First annual report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, being for the year 1874

FIRST
ANNUAL REPORT
OV THE
Commissioner of Agriculture,
BEING FOR
THE TEAR 1874.
Atlanta, Georgia, December, ISTE
Savannah, Georgia :
J. H. ESTILL, Public Printer. 1875-

FIRST
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
mwmmmtti of jLgrknltim
BEING FOR
THE YEAR 1874.
Atlanta, G-eorgia, December, 1874.
Sava.\xAir, Georgia: J. H. KSTILL, Fublic IPrinter.
187.5.

REPORT
State of Georgia, Department of Agriculture,
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 17, 1874.
To His Excellency James M. Smith, Governor of Georgia : I have the pleasure to lay before you this, the first Annual
Report of the Department of Agriculture, in compliance with the last clause of Sec. 6 of the Act of 20th February, 1874, creating the Department.
organization.
On the 26th day of August last, I was appointed Commis sioner of Agriculture, and on the 31st day of the same month, I was duly qualified and commissioned.
On the 1st day of September I appointed Thos.- C. Howard, Clerk; on the 10th, P. H. Mell, Jr., Chemist; on the 15th, J. Henly Smith, Statistician, and on the 22d October, R. H. Loughridge, Geologist.
My first duty was to organize the Department. This was onerous and responsible. I had but little in the way of prece dents or experience to guide me. Everything had to be out lined and systematized, and the Department placed in working order, with few or no aids at command.
The scope of duty prescribed by the law creating the De partment, was most comprehensive, and included, not only the geological, mineralogical and physical features of the several counties in the State, as the basis of agriculture, but the whole science of husbandry.
In this new field of labor, there was much to learn, as well as much to accomplish; and in inaugurating a work of such magnitude, my policy has been to make haste slowly. Much in the way of results cannot be expected at an early day.
A HAND-BOOK FOR THE SEVERAL COUNTIES.
The first duty prescribed by the law, is the preparation of a " Hand-book describing the geological formation of the various counties of the State, with information as to the general adap

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tation of the soil of said counties for the various products of the temperate zone, and for the purpose ot giving a more gen eral and careful estimate of the capacity and character of the soil of the counties of this State." From this, it will plainly appear, that a Geological Survey must precede the preparation of the Hand-book. The Act creating the Department author izes the employment of a Geologist to make a geological survey of the State. After mature reflection, I thought a due regard to economy and the best interests of the State, required that this Department should co-operate and act in perfect harmony with the State Geologist appointed by the Governor--especially in view of the fact that the intention of the law evidently is, that the results of the geological survey must furnish much of the most important material for making up the hand-book of the counties of the State.
In conformity with this view, I instructed the Chemist and 'Geologist of this Department to unite their labors with those of the corps of the State Geologist, and make a complete reconnoissance of Bartow county, and collect all the facts necessary to prepare a complete Map and Hand-book of the same.
As any very extended survey of the counties of the State could not possibly be made before the meeting of the General Assembly, I thought it would be acceptable to select some one county in which to perform the work required by law, and submit the same as a sample, indicating the manner in which the work is to be performed.
SOIL AND MINERAL ANALYSIS.
To the Chemist and Geologist of this Department has been assigned the duty of collecting and makingan analysis of the di verse soils of the counties in the State, in compliance with the first clause of paragraph i, section 4, of the Act of 20th Feb ruary last; also, the 5th paragraph of the same section ; and a laboratory has been fitted up and furnished with a suitable chemical apparatus for conducting soil and mineral analysis.
Heretofore, these analyses have been rather the abstract di versions of scientists, than the practical helps of the working farmer. The rules which I have prescribed for conducting them are different, in some particulars, from the usual methods, and are designed to be practical in their results. From the

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explorations in this province of research, by these gentlemen, I hope many data will be supplied, of great practical benefit to agriculture.
The appropriation of $51,000, "with which to purchase a sufficient chemical apparatus " for soil and mineral analysis, was not quite sufficient for the purpose, and I have had to supplement that sum with funds of this Department. It will be necessary for the Legislature to appropriate money to replenish the apparatus as occasion may require, and pur chase the necessary chemicals.

STATISTICS.
We very greatly need a systematic collection of the facts of Agriculture, showing fully and reliably the material condition and resources of Georgia. The practical deductions to be drawn from them would be invaluable. To obtain them will require active, yet patient investigation and labor,, which must be wisely directed. This can be done only through the agency of such an organization as a State Agricultural Department! which speaks from the record of a well authenticated collection of facts.
I have caused circulars to be issued from this Department (copies of which, numbering from 1 to 8, accompany the Re port,) for the purpose of placing the Department in communi cation with, and giving information to, those who are actively interested in Agriculture ; and also of collecting useful statisti cal information. Those containing appeals to our Agricultural Societies, the Grangers, and leading agriculturists of the State, have been most politely and kindly responded to, and the spirit evinced thereby has satisfied me that the establishment of this Department by law, has been most favorably received by the people generally.
A decennial census, though very important, fails to supply that information which public necessity demands. We want, not only annual returns, but they should be had on special sub jects--say the condition of crops, etc--several times during the year. These can be obtained only by means of some well devised, convenient and reliable system. By such a system, full information may be obtained, and highly valuable statisti cal tables and facts may be prepared annually, or oftener, and

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furnished to the people at slight cost, without the expense of an additional officer.
I am pleased to be able to say that Georgia has seriously en tered upon this work, and on a plan the wisest yet devised by any of the States; and I trust she will steadily and vigorously extend the system, till the people of Georgia shall annually be placed in possession of every fact relating to our material con dition and interests. The present-system is, in my judgment, the best that can be devised, but there are some defects in its details which can be easily remedied.

FARM LABOR, ETC.
I respectfully ask attention to circular No. 5, which contains a number of plain questions upon the subjects of labor, home supplies, etc. Copies of this circular were sent to a number of intelligent and experienced farmers in every county in the State. They were selected with reference to their peculiar qualifications for imparting information upon the subjects named. The questions asked were such as could be readily and correctly answered by every farmer, from his own actual knowledge, obtained by personal experience and observation.
Responses to these questions have been received from nearly every county in the State. There is a remarkable unanimity in the testimony thus rendered, upon some of the more impor tant topics embraced in the circular, which is well calculated to make a deep impression upon every mind interested in the welfare of the State.
The idea has obtained among many of our most judicious and well-informed farmers and planters, that negro labor in Georgia is not adding to our values, and is really not selfsustaining.
This apprehension, if well founded, is alarming, and calls for the most serious consideration and wise action. It is a matter of momentous importance. The material consequences are of such magnitude that I am reluctant to express any opinion ; but the obligations of official duty demand that I should give the facts in my possession, that the country may have them for what they are worth.
To the question : "What is the number of colored persons on your lands ; how many are workers, and how many are non

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workers on the farm ? " the responses show that more than half of our. rural negro population are non-workers. These con sumers appear to be tirade up of nearly all the negro women, the girls approaching womanhood, and the younger members of the family. These must find subsistence in some way, and I fear that way is too plainly indicated in the statements of fruit, poultry and hog raising, given in the responses. It cer tainly makes a discouraging exhibit for a class of people,, ex clusively agricultural in their habits, training and dependence.
In all parts of the State where the farm is depended upon for the support of the family, where it is owned by white people who cultivate their lands with their own labor, out-door work is not disdained by the adult females, nor are the children exempt from their proper share^of labor. But it really seems that in Georgia, field labor is regarded by the colored popula tion, as degrading to negro women and their younger children, even though that labor is bestowed upon their own crops.
And they further show that the average time engaged, of those who do work, is about four and a half days in the week; that the average effectiveness and value of this labor, compared with that of i860, is about 60 per cent.; and they still further show, with most remarkable unanimity,' that negro labor is not self-sustaining, and not adding to the substantial and perma nent values of the State.
The general'testimony is, that they are not willing to make rails, buildjand repair fences, dig or clean out ditches, or make necessary farm improvements, which are of a more per manent character, even for extra compensation, frequentlyrefusing to do such work at very remunerative wages ; and very often unwilling to ccfmply with their plain contracts.
These significant facts, obtained in the way before named, are only briefly mentioned. A full and careful digest of the responses to this circular will be made in a short time, and given to the country. I consider this information very valu able. It comes from those who know the facts whereof they speak, and are fully competent in the premises. It is the verdict of a candid, intelligent and competent jury, and fully establishes the truth of the statements.
This representation being undeniably true, exhibits an alarm ing condition of affairs. The remedy I will not presume to

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suggest. It rests with the legislators of Georgia, representing

a just, intelligent, humane and Christian people. I consider

that I have discharged my duty in frankly presenting the facts.

Facts are stubborn things, and cannot be safely disregarded or

ignored. Evils that cannot he endured must be cured, or in

evitable consequences will be entailed upon the country.

It further appears from these returns, that the class of white

persons who are hirelings, do not render as efficient labor as the

nogroes, being less tractable as employees. The majority of

this class do not appear to be thrifty, diligent, and of steady

habits, and are not accumulating property or improving their

condition.

It however clearly appears, that more of this class, in pro

portion to numbers, are acquiring property and elevating their

standard of comfort, than among the negroes. There are ex

ceptions in both classes.

^

It is an important fact, and worthy of special consideration,

that where the white man owns his land and works it altogether

by his own labor, and that of his family, he is very generally

realizing benefit, and often very large profits, and rapidly ac

quiring wealth.

A deplorable shortness of provision crops throughout the

State, marks the agriculture of our people, where cotton is

largely'depended on, and negro labor to produce it. The re

turns to this Department show that a majority of the negroes

of Georgia engaged in tillage, are renters or croppers on shares.

While in a few instances the proprietors of the lands thus

occupied, contract for the control and direction of the tillage of

the lands, and to dictate the methods of culture, still it is

believed that in a very large number of instances, the negro

lessee does as he pleases, and is the irresponsible manager.

Wherever this is the case, provision crops are scant, and'each

and every agricultural process is sloven and unremunerative.

The system of renting lands to negroes, or cropping with

them on shares, in most cases, does not pay, and unless it is

changed or modified, will surely result in a decline in the value

of our lands, and a steady decrease in our annual crop returns-

The wages system, with proper oversight, is certainly the most

remunerative to the land holder and the laborer, and the wealth

of the country will most surely he increased by adopting it

generally.

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I have dwelt at length upon the question of labor, because it underlies all our industrial interests, and to be effective, it must be wisely directed and controlled.
* GENERAL FARM ECONOMY.
A great deal of our depression and want of success is to be attributed to mistaken management in the conduct of our hus bandry generally. As an example: What can be more ill-ad vised, or more certain to entail loss and final decay in all our agricultural investments and interests, than a system of farm ing which ignores all restoring and improving processes ? Nothing is more self-evident than the fact, that if the ele ments of fertility incorporated in the crop removed, are not re turned to the land, that land is doomed to inevitable sterility. It is hard to fend off this deplorable result, even where the best appliances of science and the aids of the most judicious methods of culture are adopted.
What hope is there for the soil of Georgia where it is aban doned to the mercy of an ignorance and perverseness that no appeals of present interest, or solicitude for the future, can reach or alarm ? If the improvident and unconcerned negro is to control the agriculture of the State, which he does virtually for the year of his lease, then is the end certainly near.
It must be admitted, and with much regret, that our agricul ture is languishing generally, and that other causes than ineffi cient and uncontrolled labor have aided in producing this result.
The injudicious use of high-priced fertilizers has been a fruitful source of loss and embarrassment; and I regard the mo tive which prompted that indiscreet use and abuse, as more to be deplored than any loss which it has yet entailed. From the staidness and economy of the former time, which distinguished the tillers of the soil, we have turned aside, and hastened to be rich on expensive cotton, the market value of which has kept constantly behind the cost of production. With the incoming of this spirit, sober saving and persistent industry, took its departure, and with it, too often, safe profits and solid improve ments. Lands, farm-buildings, and fixtures, have been neg lected, and in a lamentable number of instances, the man whose surplus productions should have fed the non-producers, has not made enough for himself. A vast number of our farmers are consumers of farm produce, where they should be dealers;

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and have relied upon sources of supply, remote and unnatural, for the necessaries which their vocation is intended to create. The strange contradiction has been witnessed, of farmers re sorting to the store-houses of the city for bread #nd meat with which to sustain their families, and for the provender which was fed to their stock.
From well considered returns made to this Department, I think I am fully warranted in giving the opinion, that more than half the farmers in Georgia do not raise meat enough to supply their families; that fruit and poultry are generally con sidered unprofitable; that sheep raising has been largely abandoned for a number of years past, and that very few comparatively, are raising horses and mules.
This must all be changed if we would be prosperous. Sensi ble farming, the creative interest of the State, should not only furnish all needed supplies for both producers and non-pro ducers, but a surplus for the markets of the country. This remarkable reversal of the laws of trade and thrift, and the ignoring of the dictates of common sense, if persisted in, will surely break down the agriculture of the State, and with it the tax-paying power, and the hopes of the people.
Great numbers of farmers are seriously embarrassed with debt and a lack of resources, and the mortifying fact must be stated, that this unfortunate condition exists at a time when every product ot the farm commands enormously high prices.
The case is still worse, because the farmers are in debt for necessary supplies--for bread and meat and forage--the very articles which the farm ought to produce abundantly.
Too many have bought provisions and fertilizers on time, giving a lien on the coming crop of cotton, out of which they expected to realize enough to pay debts, buy provisions, and have a handsome surplus. Instead of this, the cotton has not paid the cost of raising it, and many are unable to pay even crop liens, and the embarrassed farmer is without money, without supplies, and without credit. Such is the deplorable condition of large numbers whose vocation should render them independent.
The testimony on all sides is, that it has been brought about by making cotton, and failing to make corn, and wheat, and meat, and forage. It was expected that cotton would bring

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enough to buy supplies and save money; but for the last three or four years it has cost more to raise it than was realized for it in market.
The policy would not have been good, even if the expected high price had been realized; but actual results have disap pointed expectation, and farmers have resorted to the equally ruinous policy of going in debt--not for lands or permanent improvements, but for what they consume.
As to the remedy, I can say nothing better than to quote from a pointed speech by Hon. George W. Adams, before the State Agricultural Convention, in August last. He said:
"The way to do is to keep out of debt. That's the sover eign remedy for our evils. * * * Law is not the remedy, but the remedy is not to go in debt."
Col. Z. H. Clark, at the same Convention, said: " I'll tell you the sure and certain remedy for all the troubles in this respect. It is to live within our means. We ought not to go in debt. * * * We must make up our minds to do without what we can't pay down for. * * * We must work. We must make money cheap by living at home. Make your own corn, and wheat and oats, and hay, and potatoes, and hogs, and cattle, and horses, and sheep, and if need be, your own clothes, too; and then make what cotton you can besides all this. Then the moneyed men will come to us to buy our cotton, and give us our price for it. * * * * * Then we will all be decent, respectable and independent."
ENTOMOLOGY.
The diseases which affect our orchard garden and field crops, and the insects which prey upon them, are blasting the rewards of labor to an incalculable extent. It is certain that the cotton caterpillar inflicts a loss upon the State of Georgia, in some seasons, to the amount of millions of dollars. The insect which produces the blight in grapes has driven one op the most promising varieties ever introduced into the State almost entirely out of cultivation, after man) thousands of dollars had been spent by enterprising citizens in its propaga tion and culture. Some of the most desirable and valuable fruits which would grow here in the fullest perfection, if the conditions of soil and climate only were to be considered, are almost entire strangers to our people. The smooth-skinned

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fruits, such as nearly every variety of luscious plums and cherries, as well as the apricot and nectarine, are hopelessly abandoned, because of the unsparing ravages of the curculio. The apple, which grows and matures almost every where out of the sweep of the sea breezes, is year by year becoming more uncertain, because of the depredations of its insect enemies. The same may be said of the peach. When it is considered what a cheap and exquisite luxury our people are deprived of when a crop of fruit is lost; when we remember what an immense saving as a substitute for grosser food which a fruit crop insures, we can in some sort estimate what we are annu ally losing in our productive wealth and comforts, by insatiable insects.
We have strangely neglected the study of Entomology. Our best informed classes are almost entirely ignorant of the habits and nature of these formidable enemies to the success of our fruit garden and field culture. The great losses sustained by the ravages of insects, is increasing year by year, and it has reached a stage where defensive measures will soon be forced upon us; yet but little has been accomplished or even attempt ed by us, ^n this most important field of investigation.
It is not extravagant to say that we have suffered losses in a single year, from the frightful ravages of the cotton caterpillar, sufficient to pay the expenses of our civil list for ten years. If there is any reasonable hope of discovering means of relief, the State could not employ her talents and treasure to better pur pose than in seeking remedial measures. It would pay the State in wonderful savings, if an expert should be kept con stantly at work, investigating the habits of these insects and experimenting on the means of their extirpation.

SHEEP-HUSBANDRY.
The neglect of sheep raising should be regarded as among the most serious drawbacks to our prosperity.
The information furnished this Department in response to the inquiry: "Do you keep sheep; is it profitable; what per cent, upon investment does it pay ? " shows very forcibly the sad state of neglect into which this most important branch of hus bandry has `alien, as well as the large profits which it pays when properly cared for.

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England, having an area not twice the size of Georgia, main tains thirty millions of sheep. The very turnips which are raised to feed the sheep, exceed in value, in the county of Nor folk alone, the whole cotton crop of Georgia. By the help of this animal, the Kingdom is enabled to raise on its own soil, not less than six hundred millions of bushels of small grain annually.
We have in Georgia about four hundred thousand head of sheep---only double the number which a single county in Ohio has ; and this strange neglect of a wonderful resource is per sisted in, when in many sections of our State, men of large ex perience and sound judgment, assert that a pound of wool can be produced as cheaply as a pound of cotton.
From practical tests we know that turnips, which seem to be a food particularly adapted to the raising and fattening of sheep, can be produced at a cost of four cents per bushel. In my opinion, it may be safely said that sheep-husbandry would pay well in many sections of Georgia, if never a fleece was clipped, nor a pound of mutton consumed. Well has it been said that the "sheep's hoof is tipped with gold," for wherever it ranges the soil is blessed with restored fertility.
The pound of wool which might displace the pound of cot ton, means cheap and delicious meat, thousands of acres res cued from repulsive sterility, and millions of dollars realized from wool--a fair rival of the snowy fibre of our wasted fields, which has so misled and bewildered the judgment of our peo ple. I venture to say that in the economic history of a working people, no such grand opportunity as sheep-husbandry offers, has been so ignored and neglected, and for such inadequate rea sons, as have obtained with us.
Because a worthless cur (whose owner is olten of as little worth) will kill a sheep, and because the sheep will not thrive on neglect, the State of Georgia is presented before the agricul tural world as having only four hundred thousand of these valuable animals ! This will, perhaps, remain a humiliating feature of our census tables, as long as a protective law, en couraging sheep-husbandry, is the subject of "infinite jest."
FERTILIZERS.
The law creating this department, bearing upon the subject of fertilization, is very significant. It would be difficult to ex

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aggerate the importance of increase of yield in crops, by any real improvement in the method of enriching our arable lands.
It may be safely estimated that any manurial agent of merit would increase the yield of our staple crops at least one-fourth. Most of our farmers who use properly compounded and judi ciously applied fertilizers, realize far better results than onefourth increase; but we will suppose only this is realized from a fairly good fertilizer. The value of this increase, confining it to our three leading crops---corn, wheat and cotton--would reach the wonderful result of thirteen millions of dollars; and a corresponding increase in all our crops would not probably be less than eighteen millions a year !
Does the reformer, the patriot, the statesman, see'nothing in this ? Is is not apparent that right here is to be sought a resto rative for our failing fortunes---a recovery of our former power and influence ?
Much as we may hope from the rapid strides which science is making in the domain of agriculture and kindred interests; much as improved machinery may do for us, I am confirmed in the belief that the helps which will enable the people of Georgia to make more on one acre than has heretofore been made on three, will do more to raise our drooping prosperity than every thing besides.
The progress made in the last five years in learning the na ture of plant growth, and the solid additions to our knowledge of the true principles of fertilization, Irave been Very remark able, and offer great encouragement in our search after better and cheaper fertilizers and improved methods of applying them.
Incalculable good will result to our beloved State, from a suc cessful effort in compounding cheaper home-made fertilizers. It will add millions to our yearly productions, secured at a wonderfully less expense, and would, in a great measure, solve that most perplexing of all our domestic problems--the labor question. It would so encourage and insure the tillers of the soil, that thousands of young men in Georgia, who have been driven by discouragements out of the field, or who have been deterred from entering it, would adopt agriculture as their pur suit, and send the waning fortunes of our State forward with a bound.

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INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.
The law on the inspection of fertilizers, as it exists, is comprehensize and stringent, and the public interests require that it should be rigidly enforced. No efforts shall be spared on my part to secure to our people the full protection from impo sition and frauds, which the law is intended to guarantee.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this report, which is necessarily imperfect, be cause of the cursory manner in which I have been compelled to discuss the subjects embraced, and because of the short time the department has been in existence, I would say that the future is not without hope. Our people, amidst stupendous and crushing afflictions, have evinced a most creditable degree of patience, resolution and energy. Our troubles have been sin gularly trying in their variety, nature and force; and though they have produced much discouragement, our people are not desponding. With increased energy, they are putting forth renewed laborious endeavors. Experience has demonstrated that many of our efforts have been misguided; and I trust that our past adherence to old habits will be, in some measure, modified, and that a new direction will be given to our sub verted labor system.
With a few years more of strenuous exertion ; with the prac tice of a just economy and the blessings of Providence, we hope to see Georgia restored to her former wealth and pros perity, and advanced to a point she never yet attained, in many things which constitute a noble People and a powerful Com monwealth.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOMAS P. JANES, Commissioner of Agriculture.