c()

EAS'r GEORGIA.

tl

Augusta................. Hawkinsville .........

74 ...2.5, ..4..6...0. 7.80

- - - - - - _.- Sandersville ........... 64 24 44.9 7.60

Means .............. 69 24 45.4 7.70

9 66 16 44.0 3.00 9 67 25 48.8 2.05

69 18 45.4 3.20 8 72 28 50.3 3.55

- 9

-

70
-

14 .43-.7 -3.-00 -

6 72
--

28 -5_1.6. -3.-90 -

9 68 16 44.4 3.07- -8_ .70 27 50.2 3.17

6 85 32 65.0 1.42 7

- - 9
5.

:

85 ....

....4.2.

65.5
.......

..0...8..0.

.....4.

- - -' --

7 85 37 65.2 1.11 5

!

W. K. Nelson. R. C. Sanders.
G. W. H. WhitakeI

y.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.
Baxley.................... ., 36.2.0 ... .... 6 ......................................... '" ...................

S. T. S,mm,,"!.

BrunswicK.............. 75 29 53.3 7.75 8 70 29 61.0 2.20 ......................... 3.15...... 84 48 67.0 1.45 2 H. A. Kenrick.

c
~
i
C'J
ot'l
~
C'J
~

St. Marys............... 77 32 64.3 7.86 15 70 30 50.0 4.10 8 82 36 69.0 8.96 8 83 46 64-.5 2.45 4 E. A. McWhorter.

Walthourville......... 76 27 51.3 7.10 11 66 28 55.7 2.80 5 78 37 53.8 1.60 4 90 50 66.4 1.15 2 JDO. L. Harden.

MeaDS .............. ~~~~~~~R2~~~~~~~~~~~-8

,....,

Mt'BDS for1he 8181e. 69 22 45.8 8.23 10 6ll 17 44.7 3.64 7 72 28 50.8 3.31 7 84 ;1 68.5 1.74 5 .DWOIl P,O.

!

[101]

MAY CROP REPORT-I~85.

IS

NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS.

NORTH GEORGIA.

CATOOBA.-Farmers up with their work; crops in good condition, needing raia badly; will be a poor stand of cotton as well as corn, where the roller has not beea used, if it don'trainin ten days; cut worms pillying hav~c with many corn fields.
J. B. HENDERSON.

CHATTooGA.-No disease among stock; work stock thin, owing to the shortness ef

roughness.

The best prospects for a ~ood crop that I have seen in ten years; the land broke

up fine and nice, and corn and cotton come up all right; the farmers in good spir-

its, a smile on their faces; I love to meet them now; they are anxious to talk: abont

the crops, and inclined to brag a little. If the seasons continue there will be a good

crop in 1885.

W. F. TAPP.

COBll.-A species of "moulting fevq" h~ affected horses to a remarkable ex-

tent this spring, in some instances preventing work for a week or more-have heard

of none dying.

WM.. ALSTON, 1R.

DADE.-Slock as a general thing.have been unusually healtby; a few old cows

died with what is called hollow born; hogs and sheep thrifty; winter dr pped

lambs, to some extent, froze.



There was a full supply of both corn and hay raispd last yea', but the winter,

unusually ;ong and severe, made bo!h scarce, and but few people have corn to sell,

and none bay.

J. A. R. BIBB.

GORDON.-The long cold winter has clused the con umption of nearly all rJugh-

neS8 to bring the cattle through. Corn that was planted early is up to a tand.

There is about one-third of the land designed for corn not yet plan ted. Cotton

planting is nearly completed. Seasons have ben favorable for work during the

month.

N. B. HALL.

GWIliINETT.-Most of our farmers, and nearly everyone else tbat keeps a hO'se or a cow, are planting ., Millo Maize" for green forage. I 'bave planted it for two years-think it unexcelled by anything as a green forage, or butter-producing food.
J. T. BAXTER.

JACK80N.-The prospzct i8 very flattering for a crop this year; the farmers all

seem to be putting in the'r best licks. With favorable Beasons there will be a heavy

com and cotton crop.

JOHN G. Wnm..

RABUN.-The spring has been backward, at least ten days later than an average; Tery little corn up yet, and farmers as a whole are not more than half done planting. The fruit crop has been unusually late in blooming; had no peach blooms until April. The apple crop is now in fnll bloom; have had no fruit killed by freeJles, except a few peaches in the early localities. We are having fine spring weather now, and pr03pects fine for a good corn crop. Our wheat crop was injured more from drouth in the early fall than from freezing in winter.
F. A. BLECKLlI:T.

16

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[102]

WALJtm.-Perhapll25 per cent. of the land sown in wheat has been plowed np

and so". in oats or put in com and cotton. What wheat is left looks unusually

well.

J. A. CL1DlDT8.

MIDDLE GEORGIA.

Bm.-The average condition of all crops is low on account of drouth; no mate

rial damage up to this time, however, has been done. With rain, the grain crop has

plenty of time to recover and make yet. But little cotton up yet, and that is small

and sickly.

W. D. H. JOHNSON.

CoLUKBa.-We haTe been quite dry, but have withiu the last tew.days had ge-

nial showers. I hear great complaint of cut-worms in the gardens. Gardens are

backward; we usually have new potatoes first Sunday in May-we will not have

them thiiJ year.

J. A. WALTON.

DBKA....-Farmers are well up with their work; lands in fine condition for pro-

duction. We are too dry at present j but little rain has fallen during the month of

April; all crops are needing rain at this time, May 2; good seasons from now on

and good work will insure good crops this year.

G. W. MORRIS.

---The spring, though backward, has been dry and favorable for farm work, and farmers are somewhat in advance with their spring worlt. Corn that was
planted early did not come up well, but later planwd corn, both on bo:tom lands and up-lands, has come up beautifully. The we~ther has been too dry for cottonseed to come up quickly, but the indicati'lQs are th~t we will get a stand.
T. J. FLAKE.

FlJLl'oN.-The crop prospect since the opening of the late spring is good, but ten

days later. We are suffering for want of rain: the market gardens are suffering

most.

W. L. MANGUM.

HII:NRY.-N& sheep in the county. The dogs have killed them so often that farmers regard sheepraising as very risky and unprofitable.
CRAS. M. SPEER.
NBwToN.-&mecholeraamonghogs. The majority of my sheep (Merino) cUpped 6 pounds of wool each. The prospect for fruit has never been equaled up to this time, in my recollection.
J. E. MCCONNELL.
OGLB'lHoBP..-The stock law has now become thoronghly inaugurated in the connty. The people are discussing plans to prevent ou: lands from washing. Terracing is much practiced. Prohibition and the saving of Bermuda grass hay are prominent questions.
C. A. STEVENS.
PrKB.-The fruit crop is very flattering at this date. The prospect (or a good crop, I think, is ,-ery flattering. The farmers have gottheirland in bett'!r condition than I have seen i. years. Cotton that L~ up never looked better. We are dry at this time, and if it continues so, the late cotton can't come up.
C. R. WILSON.
TALBOl'.-The winter hAs been severe, which damaged faU oats to a large extent, thinning out the stand i yet they have spread considerably, and a fair crop will be gathered. Wheat did not iulIer so badly. The spring has been cold and backward, but since the warm days have set in, the shock seem~ no longer felt and the pros

'( 103]

'MAY CROP REPORT-I 885.

17

pects in all crops seem flattering. The seasons are good, with no high winds or

'beating Dinl!. The land was never in better condition, and I think we have every

reasoD to 1eel thankful.

B. A. FBBBJIU.

WALTON.-As to fallsown oats I know of but one field that has stood the hard

freeEe8 of the past season, and they were sown with a drill, the land being first well

turned with two-horse plows and heavily fertilized. Nearly all sown in the 11111&1

waydnring the dry season and badly put in, are a total loss. Until we learn to do

'better work in preparing, and then use the drill in seeding our land with plenty of

1erlil:izer, we had better abandon sowing in the fall.

J. E. NumuLLT.

-It is true, through the fall and winter we had a financial crash; still 1 feel en
"OOuraged. The vigilance of our merchants last fall brought some of our peepleou\ -of debt, and some of them to the wall. This has gi'fen a check to trade.
Farmers now are trying to keep out of debt and make all they can. Laborerll an
ioing well, and planters are taking fresh courage. 8.C. BnMN.
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

BKBBIXN.-CoWS died all over the woods i don't know of what diseaae. 8heep
.Iso. Where stock were housed and cared for, no disease at all.
I! farmers would sell, or shoot down in the wood, all their stock, except what -theyeould take good care of, the.v would do the best dav's work of their life. I have tried it, and know how it is myseU. i. e. I sold them and fed the balanoe.
J. E. WILLIAKS.

The long winter has dealt very severely with all out stock, cattle, hOgll, Ilheep.

The loss from starvation is about 20 per cent.

Early oats are now being used, and a very full crop is anticipated.

We are now dry. Cotton crop, last planting, not coming up i present indiC&-

tions, fruit prospect better than for years.

H. T. PuPI.a.

Fifty per cent. of ho~ have died with what is called cholera. No remedy te

.ure as yet after the hog is sick; bnt where tar and spirits turpentine is appliei

externally, they have escaped. (Coal tar preferred.)

W. W. G.oevn.

DouGHBBTY.-Cholera has killed 85 per cent. of hogs since January lOt.. 8. P

Salter, out of a stock of 200 head, has only 7 or 8.Ieft i out of 150 head I have onl7

10 left. That is about the average through the county.

April was a dry month. As most of the cotton was planted from the 10th to

lIay 1st, a great deal of eatton is not up, and thin stands on a good deal of that that

is up. The heavy rains th1lt fell on May 1st and 2d, with heavy wind and hail, have

omaged crops very much, and washed and,acked the land badly. 80 much _

tilat I am fearful late planted cotton can't come through.

J. L. DOHEL

MrrOHBLL.-A cyclone passed through our county on the 28th of March, KOing. lOutheast direction, contrary to their usual course. It was about four handred yards wide, and was quite destructive in its course. No persons killed, ani ltu\ little stock. Perhaps not more than a dozen plantations serionsly damaged.
J. B. T1f'D'ft.

l!IUllnJI.-eholera in some places, and skin diselllle i white hogs have a kind ,f

red, rusty color. I think it is caused by 'fermin.

CIWI. C. 8JlJl1'P~.

8

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

WnsTER.-The weather has been very favorable for farm work for some time,

and farmers are at work with a will that is commendable, and from plesent appear-

ances it looks as if they are to be liberally rewarded for their labor. The crops are

healthy and growing vigorously. There seems to be a sufficiency of labor in our

county, and that which is reliable. Cotton chopping is now the order of the day.

A good rain May 1&1.

REASON A. BELL.

EAST GEORGIA.

JEFuasoN.-Many hogs have died from cholera. Mine had been running on

river swamp, and one by one came home with every symptom of cholera-running

oft Itom the bowe s and eyes festered; appetite gone. I put them on green oats a

few days, fed on peae bo~led with rusty meat scraps from the meat-house, with a

small piece of copperas and a heaping tea~poonful of sulphur to the hog. I did not

lose one, though some were so reduced as scarcely to be able to walk, a!Jd would not

eat more than a gill of peas at first.

THOS. HAEDEMAN.

TELFAIR.-Cattle have died out; nearly one-half of the entire stock have died,

m03tly from poverty. Some seemed to be affected with what is called yellow mur-

rain.

WM.. F. WILLIAMS.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

CAXDEN.-At least fiIty per cent. of hogs, especially of pigs, have died from

cho era. Many of the grown hogs have gotten well, but almost i:J.variably it killed

the pigs.

E. A. MCWHORTER.

COFFEE.-Cholera has prevailed among hogs, killing ab:mt forty per cent. Cattle

have died fro.n want of feed and she ter to the 1st of March twenty per cent.

Owing to the late and wet spring farmera are at lea3t fifteen days later than they

usually are, but they all seem cheerful, and have put in iu ellnest, and appear

o.etermined to m:lke up the fifteen days lost by the late spring by nsing a gr31lter

amount of fertilizers.

JOSEPH BAILEY.

BRYAN.-Hogs have had a di ease very fatal, bearing much resemblance to pneumonia. Many have lost 75 to 90 per cent. of their hogs. Generally fatal among large hogs, it has been specially so with youn~ pigs. Poor or fat, it spares none. Bears no resemblance to cholera, though many call it so, and has now nearly abated.
PHILIP D. CORY.

[105]

MAY CROP REPORT-I88S.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIO S.
BY M. GEO. VILLE.
[TB.~NsLATED By MIss E. L. Ho,y.~BD.)
In the latter part of December, 18 3, Professor Geo. Ville delivered the following lectures in the hall of the Academy)n Brussels, by request of the Royal and Central Agricultural Societies of Bel gium, on " Agricultural Produetion."
The object of the lectures was to help the farmers of the Old World to cheaper food prodtu;tion. The principles of the agricultural laws Prof. Ville here explains are, in the main, as applicl"!ble to the New as to the Old World.
Can we of the New World produce too cheaply?
LECTURE FIRST.
GEl'(TLEMZN-There are serious times in the lives of all. For the general it is the hour before the battle. My situation is the same. I come among you to-day to wa~e not only one, but perhaps two or three battles. The conquering armies of the past do not count up more than hundreds of thousands of men; my army connts by the hundreds of" millions if not by billions. It is represented by the sun, water, earth, magnetism and electricity, of which latter thunder is an expression. These are the powers of nature which animate the universe, and which preside at the evolution of aU its creations. Left to them elves aud limited to the vegetable kingdom, these powers produce vlrgin fore ts, and bring forth magnificence out of chaos. Working partly with human intervention, they produce our fields, our luxuriant harve2ts and our rich meadows, where numberless cattle graze. I have come now to explain to you the part which each one of these forces takes in our agricultural problem. My object is to define the play of these forces while separating them from the empirical precepts of the past, which we blindly followed, not being able to give a reason for them.
Thill army does not bring des'lation with i ; it does not leave orphans and widows to their fate; it makes human labor fruitful. In other words, it is intelligence going forth to conquer the forces of nature, and substitute the work of the brain for that of the arm. This is the end to which we are working, or, if you prefer, gentlemen, the first battle we must gain.
How was I led to gi\-e the agricultural problem this breadth of character? For thirty years my steady aim has been practically to define the value of each of the elements entering into the composition of vegetation, and to produce a plant from inert matter by the aid of the e elements.
Ten years ago, in this very hall, I spoke on these same problems, which are grow-

"20

DEPARTME~T OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[106]

iug more pressing by increase of population; and I may say, without boasting, thal the universal practice of the agricultural world has proved the truth of what 1 then
laid. The economic situation of old Europe is graver now than it was ten years ago.
Every year she loses by emigration a million of her children from among the beat of her population, who go to fertilize the lands of the New World, and form the backbone of a union which oppresses us, and which we cannot overcome. What a epe<:tacle is presented us by our markets and our fields I Wheat is sold at a ruinous price, and farms 1l.re reduced by half.
Every one knows that Belgium, for example, loses near two hundred millions on her farms-a loss corre.ponding in value to atl actually produced by the farms: ~qnal1;o a loss of four hundred millions annually j and France, a couutry intended , for prosperity and abundance, sees her farms deserted. l UDder such threatening surroundings, it seems to me the scientist has no right
to shu~ himself in his laboratory-his duty calls him to the field of honor.
Eemust sacrifice personal interest in order to discern the causes of the misfortunes which threaten us. I believed it my duty to undertake, at mv own risk, the man ; agement of a large farm, if it was but to find out if, by the new methods of culture,
one could work by delegation as in industries, provided sufficient capital was furnished, and thus give our agriculture a strong enough constitution to fi~ht against the foreigner.
But what has been my surprise in this new attempt from the very first? The methods used were so simple aad so well adjusted to practical experience that 1 foresaw no obstacles. I had not counted on the hostility of the rural classes, whose harsh and in;:atiable cupidity Balzac has so truthfully painted. 1 was met in my first attempts by unexpected opposition, by secret coalition, by culpable if not criminal deceit-universal hostility, ended by paralyzing my means of actioD. Would you blllieve I cou d not economically produce the crops that practidlll agri culture of all countries has realized for twenty years from my own teachings. and that finally all my efforts towards the solution of a scientiffc and practical agricultural problem were turned into a dull, merciless struggle against the obstinate ignorance and malevolence which surround me on aU sides.
Anger succeeded surprise. This is a bad counselor even when legitimate, as in
this instance, for I was attacked and wounded in my deepest feelings and most disinterested efforts. But by a h2ppy compensation the final result was superior
to the cause of the trouble: I have continued my work, and the last word will be
with me. At first I tried to overcome obstacles with money-it was Darius chaining the
ocean. The obstacle was strongar than I. I am no longer irritated. I feel no resentment against anyone. I was ignorant. I knew the agricultural problem under one aspect only i the other was unknown to me. A.s soon as I was convinced of this 1 resolved so to work as not only to avoid m'lnyof the evils just mentioned, but actually to make my work pay in spite of them. I then considered my farm but as a means of experimenting. I applied all my energies to take the practical problem piece by piece-to define it in all its terms-to leave nothing unknown with. out fixing its importance. Have I succeeded? 1 believe so. I make you the judge.
I repeat, the 'lnd I wished to gain was to .how the farmer, who is forced to farm
In spite of himself, how he can fight to advantage, by what means he ca. find a

[ 107]

MAY CROP REPORT-188S.

farmer, and by what development of the same means the farmer can make money,. so exact and certain are the results of the new method.
What. ~entlemen, is the pivotal point of agriculture? There is no hesitation pc. Bible on this point. It is the p!ant.
The animal is derived from the plant. Agricultural industries are themselvel derived from either the animal or the vegetable kingdom. We must then begin with the plant. If you ask of what a plant is formed, and what constitutes a plant, the past has a resdy answer to all such qnestions. It says to you, the plant is derived from manure. We must have manure to make good crops; to get manure we most have meadows and stock. Unfortunately, it adds, stock is a neceSllarY evil to which we must submit. What progress, if we could rid ourselves of stock and meadow, and had some other means of getting manure. This is not the way we look at the problem. We simply say science has succeeded in artificially producing the minerals forming rocks. Why can we not do the same thing for plants? Why admit there is an insoluble mystery in their formation? In what does a mineral differ from a plant? In this, that the plant has for the point of departure a seed, and that in this seed there is an embryo; that this embryo is the seat ot a spe. cial force in a latent condition, which is capable of manifesting its ac 'vity under certain favorable conditious. Why can we not succeed in producin a plant in burnt sand, if we add to the sand the substance which analysis shows in planta grown in good soil.
Let us examine the problem in another way. All plants without distinction, trees, moss, vegetables, gather their substance from fourteen elements, which are always the same. These elements are :

Organic.
Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. Nitrogen.

M~npal.
Phosphorous Sulphur. Chlorine. Silica. Iron. Magnesia. Lime. Manganeze.
Soda. Potash.

But a question here presents itself. You ask how both poisonous and food' plants owe their formation to the same elements? This is. however, the exact truth; fourteen elements, and always fourteen, produce poisonous plants and food plants, perfume, tinctorial matter, etc. i in fact, all vegetal products. How is thu :result possible? A dictionary will explain how it is possible.
A language is composed of several thousands of words. How do we form these words? In our language they are made by the combination of twenty-four different letters. Well, the vegetable kingdom is a lauguage of which each plantia a different word, and the above fourteen elements are the alphabet. The di1ference in plants is not made by different elements, but by different combinatious of the same e:ements. This fact makes a wide gulf between the mineral and vegetable kingdoms. Seventy different elements are necessary to produce the five or six thousand known minerals, grouped together by four, five or six at a time; only fourteen elments are needed, however, to give life to the two or three thoUlalld.

22

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[108]

plants of which the vegetable kin'gdom is composed, but the fourteen elements are never separated; they are found in all plants. The peculiarity of a mineral is in the changeableness of its elements, while in plants it is the different grouping. But there is still another difference between plants and minerals; the elements of a mineral are movable. We can displace them at will.
Here is a solution of bichloride of mercury, a combination of chlorine and mercury. We wieh to displace the chlorine. It is easily done. Throw a little nitrate ~f silver into the solution. The chlorine combines with the silver, forming a white precipitate which clouds the liquid, and finally falls to the bottom of the glass j this is chloride of silver. Perhaps, on the contrary, we wish to displace the mercury. W ~ have only to substitute iodide of potash for nitrate of silver. The iodine combines with the mercury and gives birth to a beautiful red precipitate, which is formed under our eyes. The mercury is thus displaced at your will and forms biodide of mercury. Now try to displace the carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, a nitrogen of a vegetable tissue, it is impossib~e j a vegetable "issue once formed is irreducible. You can isolate its different elements by analysis, but then you destroy the plant absolutely and ntirely. You can define the essence of the plant, but you cannot displace its elelhents and preserve its form.
This is what distinguishes vegetables from minerals. Our power over minerals is unlimited. The power which produces organic life, has stamped it with an indelible seal. The plant says to us, I am more powerful than you j you can analyze and decompose me, but you cannot change my texture.
We have said there are fourteen constant and invariable elements in all vegetal tion; but these elements have very different properties. On account of this difference we divide them into two categories -organic elements and mineral elcments. The organic elements are represented by carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The mineral elemeuts are ten in number. We have only to bum the plant if we wish to separate the organic from the mineral elements; combustion dissipates the organic elements in the form of smoke, vapor and gas. On the contrary, it leaves the mineral elements in the form of ashes. If left to run its natural life, the plant will decompose, and the texture of its tissues will gradually disappear. In place of the plant is left a mass of black matter, without organization, whose weight continuallsr decreases. This work of decomposition slowly produces the same effect which combustion rapidly produces. The organic elements disengage in the form of gas, and the mineral elements are the final residue.
We have now come to three or four fundamental propositions. I pray you, gentlemcn, to have patience. Practical results are only clear on condition we explore the domain of vegetation theoretically to its full extent. If I suppressed its theoretic form, science would no longer exist; you could uot seize its laws, and we would still work under empiric precepts we did not understand. An agriculture fO:Jnded on empiricism and precepts does not supply our wanta.
We come now to a new order of considerations. We now ask from whence come the organic and mineral elements of plant life? Science answers that the mineral elements come from the soil, and the organic elements from air and water. "Take wheat as an example. Here is its recognized composition:

Carbon Hydrogen.. Oxygen That is, 93.55, which comes from air and rain,

(7.W 5.S( (0.32

WAY CROP REPORT-188S.

Soda
lfagnesia Sulphuric acid Chlorine......... Oxide of iron Silica Manganese

0.09

0.20

0.31

..

0.05

0.001

2.76

f

That ii, 3.386 with which the soil is abundantly provided, and which we need not

Jive it.

Nitrogen

1.60

Phosphoric acid

o.~

Potash

0.66

Lime

0.29

Total

99.98

That is, 3.00 with which the soil is but scantily furnished, and which we must eive it in fertilizers.
Of 100 parts there are 93 which the soil has not given. Since the soil has not furnished them you need not "eturn them to it; these 93 parts are der;ved from inexhaustible natural sources, open always to your means of action and always at your disposition. What industry has such resources! Choose anyone you may-I:!e ta\lurgy, plating, weaving, spinning and you are compelled to acknowledge that the product represents buta part of the raw material which the machinery takes up. There is always a waste. In this instance things are different. You get morc than you supply. There is a marked contrast. .A~riculturegives more-industry gives less. Let us follolV the consequences of this contrast:
.Among the ten mineral elements found in a plant, there are seven which need not he given to the soH. The earth holds them as the ocean does water. It is not worth while to give the soil what it already possesses in superabundance.
Thus, by elimination after elimination, you arrive at this fact, viz: That all vegetation is formed of fourteen elements invariably united, but by returning to the soil only the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and lime the plant has taken up, the soil is never exhausted. The land continues to return you fonrteen while you give it only four. This is the realization of the miracle of the three small loaves. .Agriculture is the sole creative industry.
Properly speaking, industry transforms-agriculture creates by drawing on the open sources of nature in return for the four bodies which it gives the soil. When the earth has received them they command the air and the rain. They force the ca"bonic acid of the air and water which the soil absorbs to fix themselves in the plant. There is no vegetation without these four bodies; to know them Is to posseSi the actual conditions of vegetation. These four bodies are, in reality, the fquivalent of vegetal life. They hold the living force which rulES vegetation, and this force has been cOI!quered by intelligen'e, spurred ou by the sufferings and necessities which force man to elevate his conditious of existence.
The practical consequences are superb. Here there is no theory, but indisputable facts-with fonr we can make 100. .Anyone can gro'" a plant in burnt sand. The manufactories of chemical fertilizers are increasing in number, and practical gricnlture is ready to testify to the trut of the theoretic ideas which gave birth to this industry. The period of fruit ess discussion is past. We stop at this affir-

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[no}

mation, that practically with four we can make 100, and with the 1:elp of lour llodies we can produce vegetatiou which contains fourteeu b'.dies.
A double affirmation of which we now fix the economic bea.iug: If ve put arbon at tbe price of oil in Paris, viz: $8.00 per ton, and ni roJgen at the va'ue given it in chemical fertilizers, viz: 9 cents per pound, we find tba~ in proportion to the agricultural territory of France, the amount vegetation draws from the ail' is n Jt less than five tbousand millions yearly, represented by sixty millions of carbon and eighteen hundred thousand tons of nitrogen, divided as follows:

Cultinted Snrface.

Acres.

Meadow

99,142.573.

Forest and Vigres

31,740.583.}

Olives, Almonds and Mulberries... 355,098.

Chestnuts

1,816,588.

Cazbon Ab.orbed.
TODS.
4.1,910,000. 60,241l,OCOO.

Nitrogen Ab~orbed
Tons.
1,530,000. 1, 0,000.

18,320000.

350,000.

80 far e~erythingis simple and convincing. But th rc i3 anothe: order o[ ide.s in the agricultural problem more difficult to penetrate and s~ize, aud "'hic!! se ill at first impossible of application. This is what I call the poten~jal pa t iJ opposition to the substantial part with which we have until now been occupied.
All acts of production require for their acco " plish:nent two thin~s, or neces ary onditions: A primary matter and a force O!' energy, the matter which receives rom and the force which gives the form. No;v in agriculture, from whence comes the force which makes the crop? Is it from the workman? When he plough's, harrows and hoes, does he make the crop? No. He prepares the soil for the_development of the plant. But there his actiou ceases i the r al instrument of proauction is the plant. How and in what way is the plant animlted? A very simple experiment will show:
Here is a concave mirror, in the center of which we place a small steam :engine. Enlarge the proportions of the machinerYi make one of.four or five horse-power. The sun is hot. The machine begins to move, and useful work can be done. In Egypt and Algiers, wherever the sky is always serene j in ChU and Perli, particulady in the large deposits of nitrate uf soda, where fuel is WOl th flom $40 to~$60 per ton, these macbines are used. 'Vhat lesson does this tach us? It is !hat in this system the sun is the heat, the ll1irr~r the receptacle which concentrates)ts effeCUl, aDd the boiler the intermediary which utilizes it(effects, frum whence we conclude that the rays of the sun are here changed into mechanical force. ubstitute a plant for the solar machine j the effect produced is quite different. When 1.he rays of the Ilun fall upon a leaf, tbis leaf absorbs the beat and ligtt just now reflected by the mirror j it extiuguisbee them-we ma.y say:destroys them. 'The heat and light are mingled with the substances which the leaf has drawn flom.the air and the roots from the soil, Ilnd this mingling makes heat and Iight.change.into a state of chemical affinity. What was air, water and:dead mlitter becomes organized nature. Dead matter is thus brought into the kingdom of the li,ing,~where. by succeseive transformations, the \'egetal substances con~umed by the auimal.reJ8neratAl8 by destroying heat and movement, and from gradation to gradation.ends D1 animating us ourselves.
What is 'hen the amount of live force borrowed from light by solar radiation, which l'egetation consumes? At least an 3200 horse-power per acre, or iCyon prefer it ~,OOO da1ll' work of a man. Here we see the agricultura problem in a:l its. magniAcence. What "ill mo"t astonish you is, that from these ideas will be drawn.

I II]

MAY CROP REPORT-I88S.

in my third lecture new methods of culture of the most practical and economical .::haracter. These methods, in fact, yield an economy of from five to six dollars per acre in the preparation of the soil, and ten dollars per acre on the price of the fertilizer that is to maintain its fertility. Let us strive clearly to understand and define these ideas. They are unexpected. We are progressing. Every year, almost every day, brings ils contingent of useful discoveries, conquered by sorrow, for progress, as history proves, is bought by suffering.
If these discoveries are to make a ~rand future for us, it will be because, thanks to them, we can produce more abundantly and economically those food materials which are to become a part of our own bodies, thus assuring the conditions essential to the prosperity of the people, and so guaranteeing the existence of each one of us. No matter what difficulties we may encounter on the way, let us continue straight to the end. Instead of going blindfold, let us walk by the lightof the sun, of whom we ask not only the meanJ of producing vegetation at Ie cost, hut also with less labor.
The result to which we are led is, as we have said, most unexpected. That the production of a crop of 10,000 pounds per acre requires a quantity of live force equal to 3300 days horse-power. Now this lJower is equal to five men. Consequently the live force which acre requires to make its crop is equivalent to 16,000 days of a man; 10 acres 160,000 days; 100 acres 1,600,000; 200 acres 32,000,000 days work of a man.
When I told you my army defied the armies of all the conquerors of the world, was I not right? Generalize these reaults and you will see where you are led. Putting the population of the world at 1,2oo,ooo,{)(o() inhabitants, 72,355 acres (hardly the half of a department), requires for its crop the concontrated force' represented by a day's work of the whole human race. But this is not all; the quantity of live force which the sun sends us in the course of a year corresponds to 888,88 days work of an engine of one-horse power per acre. If then. we me but 3,200, we lose 885,685 per acre. You thus arrive at the final and unexpected conclusion that 337 acres, hardly the size of a private park, after usin~ what is needed for its crop, lOBeS an amount of live force by radiation, equivalent to a days work of the whole human race.
But I feel, gentlemen, you do not follow me entirely. You do not fully see the consequences of these ideas. We have already defined the amount of liYe force needed to make a crop; we have also shown how much of this force is lost, and you instan'ly feel as if you were compelled to find a means of capturing part of this last force. To put it practically, why should we not seek to produce two plants simultaneously, and get two crops from the same ground? And this will not be the only inquiry into which we will be led.
If you ask why it is now become an axiom that it is almost impossible to cultivate the soil unless you direct the cultivation yourself, the answer is evident; it is easily deduced from the facts just stated. When the production of a crop requ'res the equivalent of 3,~0 days' work of a man from natural forces, as the same surface requires in human and animal labor the equivalent of seven days' work of steam power. it follows that human labor is to the forces of nature as one to five hundred; but, with this difference, human labor is but 8 power of direction to utilize or hinder the work of nature. It is the effort of the pilot who guides to the harbor or to destructio:J. The sligbtest dcviation, and you are lost, for a 3,200 steam power per acre works against yon.

26

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[112]

The agricultural laborer produces nothing; he simply directs the forces of na ture. This is the season he is so difficult to manage, and can become 80 dangerous a help. For this reason we should reduce, as far as p0841ible, human intervention in favor of natural forces, These last have no prejudices, no ignorance and no confiict of interest to oppose us.
When he knows the laws which rule the forces of nature, man is supreme. It is by beginning with these ideas-these ideas which explain agricultural progress in its essence-that I have been led to inaugurate a method of farming by which human labor and intervention is reduced both in the use of fertilizers and in preparation of the soil to the least possible amount, thus giving certainty of result with greater liberty of action.
You see now how difficult it is to direct a farm from a distance, and how easy, on the contrary, to direct a factory. In the factory there is a direct relation between the workman and the product of his hands, On the farm this relation is very far off. The laborer's work is to prepare for the intervention of exterior forces. The slightest oversight is multiplied by the immensity of these forces. If a part of the machinery of a factory is broken, it is immediately repaired. This is impossible in farming. The plant, which is the machine, csnnot be repaired. If it is not sowed 1lt the proper time, its work is fatally injured; the forces of nature are against you. If the soil has not been properly prepared, weeds spr'ng np-they take the fertile izer to the injury of the crop. The weeds must be cut at harvest with the useful plants, reducing the value of the crop. These are losses without compensation. In other words, there is no repairing a fault in agriculture; in a factory it is easily done. The intervention of human labor in agriculture is but an infinitesimal frac tion, and acts solely in directing the forces of nature, which alone are the real "SOurces of useful products.
If laborers are careless, ma'icious or disobedient, how can a farmer succeed when .a 3,200 power engine per acre works against him? All the agricultural ventures on a large scale end in loss for those who adhere to the methods familiar to them. If you tell them success requires constant watchfulness, they reply, with a smile, they have the newest and most perfect machines, forgetting that machines cannot "Vork at all seasons, nor surmount all obstacles, while the natural forces never rest.

The arable surface of an acre is 3,911,1l1Ibs.; of ten acres, 39,111,110 Ibs.j of 100

acres, 391,111,100 Ibs. Now, does anyone believe they can act quickly on such a

mass as that? No. The processes of agriculture are the inverse of the processes of

an industry. We must move slowly in cultivation. We must see. not only what

we can begin, but also what we can go through with. Our efforts must be directed

to one point.. concentrated there, and slowly applied. Fruitful labor is the result

of a succession of uninterrupted efforts, not of quick and sudden changes. Rapid

concentration is ruinous. Concentration, slowly and successively applied, is sue

cess, as experience proves. But practice is oiten unable to explain the traditions

to which she is forced to cling. To give real laws instead of precepts, we must an

alyze the agricultural problem in all its depth, and learn to distinguish the work

of natural forces, which alone is productive, from the intervention of the band of

man, which directs and commands.



There is another point, the capital. You will recollect there are three terms in the agricultural problem: The substance which makes the crop. the force which transforms this substance, and the capital which puts them both to worll:.
Here is a nAW contrast between 8lUiculture and the industries.

[113]

MAY CROP REPORT-18SS.

We repeat, that 910ths of the substance of the crop is the product of natural sources, air and water, the atmosphere and rain. The live force, which makes the crop, comes almost entirely from the sun -the sun in fact gives 500 while man gives hardly one. The contrast with capital is as great.

The first rule of success in commerce and the industries is to turn over the capi tal as often as possible. In a well conducted industry capital is disengaged or freed two or three times in a year. It is seldom the half of the capital employed in farm ing is disengaged in the Bame length of time.

We have a striking example of this in the establishment directed by Mr. Decau ville (the founder of narrow gauge railroads), who will, if he has not already done so, acquire a position among the first manufacturers of France. Before becoming a manufacturer, Mr. Decauville was a farmer. He directed a farm of 990 acres, where, by his own acknowledgment, he lost heavily. Since then he ha.~ built a factory for railroad iron, and is realizing arge pro5.ts from it. It is by his consent I am making him a living proof of the contrast presented between capital engaged in agriculture and an industry. As a manufacturer he invested about $150,000$50,000 in material, $50,000 in preparation, and $50,000 as floating capital. With the $150,000 he la!t year produced $8,000,000 in railroad material, and this year ex. pects to make $12,000,000. Last year he turned over his capital three times. This year he expects to turn it over four times. Every revolution of capital is a profit.

The processes of agriculture are quite different. At Petit Bourg, with an investment of $30.000, there was only $1,500 of marketable crops. A.nd the annual profit had to come (rom the sale of the crops.
There is thus a radical difference between agriculture and the industries. But if the contrast is financially disadvan ~eous to agriculture, there is a redeeming poi n t. Nine-tenths of the first material upon which agriculture works comes (rom the in finite and inexhau~tible sources of nature, which cost us nothiDll:, and the forces which set the machinery to work also cost nothing, flJr they come almost entirely from the sun. The more I study and examine into the agricultural problem, the more I strive to. disengage my personal experiences, which have been burdensome, and the experience of others, who know no better than I how to avoid them, the more I am led to the conclusion that agriculture is the most fruiU111 of industries, the one which should give us the most remunerative results.
But you reply, succe!S in farming is ease, and the best known agriculturists have not made fortunes rapidly.
I acknowledge this. Bl1t professionalagricult'nists do not know the laws 01. na ture. They are guided by precepts which they cannot explain i this in itself reduces their profits. It is different with men of science i they know better how to employ fertilizers and forces, but cannot control laborers as well as the professional farmer-this takes away their advantage.
A laborer who has 3,200 horse-power rea1ly at his command is well equipped for evil. Success attends only on the union of practice and theory, and perhaps it also requires that the laborer bas a share in the profits.
I assert, and the future will justify my assertion, that as soon as agriculture pos' sesses a better class of laborers it will be the most fruitful and remunerativel.f In' dustrie', and I aJd, this must be done if we expect the Old World to reeist the New World.

Gentlemen, we must exaltgerate in nothing, but we must have the courage to face

the sit-ation in all its KT'llvity. You have against you a country where the land



28

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-GEORGIA.

[1141

costs almost nothing and where each year a million emigrants carry, with their intelligence and strength, enough of their earnings to represent five or six mil-
lions. The Old World thus loses the best of her children, and in them the most perfect ins~ruments of production. But besides this the emigrant says to the country of his adoption, I cast my lot with you. And what is the Jesult of this rio valry? What can be rr~duced in the United Slates at sixty cents per bushel, and in the Indies at thirty cen's. Now, you know what it costs to grow wheat in the Old World, with laud at $80 to 100 and $200 per acre, laborers at 00 to 70 cents per day, and the antagonism which exists between the upper and lower classes, not to speak of the crushing bur 'enof our military system. We talk of a crisis, but really there is no crisis i t'lere is a new order of things beginning which
will continue-it iJ! to be a long and permanent struggle with a new world more
favored than our own. The true crisis will be in those years when crops are abundant both in Europe and the United States. You will then realize the extent of the effort you must make to defeud yourselves. We cannot now help ourselves by uttering childish complaiuts. We must fight with new methods, we must ask science to give us the secret of application of all the potential and substantial elements that nature will yield us, and equip ourse ves anew to increase the means of productiou.
What greater and more beautiful cause than this? The cause of the earth is the cause of humanity. The soil nourishes us, helps us through the term of life, and' receives us when we die. The earth is the emblem of economy conquered by labor. The soil is the living expression of our country. To make the earth fruitful is tv give prosperity to the present, security to the future, and to h lman labor its freedom and its fullest recompense.