Publications of the Georgia State Department of Agriculture [1896]

PUBLICATIONS
GEORGIA STATE
Department of Agriculture
For the Year 1896
TOGETHER WITH PORTIONS OF OTHER AGRICULTURAL
BULLETINS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS
Volume XXII
R T NESBITT
WjTOlMUNkR UH MUHIOULTUHb
THE GENERAL LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
ATHENS GEORGIA
ATLANTA GA
Geo W Harrison State Printer
Franklin Irtg and Pub Co
l897 lTHE GENERAL LIBRARY
THE UmmsiTY OF GEQRClALIBRARY
60RS
AAR6 1945PREFACE
In accordance with the custom of the Department of Agricul
ture we have compiled some of the publications of the Depart
ment in this the Twentysecond Annual Volume of the Depart
ment To make the work more valuable as a book of reference
to the farmer we have added such selections from other sources as
we think will be of real interest and importance to those whom it
is intended to benefit
The book is well indexed and we hope by reason of its con
tents will be found worthy of preservation
THE GENRAL LIBRARv
THE GENERAL LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
ATHENS GEORGIA
N
c
JANUARY
COMMISSIONERS LETTER TO GEORGIA FARMERS
IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSEDTHE TIME HAS ARRIVED
FOR THE BEGINNING OF FARM OPERATIONSTHE VALUE
OF SUBSOILINGFARMERS WARNED TO TAKE NO RISKS
ON THE COTTON MARKET OF THE COMING YEARADVAN
TAGES FOR RAISING HOGS
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga January 1 1896
With the above date should begin our farm operations for 1896
not two or three weeks hence but from the first day of the new
year The custom of prolonging the Christmas festivities into a
good part of January and then consuming several more days in
settling down to work should no longer have place in our methods
If the weather should prove unsuited to outdoor field work there
are numberless minor matters calling for attention the farm im
plements which have been brought under shelter may receive a
thorough overhauling and be put in firstclass condition for future
use the compost heaps always important may be built up stables
and sheds cleaned out and fresh bedding put in leaves hauledand
placed conveniently for use in the stables and various other duties
which will suggest themselves to each thrifty farmer and which if
neglected now stand a poor chance for recognition when the heavy
and regular work of cropping begins The fall has been unusually
favorable for turning the land and snbsoiling and many farmers
have taken advantage of the bright clear days to thus make sure
of a supply of moisture for the crops they intend to plant David
Dickson speaking from his own successful experience maintains
that for each additional inch that we subsoil we to that extent
lessen our chances of injury from prolonged dry weather and that

Department of AgricultureGeorgia
by going deep enough we may in large degree render our crops
practically independent of our usual summer drouth
On this subject The Western Plowman has the following which
is so comprehensive that I reproduce it here trusting that it may
catch the attention of those who might not otherwise see the origi
nal article
Subsoiling is not a turning of the under soil to the surface
this would be only deep plowingbut it is simply a loosening of
the subsol and allowing it to fall back without bringing it to the
surface at all This operation permits the under soil to receive a
greater amount of moisture and to retain it because being loose
and loamy from the operation of subsoiling it becomes more re
tentive of moisture The benefit therefore of subsoiling in a
sandy soil is that the water is more readily removed from the top
soil while it is at the same time retained for the future use of the
crop The advantage of subsoiling a heavy soil on the other
hand is that the water instead of being removed by surface drain
age or evaporation is allowed to sink into the soil where it is
retained and when the closer top soil would otherwise become hard
and unfit for the growth of the crop especially if the rains be fol
lowed by a long drouth there is a large amount of water stored
away in the subsoil to be drawn upon as needed by the growing
vegetation Subsoiling effectually does away with the hard pack
ing of the bottom of the furrow as left by the ordinary plow and
it all plowing were followed by subsoiling the erosion of the top
soil on rolling lands which Professor Shaler estimates at 250 square
miles each year would be reduced to a minimum if not entirely
stopped
Two hundred and fifty square miles 160000 acres of good
soil rendered barren each year from this one cause At 50 an
acrelow estimate for good farm lands in the more settled parts
oi he countrythis means a money loss of 8000000 per annum
to the farmers of the United States If subsoiling will stop this
ruinous waste is it not worth trying
But the expense of subsoiling Yes it is an expense and
yet when we consider in addition to the saving to future fertilityAnnual Publication foe 1896
of this enormous acreage now rendered barren by erosion the vastly
increased crops and improved quality of the productfor these
things are a matter of actual experience and not a mere theory
the small additional expense of subsoiling need not enter into our
consideration Besides it is not necessary to subsoil every year
but only once in two or in some soils once in three years We
believe however that with the investigation and experiments that
are now being put upon this subject the time is not far distant
when an implement will be constructed that will both plow and
subsoil at one and the same operation
This matter has now been engaging the attention of our im
plement men for some time and the demand seems to have been
created owing to a more enlightened knowledge of the subject
among agriculturists for some such tool and when there exists a
real and an active demand for anything in a mechanical line in
these times it is not long until inventive skill has produced it
We make the unqualified statement that subsoiling saves the
surplus water and keeps it for the use of the crop It is beneficial
in a sandy soil because it prevents the top soil from becoming too
saturated in wet seasons while at the same time saving the water
for future use in dry seasons It is beneficial in clay soils because
it takes care of the surplus water instead of allowing it to drain
off prevents erosion of the soil and stores the water for future use
of the crop In subsoiling then may be found in a large degree
the solution of the great problem and the attainment of the end
and object of all cultivation which is to control the supply of
water in the soil
In addition to what was said in our December letter on the sub
ject of pitching the crops for 1896 I would call attention to
the further drop in cotton consequent on the Venezuelan excite
ment If such a small war cloud can cause a decline of one half
cent in less than a week where would the downward course stop
should that cloud burst into the storms of actual conflict Farmers
cannot expect to make sudden fortunes under the most favorable
conditions but by careful planning they may have an independence
assured and come war or peace they may pursue the even tenor4 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
of their work untroubled by the feverish excitements which char
acterize the operations of the bona fide commercial world and free
from the speculative fluctuations so eagerly watched by the men
who have staked their all on a turn of the tide Farmers condemn
these latter as gamblers and vampires drawing the lifeblood from
legitimate and healthy trade conditions but just as surely the man
who cuts short his provision crops and plants a big cotton crop in
the hope of high prices is a speculator and a dealer in futures
There is a fascination in the rosy pictures which Hope holds up to
us and at this season when we start out with renewed vigor for
the work of another year the temptation to leave the conservative
and safe though rather humdrum path and venture on more at
tractive though far more uncertain ground is sometimes almost
overpowering Let us not be deluded into false estimates of our
present duty or our future profits Each man knows his personal
obligations and the needs of his family and farm Let him take
no risks on the cotton market of the coming year but build his
plans on the safest basis of an ample provision crop he can then
await developments with unruffled calmness should cotton be high
he makes money should it be low he does not lose
HOGS
The prospect is that next fall the price of pork will be good
therefore the man who has the necessary conveniences for raising
hogs economically and putting them on the market as early as pos
sible will run small risk of loss if besides raising his family sup
ply he makes arrangements for a few extra porkers to meet the
demand which is usually most pressing and with the better prices
in September and October Where peas and other forage crops can
be raised as easily as with us the difficulties of hog raising are
comparatively few and the whole process is much simplified Our
winter and spring crops of rye barley and Crimson clover are
followed in quick succession by oats wheat groundpeas chufas
artichokes and sweet potatoes necessitating but a short period of
the more expensive corn feed before they are ready for market in
firstclass condition If milk is accessible and sorghum added to
the other crops the health of the pigs as well as their early develAnnual Publication for 1896 5
opment is almost assured They should be kept steadily maturing
and developing and not allowed to fall back at any period and put
on the market when matured The older the animal after matur
ing the greater the cost of production Pigs to be reared through
the winter should come oif in August and if these are properly
cared for they will be ready for the next best market months which
are May and June The question of successful hog raising and
marketing more especially at the South and during the hot season
will depend very much on cold storage which is coming into use
at many different points
Professor Massey writing of a trip through the West iu 1894
emphasizes our advantages for hog raising He says Even the
hog can be raised as cheaply here as there on our inimitable South
ern pea fields I know of one successful farmer in South Carolina
who claimed that his cured bacon cost him 4J cents a pound while
Western bacon all around him averaged 14 cents Here in North
Carolina the white bacon of the West is popular with folks who
pay for all their supplies out of cotton and who little suspect that
they are paying for tons of North Carolina earth iu that white
meat In Swain county N C there is a mine of snowwhite talc
which is ground to an impalpable powder The Western packers
buy whole train loads of this stuff and it was proved here by actual
experiment that bacon can be made to take up 10 per cent of its
weight of this mineral The pork packers are the largest con
sumers of this mine but the candy makers too use large quantities
and a smaller quantity is used in the more legitimate work of mak
ing rubber goods and incombustible gas burners But the bulk of
it is bought back by our cotton planters in white bacon
R T Nesbitt Commissioner
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS INQUIRY BOX FOR THE MONTHMUCH
INFORMATION FURNISHEDTHE KIND OF GRASS TO PLANT OX
A WET BOTTOM FOR A WINTER PASTURETHE FEEDING VALUE
OF COTTONSEED AND COTTONSEED MEALHOW TO IMPROVE
LAND SO THAT IT WILL BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE
QUESTION 1
What grass can I plant on a wet bottom for a winter pasture
ANSWER 1
There are none of the cultivated grasses that will thrive on a wet
bottom I suppose you mean by a wet bottom one on which wa
ter stands most of the time Some of the native swamp grasses
of your section might do well on such land but they afford poor
pasturage as a rule
The best plan is to thoroughly drain the wet bottom and then it
will produce in perfection anything that will grow on the high
land For a winter pasture you might sow a few acres in scarlet
clover about the first of October In six to eight weeks if you
put it in properly you can begin to pasture on it and keep it up
until about the first of March Then take your stock off and the
clover will make you a good crop of hay and in time to make a
crop after the hay is gathered In addition the roots of the
clover will supply your land with nitrogen Of course you could
not pasture the land while wet as that would ruin the clover and
injure the land The vetch is another good plant to furnish a
winter pasture in your section
QUESTION 2
What is the difference in value of cottonseed meal and cotton
seed as a fertilizer
ANSWER 2
To compare the feeding value of the two it is best to give the
food analysis of each as made by Dr Payne State Chemist Annual Publication for 1896
WHOLE COTTONSEED CONTAINS
Carbohydrates2439 per cent value 231
Oil 21 63 794
Protein1917 i 575
1600
COTTONSEED MEAL CONTAINS
Carbohydrates24 49 per cent value 305
Oil 926 301
Protein4220 1419
2025
If the whole seed and meal are valued upon their food analysis
alone the whole seed are worth over threefourths the value of
the meal but as the meal is twice as valuable as a fertilizer in
the manure it makes therefore one ton of whole seed will be
equivalent to 1220 pounds of the meal
QUESTION 3
Do you think it will pay to haul cottonseed twelve miles and ex
change for meal and hulls where I can get for 900 pounds of cot
tonseed 300 pounds of meal and 900 pounds of hulls
ANSWER 3
The 300 pounds of meal would be worth say 300 The 900
pounds of hulls 200 Thus you would get 500 for thirty
bushels of cottonseed after hauling them twelve miles
The hire of the driver and team you must consider at least 150
so you will have left 350 in meal and hulls for thirty bushels of
cottonseed Dont do it dont sell it at twelve or even fifteen
cents a bushel but use it on your farm in increasing the fertility
of your land and in this way making it worth more to you than
you can possibly sell it for
QUESTION 4
Will it pay to haul chip manure and spread on the galled spots
in the fields
ANSWER 4
I know from practical experience that it will pay you to haul
out and spread your chip manure on the thin or galled spots on the
farm Well rotted chip manure not only contains considerable
fertilizing properties but its application has a mechanical effect
also putting such spots in better tilth for cultivation thus ena8 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
bling the fertilizing elements of the atmosphere to more easily pen
etrate to the roots of plants
By applications of this kind and by sowing peas on such spots
you can soon bring them up to the average fertility of the adjoin
ing land and thus have no thin or galled spots in your field
QUESTION 5
How shall I prepare my land and plant my spring oats
ANSWER 5
The season of the year has arrived when the farmers are sowing
or about to sow their spring oats
The very common custom is to select for this purpose the poor
est pece of land on the farm scratch the oats in with as few fur
rows to the acre as possible and then await developments with an
abiding fath that Providence will help out that particular field
The result must be and always is a very poor oat crop
A much better way is as follows Select the best land on the
farm which ot course you had iu cotton last year break it up
as deep as possible either with a one or twohorse plow diagonally
across the cotton rows If you use a fertilizer on your oats as
you should do be sure to broadcast it on the land and plow in
with the oats
Sow now from 1J to 2 bushels to the acre of any good variety
of rustproof oats and go over the land with a disk or any other
good harrow This will cover the oats sufficiently break up clods
and leave the land in good shape not only to make the crop but
to harvest it Providence will with very much more certainty
bring about a good yield from a field prepared and planted in this
way than from one prepared and planted in the usual manuer
Plant not less than onefourth or even onethird of your land in
this most valuable crop and if put in properly you will find it
profitable
After taking off the oats sow the land in fieldpeas which will
leave it in good heart as we farmers say for a crop the next
year
QUESTION 6
I have lost several head of mules from a disease I dont underAnnual Publication for 1896
stand and would be glad if you would give me some information
about it They at first appear dull lost their appetites and have
swellings on some part of their bodies They run at the nose all
the time with some blood in the last stages Have trouble in
breathing The disease terminates usually in death in from four to
six weeks Is it glanders
ANSWER 6
It is not glanders that your stock is suffering with but what is
called irregular strangles called so from the swelling appearing
on any part of the animal and not being confined to any portion of
the body head or legs The tumors or swellings should be opened
when the presence of matter is indicated and not before You
can tell the right time by the ease with which the hair will
come off by pulling as in the case of a scalded hog When the
hair slips easily there is matter in the tumor or tumors and they
should be opened After opening keep clean with soap and warm
water and use antiseptic washes Give J dram of hypersulphate
of soda three times a day Give it by putting it on the tongue of
the animal as far back as possible Feed on nutritious and easily
digested food bran mixed with good bright oats being excellent
diet Prompt treatment will usually save the sick animal but
neglect frequently results in death
QUESTION 7
I have a lot of stable mauure and scrapings from fence corners
that I wish to compost for cotton What amount of cottonseed
and acid should I use in the compost How long should it stand
before using
ANSWER 7
The following formula makes a good compost for cotton
Stable manure 600 pounds
Green cottonseed 700
Superphosphate700
Making a ton of 2000 pounds
If the soil is deficient in potash the stable manure and cottonseed
may each be reduced fifty pounds and 100 pounds of kainit used
instead The formula would then be 10
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
rra1nmftnUre 550 Pounds
Green cottonseed 650
Superphosphate 7UU
Kainit i 00
Making a ton of2000 pounds
These ingredients may be varied in proportions to suit the soils
and crops
DIRECTIONS FOR COMPOSTING
Spread under shelter a layer of stable manure four inches thick
on this sprinkle a portion of the phosphate next spread a layer of
cottonseed three inches thick wet these thoroughly with water and
then apply more of the phosphate next spread another layer of
stable manure three inches thick and continue to repeat these lay
ers in the above order and in proportion to the quantity of each
used to the ton until the material is consumed Cover the whole
mass with stable manure or scrapings from the fence corners two or
three inches thick Let the heap stand in this condition until a
thorough fermentation takes place which will be from four to six
weeks dependent upon a proper degree of moisture and the strength
of the materials used When the cottonseed are thoroughly killed
with a sharp hoe cut down vertically through the layers pulverize
and shovel into a heap Let it lay two weeks after cutting down
it will then be ready for use
Another plan is to mix the cottonseed and stable manure in
proper proportion moisten them with water apply the proper
proportion of phosphate and mix thoroughly shoveling into a
mass as prepared This will render unnecessary the chopping
down and mixing as in the first method and in that way might be
a saving of some labor
QUESTION 8
When and how shall I prune my young peach and apple trees
ANSWER 8
The general opinion of successful fruit growers is that the best
time for pruning is at the close of the severe winter weather but
before the sap begins to flow and the buds to swell The latter
part of January I should think would be a suitable time in your
section of the State The object in pruning should be to removeAnnual Publication foe J896
11
all weak branches and such others as in their growth would crowd
and interfere with the branches you Avish to retain Good judg
ment and some experience gained either by observation or practice
are almost essential to successful pruning Pruning done at the
wrong time or in ignorance of what is aimed at is apt to result in
serious injury to the tree
FERTILIZERS
SOME PERTINENT AND PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON HOME
MIXING
The following article taken from The Southern Planter and writ
ten by Dr De Chalmet is so replete with valuable information
that we would be glad if every farmer in the State could read and
profit by it
The feasibility and desirability of home mixing of fertilizers
have been clearly demonstrated by the stations The published
results of investigations by stations engaged in the examination of
fertilizers leave no doubt regarding the fact that from such raw
materials as are in our markets without the aid of milling machin
ery mixtures can be made on the farm which are uniform in qual
ity fine and dry and equal in all respects to the best readymade
fertilizers
The advantages to be derived from home mixing are so obvious
that it is hardly necessary to do more than enumerate them
1 Reduction in ExpensesThis is strikingly brought out in a
recent bulletin of the New Jersey station Homemixed fertilizers
representing the purchase of 540 tons gave an average cost per
ton of 3136 at the point of consumption The average cost per
ton of eight special brands selected as the most highly concen
trated of 212 brands examined was 4350 or a difference of
1214 per ton in favor of the home mixtures which contained at
least 2 worth of plant food in excess of that in the manufactured
brand
2 A Definite Knowledge of the Nature of the Plant Food SujJ
pliedEach ingredient can be repeatedly examined by the pur12
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
chaser inferior materials can be readily detected and those best
adapted to special needs selected
3 The Preparation of Mixtures Suited to Special Needs of Soil or
CropIt is selfevident that an intelligent farmer by home mix
ing is better able than any one else can be to adapt the composi
tion of his fertilizers to the special requirements of his land as
well as of his crop
4 The Indirect Educational AdvantagesThis is probably the
strongest recommendation of the practice It will encourage a
spirit of inquiry among those using fertilizers and will lead them
to study and apply the results of agricultural research thus con
tributing much toward the fixing of the practice of farming on a
rational scientific basis
The time has come when the farmer should discard a system
which leads him to consider chiefly the rival claims of competing
manufacturers rather than his own needs and should by some sys
tem of cooperation buy the unmixed materials for his fertilizers
under their proper names in large quantities and mix them as the
object desired seems to suggest
With the vast amount of station literature sent broadcast
throughout the country there is no reason why intelligent home
mixing of fertilizers should not be generally practiced to the great
advantage of the farming community
The second point is of great importance The value of the
plant food in the different commercial fertilizers is vastly different
This is more especially true of nitrogen of which the official anal
ysis only denotes the total amount The nitrogen of nitrate of soda
or of sulphate of ammonia is of much more value as a fertilizer
than that of leather or even of tankage
In the home mixing of fertilizers one must be careful not to
mix such materials together as will make any of them less availa
ble as plant food Potash salts can be mixed with all fertilizers
without rendering these less available as plant food If large
amounts of potash salts are mixed with some mineral manuresfor
example with floatsit will sometimes happen that the mixture
cakes together when allowed to stand for a long period This mayAnnual Publication for 1896
13
however be avoided by adding to the mixture a small amount of
muck or sawdust Acid phosphate should not be mixed with lime
marl ashes floats bone meal or other substances that contain car
bonate of lime or caustic lime for the availability of the phospho
ric acid is thereby decreased
Ammonia salts or organic nitrogen compounds such as blood
tankage or fish should not be mixed with substances that have
caustic properties such as building lime or wood ashes Nor can
it be generally recommended to mix these nitrogenous materials
with substances that contain carbonate of lime floats or marl un
less we wish to further decomposition
If it is desired to compost organic matter such as tankage or
bone with agricultural lime one will have to be careful that the
ammonia does not escape To prevent this it will be necessary to
cover such compost heaps with garden or wood earth which will ab
sorb the ammonia
It is a very good practice to mix acid phosphates with organic
matter This will very materially prevent losses of ammonia and
the decomposition will not be retarded very materially
Nitrate of soda can be mixed with all other materials If be
sides highly dissolved phosphates and nitrates organic matter is
also present it may happen that losses of nitrogen may occur es
pecially if the mixture is not kept dry
The practice of composting manure is followed in order to make
the fertilizers more available as plant food
In composting it is of the greatest importance to take care that
the ammonia does not escape and that no leakage takes place We
must be more careful with compost than with stable manure proper
as the compost is more concentrated and the losses of nitrogen
therefore happen more readily and are more costly The compost
heaps should be kept covered with earth aud always piled under
sheds It is further of advantage to mix chemicals with the com
post which will conserve the ammonia
Acid phosphates are especially well fitted for this purpose they
are however not to be used if the compost contains much lime
To mix potash salts largely with compost can only be recom14
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
mended where we do not desire a thorough decomposition for the
potash salts prevent decomposition to a certain extent
CATALOGUE OF FKUITS
THE BEST VARIETIES FOR THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE
STATE
The following catalogue of fruits is condensed from the report
of the State Horticultural Society It shows the best varieties of
fruits for the different sections of the State and should be a guide
to farmers in purchasing from the nurserymen
On account of climatic influence the State is divided into four
sections
1 The upper or mountain region embracing that section of
Georgia between the thirtyfourth and thirtyfifth degrees of lati
tude
2 The middle region between the thirtysecond and thirty
fourth degrees including the southwestern portion of the thirty
first degree except the counties named for southern region
3 The southern region comprising the counties of Baker Ber
rien Brooks Charlton Clinch Colquitt Early Eohols Lowndes
Miller Mitchell Pierce Thomas and Ware
4 The lower or coast region comprising the counties of Chat
ham Bryan Liberty Mclntosh Glynu and CamdenAnnual Publication foe 1896
15
APPLES
Explanation or Columns1st name of varieties 2d season of maturity
3d the particular use for which it is adapted 4th 5th 6th and 7th the regions
for which the varieties are recommended
Explanation of AbbreviationsColumn 2SeasonsS summer A au
tumn W winter E early L late E S early summer L W late winter etc
Column 3UseR recommended only for the kitchen or cooking purposes
D for drying C specially good for cider M best for market The o in the
columns 4 5 6 and 7 indicates the region best suited to the variety
NAME
x

o so
oj
REMARKS
Astrakhan Red
Ben Davis
Buncombe
Black Warrior
Carters Blue
Carolina Greening
Cullasaga
Chattahoochee
Disharoon
Early Harvest
Elgin Pippin
Etowah
Fall Pippin
Family
Farrars Summer
Homony
Horse
Hacketts Sweet
Julian
Kentucky Red Streak
Mangum
Mitchells Cider
Moultries
Palmer or Pear Apple
Romanite
Red June
Rhodes Orange
Shockley
Summer Chase
Stevensons Winter
Striped June
Winesap
Yates
E S
LW
A
A
W
EW
W
A
E S
A
W
A
S
S
LW
s
A
W
s
LW
E
LW
E S
E S
LW
S
LW
E S
LW
LW
Very prolific
Excellent keeper
Excellent
Fine keeper prolific
Large sugary very fine
Excellent
Requires strong clay soil
Excellent fine keeper
Good quality
Universal favorite
Large and very good
Very good fine keeper
Large and very good
Excellent prolific
Very good
Excellent prolific
Cooking and drying
Prolific good keeper
Productive good for cider
Fine grower
Excellent prolific
Promising well
Good and late keeper
Very good prolific
Excellent in mountains
Bears very young prolific
Excellent summer fruit
Reliable in every section
Large excellent for cooking and
drying
Unsurpassed in quality
Excellent prolific
Quality very good
Very good
16
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
PEACHES
Explanation or Columns1st name of variety 2d class freestone or
clingstone 3d color of flesh 4th season 5th use Remaining columns denote
regions etc
AbbreviationsClassV freestone C clingstone FleshW white Y
yellow R red SeasonE early V E very early M medium L late V L
very late UseV for family use only M the most valuable for market D the
most desirable for drying
NAME
O Q w
Alexander or Amsden
Amelia
Austin
Bustians October
Baldwins Late
Chinese Cling
R E Lee
Church
Columbia or Indian
Crawfords Early
Darby
Early Tillotsoii
Eatons Golden
Elberta
Fleitas St John
Globe
Halos
Heaths White or White
English
Indian Blood Cling
Lemon Cling
Louise Rivers
Mountain Rose
Oid Mixon Freestone
Old Mixon Clingstone
Pisquets Late
Rivers
Stump the World
Susquehanna
Thurber
Tinsleys October Cling
c w
V E
E
V L
VL
V L
E
E
L
M
E
VL
V E
L
M
VE
L
VE
L
M
M
VE
M
M
M
L
VE
M
M
M
VL
M
P
M
M
M
M
ML
M
M
M
1
M
M
L
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
MD
F
M
M
V
a B
a c
be b
Pei SO o5 2
a
V S M
j
3 O i f sd 0 3
REMARKS
Good bright color
Very large very good
Excellent October cling
Excellent late cling
Good late freestone
Excellent and large
Earlier than Chinese cling
Good September freestone
Excellent for all purposes
Very good and standard
variety
Excellent October cling
Very desirable
Superior for preserving
Very large and handsome
Very good earlj
Very large
Variable apt to rot
Excellent for preserving
Very juicy and good
Superior cling
Very good
Superior to Early York
Excellent market variety
Excellent market variety
Best freestone of its season
Best quality too tender for
market
Superior market variety
Superior to late Crawlord
Very large best quality
Good late clingAnnual Publication for 1896
17
PEARS
Explanation of Columns1st name of variety 2d season 3d use 4th
stock upon which the variety succeeds best remainder the region in which the
varieties are recommended
AbbreviationsSeason and use same as those for Apples
StockQ quince S pear stock Where not marked the varieties thrive
equally upon quince or pear
NAME
c
o

61
0
M
B

M

M a
G
3
M s 0
s 0
M Q 0
y o
M o
M s 0
M Q 0
M s 0
M s 0
M 0
M s 0
M s 0
M s o
M s 0 0
ivi Q 0
M 8 0
S 0
X
M
pcj
REMARKS
Bartlett
Belle Lucrative
Bvierre dAnjou
Buerre Giffard
Buerre Superfine
Clapps Eavorite
Duchesse dAngouleme
Flemish Beauty
Garber
Howell
Kieffer
Laurens
LeOonte
Onondaga
St Michael Archangel
Seckel
Smiths
Winter Nelia
2a
S
s
ES
S
S
S
S
s
s
A
s
s
s
s
s
s
w
Good but subject to blight
Good for family use
Very good
Very early
Excellent but rots at the core
Very good fine color
Most profitable of all on quince
Good but liable to rot at core
Oriental type good
Very good
Productive late valuable
Large and fine best on standard
Valuable in South Georgia
Good quality vigorous grower
Fine grower good fruit
Best quality slow bearer Conte
Oriental type resembling Le
Best keeper and excellent
18
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
GRAPE
Explanation of Columns1st names 2d variety 3d season 4th use
remaining columns for regions etc
Abbreviations ColorVf white B blue or black E red P B pale blue
SeasonsE early maturing from beginning to end of July M medium matur
ing from end of July to August 15 L late maturing after middle of August
VL very late maturing after middle of September UseM market T table
W wine
NAME c o OS m 6 en 3 o il a r O 0 So a o 5 0 o on c c it 0 REMARKS
B P R P R B B W R B B B W B P B 11 E Al E M M E AI L V L L L E MW T W T M M WM M M W W w w WT T W 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 o 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c 0 0 0 0 o Among the best varieties Best table variety slow grower Good bearer and shipper Good for market early Prolific and no rot Profitible as a white market grape Good bearer no rot Excellent for wine liable to rot Best for red wine The latest of the type Good wine grape certain bearer Pulps dissolving Excellent early variety
Delaware Diana

Niagara
Lenoir Nortons Virginia
Scuppernong
Tenderpulp
Thomas

Annual Publication for 1896
19
FEBRUARY
MR XESBITTS LETTER TO FARMERS OF GEORGIA
THE QUESTION OF THE PROBABLE COTTON ACREAGE FOR
THE COMING YEAR IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION ON ALL
SIDES AND THE COMMISSIONER PRESENTS SOME FACTS ON
THE SUBJECT THAT EVERY FARMER SHOULD CONSIDER
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga February 1 1896
Just now the question of the probable cotton acreage for the
coming year is attracting worldwide attention and as this is a sub
ject of primary importance to each and every farmer in Georgia
as well as the entire South we present a few facts for the careful
consideration of those who are contemplating the attractive but
deceptive prospect of a big cotton crop and remunerative prices
In the monthly talks for December and January we endeavored to
expose the fallacy of such expectations and urged that our agri
cultural interests for 1896 be built on a stronger foundation
The Cotton Growers Protective Association is doing a good
work in attracting attention to our fatal errors in the past and to
exposing the costly folly of a large cotton crop at the expense of
the perhaps more important provision supply To induce a con
cert of action on this subject among farmers is important but it
can only be reached when each individual farmer is convinced that
year in and year out it is to his best interest to raise his supplies at
home and make his cotton purely a surplus crop and for this reason
we should bring every argument to bear which will help him to
this decision Once his mind is thoroughly made up we will see
the cotton crop curbed within profitable bounds and while the
income from this source will be maintained the other crops will be
cultivated and gathered and thus represent an additional clear20
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
profit The South cau raise cotton cheaper than any other country
and therefore no rival can successfully enter the field if we manage
our great staple crop on sound business principles An American
crop which forces the price below 10 cents is certainly too large
We should plant as near as possible to a 7000000bale basis
which will insure a fair margin of profit If by an increased acre
age and an increased use of fertilizers and other expenses we pro
duce 9000000 or 10000000 bales every bale will according to
all precedent be sold at a loss of at least 1 2 or perhaps 3 cents a
pound A 7000000bale crop at 10 cents will bring 350000
000A 9000000bale crop will bring at the highest only 7 cents
a pound or 315000000 a loss of 35000000 not counting the
additional cost of producing the larger crop If it costs 8 cents a
pound to raise the 7000000bale crop which is about the average
cost of production that represents 280000000 This crop if sold
at 10cents will net the farmers 70000000 bver and above the cost
of production with plenty of provisions for another year 9000000
bales at a cost of 8 cents per p6und for production will represent
360000000 and if sold for 7 cents will only bring 315000
000a loss of 45000000 to the producers Adding the profit
on the lesser crop to the loss on the greater we have 115000000
in favor of a reduced area and a smaller crop
Facts and figures gathered from past experience carry more
weight than any mere words of advice and to thoughtful men the
following will appeal with unmistakable force
It has been conclusively shown that outside of the cotton grown
and consumed in other countriesthat is Asia Africa South
America and Mexico the United States furnishes about 75 per
cent of the cotton of commerce In other words the world is
dependent on the Southeru farmers for threefourths of the cotton
which it uses and which cannot be produced elsewhere From
this simple statement it will be seen what a power we hold among
the nations of the world and what a lever to lift ourselves and out
section into prosperity But when our cotton crop is made we
cannot eat it nor can we wear it until it passes into other hands
Now if our necessities for food and other supplies are such that weAnnual Publication for 1896
21
are obliged to part with our cotton in order to obtain these we are
necessarily compelled to take whatever price the buyer offers It
thus appears that our lever is powerless in ourjhands unless we
rest it on the fulcrum of abundant home supplies If a man has
plenty of home supplies he can afford to wait The world is
obliged to have his cotton This was demonstratedjduring the
civil war when the enforced suspension of cotton production in
the South caused the price of one pound to reach the astounding
figure of 285 although foreign countries were making the most
superhuman efforts to supply the demand
The following is also worthy of careful consideration In the
last nineteen years our cotton has brought to outdoors 6000
000000that is that enormous sum has been received for this one
crop alone It is also shown that as compared with the exports
of other crops the value of the cotton exported from the South in
nineteen years is over 50 per cent greater than the combined
value of the total exports of wheat and flour for the whole country
for the same period and more astounding still we find that the
total value of the wheat and flour exported from the United States
for seventyfour years is 4000000000 or 2000000000 less
than the value of the cotton exported from the South in nineteen
years Whether or not the individual farmer has reaped the full
benefit the fact remains that the South has had poured into her
lap a fabulous sum fully enough to have enriched and made her
independent
Of this vast wealth what remains Hundreds and millions
have been paid out each year for provisions and manufactured ar
ticles while hundreds more have been absorbed in the effort to cul
tivate at a pecuniary loss large areas in cotton The mistake has
been that the yearly cotton crop has heretofore represented the
product of the combined agricultural force of almost the entire
South It is only since a part of this energy has been diverted to
the raising of home provisions that we begin to see a glimmer of
agricultural hope and that farmers every where are better able to enter
on the work of another crop This is the whole situation in a nutshell
Its universal adoption comprehends the reduction of the acreage22
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
the lessening of the cost of production and the prosperity of our
agriculture Unlike the farmers of many other countries there is
no power which can dictate the course of Southern men in this
matter The decision must be reached through their own convic
tions and the responsibility rests on them to determine whether
they will risk the bondage of a large cotton crop and probable
debt or less cotton ample provisions and independence
In making this decision let us keep in mind that with the same
labor we can by careful selection of land and judicious preparation
manuring and cultivation nearly double the yield while other ex
penses except picking and ginning remain about the same The
better the land the more manure it will bear and we can thus in a
measure substitute fertilization for labor As it is not the number
of bales but the profit in those bales which is most important to us
it follows that we should use every means to reduce the cost of pro
duction We may manure good land with less risk indeed it does
not pay to waste labor and manure in raising cotton on dead poor
land Such land should either be reclaimed by judicious treatment
with legumes and rotation of crops or if that is impracticable left
to the kindly offices of Mother Nature We can then concentrate our
forces of labor and fertilizers on the more fertile portions
FOOD SUPPLIES
Under the prevailing condition of European affairs nothing is
more probable than an advance in the price of food supplies ofdl
kinds A European war would certainly annihilate cotton and raise
the price of all bread and food stuffs A short time since the mere
rumor of war between England and Germany caused a decided ad
vance in breadstuffs in the Chicago market We should heed these
warnings and prepare should the unsettled condition of European
affairs result in war to be independent of that disaster which we
can only do by having a full stock of provisions on hand
That we are learning to remedy our past mistakes the following
figures taken from the crop returns will bear evidence And that
to these facts the present improved condition of farmers is largely
due is too apparent to require argument
The Souths grain crop for 1894 was 611000000 bushels valuedAnnual Publication for 1896
23
at 302000 more than the value of the entire cotton crop The
yield for 1895 will probably reach 50000000 bushels more than for
1894 This fact and also the interest in manufactures the diversi
fication of farm products the development of the fruit and truck
industries are all uniting to retain at home a large part of the
money that formerly found its way North and West for the pur
chase of articles which we find we can produce cheaper at home
FERTILIZERS UNDER NAMES
To put the farmers on notice as to certain brands of fertilizers
which are being offered for sale under misleading names we quote
the following from our last fertilizer bulletin These bulletins are
valuable to farmers and to obtain them it is only necessary to ap
ply to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Atlanta giving
proper address The department has had a good deal of trouble
recently from the efforts of companies outside the State to boom
certain inferior fertilizers and has received hundreds of letters from
farmers inquiring as to the merits of these brands
The bulletin says
The sale of the above Bone Phosphate Fertilizer Special Crop
Formula and Paiues Cotton and Corn Fertilizer is forbidden un
der such names as they violate the spirit of the Fertilizer Act
which requires a total of 10 per cent of available plant food
The Bone Phosphate Fertilizer must be sold for what it really
is and not by a name indicating a complete fertilizer It is simply
a Florida soft phosphate with a trace of potash
The Special Crop Formula must be sold for what it really is
and not by a name indicating a complete fertilizer It is a soft
phosphate with potash
Bales Rust Preventive should be sold as common salt and not
masquerade under the name Rust Preventive which conveys the
impression that it contains potash It is 9464 per cent pure salt
Lowpriced fertilizers are much to be desired but deceptive
names must not be used to make inferior goods appear of average
character Such practice works a great injury to the farmer in induc
ing him to use goods under a misapprehension as to their true
composition24
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
There is a material now being sold in Georgia which is attract
ing considerable attention on account of the extensive advertising
which has been given it and the broad claims which have been
made This material is the soft phosphate of Florida
These phosphates only contain between 2 and 3 per cent of avail
ablephosphoric acid and in no way represent the acid phosphates
of the market which certain from 13 to 14 per cent of available
phosphoric acid
This material has not been tried sufficiently to demonstrate with
accuracy whether it is in anyway superior to ordinary floats
floats are simply very finely ground phosphate rock and in so
ar as the soft phosphates contain more available phosphoric acid
eatfin S th6y mUSt stably be superior but
that the bulk of the phosphoric acid which is in an insoluble form
is any more available than that in the floats there has not yet
been sufficient evidence to fully demonstrate
These phosphates contain from 15 per cent to 27 per cent total
phosphoric acid They usually however run about 20 per cent
1ms its promoters claim can be secured by the plant the first sea
son The evidence thus far has not been of a conclusive nature
lhe claim certainly appears an unwarranted one as positive proof
is wanting r
Acid phosphates of the market usually contain from 14 to 18 per
cent of total phosphoric acid of which from 13 to 16 per cent is
available This being the case and the soft phosphates only run
ning about 20 per cent total phosphoric acid with about 24 avail
able even if the soft phosphates were wholly available they would
not much exceed in value a high grade acid phosphate but it has
not yet been proven that they contain insoluble phosphoric acid in
such a form that it becomes any more quickly available than insol
uble phosphoric acid in any other kind of finely divided phos
phate rock The soft phosphates are in an exceedingly fine state
of mechanical division and on this account should weather more
rapidly than ordinary ground phosphate rock because a larger sur
face is exposed
The law of Georgia recognizes as commercial plant food availaAnnual Publication for 1896
25
ble phosphoric acid and does not so recognize insoluble phosphoric
acid
It is well with each new material to give it a fair investigation
upon its merits and if the farmers of the State desire to try the soft
phosphates on their lands the Department of Agriculture wishes
them to do so with their eyes wide open and on this account has
forbidden the sale of this material under any name that indicates
that it is of the same character as acid phosphate which it most
certainly is not As above stated it more closely approaches in
character a finely ground phosphate rock
We have permitted the sale of these soft phosphates under their
correct name as soft phosphate just as we would any other
crude fertilizing material like land plaster ashes lime etc
There has been a strong effort made by several parties to secure
permission to sell this material mixed with potash and ammonia
as a complete fertilizer The sale of such a mixture has always
been forbidden if it contained less than 10 per cent of plant food
as clearly a violation of the State laws
This is a natural product and if sold under its proper name will
deceive no one
The price at which the soft phosphates are usually sold is about
1000 per ton and the price at which acid phosphates are usually
sold is 1300 per ton These figures are not far apart and if the
claims of the soft phosphate people are not largely true the soft
phosphates would be dear at such a price Scientific men do not
admit these claims and say they are chiefly statements of an
advertising character and have not been proved
Any material which will furnish plant food to our farmers
cheaply will be welcome to us all but many cannot afford to use such
unproved materials and will not use them if they are aware of their
unproved character Hence we have ruled and insisted that soft
phosphates must be sold as soft phosphates and not masquerade
as something else but must stand upon their own merits and not
shine with the reflected glory of some other material
SPRING OATS
We are now getting and will probably all through February26
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
get much of the rainfall which we have lacked for several months
and while it is important that we get the spring oats in the ground
by the latter part of the month or the first of March because they
should be well established before the hot weather comes on it is
equally important that we do not attempt the work when the land
is too wet When plowed in this state it is almost impossible to
bring it into good condition for sowing or for planting any other
crop Stubble land will be found first ready for the plow Do
not burn the growth remaining on the surface but if necessary
run a harrow or drag over the land to break it down It will supply
humus And then plow deep enough to reach some of the soil
which has not heretofore been used in making crops This con
tains large stores of plant food and even at this season may
be moderately and with profit mixed with the surface soil
Thorough preparation of the land before seeding means great sav
ing in the subsequent cultivation It has been truly said that
the best time to cultivate a crop is before it is planted As oats re
quire no after cultivation it is all the more important that the
preparation of the land be exceptionally thorough The average
price of oats on the market has been maintained at a more uniform
rate than any other crop and the indications are that the demand
will increase rather than diminish I view of these facts it will pay
Georgia farmers to plant a full crop provided it is done on good land
and with the fact in view that oats will return a bigger per cent for
good preparation and good fertilization than almost any other
crop because they have a greater power for abstracting fertility
from the soil itself We know that to some farmers it may seem a
waste of time but it is nevertheless a good investment to thoroughly
break the land going a little into the subsoil as suggested and then
harrow before sowing This will make a good seedbed and if the
seed are then harrowed in deep enough to cover them well and
a roller is just afterwards run over the land we take all the chances
against a late freeze and should there be a dry season at the time of
maturing moisture will be drawn from below to sustain the plants
A fertilizer in the following proportions in larger orsmaller quantity
to the acre according to the fertility of the land will be found suitAnnual Publication foe 1896
27
able Sixtenths acid phosphate onetenth kainit threetenths cot
tonseed meal or if preferred the cottonseed meal may be omitted
and nitrate of soda at the rate of 100 pounds to the acre may be ap
plied as a top dressing when the crop has fairly started its growth
GRASS CLOVER AND LUCERNE
Land intended for these crops should when the weather per
mits be gotten into fine tilth so that the seed may be sown as early
as possible For uplands tall meadow oat orchard and red top
For low ground red top
Japan clover and lucerne should be sown later The latter re
quires very rich land thoroughly pulverized and while it is at first
delicate and of slow growth when once well established it may be
relied on to produce crops for several successive years It should
be carefully cultivated and kept entirely free of weeds and grass
PUTTING OUT MANURE
We have found that when hurried for time a very good plan in
stead of composting is to haul the manure directly to the fields and
having opened the furrows broad aud deep put in the manure
where it is to remain and throw two furrows on this If a long
narrow scooter can be run in the bottom of the furrow before the
manure is covered it will break the subsoil mix the manure
thoroughly and will be found the best paying furrow in making
a crop
R T Nesbitt28
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
THE COMMISSIONERS INQUIRY BOX FOR FEBRUARY
MUCH INFORMATION FURNISHEDREASONS WHY FARM
VLTZLJ REDUCE THE CTT0N ACREAGEAD VAN
TAGES OF THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM OF FARMINGPOSSI
BILITIES OF OUR SOILMECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL IM
PROVEMENT OF THE SOIL al IM
QUESTION 1
X have abundance of corn and meat to make a cheap cotton crop
Would you advise me to increase my acreage of cotton Yes or
no and give your reasons
ANSWER 1
My candid opinion of any man that wants to increase his acre
age of cotton at this time is that he is very deficient in business
judgment Too much cotton was planted in the South last year
7nnannnhe SeaSDS Sitable the croP would have reached
8500000 or 9000000 bales and 5 cents would have been the
ruling price for it There is a disposition among individual
farmers to increase their acreage in cotton on the ground that there
Jill be a reduced acreage planted and they will benefit by it My
friend this theory carried out by all the farmersand very manv
of them entertain it would result in the largest crop and the lowest
price in the past 30 years Contrast the condition of the State at
this time with its condition a year ago Note how much better
contented and happier the farmers are and remember that the
change was brought about by reducing the cotton acreage and
increasing the acreage of all food crops resulting in a fair price
for cotton and bountiful provision crops of all kinds If we are
to continue on this road to prosperity abundance and happiness
we must still reduce the cotton acreage and increase that of the
provision crops If you want to return to 5cent cotton scarce
orn debt danger and destruction financially the surest and quickAnnual Publication foe 1896
2
est way is to increase the cotton acreage and 12 months or less
will suffice to put you there
There has never been a time in the history of cottou culture
when a small acreage was so essential to the prosperity of the
South as the present
The cotton States need large provision crops of all kinds and 10
cent cotton and both can be had by reducing not by increasing
the acreage in cottou Imagine if you can our condition next fall
with a 10000000bale crop made corn and meat scarce and a
war with England on our hands Your entire cotton crop would
not probably in such a case pay your guano bills On the other
hand imagine our country overflowing with provisions of all kinds
with a 7000000bale crop of cotton made then war or no war
we could get along firstrate and in the event that the world was
at peace our cotton would certainly bring 10 cents a pound
No farmer need flatter himself that he can steal a march on his
neighbors by planting a big crop of cotton while every one else
reduces their acreage If it is in your mind to do this you can
rest assured that it is iu the minds of thousands of others to do the
same thing Consequently to attain the desired result each man
must do what he knows to be right in the premises and the out
come will then be assured prosperity for himself and the State
QUESTION 2
Would yon advise one who is just beginning to farm on the
intensive plan or in the manner usually practiced Which would
be the most profitable and satisfactory
ANSWER 2
This subject has been so fully discussed in the agricultural papers
that every farmer should be familiar with it As yet however
very few work their land on the intensive system though obliged
to admit that theory and practice are both in its favor By inten
sive farming is simply meant better preparation of the soil heavier
fertilizing and faster working of the crop when up There is no
question whatever and absolutely no doubt that if you will sub
soil ten acres of laud put upon it the manure that you would or30
Department of A griculture Georgia
dinanly put upon 20 acres and cultivate the crop twice as often as
you would the 20 acres then the ten acres so treated will produce
as much as the 20 acres as usually prepared and cultivated The
above statement is an axiom that does not admit of dispute and
you and every other farmer in the State can demonstrate the fact
for yourselves If you are afraid to test it on a large scale try it
on two or three acres in any crop you please and I venture you
will then be convinced If then you admit that my statement is
correct the advantages of the intensive system will at once present
themselves to you You can leave out half the land you have
been cultivating letting it rest or you can put it in oatsto be fol
lowed by peas thus getting it in good shape for another year
You will be rid of half the labor of hoeing and you will be im
proving your land year by year instead of wearing it out These
would be the advantages gained by the intensive system of farming
and it seems to me they are sufficient to induce every farmer to
try the plan The profit and satisfaction of such farming would
naturally follow from the advantages gained over the ordinary sys
tem pursued J
As you are a beginner take my advice avoid the old ruts and
commence your farm life aright keeping abreast with all the im
provements that modem thought and science and experiments
have developed and my word for it you will find the occupation
of farming not only healthful and attractive but profitable as well
Hie old order of things has passed away It is no longer possible
to take a few crops from a farm of virgin soil and then leaving it
scarred and eroded and almost ruined move further west to repeat
the same process on other soil It is our interest therefore to
improve and not wear out our farms and this can best be done by
adopting improvements in preparing our land and cultivating our
crops m other words by intensive farming There are millions of
acres i the old countries of Europe that after hundreds of years
of cultivation are better today than when the original forest
growth wasfirst cut out from them while in this newcountry it would
be difficult to find many acres of farm land as good a when first
cleared while millions of acres have been rendered almost worthAnnual Publication foe 1896
31
less by careless cultivation Let us not forget that our descend
ants must look for a support to the same lands that we are now cul
tivating and that therefore it is our duty and should be our pleas
ure to preserve and improve them This cannot be done by the
old plan of shallow plowing over a large area putting the soil in
the best possible condition to be washed away by every heavy rain
but it can be done and with profit to ourselves by the intensive
plan of farming
THE POSSIBILITIES OP OUR SOIL
But few of our farmers are aware of the immense productiveness
of the soil when thoroughly prepared highly fertilized and well
worked To encourage and stimulate intensive farming the
Atlanta Weekly Constitution last spring offered a premium of 100
an acre for the best results from an acre each of corn cotton sweet
potatoes watermelons and tobacco The following farmers took
the premiums offered
For the best acre of cotton Mr W G Cross of Bibb county
Ga for 7089 pounds of seed cotton raised and gathered at an
expense of 5220
For the best acre of corn Mr G B Cranshaw of Newborn
Ga for 176J bushels raised at an expense of 970
For the best acre of watermelons Mr V Green of Wolf City
Tex raised 1193 large melons at a cost of 5090
For the best acre of tobacco Mr J S DeJarnette of South
Fork Ark for 1052 pounds of fine tobacco raised at an expense
of 4325
For the best acre of sweet potatoes Mr W S Dill of Sandy
Flat S C 529J bushels raised at an expense of 2480
There were some 30 or 40 contestants all of whom made excel
lent crops but those above mentioned were the best Now in
view of such results as these why will farmers persist in cultivating
12 to 15 acres to make five bales of cotton when the same amount
can be made on two or certainly three acres of land with much
less labor too in the hot summer weather If Mr Dill of Sandy
Flat S G can make 529J bushels of potatoes then I am sure any32
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
good farmer in Georgia can make somewhere in that neighborhood
Let us aim to diminish the number of acres that we cultivate
but at the same time increase our crops
This can only be done by thorough preparation of the land and
judicious manuring combined with good cultivation after the crops
are up Let us not strive to put in a large acreage to the plow
but confine our efforts to a smaller acreage better prepared better
fertilized and better cultivated
By this course while our crops will be increased the cost of
making them will be diminished and we will have more land to
devote to pasturage and the raising of stock It should be the aim
of every farmer to so manage his land that year by year its fertility
would be increased and not diminished as is usually the case
QUESTION 3
Will the cotton acreage be increased and why do you oppose it
ANSWER 3
As Commissioner of Agriculture I am in a position to know
better than any other man in the State your prospective plans and
as your direct representative in the State government I deem it
my duty to warn you against increasing the acreage in cotton
The signs all point to this intention The sale of mules through
out this and adjoining States is much larger than for some years
past and the sales of fertilizer tags from this office are almost
double what they were at this time last year
These facts and others that have come to my knowledge indicate
with certamty your intention to increase the acreage in cotton and
I want to warn you while it is not too late of the danger of such
action I have been a farmer all my life am one still and expect
to continue in the same occupation while I live therefore I can
write to you with a full understanding of your needs and desires
and in entire sympathy with you in every respect You all know
that in 1894 with a 10000000bale crop our cotton was sold at
from 4 to 5 cents a pound You know also that with a crop of
about 000000 bales in 1895 we sold our cotton at from 7 to 9
cents a pound and it would have sold for a still better price but
for the large surplus left on hand by the enormous crop of the preAnnual Publication for 1896
33
vious year Now like causes will always produce like results and
therefore as surely as the sun rises and sets just so surely will a
10000000bale crop of cotton for 1896 result in the ruinous price
of 4 to 5 cents a pound while on the other hand a crop of 7000
000 bales following the present crop of about the same size will
just as surely result in a price of 8 to 10 cents or perhaps more
per pound
If you are working a onehorse farm would you prefer to have
at the end of the year a scant supply of corn potatoes syrup meat
etc with ten bales of cotton worth 250 or would you prefer to
have plenty of all kinds of provisions a bountiful supply of meat
and seven bales of cotton worth from 300 to 350 It should not
take you long to make a choice between these two propositions
The first stands for increased cotton acreage the last for restricted
cotton acreage
Again look at the quotations now in the New York market
and you will find October and November cotton futures at least
half a cent a pound below prices for February or March There is
no reason on earth for this except that the speculators have already
made up their minds that you are bent on planting a large cotton
crop and they are forcing down the price in anticipation of a big
yield
On the other hand could it be positively known that the next
crop would not exceed 7000000 bales cotton would today be
bringing from 1 to 2 cents a pound more than at present and the
quotations for next fall and winter months would be still higher
If one year of bountiful provision crops with a moderate cotton
crop brought comparative prosperity to the farmers of our State
which you all admit is a fact what would be the result of ten
years farming on the same plan Why my friends we would be
the most prosperous and therefore the best contented farming com
munity in the world and our lands would sell for twice or three
times as much as they do now
While then so near prosperity let me urge upon you not to
hinder our advance by any acts of your own Let us not throw
away the substance by grasping at the shadow as did the dog in
the fable who when crossing the brook on a log with a bone in his34
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
month dropped the bone to grasp at the shadow in the water lest
like the dog we lose the bone and fail to catch the shadow Let
us press on in the way we marked out last year Let us plant
corn oats potatoes peas sorghum and sugar cane in sufficient
quantities to insure us an abundant supply even though we should
have poor seasons Let us raise even more hogs oattle and horses
than we did in 1895 This way and this way only leads to pros
perity and independence
QUESTION 4
Please tell me how to improve my laud so that it will become
more and more productive
ANSWER 4
The suggestions from this department upon this subject are in
tended of course for the average farmer of the State who lias uo
money to throw away or to risk upon costly experiments but who
wants information obtained from the experience of others which
can be put into practice cheaply and effectively
There are practically but two ways of improving the soil
1 MechanicallyDraining subsoiling etc
2 ChemicallyAdding plant food to the soil in any manner
whatever
Every intelligent man knows some of the advantages ot
drainage it makes the soil warmer it keeps the plant food from
becoming too diluted and leaves it in a proper form for absorption
by the plant it permits free access of air to the roots of plants
it brings about a decomposition of organic matter and prevents
the formation of hurtful acids Therefore as one step towards
improving the land drain all your wet lands where they admit of
it This can be done cheaply by covered ditches properly located
with ten or twelve iuches of rocks at the bottom or if rocks are
not convenient pine poles from four to six inches in diameter and
with the bark off will answer almost as well With the low places
drained then comes deep plowing and subsoiling for the higher
land which will enable it to hold the surplus water of heavy rains
witliout washing and permit the roots of plants to ruu down
deeper in search of food Your lowlands being drained and yourAnnual Publication for 1896
35
uplands subsoiled you have done about all that you can do for the
mechanical improvement of your land Of course all lands with
any inclination to wash must be terraced for no depth of subsoil
iug will alone prevent washing of the soil during very heavy rains
To chemically improve the land there must be returned to the
soil more plant food than is taken away by the annual crops
To do this the farmer must bend all his energies to the making
of manure in his stables and lots he must haul muck from the
swamps and leaves from the woods with which to bed his stock of
every kind removing and renewing the bedding as often as neces
sary he must keep his cottonseed or exchange them for cotton
seed meal which with acid phosphate and stable manure he must
use in making a compost This compost should be applied liber
ally either broadcast or in the drill and if not enough to manure
all the crops should be supplemented with sufficient commercial
fertilizers for that purpose
In addition to this all small grain crops as soon as taken off the
land must be followed by peas sowed broadcast and all laud in corn
must be sowed in peas at the last plowing
By these simple and inexpensive means with a common sense
rotation of crops the fertility of the average Georgia farm cannot
only be maintained but increased
THE GENERAL LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
STATE LIBRARY GIFT 1938
THE GENERAL LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
ATHENS GEORGIA36
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
MARCH
COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY LETTER TO FARMERS
FARMERS AGAIN WARNED AGAINST FOOLISHLY INCREASING
THE COTTON AREA WHICH THE MAJORITY NOW SEEM DE
TERMINED TO DOTHE MAN WHO SUCCEEDS THIS YEAR
WILL BE THE MAN WHO PLANTS PROVISION CROPS AND
SUCH AN AREA IN COTTON AS HE CAN PREPARE AND MA
NURE AND CULTIVATE THOROUGHLY
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga March 1 1896
The farmers have been the recipients of so much gratuitous ad
vice on the cotton area question that we almost hesitate to add an
other to the many warnings which have been thundered into ap
parently deaf ears All the indications point to an increased cot
ton area and notwithstanding the fact that every argument has
been exhausted to deter them from this folly the majority of farm
ers seem determined to commit themselves irrevocably to the con
sequences of an overwhelming cotton crop It is perhaps too late
to change the determination of the large body of farmers that we
have already endeavored to accomplish by every means in our
power but we still feel it our duty to urge the safe and more con
servative course If only a few men are influenced to choose the
wiser plan to them at least disappointment and disaster will be
averted It is immaterial what our neighbor does it is in a large
measure immaterial to us individually whether the cotton area be
large or small Let us narrow this question down to the bounda
ries of our own farms and there let us decide it We may set it
clown as a fact that the man who succeeds this year is he who re
gardless of outside influence calmly makes up his mind to plant
provision crops ample for all possible needs and then as muchAnnual Publication foe 1896
37
cotton as lie can afford to manure highly and cultivate thoroughly
In any event he is secure Short or large crop high or low price
he stands the first chance to win and if the details of preparation
fertilization and cultivation are so managed that he gets the largest
yield from the smallest area he has mastered the secret of success
ful cotton production It would seem that to the practical man
this would be so plain as to need no demonstration We can only
stand amazed that even the present price of cotton can tempt those
who have suffered from the same mistake in the past to again
plunge themselves into this sea of agricultural and financial troubles
It will be too late after this month is passed to alter our decision
After this we must follow out our policy whatever that may be to
the end It is to be hoped that some if only a few who are now
hesitating on the brink of uncertainty may turn back to the safer
ground or more carefully considered and successful business meth
ods A bale of cotton and 50 bushels of corn to the acre can be
produced with less labor and more profit than the usual onethird
of a bale and 8 or 10 bushels of corn These higher results are in
the reach of most Southern farmers and the system which brings
them about means emancipation from debt and a return of the
prosperity to which we have been so long strangers The foothold
which the farmers have gained in the past few years is due in large
measure to a fuller understanding and a more general adoption of
these principles and it is to be regretted that there is a disposition to
desert a wellproved and assured certainty for a mere probability
however tempting In the inquiry columns will be found a reply
to a question which covers this whole ground Indeed the
inquiries this month cover such a wide scope that there is little left
to add in the way of advice beyond the caution to make the culti
vation of our standard crops as shallow as is consistent with the
controlling of all foreign growth R T Nesbitt38 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS MARCH INQUIRY BOXHOW TO RID
THE HENHOUSE OF LICETHE BEST EARLY PEA FOR THE
FAMILY GARDEN AND THE BEST FOR A GENERAL CROPGER
MAN CLOVER NOT ADAPTED TO SPRING SOWING ETC
QUESTION 1
Every spring I am troubled with lice in my henhouse please
tell me some cheap remedy for preventing it
ANSWER 1
Apply kerosene or kerosene emulsion liberally to every portion
of the house including the roosts You can do this with an old
whitewash brush or a mop made from any old sack Repeat the
application once a week for three or four weeks
BURNING A KILN OF LIME
QUESTION 2
1 write to inform you that I wish to burn a kiln of lime to use
on my farm as a fertilizer How shall I arrange to burn it and
how long will it take to burn a kiln with wood
ANSWER 2
Lime may be cheaply and profitably burned on any farm where
limestone is abundant Lime may be burned in kilns or cheaper
still the stones may be piled in a heap and burned something after
the manner of burning charcoal In the latter case an arch is
made of the largest stones at the bottom of the pile and the cavity
under the arch is filled with wellseasoned wood Lay the stones
loosely and immediately above the arch place a layer of wood
then a layer of stones and so on until the pile is as large as you
want it then cover the entire heap with earth leaving an opening
at the top for the smoke to escape A short chimney increases the
draught and is desirable on that account as the wood must burnAnnual Publication foe 1896
39
freely Start the fire beneath the arch and regulate the draught by
opening or closing the mouth of the arch The wood should be
dry to burn briskly By the time the wood is consumed the
stones will be calcined but should be left until entirely cool
COAL ASHES AND SAWDUST AS MULCH FOB YOUNG TREES
QUESTION 3
Will coal ashes heaped up about six inches around young apple
trees injure the trees in any way Is fresh sawdust a good
mulch for young fruit trees
ANSWER 3
Coal ashes make an excellent mulch for fruit youug trees and
you can pile them around young apple trees with perfect safety
Sawdust can be used to advantage as a mulch provided it is not
worked into the soil Hardwood sawdust is preferable to that
from pine
COTTONSEED FOR PIGS
QUESTION 4
If I cooked cottonseed meal or the whole seed would it not
then be good food for pigs
ANSWER 4
In Bulletin 21 of the Texas Experiment Station there is re
ported the results of a series of experiments in feeding pigs with
cottonseed and the conclusion reached is that no matter how pre
pared whether boiled or roasted cottonseed fed to pigs will pro
duce sickness and death The boiled seed was a little less inju
rious than the roasted the latter being almost as fatal as the raw
meal The cottonseed was not fed alone but formed only part of
the ration In from six to eight weeks the first symptoms of sick
ness appeared the animals became dull moping and lost appetite
In 12 to 36 hours they became restless staggering in their gait
breathing labored sight defective skin showing reddish inflamma
tion The fatal cases all showed thumpsspasmodic breathing
Finally the animals dropped down suddenlysometimes on their
bellies sometimes upon their haunches with forelegs well apart to
keep from falling overalmost always with evidences of acute n40
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ternal pain At death a quantity of bloody foam comes from
mouth and nostrils These pigs were fed by the side of pigs that
had corn instead of cottonseed and the pigs fed on corn remained
perfectly healthy
A CURE FOR GREASE HEEL
QUESTION 5
I have a fouryearold mare which is suffering with what I am
told is grease heel Her forelegs from knees to her hoofs are swol
len and hard and her ankles are swollen Above and between the
ankles it is cracked I have washed her legs every morning with
warm salt water and wiped dry I have tried blue vitriol sulphur
and lard and various liniments but she gets no better Can you
tell me what to do
ANSWER 5
Keep the animal in a clean dry stall Avoid wetting the sores
or cracks therefore do not wash them with water Four or five
times daily apply liberally to the sores a liniment composed of one
part of liquid subacetate of lead to three parts of olive oil Per
severe in this treatment and I have no doubt you will cure the ani
mal unless the sores or cracks are deeper than your description
would be indicate In that case you will need the services of a
veterinary surgeon After the sores have been healed bandaging
and proper exercise will reduce the swelling
THE BEST EARLY PEA
QUESTION 0
What do you consider the best early pea for family garden
What is the best for general crop
ANSWER i
Of the wrinkled varieties American Wonder McLeans Little
Gem and Notts Excelsior are all excellent Of the smooth kinds
Dan OPourke Alaska Early Philadelphia are all good The
wrinkled varieties require a richer soil than the smooth and are
not quite so hardy For general crop there is no better pea than
the Champion of England It is a vigorous grower and requires
stakes at least four feet high It bears abundantly and the peasAnnual Publication for 1896
41
are wrinkled and of fine flavor Be sure to try them The Ever
bearing is also a good variety and does not grow as high as the
Champion of England
FERTILIZING ELEMENTS IN UNLEACHED ASHES
QUESTION 7
I would like to know the fertilizing elements in unleached wood
ashes unleached hickory ashes cottonseed meal and acid phosphate
In burning bones or dead animals what plant food if any is lost
ANSWER 7
Unleached oak and hickory ashes probably vary but little in
composition They contain when pure from 5 to 7 per cent
potash and 1 to 2 per cent phosphoric acid Cottonseed meal
contains from 5 to 7 per cent nitrogen 1 to 1J percent phosphoric
acid and 1 to 1J per cent of potash Acid phosphate from 10 to
16 per cent phosphoric acid In burning bones or dead animals
we lose all the nitrogen which they contain but we retain all the
mineral elements Burning such materials therefore is a wasteful
method for making them available as fertilizers The better plan
is to compost the dead animals with muck or stable manure cutting
them up if large A thick layer of muck should be placed under
and on top of the compost heap
INJECT WARM ANTISEPTIC REMEDIES
QUESTION 8
What can I do for a cow that has retained a part of the after
birth after calving She eats heartily and does not seem sick
ANSWER 8
If the animal seems well and has a good appetite it is probable
that you are mistaken as to her having retained a part of the
afterbirth Make sure that such is the case by a local examination
If you are correct it is too late now to remove the afterbirth by
hand and all that can be done is to prevent as far as possible the
evils likely to result from the decomposing membranes by making42
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
injections of warm antiseptic remedies into the uterus A 1 per
cent solution of carbolic acid will answer used daily for a week
or ten days If there is no fetid discharge from the vagina and
the cow appears to be doing well I would recommend no treatment
for the present
USE KAINIT AND POTASH
QUESTION f
I have some fresh land between two ponds I have planted it
three years in cotton it does not exactly rust but sheds leaves and
forms dry up some I am thinking of using kainit on it What
quantity per acre ought to be used and how applied alone or with
acid The laud makes plenty of weed Is there any objection
to using salt with compost composed of lot manure cottonseed and
acid phosphate
ANSWER 9
Your land being between two ponds would indicate perhaps that
there is too much water in the soil for cotton Could the ponds
be drained or at least considerably lowered the soil would proba
bly be remedied If the injury results from a saturated subsoil
the apphcation of kainit will not remedy it If caused by a defi
ciency of potash iu the soil the remedy is plain To each acre use 50
pounds of kainit mixed with 150 pounds of acid phosphate Should
this application produce a marked improvement in the condition
of the cotton this year you may feel sure that the trouble has been
caused by a deficiency of potash in the soil and next year increase
the kainit There is no objection but decided advantage iu using
salt in the compost heap The compost though that you propose
to make will be deficient in potash and I would recommend the
addition of kainit to make it a complete fertilizer
STRAWBERRIES FOR SANDY SOIL
QUESTION 10
What kind of strawberries shall I plant on a light sandy soil
with clay subsoil I would prefer the large varieties Would
sawdust beagood mulchAnnual Publication for J896
43
ANSWER 10
Sharpless Bubach and Triomphe de Grand are all good varieties
and will succeed if you will fertilize your land heavily with stable
manure and ashes and put it in good order by deep plowing and
thorough harrowing Sawdust makes a good mulch regarded Only
as a mulch but is an absolute injury to the land when you have to
plow it under seeming to render the land sour for some time
afterwards Where it can be obtained pine straw or any other
straw makes a much more desirable mulch as it soon rots and
when plowed under adds much to the fertility of the soil I would
advise you not to use the sawdust
HARDWOOD ASHES AS FERTILIZERS
QUESTION 11
Are the lime and other ingredients in hardwood ashes worth
anything as fertilizers for field crops What is the value of a ton
of hardwood ashes How many pounds of ashes will a cord of
hardwood make
ANSWER 11
The fertilizing properties in unleached hardwood ashes are potash
and phosphoric acid
The other ingredients have no special fertilizing properties but
do help the crops somewhat by putting the soil in a better mechan
ical condition permitting it to be worked with more ease and
rendering it easier for the feeding roots to penetrate in every
direction
A ton of unleached hardwood ashes is worth from 500
to 600
You will get from two to three pounds of ashes to every 100
pounds of wood I dont know how much to the cord
SCRAPING AWAY DIRT FROM PEACH TREES
QUESTION 12
Is it the proper time to scrape away the dirt from the base of
my peach trees for the purpose of killing the borers WThen
must the dirt be put back 44 Department op AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER 12
This work should have been done much earlier say about the
first of November but better do it now than leave it undone aJ
the borers will certainly do your trees great damage if let alone U
Scrape away the earth around the base of the tree down to the I
horizontal roots Then kill all the borers possible by cutting out
with a sharp knife where they have not entered too far into the
wood in that case run a wire into the holes and you will kill
most of them From the middle of February to the middle of
Marchaccording to localityfill up the hole about the tree with
fresh soil from the woods if easily obtained Filling the hole
with ashes is also recommended In either case pile the earth or
ashes about the stem of the tree several inches higher than the
surrounding ground
GERMAN OR CRIMSON CLOVER
QUESTION 13
Can German clover be sown in the spring and is it a good crop
to turn under for improving the land How much seed to
the acre
ANSWER 13
German clover is not adapted to spring sowing The best time
to sow is from the latter part of August until October though it
may be sown still later The amount of seed per acre should be
about 15 to 20 pounds according to the fertility of the soil With
the exception of the fieldpea there is no crop which at the South I
may be made of greater service in improving the soil and its
culture does not interfere with the growth of summer crops on
the same land Unlike other clover it is an annual and after
perfecting its seed in the spring dies down If the growth is
good and care is taken to cease pasturing and cutting soon enough
in the season say about March 1 the seeds will mature and if not
gathered but allowed to fall on the land a crop of late corn may
be planted and cultivated and when this is taken off the clover
will spring up and the plants again cover the landAnnual Publication foe 1896
4
DESTROYING WILD ONIONS
QUESTION 14
How cau I get rid of the wild onions which infest my pasture
and ruin the butter and milk I have this trouble every spring
ANSWER 14
This inquiry comes up with uncertain regularity every spring
and we understand from experience the annoyance of having to
throw in the slops gallons of milk ruined by the flavor of the onions
which the cows have eaten These plants are among the first to
appear when the spring weather begins to encourage vegetation
and for this reason as well as from the fact that cattle are fond of
them milk cows should not be turned into a pasture in which they
have gained a footing The cows so long deprived of tender green
food will eagerly seek out the onions and devour them The only
plan we know of is to plant some crop of superior growth such as
cowpeas or crimson clover which has a tendency to supersede the
onion growth and to cut this crop before the buttons on top of
the onions have time to form By this plan we accomplish a two
fold purpose The onions are prevented from forming additional
roots and the buttons cannot mature to be scattered for another
crop If a cultivated crop is planted this will also tend to de
stroy the onions the roots being plowed up during the course of
cultivation but the process of eradication is necessarily a slow
i one If either of the above plans or both because a cultivated
crop may come after the German clover is adopted we must not
A expect to be an once successful Where the onions have taken
possession of the land it may be some time before their destruction
is entirely accomplished
OATS SOWN IN MARCH
QUESTION 15
Will oats succeed if sown in March If so how shall I pre
pare for them and what fertilizer shall I use Also advise me
how deep to cover the seed and whether this should be done with
the harrow or ordinary plow What variety of seed is best 46
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER 15
The successful sowing of oats this late in the season depends on
the latitude the fertility of the land and the amount and kind of
fertilizer used In the northern part of the State it may be tried
with a majority of chances in favor of its probable success in the
more southern portions we would not advise the experiment All
spring sown oats must run the risk of injury from two enemies
drouth and rust To fortify against the first prepare deeply and
thoroughly and to escape injury from the second supply plenty
of plant food that the crop may develop rapidly and mature before
there can be any serious damage It should be kept in mind that
the late sowing has only half as much time as the fall crop in
which to attain its growth and perfect seed Conditions for rapid
development should therefore be made as favorable as possible For
this purpose the Ninety Day or Burt Oat has superior advan
tages on account of its quick maturity and comparative freedom
from rust The seeding should be heavy If the land has been
well prepared harrow them in and then harrow in the fertilizer
which should be rich in nitrogen Any complete fertilizer will
answer however and the extra nitrogen can be supplied later by a
top dressing of nitrate of soda Cottonseed which is considered
such a splendid fertilizer for fall oats is not so valuable for spring
sowing because the need is for something more quickly available
Cottonseed meal is better Use this with phosphoric acid and potash
in about the following proportions Muriate of potash one part
phosphoric acid four parts and cottonseed meal six parts Mix
thoroughly and apply to each acre as much as you can afford
When the plants are well up and begin to show green all over the
field apply from fifty to one hundred pounds nitrate of soda never
more than the latter quantity as a top dressing being careful to
put it on when the leaves are dry or it will scorch them A good
time is just before a rain or after a rain when the ground is still
damp but the plants dryAnnual Publication foe 1896
PLANTING SANDY LAND IN COTTON
47
QUESTION 16
I have a piece of sandy very sandy land which has been in
cotton for several years I would like to put it in cotton again
but am at a loss as to the right kind of fertilizer to use I know
that the land needs vegetable matter Would it pay to haul leaves
and plow them under and then apply commercial fertilizers or
how shall I manage it so as to produce a paying crop of cotton
on it
ANSWER 16
Hundreds of acres of land in the State just as you describe
have been cropped and recropped in cotton until the humus is ex
hausted and the quality of the land is such that it will retain
neither fertilizer nor moisture for any length of time While the
hauling and plowing under of the leaves would doubtless supply
the humus in large measure it would be an expensive process and
the increase in the yield of cotton would scarcely pay for the
outlay
A cheaper and more reasonable plan would be to plant the land in
a renovating cropcowpeas for instancewhich would supply the
humus and at the same time yield a return for the investment These
should be fertilized with phosphoric acid and potash in equal pro
portions When the hay is cut turn under the roots and stubble
going deep enough to bring up a little of the clay to the surface
The object is to change the mechanical condition of your soil and
the clay will tend to accomplish this by binding together the too
loose surface The humus will furnish the moistureabsorbing and
moistureretaining element both of which will prevent the leaching
out of any fertilizer which may afterwards be applied Unless
some such plan as this is pursued there can be no reasonable expec
tation of making profitable crops from these hard run acres The
mistake which we have repeated year after year has been that we
have appropriated every available element of plant food that we
could wring from the soil while of the fertilizers which we have
applied nothing remains after the crops are gathered beyond a48 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
little insoluble phosphoric acid and potash which in the case of
sandy land such as yours is soou beyond the reach of the crop
GERMAN CLOVER HAY A8 STOCK FOOD
QUESTION 17
I have heard that the German clover hay is dangerous as a food
for stock I would like to be informed on this point and would
also ask when is the proper time for cutting and curing it
ANSWER 17
The hay should be cut before the seed begins to form If left
later than this and the seed is allowed to ripen the beard or chaff
may cause trouble German clover hay is now used in large quan
tities and with success as a food for both horses and cows It is
however a safe rule to give a mixed ration combining the clover
with either hay or fodder It will then be harmless even if it
was cut when too ripe
FERTILIZER TOR COTTON
QUESTION 18
I have made a mixture of threefourths cottonseed meal and
onefourth kainit Is it a complete fertilizer and is it a good
mixture for cotton
ANSWER 18
The fertilizer that you have made lacks a most important ingre
dient and until that is added it is not by any means a complete
fertilizer The nitrogen of the meal will give growth to the stalk
and foliage of the plant the kainit will give strength and vigor
to the stalk and tends to lessen the liability to rust but to make
the plants fruit well you must have phosphoric acid in addition to
the other two ingredients With the addition of the acid you will
have a complete fertilizer without it you will growa vigorous
but poorlyfruited cotton plant I would recommend a mixture of
1000 pounds of acid phosphate 500 pounds of cottonseed meal
and oOO pounds of kainitAnnual Publication for 1896
49
THE CASTOR BEAN IN GEORGIA
id I
QUESTION 19
I am thinking of planting some castor beans in the neighbor
hood of Rome I am told that if I raise them there would be a
buyer here to purchase them Will they grow in this section and
how should I prepare and plant them for market
ANSWER 19
I see no good reason why the castor bean should not be grown
successfully in your section The chief objection would be the
want of a market and if you have that assured there should be I
think some profit in the business The castor bean requires a good
loamy soil deeply and thoroughly prepared and should be planted
in rows 41 to 5 feet wide and 4 to 4J feet apart in the rows It
is best to plant three or four seed to the hill to insure a stand as
the cut worms are sometimes troublesome As soon as the plants
are well started take out all but one to the hill Cultivate as you
would corn keeping down all grass and weeds The large variety
grow in the West Indies is the best seed and preferable to the
small lightcolored beans grown in some parts of the West The
seeds will begin to ripen in August and continue to do so until
frost kills the plants When the pods on the spikes begin to crack
they should be cut and spread in the sun to dry in the place pre
viously prepared This should be either a spot of hard clean
ground or a scaffold They should be spread thinly in order to
dry well There will be several gatherings of the crop as the
pods mature and ripen In sunny weather two to three days will
dry the pods sufficiently for the beans to shell out When all the
beans are out of the pods the latter are raked off and the leaves
gathered and cleaned by a fanning mill or seed cleaner They are
then spread in a cool dry place to become thoroughly dry
best to turn them occasionally during the drying process
yield should be from 25 to 40 bushels per acre
It is
The50
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
PLANTING IRISH POTATOES
QUESTION 20
Wishing to plant at least two acres in Irish potatoes I wish to
know the best varieties how to prepare and how to plant the land
how to fertilize etc
ANSWER 20
The best answer that I can give yonr questions is to copy from
a most valuable bulletin recently issued by the Georgia Experiment
Station on the subject of Irish potatoes
1 The best varieties for the first or spring crop given in the
order of their maturity are Pride of the South Early Rose
Beauty of Hebron Carman No 1 and Peerless
2 PreparationThis should be deep and thorough and the
rows trenched six or seven inches deep by means of a subsoil
plow
3 Seed Pieces The most expeditious way to prepare seed is
to quarter tubers weighing from 3 to 6 ounces without reference
to eyes
4 DistanceRows three feet apart and pieces 12 inches in
the row is the safest distance
5 Depth to PlantFour inches deep in a thoroughly mellow
subsoiled furrow may be regarded as the standard
6 Time to PlantThe earlier the spring crop is put in the
better provided late killing freezes are avoided The second or
summer crop will mature if planted as late as the middle of Au
gust in most parts of the State
7 Cultivation should be rapid and thorough and on a level
It does not pay to ridge up with a hoe nor on a large scale to
mulch
8 Harvesting should not be done unless for extra early sales
until the tops are dead as the tubers continue to grow as long as
tops are alive In gathering the sun should not be allowed to
shine on the tubers any longer than can be avoided
9 Fertilizers Six hundred pounds highgrade acid phosphate
250 pounds nitrate of soda and 150 pouuds muriate of potash per
acrein all 1000 pouuds applied either all under and mixed withAnnual Publication for 1896
51
the subsoil in trenching or half under or half over after covering
the seed but before the furrow is entirely filled is suggested as the
most reliable formula
10 PreservationThe spring crop cannot be kept in this lat
itude with any certainty The second or fall crop can be kept by
storing in a dry cellar with a cool uniform temperature It is
also well to barrel them they should never be stored in bulk
THE COTTON PROBLEM
A PERTINENT INQUIRY TOUCHES THE VERY ROOT OP THE
QUESTIONCOMMISSIONERS ANSWER
QUESTION
Please tell me why if I have land the stock and the supplies I
would run any risk in putting every possible acre in cotton after I
have made provision for ample supplies for home consumption I
see a great deal of talk about reducing the cotton area and I can
understand that if a man has to buy supplies or curtail his provi
sion crops in order to put in a big cotton crop he is working on a
wrong basis but svhen he takes neither of these risks I dont see
how he would make a mistake in crowding in every acre possible
in cotton
ANSWER
Your question touches at the very root of this cotton problem
If a man has taken the precautions you mention he has a right to
put in every acre of cotton which he can properly cultivate But
just here is the difficulty There are hundreds and thousands of
acres of land devoted to cotton each year which do not pay the
cost of production and in proportion as the bales made on these
acres go to swell the general crop and thus reduce the average price
they to that extent increase the burden which their cultivation im
poses In the spring the season of hope the farmer is too apt to
overestimate his own ability and the fertility of his land and when
I too late he finds himself overcropped and committed to the cul
I tivation of acres which had far better have been left idle or put in52
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
some renovating crop Land which with the aid of commercial
fertilizers will produce only six or eight bushels of corn and less
than half a bale of cotton to the acre will not pay at present prices
or even if prices rule higher Some time ago we published the
results of certain experiments showing that in proportion as the
yield to the acre was increased the cost was reduced and conse
quently the profit that much augmented In the contest for the
prize acre of corn the premium offered by the Atlanta Constitution
was awarded to the man who produced 176J bushels on one acre
at a cost of 970 The average yield in Georgia is 11 bushels
per acre and the average cost is about 500 The conclusion is
obvious If the additional 470 which is the difference between
970 and 500 produced such a vast increase surely it was a
good investment But in all probability this did not represent the
entire investment No doubt that the land had been brought into
a receptive condition by a system of gradual improvement and deep
plowing which enabled it to respond to the heavy application of
fertilizers If we select our land carefully prepare it deeply and
thoroughly and rotate our crops using the legumes as renovators
we may by the application of all the farmyard manure we are able
to make and the use of potash and phosphates in combination with
the leguminous crops gradually bring these lands to the point of
profitable production We certainly do not advise that a man
plant his laud indiscriminately in cotton simply because he happens
to have the supplies and a surplus of wellworn and overworked
acres Put some of the land you intend for cotton in peas plant
ing them in MayAnnual Publication for 1896
53
APRIL
THE COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY TALK
MR NESBITTS LETTER TO THE FARMERS OF GEORGIA
FARMERS ADVISED AGAINST THE FOOLISH PRACTICE OF
RUNNING AFTER UNTRIED CROPS WHEN THERE ARE SO
MANY WELLKNOWN AS ESPECIALLY SUITED TO GEOR
GIAECONOMICAL METHODS OF HANDLING COTTON
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga April 1 1896
Again our inquiry columns are so full concerning many of the
principal farm operations for this month as to leave us little further
to say but there are one or two subjects that we would like to touch
on as beiDg of especial interest to farmers One is the disposition
in some quarters to run after new and untried crops forage crops
more especially With the experiment stations run at government
expense and whose main object is to test such crops as well as the
best methods of preparation and cultivation we would not advise
farmers to enter largely into experiments of this kind There are
so many wellknown crops of this class which have been proved to
be peculiarly suited to our soils and climatic conditions that it will
pay better to invest our time and money in developing these This
question of forage crops is one of peculiar interest to the South
just now and the growing and developing interest in stock and
cattle raising causes a more general desire for information on this
and kindred subjects Questions as to the merits of sacaline
lathyrus sylvestris beggar weed etc have been received to all of
which we reply as above that their merits have not been thor
oughly established and until this is the case we would adhere to
those we know suit our peculiar conditions leaving to the experi
ment stations the work of thoroughly testing the claims of these
new candidates for our favor We are all familiar with that sheet54 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
anchor of Southern farmers the cowpea which not only furnishes
a splendid forage crop but pays back to the land in roots and
stubble more of the expensive element nitrogen than the crop has
consumed Then there is the fodder corn according to all testi
mony the most valuable silage crop yet developed Besides these
sorghum kaffir corn millo maize German millet give us a variety
of green crops which if judiciously managed will furnish green
food during the entire season while Spanish groundpeas and
sweet potatoes contribute valuable and cheap crops for the fall man
ufacture of pork to be ready later for a short hardening process on
corn feed before slaughtering
SILOS
If a farmer has a wellconstructed silo much valuable green food
that is often wasted may be utilized for feeding during the winter
months when every pound of such food possesses an enhanced
value A carelessly constructed silo is an extravagance but if
careful attention is given to every detail and good sound silage is
secured all farm animals except hogs have been found to eat it
with relish and benefit From careful tests it has been found that
three tons of silage is equal in feeding value to one ton of hay
Quoting from the United States agricultural report on this subjecV
we find that a much larger amount of digestible food can be se
cured from an acre of silage than an acre of hay The food equiva
lent of four tons of hay can easily be produced on an acre of land
planted in corn It is also a more economical and compact method
of storing fodder than the hay mow and possesses the same rela
tion to dried hay that canned fruit does to dried fruit A silo of
ISO tons capacity which will contain 54 tons of drv matter will
hold only about 23 tons of dried clover hay whichcontains less
than twenty tons of dry matter It will readily be seen that the
canning process has several advantages over the drying plan
In feeding silage care must be taken not to depend on it entirely
for dry food While it is an important and economical addition to
farm supplies being easily digested and cattle and horses judiciously
fed on it show its beneficial effects in an improved general condi
tion it s advisable in feeding to mix it with hay and grain ForAnnual Publication for 1896
55
full grown cattle 25 or 30 pounds per day is considered sufficient
while for horses the ration is less On first opening the silo the
ration should be smaller until the animals have become accustomed
to the change in food or a too great activity of the bowels may
be induced and in milch cows the taste of the milk might be
come affected for a few days Most green crops may be success
fully cured in the silo The proper time for harvesting is before
the leaves turn brown but when the water content of the plant be
gins to diminish Corn should be cut when it reaches the roast
ing ear stage and if the season is very dry and the plant lacks
juice it is advised to pour considerable water over the silage after
the silo is filled especially if the contents are at a high temperature
Experiments have shown that it is advisable to cut the corn into
short lengths the shorter the better rather than store the uncut
stalks Onehalf inch is the usual length It must be carefully
distributed and well tramped at the sides and corners As the
silage will settle considerably during the process of heating and
fermenting the silo should be filled above the top edge A tem
porary covering may be put on for a few days After this settling
has taken place the best and most efficacious plan for preserving
the contents intact is to place a layer of tarred paper smoothly
over the surface of the silage and then cover this to the depth of
one or two feet with cut straw
Rapidity of filling is unimportant so long as fresh fodder is
placed in the silo before mold is formed at the surface The fol
lowing table gives the average composition of different kinds of
silage as compiled from American analyses
COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF SILAGE
Protein
Per Ct
Corn 17
Sorghum8
Red clover 42
Boja bean 41
Cowpea vines 27
Fieldpea vines 5 9
Cowpea and soja bean vines mixed 38
Fibei Per Ct Nitrogen Free extract Per Ct Fat Per Ct
60 110 63
64 153 3
84 116 12
97 69 22
60 76 15
130 260 16
95 111 13
56
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
The terms protein fiber nitrogen free extract and fat are ex
plained in the answer to an inquiry on soja beans on page 64
ECONOMICAL METHODS OF CULTIVATING GATHERING AND
MARKETING THE COTTON CROP
The question of how much cotton we can afford to plant having
been definitely settled the next subject for immediate attention is
how best to cultivate these acres and also to gather and market
the crop in order to get the largest return at the least expense It
has been stated on the authority of an eminent man who has planted
cotton largely all his life and who has given a great part of his
time to the study of various circumstances affecting its sale that
the value of the cotton crop for the last ten years has been depre
cated at least onesixth by the rules of the cotton exchange which
rules were founded on and have been since supported by the care
less methods of the planters themselves Our methods of handling
have been such as to give the buyer every advantage and it cannot
be too strongly urged that not only should we cut down every ex
pense as far as possible from the time the preparation for the crop
begins until the last lock is gathered but that in ginning and
shipping the same rigid economy should be observed We are
not careful enough in the sample we send to market and the large
preponderance of inferior grades affects injuriously the whole crop
Again the chances of a fair sample in the market is often destroyed
by exposure and rough handling of the goods after they are ready
for shipment The present form and careless covering of our bales
are responsible for much of the damage which our cotton sustains
before it reaches its final destination
We believe that if the round compact bale were universally
adopted the convenience of handling and shipping would be greatly
increased and the danger from injury and loss so decreased as even
tually to sensibly affect the market quotations This muchneeded
reform m our methods would as our friend suggests work a revo
lution in the rules of the New York and New Orleans Cotton Ex
changes by eliminating from the markets the greater part of the
inferior grades which now tend to depress prices The round bale
is gaming in favor every day and as farmers more generally acAnnual Publication foe 1896
57
quaint themselves with its advantages its adoption will become
certain We allude to this question thus early because by calling
attention to its merits now it is possible to market much of even
this years crop in this neat and highly approved form
R T Nesbitt Commissioner
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS INQUIRY BOX FOR THE MONTH
MUCH INFORMATION FURNISHEDTHE SOJA BEAN AS AN
IMPROVER OF WORN SOILS AND AS A VALUABLE FOOD FOR
STOCKTHE KIND OF LAND BEST SUITED TO THE GROUND
PEASDIFFERENCE IN THE VALUE OF MANURES ETC
QUESTION
Please tell me the kind of land best suited to groundpeas and
give me a formula for a good fertilizer Is compost or lot manure
good for this crop
ANSWER
The best land for groundpeas is a sandy loam with a good
supply of lime present If this last element is wanting the crop
will be a failure If the land lacks lime supply it at the rate of
20 to 40 bushels to the acvethe larger quantity if the land has
plenty of vegetable matter This last is a very important adjunct
to a successful crop and one reason that our crops of groundpeas
are not larger is that we attempt to raise them on land that has
been cropped and recropped until the humus is all or nearly all
exhausted They require besides lime potash and phosphoric
acid nitrogen also and it is well for that reason to plant ground
peas after cowpeas or in gathering the crop of groundpeas if
the tops are not otherwise utilized to return them to the land to be
plowed under as they contain a large proportion of the nitrogen
used in the growth of the plant The lime should be applied broad
cast before planting and wellworked into the soil by the harrow or
cultivator Lot manure or compost may be used It should how
ever be thoroughly decomposed The green or fermenting manure58 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
is not desirable The following formula has been found effective
Cottonseed meal300 pounds
Acid phosphate250 pounds
lKalnit100 pounds
This quantity to be applied to each acre
If lime is needed and it is found impracticable to apply broad
cast the following is recommended
Acid phosphate1000 pounds
Muriate potash 300 pounds
Mtratesoda 200 pounds
Sulphate lime 500 pounds
Making a ton of2000 pounds
To be applied at the rate of 200 or 300 pounds per acre
PLANTING FRUITS
QUESTION
Would you advise planting fruits etc to the exclusion of stand
ard crops
ANSWER
Your question suggests a train of sober reflection The success
of fruit culture in Georgia might lead one to suppose that with our
advantages of soil and climate fortunes might be easily realized in
an occupation so pleasant and known in individual instances to be
so profitable But in farming as indeed in all other occupations it
has been proved again and again that all extremes are hurtful
That farmer is safest who adheres to the happy medium of di
versified crops Our surroundings make it comparatively easy to
raise a great variety of crops and we would not advise the cultiva
tion of any one crop be it corn or cotton or grain or fruits to the
entire exclusion of all others To make our meat and bread and
clothes there must be corn and cotton and hogs raised on the
farms and were farmers to any great extent to abandon these for
fruits or vegetables or any other single crop the consequences
would be markets overstocked ruinously low prices and utter dis
appointment As we have so often urged the successful handling
of these minor crops implies not only a thorough familiarity withAnnual Publication for 1896
59
the best plans of culture but study of systems of packingand trans
portation as well as of the markets themselves It is sad to see
the results of weeks and mouths of painstaking labor dumped into
the sea because shipped to markets already glutted This has been
repeatedly the case with fruits and vegetables shipped without a
previous study of the state of supply and demand at different points
and the produce being in its nature perishable the mistake once
made is irrevocable and irremediable If we would succeed we
must not trust all our eggs to one basket It would seem that
the allwise Creator when he gave us such a wide range of soil and
climate intended that we should utilize them to the best advantage
by that wise system of diversity of crops which will insure all that
we need The cultivation of fruits and vegetables should undoubt
edly form a part of the stated work on every farm but should be
judiciously blended with other work
VETCH AS A FORAGE PLANT
QUESTION
Please tell me something about vetch which I have heard
highly recommended as a forage plant for the South
ANSWER
As yet this crop is not cultivated to any great extent A few
men notably Major Warren of Augusta have cultivated it with
great success and a recent special bulletin of the United States De
partment of Agriculture speaks of the hairy sand or Russian vetch
known by all three names as one of the most promising fodder
crops introduced into this country in recent years It withstands
heat and cold and drouth and while it will give a fair crop on poor
land is as are all other forage crops most profitable on rich and
wellprepared land It is eaten with relish by all farm animals
makes a most desirable ensilage and is a most excellent forage
plant for soiling purposes On account of its habit of growth it is
difficult to cure as hay As to time of sowing etc we quote from
the bulletin Hairy vetches may be planted from about the mid
dle of August to the middle of September or in spring from the
latter part of April until the middle of May Sow broadcast at the60
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
rate of a bushel and a half of seed per acre or plant in drills two to
four feet apart The latter plan will require a smaller amount of
seed The seed are as yet expensive about f 6 a bushel of sixty
pounds When the seed is put in broadcast a bushel of oats rye or
wheat should be sown at the same time so as to furnish a support
for the vetches and keep the vines off the ground If it is sown in
drills in the latter part of August it should be cultivated several
times between the rows It will furnish some forage in autumn
and where the winter is not too severe it will start to grow again
in the spring thus producing forage in late autumn and early
spring at the two periods when it is most needed At the Mis
sissippi Experiment Station seed of this crop was sown in 1888
No attention has been given it and each year its seeds germinate
with the first fall rains and in favorable seasons cover the ground
by January 1 furnishing good grazing until April or May If
the stock is taken off in March the plants mature and reseed the
ground freely for the next year
This crop will not flourish on wet land it likes a welldrained
soil If sown in the fall it prevents washing during the winter
It is to be fed when the vines begin to blossom and the feed should
at first be limited until the animals become accustomed to the
change of food For the best feeding results it should be given
with coarse fodder or hay
Howard in his Manual on the Cultivation of the Grasses and
Forage Plants of the South mentions the winter and summer
vetch and also one or two native varieties and speaks in commen
dation of their use both as a forage crop and as an improver of the
soilmore especially in those soils too sandy for the successful
growth of red clover A gentleman of long experience in its cul
ture speaks of the ordinary vetch as one of the simplest grasses
grown He says that peas do not excel it as a land improver It
does not form a sod is strictly an annual but if allowed to mature
and drop its seed they lie dormant during the hot days of sum
mer then when the fall rains begin and the nights become longer
and cooler they begin to germinate and soon cover the ground
One advantage is that there need be only one seeding and withAnnual Publication foe 1896
61
proper management other crops may be made and taken off and
the vetch will again spring up spontaneously
PLANTING COTTON
QUESTION
What is your opinion as to the best time to plant cotton early or
late and if the manure has already been put in the bed should any
more be applied at planting time
ANSWER
Very much depends on the quality of the land and its situation
as well as on the climate It should be our aim as far as possible
to promote a vigorous healthy and wellbalanced growth of the
plants and these are arguments both for and against early planting
Each farmer must study and decide on the one which with his im
mediate surroundings will to the greatest extent contribute to this
healthy development If the weather is settled and warm we all
know that the plants are apt to grow off vigorously forming
weed very rapidly Therefore if we have noticed that any of
our fields are disposed to produce too rank a growth of stalk at the
expense of fruit we should select these for our early plantings be
cause if there is any check of growth on account of cool and un
favorable weather these will be less injured than if the plants are
Jess hardy and the temporary backset will often tend to a greater
root development which will in a measure correct the undesirable
growth of big stalks with little fruit Again we all know that cot
ton on light gray lands is much more apt to be killed by late
frosts than that on heavier red lands therefore reserve the gray
lands as far as possible for the late jlantings It is a good plan
not to plant the entire crop at one time It the seasons prove un
favorable the whole crop will not be injured in the same degree and
when the different fields of cotton come up in convenient succes
sion the best plan of thorough and careful cultivation is more
easily solved As a rule the early plantings are more fa
vorable to the development of fruit than weed The late plant
ings on the other hand being encouraged by the warm spring
sunshine grow off rapidly and are more easily worked by both hoeDepartment of A gricuxtureGeorgia
and plow Another advantage of late planting is that the first
crop of grass which already begins to show is killed and thns one
plowing less8 necessary in the cultivation of the crop an impor
tant item when time presses
It is advisable to put a little fertilizer in at the time of plantin J
in V FI PlaUt a gd St3rL There is alre up
n the seed mtrogen phosphoric acid and potash for the use of the
tiny plants in their first stages of development but when the roots
begin to search for food it is well to have that which is immedi
ately available in easy reach For this purpose from 25 to 50
pounds to the acre of some concentrated fertilizer will be found of
great benefit Mix with a little rich earth or thoroughly decom
seeds 77 V ShUld DOt 0me iD direct act with the
seeds Cottonseed meal is not desirable for this purpose being in
jurious it it comes in contact with the seed
DIFFERENCE IN THE VALUE OF MANURE
QUESTION
Will you explain why you speak of some lot manure as beim
more valuable than others saved from the same class of anim s
wi h th s 7 aH CmP0Sted UDd6r tHe COnditi d
with the same ingredients
ANSWER
This hs beea too littl stdied by the majority of f
me ihere a prevg idea that manure is manore ami
ir he f0d0f iS viciZde of
u ts elements of plant food unimpa red Careful
TtyZ 1 77ment have revealed the fact gu
late the food of our anmals as to both quantity and quality as to
control the fertilizing elements of the manure or i
nch in th is elementand the same holds true of phosphoric acid
ToSZ At the Corue11 station cel w
shown that if anmals were properly fed and sheltered and the
manure carefully saved 71 per cent of the potash phosphoric acidAnnual Publication for 1896
63
and nitrogen of plant food was recovered in the manure It has
also been shown that poor feed makes a poor quality of manure
and that manure exposed in the barnyard for some time before
using loses at least half its valuable constituentsyou can thus
readily understand that manure varies greatly in its fertilizing
value and that in feeding our animals we should study to produce
the richest manure and also endeavor by proper feed to produce
that quality of manure best suited to the purpose and crop for
which we intend to use it
FERTILIZERS FOR CORN
QUESTION
I have my corn land well and deeply broken and have cotton
seed meal phosphate and potash to use as a fertilizer In what
proportion would you advise me to mix these and is it absolutely
necessary to mix before applying What is the best plan of cul
tivation
ANSWER
Without some knowledge of the mechanical condition and qual
ity of your land and its previous cultivation as well as the crops
which have been grown on it it is a difficult matter to advise you
intelligently We can only give in a general way the conclusions
which have been derived from experiment and experience As a
rule on the majority of farming lands in Georgia we may apply
the three elements of nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash in about
the proportions which the analysis of the plant calls for but com
mercial fertilizers are not the best form from which to obtain the
highest results in corn growing In proportion as the land has
been thoroughly cultivated and highly manured for other crops
the amount of nitrogen may be reduced The best preparation
for a corn crop is a highly manured and well cultivated cotton
crop and after stable manure the best form of nitrogen has been
found to be cottonseed In all the reports of exceptionally heavy
yields in corn it is found that the land has been very deeply broken
and subsoiled sometimes to the depth of 24 inches This would
seem to indicate that moisture perhaps more than fertilizers exer64
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
cise a controlling influence in the yield The following make
good mixtures Acid phosphate 800 pounds kainit 800 pounds
cottonseed meal 400 or acid phosphate 900 pounds cottonseed
meal 900 pounds muriate of potash 50 pounds These may be
applied separately or mixed before putting in the planting furrow
except that the quantity of muriate of potash being smallits dis
tribution might be more uniform if mingled with the other ingre
dients before applying In either case open the planting furrow
with a shovel and if the amount per acre is to be moderate drill
it all into this opening fnrrow following with a long narrow
scooter to thoroughly mix it with the soil Bed on this and be
fore planting run a smoothing harrow up and down the beds
Then open the planting furrow in the middle of the bed and drop
two or three grains of selected corn good seed is very important
every 2 or 3 feet that is if the rows are more than 4 leet apart
If the land will bear it make your rows 4 feet apart and drop
the corn the same distance The first two workings can be very
profitably done with the harrow the first just as the plants begin to
pop from the ground and the second after they are well up If
the harrow is directed diagonally across the second time in the
opposite direction from the first no injury to the plants will result
and the incipient weeds and grass will be destroyed even before
they appear This will also prevent the formation of a crust and
save much unnecessary hoeing All after cultivation should be
exceedingly shallow never more than 1 inch using plows which
require the fewest trips to the row repeating the work at least
every two weeks until the corn begins to buuch for teaselling
It should then be laid by The time to sow peas broadcast as a
renovating crop is at the last plowing
SOJA BEANS
QUESTION
During the Exposition I noticed in the Georgia building a dis
play of soja beans which I was told were a legume of exception
ally fine quality for stock feed Please give me all the informa
tion possible as to this crop I would like to know how it comAnnual Publication for 1896
65
pares with our fieldpea both as a food and as a renovator of the
soil Also when to plant and how to cultivate
What is the usual yield per acre
ANSWER
As an improver of worn soils aud a valuable food for stock the
soja bean ranks among our best crops The bean is richer in fat
than any of our grains and stock are very fond of the fodder
The latter if mixed with corn in the silo furnishes a better balanced
ration than the corn alone From the following analysis taken
from the United States Agricultural Department reports it will be
seen that as a fertilizer and improver of the soil and as a food
the soja bean takes rank above our ordinary field or cow pea
As a Food
Nitrogen
Free Ex
Protein Fiber Tract Fat
Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent
Soja Beans
Green fodder 40 67 105 10
Dryfodder 144 223 383 52
Grain 549 48 283 169
COWPEAS
Green fodder 24 48 71 4
Dryfodder 106 201 422 22
Grain 208 41 557 14
As a Fertilizer
Whole Phosphoric
Plant Nitrogen Acid Potash
Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent
Soja beans 232 67 103
Cowpeas 105 195 52
In explanation of the terms used
Protein is the name of a group of materials containing nitrogen
It furnishes the materials for lean flesh blood skin muscles ten
dons nerves hair horns wool and the cassein and albumen of
milk etc and is one of the most important constituents of feeding
stuffs
Fiber is the framework of plants and is as a rule the most in
digestible constituents of feeding stuffs The coarse fodders such
as hay and straw contain a large proportion of fiber and are for
this reason less digestible than the grains oil cakes etc
5a66 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
Nitrogen Free Extract includes starch sugar gums and the like
and forms an important part of all feeding stuffs but especially of
most grains The nitrogen free extract and fiber are usually
classed together under the name of carbohydrates The carbohy
drates form the largest part of all vegetable foods They are
either stored up as fat or burned in the system to produce heat and
energy
Fat includes besides real fats wax the green coloring matter of
plants etc The fat of food is also stored up in the body as tat
or burned in the system to produce heat and energy
The yield of soja beans of course varies with the seasons and
with the quality of land on which the crop is planted Ou rich
land well cultivated it will produce an enormous crop of beans
and fodder The rows should be from three to five feet apart
according to soil and amount of manure used The culture is
very much such as is given to cottonkeeping down weeds and
grass and interfering with the roots as little as possible Once a
stand is obtained the plant seems to develop regardless of the sea
son Standing water does not kill it while drouth seems to check
it only temporarily
PLANTING CORN THE FIRST TIME
QUESTION
Is it injurious to corn to plow deep the first time I have not
been able to prepare my land as thoroughly as I would like and I
want your advice as to which would be best to break it out thor
oughly the first time or give it entire surface culture
ANSWER
If you will examine the roots of very young corn you will find
that they extend out a considerable distance very near the surface
This horizontal growth will be found to continue for a considerable
distance before they begin to sink deeper into the soil Therefore
deep plowing at first must necessarily cut some of the small roots
but if the land has been poorly prepared or is of the stiff quality
which has been packed by heavy rains after preparation we should
certainly take the risk of deep plowing the first time The rootAnnual Publication for 1896
67
pruning is certainly less injurious at that period than later on
In doing this work be careful not to throw too much dirt to the
young corn The old plan of hilling up the corn causes it to
throw out a set of roots prematurely A little soil sifted in at
i each successive working is desirable and beneficial anything
more than that is injurious
FERTILIZING SWEET POTATOES
QUESTION
I desire to know the best fertilizer for sweet potatoes and how
much to apply per acre
ANSWER
It has been found that sweet potatoes require a good deal of
nitrogen and potash and not as much phosphoric acid as was once
thought to be necessary A good mixture would be 200 pounds
acid phosphate 300 pounds cottonseed meal and 500 pounds
kainit
The amount to be used to the acre depends upon the character
of the land upon which you wish to apply it On well prepared
laud full of humus or vegetable matter one thousand pounds
of the above mixture could be used with profit On lands only
moderately supplied with humus a much less quantity of the above
mixture should be used and on thin land devoid of humus 200
pounds of the above mixture would be ample
PRESERVING SWEET POTATOES
QUESTION
My ssveet potatoes are now sprouting in the banks I have
heard that they can be kept until another crop it made Will you
tell me how
ANSWER
In Southwest Georgia I have kept them for months in the fol
lowing manner Spread on any dry board floor a layer of cotton
seed 4 or 5 inches think then upon this place a layer of potatoes
not letting them touch and first rubbing off the sprouts if any have68
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
appeared Then another layer of cottonseed and another of pota
toes etc Of course the cottonseed must be dry and must be kept
so The potatoes will shrivel somewhat but will retain their
sweetness for months
I have no doubt that cottonseed hulls or chaff from any grain
and perhaps hay would answer just as well as the whole cottonseed
I think that absolutely dry sand would also answer the same pur
pose
TO FIND THE LIVE WEIGHT OF ANIMALS
QUESTION
Can you give me any reliable method of finding the live weight
of animals I have no means of properly weighing them at home
ANSWER
The following we find given by The Northwest Farmer we
have never tested it but it is doubtless approximately correct
Multiply the girth in inches just back of the shoulders by the
length in inches from the square of the buttock to the point of the
shoulder blade divide this proluct by 144 which will give the
number of square feet on the surface If the girth measures from
3 to 5 feet multiply the number of square surface feet by 16this
will give the weight of the animal If the girth measure is from
5 to 7 feet multiply by 23 if from 7 to 9 feet multiply by 31 If
less than 3 feet multiply by 14 Of course the weight will vary
a little according to quality and time of the feeding previous to
taking the measurement
TO PROPAGATE BERMUDA GRASS
QUESTION
Will you give me a cheaper and quicker plan of propagating
Bermuda grass than that of buying the highpriced seed sow
ing and waiting for a pasture
ANSWER
Procure the sod or roots wash out the dirt which is done most
effectually and in the shortest time by placing in a stream of runAnnual Publication foe 1896
69
ning waterthen run through an ordinary cutting machine with
the knives so adjusted as to chop up fine Sow this broadcast as
fur wheat and plow in shallow Of course the land must be pre
pared beforehand the more thoroughly the better This is the
plan recommended by Howard the sage of grass culture in Geor
gia
KEEPING KAINIT
QUESTION
Can kainit be kept for any length of time without loss of its
valuable properties
ANSWER
If the kainit is kept dry it loses very little if any of its fer
tilizing properties The objection to keeping it is that it is liable to
harden into lumps and before it can be used it becomes necessary
to crush it by rolling or pounding as it cannot be properly applied
in that condition7a
Department of AgricultureGkojw
ia
MAY
MR NESBITTS MONTHLY TALK
THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER TO THE FARMERS OF GEORGIA
IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSEDCORRESPONDENTS ASKED
TO GIVE THE COMMISSIONER THE BENEFIT OF THEIR KNOWL
EDGE ON SEVERAL SUBJECTSTWO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
CORRECTEDTHE ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED DROUTH OF
APRIL
Agricultural Department
Atlanta Ga May 1 1896
Ia the questions seat out to correspondents for this month in
addition to the usual series we have embodied the following
LIVE STOCK
1 Is there any interest in your neighborhood in the raising and
improving the breed of live stock horses mules cows sheep hogs
2 If so what success and what breeds are preferred tor your
immediate section
3 Have any experiments been made in the production of milk
butter and beef by the use of different feed stuffs
4 What breed and grade of cows seem best adapted to your
locality
5 Hasan effort beeu made to establish creameries and if so
have they succeeded
6 What breeds of sheep are found best for mutton what for
wool
7 What breeds of swine are found most profitable in your
locality
8 Is the raising of select breeds of poultry receiving any atten
tion If so what kinds are found most profitableAnnual Publication foe 1896
71
TRUCK GARDENING FRUIT
9 Is there any attention given to truck gardening in your sec
tion If so what success
10 Does the raising of fruits form a part of your agricultural
industry If so what varieties and have they been successfully
marketed
11 Are there any insects or diseases which prey upon these and
other crops What are they and have any efforts been made to
destroy them
12 Have any experiments been made as to the best treatment
of wornout lands
13 What is the experience of your best farmers as to the
proper rotation of crops naming tiose in use and which have
succeeded best
NEW CROPS
14 Have any efforts been made to ascertain the value of new
crops in comparison with those with which we are already famil
iar
15 Please report any matter within your knowledge that bears
on any of these subjects and which may be of benefit to the agri
cultural interests of the State
Our object in introducing them here is to request that every
farmer who feels an interest in the improvement of our general
agriculture and who has any information on tjielines here sug
gested will give us the benefit of his knowledge send us a few
lines on a postal card telling us any facts bearing on these subjects
which may have come under his observation
We wish also to call attention to
TWO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
1 In the Annual for 1895 issued from this Department there
is a typographical error in the article on Terracing page 129
Through an error of the printer the fall given is eight feet instead
of three feet the latter is a correct figure A person with some ex
perience in terracing would at once understand that the fall was en
tirely too great but beginnners might be misled
2 The second error is in the estimate of the percentage of potash72 Department op AgricultureGeorgia
necessary in fertilizing corn page 23 The formula as printed
reads Nitrogen 2 per cent potash 7 per cent phosphoric acid 6
per centtoo much potash It should be Nitrogen 2 per cent
potash 3 to 4 per cent phosphoric acid 6 per cent
THE APRIL DROUTH
The almost unprecedented drouth of the past month while it
has given opportunity for carefully planting the crops has in
many cases seriously interfered with their proper germination and
early cultivation and also retarded their growth The probable
consequence of the long dry spell will be a wet May and much
delay in the fight with the grass which will inevitably come and
in full force In view of such a contingency and of the impor
tance of rapid cultivation of the crops the following plan suggest
ed by Director Redding of the Experiment Station is most oppor
tune and we give it place here because its suggestions if followed
will do much to prevent the dreaded catastrophe of crops overrun
with grass when the month of June opens Every experienced
farmer knows that if an effectual war is waged during May on this
encroaching enemy all subsequent work is comparatively easy
During this month all our energies must therefore be directed
to combatting its advances
RAPID CULTIVATION
Many farmers continue to use sweeps and heelscrapes or other
comparatively narrow forms of cultivating implements involving
much loss of time Progressive farmers very generally understand
that the breaking or other deep plowing of the soil should be done
before the crop is planted and that the cultivation of the growing
crop should be shallow the object being simply to keep the sur
face to the depth of an inch or so in a mellow pulverized condi
tion To do this most effectively and economically a wide spread
ing shallow running implement is required We have found a
a very satisfactory tool in the Planet Jr cultivator although
there are doubtless others that are equally effective
In a fourfoot corn or cotton row the soil already well broken
and good mellow condition one trip with such an implement or
one time to each row is all that should be given when going overAnnual Publication for 1896
73
the crop A lively mule or horse will easily go over ten acres
or even more in a day
When using a cultivator that will practically stir the entire
width of a fourfoot or fivefoot row it would be poor economy to
make a full round trip to each row simply in order to perfectly
side each row of plants In such a case the return trip will be
almost thrown away In such a case we would proceed thus in
either one of two ways Suppose the rows to be four feet wide
and running north and south and that the implement to be used
is a Planet Jr or other cultivator or a wide sweep that will stir
and cover together a width of 42 inches or more First plan
Run around every alternate row This will put one furrow or
trip in every middle and side perfectly both sides of every alter
nate row and stir the entire surface of the field excepting a narrow
strip of only a few inches on each side of every alternate row and
each man and horse will go over not less than ten acres a day
Second plan Side the east or the west either side of every row
plowing right and left This also puts a furrow or trip in every
middle and stirs the entire surface of the field excepting a strip of
a few inches on the west side of every row and each man and
horse will also accomplish not less than ten acres in a day In a
week the process may be repeated this time alternating the rows or
sides of rows If the first plan be adopted run around the rows
that were left before if the second plan be adopted side the west
side of each row By either of these plans just twice the area may
be gone over in a day compared to the usual two furrows to the
row plan and the essential objectthe breaking of the finest and
stirring of the surface layer of the soilwill be practically accom
plished with the expenditure of just half the time and labor and
enable the farmer to go over his crop twice as often and make the
intervals between stirring just onehalf as long
Where the land is very rough or has become packed of course
plans must be substituted and the farmer sustains the loss in time
and labor R T Nesbitt Commissioner71
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
GEORGIA CROPS
THE SUMMARY SHOWS AN INCREASE IN COTTON ACREAGE
BUT A REDUCTION IN CORN
From replies received from hundreds of correspondents to whom
questions were sent the following summary of the crop has been
made
COTTON
The increase in this crop amounts to 13 per cent over last year
In the great cotton growing sections of Middle and Southwest
Georgia the increase is 10 per cent but the average for the State is
brought up to 13 per cent by the increase in the northern and
southeastern sections of the Slate
This increase in acreage over last year does not bring the area in
cottoii up to that of 1894 by 7 to 8 per cent The sale of fer
tilizers has slightly exceeded that of 1894 and the knowing ones
insisted therefore that the acreage in cotton would be greater than
that year but the information at this department is that guano has
been used more liberally than ever before under corn and other
cereals and has also been applied in heavier doses to cotton These
reasons would therefore account for the increased sale of fertilizers
without any increase in the cotton acreage
A dry April has retarded germination in many parts of the State
but recent rains have been quite general and 50 per cent of the
crop is up with a fair stand
CORN
I regret to learn that the acreage of corn is from 5 to b per cent
less than last year I fear that this is a mistake on the part ot our
farmers which can still be remedied to some extent by planting
liberally of peas and potatoes The stands of corn are reported good
and the laud and crops in good condition though the drouth of
April has prevented any very rapid growtht
Annual Publication for 1896
10
OATS
The acreage in oats is reported for the State practically the same
as last year Amount ot the crop sowed in the fall 47 per cent
Prospect fair for a good oat crop
WHEAT
The acreage of wheat for the State is 91J per cent of last year
showing a decrease of 8 to 9 per cent North Georgia however
where most of the wheat in the State is grown shows an acreage of
97 while it puts the condition and prospect for a crop at 104 per
cent as compared with last year
SUGAR CANE
There is an increase of 2 per cent in this crop with a good
stand And as sorghum is reported at 98 per cent of last years
crop the prospect is fair that we will have plenty of sugar and
H syrup for home use
RICE
For the State lowland rice which is planted chiefly in the coast
counties shows a falling off of 3 per cent while upland rice which
grows in every section of the State is dropped to the extent of 9
per cent I regret to see any falling off of this crop which is so
easily made and then is so nutritious and palatable to man and
beast
GROUNDPEAS
Groundpeas clover and the grasses hold their own very well
showing respectively 99 98 and 99 per cent compared with last
year
FRUIT STOCK ETC
The following questions and replies are the averages for the en
tire State
FRUIT
V What percentage of a full crop of peaches has escaped frost 79 per cent
i What percentage of a full crop of apples has set 75 per cent
What percentage of a full crop of pears has set 70 per cent
What is thegrape prospect compared to an average 97 per cent
Acreage of watermelons compared to last year 90percen76
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
stock
Condition of sheep compared to last year 96 per cent
Condition of work stock compared to last year102 per cent
dumber of hogs all ages compared to last year102 percent
What percentage of Western meat will your county buy as
compared with last year 66 per cent
SUPPLIES
What is the cash piice per bushel for corn May 1st 46 cents
What is the credit price per bushel at the same date 64 cents
What percentage of a full supply of corn is now on hand 89 per cent
What percentage of a full supply of fodder is now on hand 89 per cent
To the question as to what breed of cattle is best liked in your
county the answer is almost invariably the Jersey and as to
hogs the Berkshire and Poland China seem to be the choice of the
majority though the Essex also has many friends There is some
cholera reported among hogs The pear growers also report the
blight on their trees
A careful study of the above summary of the crops will show
that Georgia is marching in the road she blazed out last year the
road that leads to independence and prosperity While there is a
moderate increase in the amount of cotton planted that increase by
no means indicates that the farmers intend to abandon the raising
of home supplies Last year this State planted the largest area of
food crops in her history and this year she is planting but little
less of any of these crops and in some instances more If a kind
Providence will send the necessary rains we do not intend ever
again to look to the West for our bread and meat but we fully in
tend to raise it at home thus having our cotton a surplus cropAnnual Publication for 1896
77
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS INQUIRY BOX FOR THE MONTH
IMPORTANT POINTS ON FERTILIZING PLANTING AND CUL
TIVATING A SWEET POTATO CROPMORE ABOUT THE FEED
ING OF COTTONSEED TO HOGSA GOOD PLAN FOR THE
ERADICATION OF JOHNSON GRASS ETC
QUESTION
Please give me some of the most important points in fertilizing
planting and cultivating a sweet potato crop Last year I was
very careful in preparing for and manuring my potato cropland
had promise of a fine yieldthe vines were healthy and luxuriant
but the yield of potatoes was very disappointing Is it poa
that the land was too rich to make a paying crop
ble
ANSWER
If you had mentioned specially the kind and quantity of manure
used and the quality of the land in which your crop was grown
we could perhaps give a more satisfactory answer Speaking in
general terms and from our past experience we should say that
where potatoes show a luxuriant leaf growth at the expense of
tubers it is proof not that the land is too rich but that there is
lacking some element of plant food which if supplied would pro
mote a more even development of the whole plant The luxuri
ant leaf growth indicates the presence of sufficient nitrogen in the
soil but the small yield of potatoes shows that in proportion to the
nitrogen there was too little potash and phosphoric acid for perfect
development The potato is essentially a potash crop An addi
tion of acid phosphate and sulphate of potash would have probably
wonderfully increased the yield At the Texas Experiment Sta
tion a careful series of experiments have demonstrated that the sul
phate and not the muriate of potash is the best form of potash for78
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
a sweet potato crop In fertilizing your crop if you used stable
manure it should have been composted with leaves or some vege
table matter and thoroughly decomposed then broadcasted This
will supply a sufficient quantity of nitrogen and humus but will
lack the right proportion of potash and phosphoric acid At the
Georgia Experiment Station it was found that the yield was larger
and more satisfactory where commercial fertilizers alone were used
If the preceding crop was peas the stubble dressed with lime and
turned under will furnish a firstclass foundation for a good crop
After this the proportion of sulphate of potash and acid phosphate
should be about one part of sulphate to four parts acid and applied
in the drill at the rate of 800 or 400 pounds to the acre The land
should have been thoroughly plowed but not too deep or else the
potatoes may grow long and crooked This is one crop that suc
ceeds best on land broken to only a moderate depth with a firm
subsoil The crop should for the same reason be cultivated as
nearly on a level as possible the old plan of very high hills has
been found unsatisfactory As the potato is a tropical plant very
little is gained by early setting We should wait for the ground
to become thoroughly warm and regulate our planting according to
locality Throughout the State May is the month in which the
bulk of the crop is planted It is always preferable to put out the
slips before rather than after a rainon account of the hard crust
that forms around them where the ground is wet at the time of
transplanting We have succeeded with the loss of scarcely a plant
when the weather was dry by opening the holes pouring in a dip
per of water setting the plants deep pressing the wet earth to the
roots aud covering with dry earth This may be done very rap
idly if the work is systematized The plants should be drawn
carefully from the bed and placed at once where they are to re
main If kept for any length of time they should be placed in
buckets or tubs of water Having opened the holes let one hand
go forward pouring in the water a second come with the plants
dropping one at each place aud a third follow to press them into
the ground and cover with the dry dirt leaving only the top of the
slip exposed As soon as the plants begin to grow cultivation
should begin and if size and quality are desired the vines should notAnnual Publication for J896
79
be allowed to root between the rows or in the beds If the crop is
ntended for the hogs we do not need to exercise so great care in
this respect The spring set plants have not the keeping quality
of the later settings For this purpose and for seed potatoes the
cuttings are preferable These may be taken from the early set
tings and a quick plan to set them is to open the furrow on the
bed which has been previously fertilized place the cuttings about
iij 15 or 18 inches apart in this furrow throw another furrow to them
and then tramp the earth firmly to each cutting leaving from 3 to
4 inches out of the ground They too should be cultivated as soon
as they begin to grow As stated the cultivation should be as
nearly on a level as possible shallow and sufficient to keep down
all weeds and grass Hardwood ashes are a good substitute for the
sulphate of potash but unless the ashes are at hand in sufficient
quantities that isifthey have to be bought they are more expensive
than the high grade sulphate of potash A ton of ashes contains
only about 100 pounds of potash It is this potash which gives
them their value and it is in a form to be readily appropriated by
the plants but at the selling prices of ashes and sulphate the latter
will be found the cheaper fertilizer

ERADICATING JOHNSON GRASS
QUESTION
I have several patches of Johnson grass in my cultivated fields
which I fear will cause me trouble Can you give me any good
plan for eradicating it
ANSWER
On account of its vigorous habit and long and deepgrowing
jointed roots Johnson grass has been found difficult to manage
where once it has taken complete possession of a piece of land It
is even more difficult to subdue than Bermuda because of the more
shallow growth of the latter Noticing some time since a small
patch in our garden we had as we thought every root and joint
carefully dug up and burned and then dismissed the matter from
mind A few days since we noticed on the same spot dozens of lit
tle spears pushing their way through the rich soil apparently as0 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
vigorous as at first About this time we were advised to try the
following plan which is said to have beeu entirely successful aud
certainly more practical on larger areas than digging up the roots
The plan is simply to shave off the surface growth close to the
ground repeating the process as fast as the grass attains a height
of 6 or 8 inches At first it will reappear apparently as thrifty as
ever but after the third or fourth cutting its vigor will diminish
and it will finally cease to grow
JOHNSON GRASS
QUESTION
Does Johnson grass make good hay Would you advise me to
plant it
ANSWER
Johnson grass makes most excellent hay if cut at the proper
time and stock are very fond of it It also affords a very early
aud excellent pasture Hogs are also fond of the canelike roots
and no amount of rooting by them injures the grass It should be
cut for hay before going to seed for then the leaves and stems are
too coarse and woody for use It should be cut when young say
when about two feet high and can be cut several times during the
season With all that can be said in its favor I advise you not to
plant it from the simple fact that when once it gets a foothold it
is almost impossible to eradicate it or to keep it from spreading
over your own and ueighboring farms There are some who still
advocate the planting of this grass because of the large yield aud
excellent quality of the hay but there are more who would cheer
fully pay a reward to have every vestige of this grass removed from
their farms It is claimed that it can be eradicated by pasturing
it closely through the summer and then in the fall with a big plow
turn up the roots to the winter freezes renewing the plowing once
or twice during the winter and then plant and cultivate a hoed crop
on the land the following spring
My own opinion is that when it once gets a good foothold on a
farm it is practically impossible to get rid of it aud almost equally
impossible to keep it from spreading over the surrounding countryAnnual Publication for 1896
81
If you have bottom lands liable to annual overflow where no other
crop is certain you might put it in Johnson grass for a perma
nent meadow and if you will take the trouble to prevent any from
going to seed you can confine it to the field you wish to devote
it to
MANURING AND PLANTING CABBAGES
QUESTION
Please give me the best manure for cabbages Is it too late to
set out plants during the present month
ANSWER
Cabbages are very gross feeders and if good heads are expected
the manure must not be spared The best preparation for the land
is well deeomposed lot manure heavily broadcast and plowed in or
a green crop treated in the same way Nothing better than cow
peas turned under The land should be deeply plowed and the
following fertilizer applied in the rows at the rate of about 400 to
500 pounds to the acre and thoroughly mixed with the soil before
the plants are put in 700 pounds acid phosphate 250 pounds mu
riate potash 300 pounds nitrate soda 75 pounds cottonseed meal
The plants may be set at any time after danger of a freeze has
passed and even in dry weather if the precaution is observed to
plant the roots in damp earth covering with dry earth and then pro
tect the plant for a day or two from the direct rays of the sun For
early fall cabbage a good plan is to set the plants on land on which
a crop of early potatoes was grown Sow the seeds thinly in a
plant bed the last of May or first of June After the potatoes are
dug thoroughly plow and pulverize the land then open the furrows
3 feet apart put in the fertilizer about 500 pounds to the acre and
cover by throwing on two furrows As soon as the plants are
ready smooth off the beds and set the cabbages in deeply pressing
thesoil firmly to the roots of each plant and leaving only the top
leaves exposed
HOW TO GET RID OF MOLES
QUESTION
How can I get rid of moles They are quite troublesome in my
garden and I have tried trapping them without success
6a
82
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
Place in their runs small pieces of meat poisoned with strych
nine Another plan is to inject into their runs every 10 or 12
feet about a gill of liquid bisulphide of carbon the fumes from
which may either kill the moles or drive them away Dont go
near any fire of any kind with the bisulphide as it is exceedingly
inflammable
COTTONSEED MEAL AS FOOD FOR HOGS
QUESTION
Can you give me any satisfactory advice as to feeding hogs on
on cottonseed or cottonseed meal I have been told by some of
my neighbors that it is dangerous others say that if the seed are
thoroughly wet they are not injurious
ANSWER
At the Texas Experiment Station the report from a series of ex
periments is that cottonseed either raw boiled or roasted cannot
with safety be fed to hogs even when combined with other foods
killing them in about six weeks At the Kansas station the following
conclusion was reached That cottonseed meal even if fed in small
quantities or mixed with other food proved poisonous to hogs
They died in from three to eight weeks after being put on this
feedthe larger ones holding out the longest But it was also
found that the cottonseed meal produced very rapid gains at first
and if the hogs were taken off before any symptoms of disease ap
peared there were no unfavorable results The experiment indi
cated that hogs can be fed for a short time on cottonseed meal with
the best results and without subsequent deleterious effects
From tests made at the Alabama Experiment Station it is stated
that by combining crushed cottonseed with a liberal quantity of
green rye green oats green sorghum sweet potatoes or turnips it
can probably be fed to pigs and hogs without great danger pro
vided the cottonseed is not mouldy or decomposing or allowed to
remain in the feed troughs until partially decayed also that the
crushed seed can be combined with skimmed or separated milk andAnnual Publication foe 1896
83
fed without probable injury to the hogs It is further stated that
after a pig reaches fifty pounds in weight cottonseed or cottonseed
meal in combination with corn or cowpeas can be made a profit
able ration up to the time of the premonitory symptoms of disease
As a rule this period varies from three to six weeks The first
symptoms are weakness staggering fever loss of appetite and few
if any movements When these symptoms appear the pig should
at once be turned into a pasture or the food should be changed to
bran slops and corn or other healthy foods
These experiments indicate that the cause of the injurious effects
of feeding cottonseed meal to hogs is not yet fully understood and
until that is the case it is not advisable for farmers to risk losing
their hogs by experimenting with this feed however abundant and
cheap it may be In the course of time this much discussed ques
tion will be definitely settled and until then it would be safe for
farmers to await the result now being sought at government expense
From time to time we have answered questions on this line and as
the experiments progress we shall watch them with great interest
and anything of value will be placed before the farmers of the
State
LICE ON HOGS
QUESTION
What is the best plan to get lice off of hogs
ANSWER
The simplest plan to get rid of lice is to put common kerosene
on your hogs The easiest way to do this is to feed the hogs in a
fence corner on shelled corn and while they are eating by standing
on the fence you can sprinkle them all with kerosene from a com
mon watering pot This will not only rid them of lice but will
clean their skins of all scurf and dandruff
Be a little careful about the application of the kerosene as a too
liberal use of it will kill the pigs The best way is to apply in
moderation and renew it in a week or ten days A little oil or
lard added to the kerosene will prevent any injurious effect even
to the pigs84 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
BEST FORAGE PLANT FOR COWS
QUESTION
I wish to keep up two milch cows and soil them that is cut for
them green stuif and feed them in their stalls What forage plant
would you recommend for this purpose
ANSWER
For this purpose I would unhesitatingly recommend cattail
millet called also pearl millet Japan millet and horse millet On
rich land this millet makes an astonishingly rapid growth and can
be cut several times during the season furnishing a large amount
of fairly good forage Sow in drills three feet apart and cultivate
as you would corn Six to eight pounds of seed will plant an
acre This forage plant has yielded ninetyfive tons of green fod
der or sixteen tons of dry hay to the acre
FREE MARTINS

QUESTION
I have a fine Jersey cow who recently gave birth to two twin
calves one female the other male Is it true that these calves
when grown will not breed
ANSWER
Heifers thus born seldom breed They are called free martins
and are usually raised for beef for which purpose at three to four
years of age they seem peculiarly suited A free martin if
barren has an oxlike look and is sometimes broken to the yoke
It is said that the bulls if used for breeders frequently get free
martins so it would not be a good plan to keep your twin bull
alf for a breeder however fine his pedigree may be
MURRAIN HOLLOWHORN AND HOLLOWTATL
QUESTION
What are the symptoms of murrain in cattle Is there any
cure for it If so what is it What is the remedy for hollow
horn and hollowtail Annual Publication for J896
85
ANSWER
Murrain is known by various names according to the nature of
the attack and the location of the disease Thus it is called black
leg black quarter black tongue bloody murrain charbon
carbuncular fever etc It is a common disease contagious and
malignant and therefore to be dreaded The symptoms are various
the following are some of them The animal gets suddenly listless
the ears hang down swellings appear usually along the back or
neck or on the legs which when rubbed by the hand eel as
though air was under the skin The animal lies or stands quietly
refusing to move The bowels become constipated and the urine
highly colored sometimes bloody The pulse is quick from 105
to 110 beats a minute The animal usually dies in a few hours
The disease is most common among cattle under 2 years of age
Very little can be done in the way of curing this disease The
best treatment is chlorate of potassium in from 2 to 4 drachm
doses dissolved in water and given every three hours Whisky
ether and quinine are also given where the animal shows great
weakness
As a rule all treatment is unavailing and death is sure and
speedy
As for the treatment of hollo whom I will quote from a promi
nent veterinary surgeon of Atlanta
No time or space will be taken up with this subject as it is
really a very wrong idea The cows horn would not be natural
if it was not to a certain extent hollow this depends upon the
age
Worm in the tail or hollowtail is another wrong idea and the
habit of cutting the tail is one of the relics of barbarism The
horn may be bored and the tail may be split and the cow may get
better which she would have done without such treatment and left
no scars
GRAY LAND GOOD FOR COTTON
QUESTION
I have twenty acres of land that has been in cultivation six
years Last year it was in corn and I broadcasted peas at the last86
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
plowing of the corn It is gray land with a good clay subsoil
Can I make a bale of cotton to the acre on it by the use of 500
pounds of guano if so how can I do it
ANSWER
Such land as you describe should make at least a bale of cotton
to the acre with as much guano as you propose to use provided it
is properly prepared and worked and you have fair seasons upon it
To make the crop you expect first break the land deep and
thoroughly Lay off your rows four feet apart running twice in
the same furrow with a shovel plow to get well down into the
ground In that furrow put 250 pounds of any good standard
fertilizer Then with a long scooter plow run back and forth in
the bottom of this furrow which will thoroughly mix the fertilizer
with the soil and also break up the subsoil
Repeat this process in the two siding furrows putting 125 pounds
of fertilizer in each then finish bedding out as usual
This method will necessitate considerable more work than usual
before the planting of the crop but you will be well repaid for the
expense
As soon as your crop is up and will bear it put to a stand leav
ing one stalk about every fifteen to eighteen inches
Cultivate shallow and often then with fair seasons I will guar
antee you a bale to the acre
CHINA BERRIES AS AN INSECT EXTERMINATOR
QUESTION
What properties as a fertilizer and insect exterminator has the
china berry
ANSWER
There is a considerable amount of fertilizing material in china
berries mostly nitrogen and if they could be obtained cheaply and
in large quantities it would doubtless pay to use them I cannot
give you a complete analysis of the berry not having it at hand
The berry as far as I know does not destroy insect life but the
leaves placed among woolen clothes will by their odor drive away
the moth so destructive to such clothingAnnual Publication foe 1896
87
THE CAROLINA CRANES BILL
QUESTION
I inclose a wild clover which I would like you to name Horses
cattle and hogs are fond of it Is it of any value
ANSWER
The plant is not a clover but belongs to the geranium family
It is the Carolina cranes bill Geranium Carolinaum a native
of the Atlantic coast region and is usually found on hillsides or in
open or barren soil In rich cultivated fields however it often
makes a rank growth as a weed It is not usual for stock to eat it
unless there is a scarcity of other food It sometimes produces
seeds abundantly and quickly occupies the land where it has ob
tained a foothold to the exclusion of other species It is an
annual making its growth in the spring and usually dying before
midsummer in this State It is easily destroyed by cultivation
and is of no agricultural value88
Department of AgricultureGeorg
A
JUNK
MR NESBITTS MONTHLY TALK TO FARMERS
THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER IN WHICH IMPORTANT MAT
TERS ARE DISCUSSEDTHE COMMISSIONER AGAIN POINTS
OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEP PREPARATIONDU PVC
THE NEXT TWO MONTHS CULTIVATION OP THE CROS
SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED FOR EVEN A DAYOUTLOOK
ENCOURAGING UUK
Agricultural Departmext
Atlanta Ga June i 1896
The widespread and longcontinued drouth extendmg through
he greater part of two months has sorely tried the endurance and
faith of many anxious toilers but while the injury to crops is con
siderable the general outlook is much more encouraging than con
demns would seem to warrant The oat crop where the prepara
tion and fertilization were thorough and the seed sown in the fall
has made a fair yield It is only where the seed were hastily
scratched in ln the spring that the crop is an entire failure Corn
and cotton as a rule have borne the strain with less injury than
might have been apprehendedattributable without doubt to the
more careful preparation and planting which have characterized
our methods
IMPORTANCE OF DEEP PREPARATION
As we have pointed before if our land is deeply and thoroughly
plowed the subsoil being reached and broken we take double
chances against disaster from either too much or too little rain In
the first case the rain instead of washing over the land carrying de
struction n its course sinks into the upper soil and downward to
ower depths there to be ready for future demands in the second
he surplus moisture having been stored in the subsoil is during
long dry spell drawn to the surface by the power of capillary acAnnual Publication for 1896
89
tion aud if we can stop it there by a mulch of finely pulverized
soil we will be able to hold it until the thirsty plants can absorb it
CULTIVATION OF THE CROPS
There are two months yet of unremitting watchfulness and labor
before we can pause in our efforts to make our bread by the sweat
of our browthe crop must not be permitted to suffer for cultiva
tion for even one day if it is possible for us to prevent it As so
often emphasized in these columns we must if we would succeed
lay aside the slowmoving narrowcutting plows of the past and
keep ourselves wide awake to the necessity of rapid work To fol
low a mule and plow up and down a row five or six times when
one or at most two trips is sufficient seems folly and the man who
has tried the wiser and quicker can never be induced to return to
the siower plan He realizes that where the land has been thor
oughly prepared the one thing needful after the crops have been
planted and begin to grow is to keep only the surface stirred and
that a spreading cultivator or wide extending sweep is the best and
in the end the most economical implement for doing the work sat
isfactorily Sometimes at the first plowing of the young crops it
is necessary to plow close and deep but after that every hairs
breadth we go beyond an inch in depth causes incalculable aud irre
mediable injury to the delicate rootlets increasing in destructive
ness as we progress downward If only every farmer in Georgia
could realize this fundamental principle and put into execution
plans for promoting it how vastly would our task be lightened and
how surely and greatly would our returns be increased Let us
study and plan to work over our crops at least every two weeks
and if the periods can be reduced to ten daysso much more will
it tend to the satisfactory development of the plants Let the plow
ings be done as soon as possible after each rain though these be no
grass to kill we should if possible prevent the formation of a
crust
PEAS
While the crop of peas for seed should have been sown during May
the main crop for the vines and hay which at last is the most val
uable part of the plant should be broadcast or planted in a center90
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
furrow in the cornfields towards the latter part of this month One
or two pecks of seed to the acre according to the fertility of the
land will be about the right quantity The stubble oat and wheat
fields will soon be ready for this rescuing renovating developer of
our worn lands But we must keep in mind that although there
is no agent which will give in fuller measure the needed elements
of fertility to our long tried fields we must in order to get the full
benefit of these lifegiving properties realize that even peas will not
produce a profitable crop on very poor or very carelessly managed
land If properly nourished they will gather a full supply of that
most expensive element nitrogen but like every other crop if
simply scratched in and left to take of itself it will most surely
disappoint the improvident worker The stubble fields should not
be left one day longer than is absolutely necessary If the ground
is in good conditionthat is if the preparation and management
of the small grain crops have been such as to leave the land soft
and moderately smooththe harrow alone will do very effective
work but if the grouud is hard and rough it will be necessary to
turn it with a one or two horse turnplow then sow the seed
about a bushel to the acre and the fertilizer equal parts of acid
phosphate and kainit all at the same time and cover with the har
row If preferred and the area is not too great to successfully ac
complish it the plan of plowing the field and then sowing in drills
is a very good one The rows should be from 2J to 3 feet wide
and will require oue or two subsequent plowings Inall cases the
above mentioned fertilizers should be used applied at the rate of
from 200 to 400 pounds per acre It is true that the pea crop is
not an exacting one but the better care and food it receives the bet
ter returns it will make Planting of
FORAGE CROPS
may still continue although the earlier planted crops usually suc
ceed best This has however been an exceptionally dry season
and in many localities the long continued dry weather has entirely
prevented the sowing of such crops Crops for forage have been
most successfully raised from June plantings also the large family
of millets will yield good returnsAnnual Publication for 1896
91
SPANISH GROUNDPEAS
may also be planted this month and make a good crop Although
not usually ranked with peas as a renovating crop it belongs to
the family of legumes and if the vines are left on the land and
only the nuts removed they contribute something to the improve
ment of the land
SWEET POTATOES
The cuttings taken from the earlier planted vines if carefully
planted will succeed as well as the rooted slips and the potatoes
will be smoother and more eveuly developed and be of good keep
ing quality The beds should be thrown up not too high after
rather than before a rain and when the land is in good condition
The cutting should contain not more than five leaves three is
enoughif longer the result will be more but smallersized pota
toes Bury all but one eye and press the soil firmly to each cut
ting This is one crop which seems to succeed best on land plowed
to only a moderate depth for which reason the old high hills have
been almost abandoned R T Nesbitt
TEXAS FEVER
A REMEDY FOR THE DEADLY DISEASE GIVEN BY AN
EXPERIENCED DAIRYMAN
The following report will be of interest to all dairymen and
cattle owners
Experiment Ga April 18 1896
Commissioner Nesbitt Atlanta Ga
Dear SirAt your request through Director Redding of the
Experiment Station I visited the farm of Mr S H Phelan near
Greensboro Ga to inspect his herd of dairy cows which were re
ported to be dying I found them dying with Texas fever called
also in different sectionsSpanish feverAcclimation fever Red water
Black water Murrain Yellow murrain and Bloody murrain Twen
tyone head of valuable registered Jerseys had died Normal tem
perature is 101 to 102 degrees in this disease it rises to 107 to
109 degrees and nearly every case is fatal when the animal is
grown or matured92
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
The best uptodate remedy is calomel quickly given in two
drachm doses to move the bowels then follow with quinine in 30
grain doses three times a day until improvement begins then give
iodide of iron in two drachm doses twice a day
A postmortem examination of a cow that had died the night
previous to my arrival showed the spleen or melt to be much
larger than in healthy animals the liver also was enlarged the
gall bladder was also enlarged and held in suspension a large
quantity of flakes resembling coarse bran The bile in health is
limpid fluid containing no solid particles The urine taken from
the bladder was the color of port wine or deep claret
All of the sick cows previous to November 1895 were kept near
Atlanta and had never had any ticks on them About April 1
1896 they were turned to pasture with cows that had been kept
on the plantation In about ten days they were all well covered
with ticks and the cows from Atlanta began to get sick and die I
could not discover anything wrong in the feeding or management
Overfeeding of highly concentrated foodespecially cottonseed
mealwill bring on a bloody condition of the urine but remove
the cause and the animal generally recovers 1 suggested to Mr
Phelan that he use in future the welltried preventive of Mr
Chopin of Richmond Va who has imported cows from all quar
ters of the globe to the infected lands of Virginia and has never
lost a single head The following is his preventive
50 pounds common salt
5 pounds copperas
5 pounds saltpetre
5 pounds sulphur
Thoroughly pulverize and mix and give one tablespoonful once
per day in the leed long enough to get the remedy into the system
Samples of urine and gall were taken and sent to Dr D E
Salmon Chief of Bureau of Animal Industry Washington D C
and he has pronounced my diagnosis correct
Respectfully yours
H J Wing Dairyman
Experiment GaAnnual Publication for 1896
93
I
SUMMARY OF CEOPS
CONDITION OF COTTON FAVOBABLECOBN NOT DOING SO
WELLWHEAT BEING HABVESTED
COTTON
The condition of cotton on the whole is favorable The long
continned dry weather has caused in many instances a poor stand
in late planted cotton but the very much larger portion of the
crop is up with a perfect stand The drouth that has lasted for
two months over most of the State has at last been broken by
partial rains
The unusual hot and dry weather of May has not been an injury
to cotton where there was moisture enough in the ground to cause
the seed to germinate and come up On the contrary the young
plants are unusually healthy there being an entire absence of
lice and sore shin both of which are very hurtful to the
stand in wet cold springs In most of the State cotton has been
put to a stand and the fields are beautifully clean and free of weeds
and grass At this time the prospect for a fine crop in this State
is most excellent though as yet it is entirely too early to make any
predictions as to the probable outcome July and August are the
cottonmaking months and any estimates made before then must
be purely guesswork
COBN
The wonderfully dry spring has retarded the growth of corn
and except on well prepared land has given it a backset Where
the land was thoroughly and deeply broken corn was not in the
slightest degree injured by the drouth continuing to grow and
looking vigorous and green the whole time Too much corn is
planted particularly by tenants and renters in this State on land
poorly prepared Two furrows are thrown together on an opening
furrow usually with a small shallow running turnplow then this
list is opened and the corn planted the middles being left unbroken
for a more convenient season Corn thus planted has suffered from
the drouth of course the middles soon became so hard that they94 Department of AgeicultueeGeorgia
could not be plowed and could only grow a vigorous crop of weeds
which appropriated to themselves what little moisture the soil con
tained leaving the corn to twist up and turn yellow Now that
rains have fallen this poorly prepared land will be plowed the
middles will be well broken and the corn well cultivated from this
on But the damage has been done and now it is irreparable
The crop has been given a backset from which it can never recover
and though with abundant rains such lands may make a fair crop
they cannot now by any attention be made to produce as they
would have done had the land been well prepared before planting
In South and Southwest Georgia the forward planters are begin
ning to lay by corn and the prospect is good for a bountiful crop
Should we have plenty of rain in June the large acreage planted
will insure an abundant supply for the State at large
WHEAT
The wheat crop is now being harvested and is better thau usual
there being no complaints of rust or mildew While the grain
might have been a little heavier but for the long drouth on the
whole the yield will be good and satisfactory to the farmers
OATS
This important crop has been seriously injured in every section
of the State by the unprecedented dry weather of the last eight
weeks Particularly in the southern and southwest portions of the
State has this crop suffered In many cases the oats planted in the
fall did not get high enough to cut and the spring oats where the
drouth has been at its worst will fare but little better The yield
of this crop for the State will not exceed 50 per cent of a good crop
OTHER CROPS
The minor crops such as rice groundpeas sugar cane etc are
holding their own in spite of the dry weather and with good
seasons ahead promise an abundant yield Not many sweet pota
toes have been set out yet but there is plenty of time still to plant
a full crop which I trust will be done
FRUIT
While the dry weather has cut off the strawberry and raspberryAnnual Publication for 1896
95
crops and has caused the falling off of a good many peaches and
apples the State will still have a bountiful supply of fruits of va
rious kinds The shipping of the earlier varieties of peaches has
commenced in South Georgia and will soon be in full blast This
is from ten days to two weeks earlier than usual the warm early
spring hastening the maturity of all fruits
In our last monthly report we placed the acreage of watermelons
at 90 per cent as compared with last year This estimate though
based upon the reports of correspondents we are satisfied was too
high and upon later information we are convinced that 60 per
cent of last years acreage is a more correct estimate
STOCK
The condition of stock throughout the State is good except in a
few cases where there have been serious losses of cattle from Texas
feverone dairy herd in Greene county alone having lost 27 head
of registered Jerseys There have also been some few cases of
glanders among horses and cholera among hogs reported to the
department
Should any diseases of stock be reported by farmers to this de
partment it will afford me pleasure to assist them by suggesting
remedies and in contagious and malignant diseases to send to their
assistance a veterinary surgeonm
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
TTO rnriNQUIRY BXFOR THE MONTHHOW
IO PREPARE LAND FOR A CROP OF RICEA SIMPLE RFM
fDY FR THE BAG WORMTHE EFFECT OF VVOOO A8HE8 OK
ST ETC GRASS FI OCK h TBeZZ
QUESTION
JTr n ny T e if M8ible hmiy lSe
11L te rce D wr i 4
ANSWER
There is no question that you can raise your rice cheaper than
you can buy t and every farmer in Georgia should by all means
AU lad that Wil1 kecottouor com will make rice
bat it preferable to plant it in new ground as the cultivation
w 11 then be easer Break your land thoroughly use 200 pounds
of any good standard fertilizer bed in three feet rows as you Would
forootton open a shallow furrow plant your rice and cover with
board You can other plant the seed in a continous row or
drop themeght or ten grains in a placeevery 12 to 15 inches
Cutva e as you would cotton keeping it free from grass and weeds
and with ordinary seasons you should make from 15 to 20 bushel
to the acre The great trouble is hulling the rice alter it is made
and unless there is a mil in your vicinity you must either snip
vour gram to the coast cities to have it hulled or beat it out t
home a wooden mrtara very tedious process Small ic
mills can be put up for from 300 to 400 and there should be
one or more ln every county in the State I know of one
Southwest Georga that cleaned or hulled over 1000 bushels of
astear where beforeit was started there was very iLfo
raised There s no better food tor all kinds of stock as well as
poultry and our farmers should give more attention to itAnnual Publication for 1896
GLANDERS AN INCURABLE DISEASE
97
QUESTION
Is glanders an incurable disease Some of my neighbors con
tend that it is while others say it can be cured
ANSWER
Glanders is a contagious uncurable disease known in every
country and equally as fatal to man as horses and mules Several
cases have been reported to this department during the past month
and whenever the symptoms described seemed to indicate glauders
I have sent a veterinary surgeon to make a diagnosis that the
disease might be stamped out promptly I would here caution the
farmers against trading for horses or mules with the bands of
gypsies that pass through the State Some cases reported this
spring may be traced to one of those roving bands of unprincipled
horse traders who no doubt scattered the disease along their
entire roifte through the State I append the report of one case
to which I sent a veterinary surgeon
Atlanta May 20
Lomnmsloner Nesbiit
On a visit to Sugar Valley I found one gray mare mule 4 years
old suffering with glanders in the acute form At my suggestion
said mule was killed and burned also Mr T W Dobson consented
to burn his barn where said mule had been kept
Respectfully
H G Carnes V S
HOW TO DESTROY THE BAG WORM
QUESTION
I have in my flower garden a fine tree the Cedrus Deodara or
Indian cedar Last year it was invaded by a small caterpillar that
killed one of its branches and then webbed up into cocoons I
had frequently seen such cocoons before and did not pay any
attention to them until about two weeks ago after the butterfly had
left the cocoon and was depositing its eggs over the tree Now
the tree is being devoured by little caterpillars They are also98 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
eating up my rose bushes adjoining the Indian cedar I send you
some of the insects with the hope that you will tell me what they
are and how I may destroy them
ANSWER
The insect that is destroying your cedar and rose bushes is the bag
worm which feeds upon the foliage of both the deciduous and
coniferous trees but seem to prefer the latter where they have a
choice Its ravages are sometimes very destructive on shade trees
in city streets and parks The simplest remedy for this insect is
spraying with London purple or Paris green This should be
ione in the early summer when the worms are young
THE PROPER TIME TO SOW BURR CLOVER
QUESTION
When should burr clover be sown Please give some informa
tion about the crop
ANSWER
The germ of burr clover seed being surrounded by the tough
burrs they require a longer time to germinate than other seeds
they should therefore be sown earlierin July or if conditions
are favorable even previous to that time They germinate very
slowly the plants not usually appearing before September During
the fall and early winter they cover the ground The crop gen
erally blooms in April and attains full maturity perfecting its seed
in May It then dies down
PINE ASHES A GOOD FERTILIZER
QUESTION
What percentage of potash has pine ashes and what are they
worth for manure
ANSWER
The ashes from pine poplar and other light woods are practically
as good for fertilizing purposes containing about as much potash
weight for weight as the ashes from the hard woods They are
very light however easily scattered by the wind and hard to
accumulate They are worth from 6 to 8 per ton as manureAnnual Publication for 1896
PLANTING LATE CABBAGES
99
QUESTION
Please tell me when and exactly how to manage late cabbages
I have been successful in raising spring and summer cabbages but
failed last year with the later plantings Many of the plants
seemed to wither and fall over the stem did not seem strong
nough to support the weight of the leaves and others failed
to head
ANSWER
Presupposing that you have your land thoroughly and deeply
prepared and heavily manured with some highly ammoniated
fertilizer we would advise that you delay setting out the plants
until the latter part of July if the crop is intended for winter
cabbagesif for fall cabbages the plantings of course must be
earlier
Lay off the beds from 2J to 3 feet and set the plants about 18
inches or 2 feet in the row Judging from your question we sup
pose your mistake was in not setting your plants deep enough No
matter how long the stem may be the plants should be buried up
to the first leaf and the soil formed around them If everything
else is in readiness and the ground is not unusually dry we have
succeeded very well in starting the plants without a rain by open
ing the holes with a pointed stick pouring in water putting the
plants in up to the leaf pressing the wet dirt to the roots and
covering with the dry In previous articles on this subject we
have called attention to the fact that cabbages cannot be raised
profitably on poor land nor can such land be put in proper con
dition for such a crop in one years time Well decomposed stable
manure broadcasted heavily and thoroughly mixed with the soil is
a good preparation a heavy crop of cowpeas is also a firstclass
forerunner The cultivation should be rapid and complete
THE FALL WEBWOBM
QUESTION
There is a multitude of caterpillars covered with yellowish hair
with black heads and two rows of black marks on their bodies now100 Department op AgricultureGeorgia
eating the leaves on one of my shade trees Can you tell lre what
they are called and give me some remedy for getting rid of
them
ANSWER
From your description the insect is the fall webworm found
in all parts of the United States The worms are hatched from
eggs of a white moth which deposits them in the early summer on
the leaves of various trees As soon as hatched the worms begin
to eat the foliage and at the same time commence to spin a protect
ive web They grow quite rapidly eating all the foliage except
the network of veins in the leaves and as they grow they enlarge
the web By the time they are frill grown the caterpillars are
over an inch long and covered with yellowish hairs When grown
they crawl to the ground where in some sheltered nook or just
under the surface of the ground they inclose themselves in a slight
cocoon in which they change to the chrysalis state and from which
later on they emerge as pretty white moths which begin at once
to lay eggs as already mentioned above A good way to get rid of
this pest is to cut the web from the tree and burn them up This
is easily done because the webs can be so plainly seen They may
also be effectually destroyed by spraying with Paris green and
London purple
COTTONSEED FAILING TO COME IP
QUESTION
Cau you explain to me why I failed to get a good stand from
cottonseed that I know to be goodas seed from the same lot
germinated all right at other places I was very careful in the
preparation and planting of my land and thoroughly rolled the
seed in as much guano and kainit as would stick to them and then
put them in with a planter allowing a full amount of seed to secure
a good stand
ANSWER
If you examined your seed as you probably did when they failed
to come up you doubtless discovered they had sprouted but that
the sprouts were destroyed after starting into growth and we atAnnual Publication for 1896
LIBRARY
tribute this to the kainit of which the fertilizer was largely composed
rAs long as the seed were in the hull the germ was protected against
the effects of the salt but as soon as the sprout burst forth it came
in contact with the salt which caused it to wither and die If you
had rolled your seed in the fertilizer without the additional kainit
their vigorous germination would have been assisted The seed
themselves contain a small store of each principal element of plant
food enough to start them into healthy growth and if when this
is exhausted another supply is at hand ready for immediate use the
I tiny plants take it up and are thus more rapidly pushed forward
We have often rolled the seed with marked benefit and if you had
left off the kainit you would doubtless have secured a good stand
j of strong vigorous plants
HOW TO KEEP IRISH POTATOES
QUESTION
Can I keep my Irish potatoes that I will dig in June until next
I winter If so tell how to do it
ANSWER
If you have a good dry cellar there is no trouble to keep all
that you can spread upon the floor I am now June 1 eating po
tatoes that I dug nearly a year ago I simply spread them on the
I cellar floor and scattered lightly over them a little airslacked
I lime I have had to rub the sprouts off twice but they are still
sound and good to eat I also planted my crop from them the past
j spring and I think they are doing as well as any of the shipped
a potatoes When I lived in Southwest Georgia my house being
i about two and a half feet from the ground it was my custom to
spread the potatoes under the house out of reach of any splashing
of rainwater on them and they kept just as well as they do in a
cellar in North Georgia In keeping them by either plan it is
well to look over them occasionally and pick out any that may be
spoiling In digging the crop keep the potatoes as much out of
the sunshine as possible102 Department of AgricultureGeoegia
EFFECT OF WOOD ASHES ON LAWNS
QUESTION
What effect has wood ashes upon lawns or grass fields
ANSWER
Ashes from wood are rich in potash which is essential to the
vigorous growth of grass Potash strengthens the roots and stems
and gives a deeper green color to the grass In theproduction of
leaves and seeds ashes do not have so great an effect as nitrogenous li
manures The phosphoric acid and lime contained in ashes are
also very beneficial to the grasses Ashes should be put upon I
lawns only in winter when the fertilizing properties may be grad
ually absorbed by the earth to be furnished through the following I
spring and summer to the hungry grass roots
ACID AND MEAL NOT A COMPLETE FERTILIZER
QUESTION
I have a twentyacre field gray soil with red clay subsoil It
was planted in cotton last year Would it do to put acid phosphate 1
and cottonseed on it for corn this year
ANSWER
Your acid and meal would not be a complete fertilizer for corn
corn like most other plants needing potash If your twenty acres
is abundantly supplied with potash then the acid and meal would
be sufficient but in any event it will be safer to supply some pot
ash A good mixture would be 450 pounds acid phosphate 450
pounds cottonseed meal and 100 pounds kainit In place of the
kainit you could use 25 pounds muriate of potash From 100 to
200 pounds per acre
COTTONSEED HULLS AS A FERTILIZER
QUESTION
About how many pounds of ashes will a ton of cottonseed hulls
produce How would it do to take hulls and put in furrow in
good fresh new land five to six years under cultivation and put ouAnnual Publication for 1896
103
top ot them say 100 pounds of acid phosphate What is the
value of cottonseed hulls as a fertilizer
ANSWER
A ton of cottonseed hulls will make about 57 pounds of ashes
It would be of very little benefit to put hulls and 100 pounds of
acid phosphate to the acre Of course the phosphate would pro
duce some good results and if the soil were very stiff the mechan
ical effect of the hulls would be good The hulls decay so slowly
that the effect on the crop would hardly be perceptible Cottonseed
hulls have but little value as a fertilizer containing only the fol
lowing amounts of plant food Nitrogen f of 1 per cent or 15
pounds per ton Potash 110 per cent or 22 pounds per ton
Phosphoric acid 2 per cent or 4 pounds per ton
NUMBER OF LIVE STOCK IN THE UNITED STATES
QUESTION
Will you kindly give me the number of the various kinds of live
stock in the United States
ANSWER
The Department of Agriculture at Washington gives the number
of horses at 14000000 mules 2300000 oxen and beef cattle
37000000 milch cows 16000000 sheep 45000000 and hogs
52000000 Total value 2420000000
WHEN TO CUT PEAVTNES FOR HAY
QUESTION
What time should peavines be cut for hay
ANSWER
When the first peas are about ripe
COMPLETE FERTILIZER FOR COTTON
QUESTION
I have a field that has been sown in oats and peas for four years
I want to plant in cotton Have already put 16 bushels of cotton104
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
seed per acre aud want to put about 300 pounds fertilizer per acre
Please let me hear from you on the subject
ANSWER
Replying to your question I take it for granted that you have
broadcasted the 1G bushels cottonseed per acre and thoroughly
and deeply broken the laud while plowing them under If you
intend now to apply a complete fertilizerviz one containing
nitrogen potash and phosphoric acid I would not advise you to
put the entire 300 pounds per acre directly under the cotton 1
better plan would be to put say 150 pounds in the furrow upon
which you are going to bed then after listing upon this put the
other 150 pounds in the siding furrows 75 pounds in each This
plan while requiring a little more labor is verv much preferable
to putting the whole quantity in one furrow Get your fertilizer
in each case well in the ground and before covering run a long
scooter in the bottom of furrow thus breaking the stiff subsoil
and thoroughly incorporating the fertilizer with the soil You
may be inclined to say This will be too much trouble and wont
pay but I assure you that the increased yield will amply repay
for the increased labor There is no truer saying in connection
with the farm than A crop well planted is half made
HOW TO GET RID OF BEETLES
QUESTION
There are some striped bugs eating up my Irish potato crop
They did the same thing last year aud I tried everything I knew
to get rid of them but without success If you can tell me a
remedy for them it will be much appreciated by myself and
neighbors
ANSWER
There have been many letters received by this department this
spring of like tenor to the above and it is evident that the farmers
and gardeners of this State will hereafter have to protect their
Irish potato crop as they now do at the North and West The
striped bugs you speak of are either the Colorado or the blister
beetle both of which have become plentiful and permanentlyAnnual Publication for 1896
105
domiciled in Georgia The best remedy for these pests is spraying
or dusting the plants with either Paris green or London purple
For dusting use one pound of the poison mixed with five pounds
of wheat flour and two pounds of fine ashes dry dust or airslacked
lime Sift this mixture in the plants when the dew is ou them
In sprinkling use a teaspoouful of Paris green or London purple
to two and a half gallons of water Use the poisons upon the
first appearance of the beetles before they get a good foothold
Some potato growers resort to handpicking to get rid of the
beetle but it is neither so cheap nor effectual as the use of the ar
senites Always be very careful in handling Paris green or Lon
don purple as they are deadly poison
SOME GOOD ADVICE
PRACTICAL AND USEFUL MAXIMS FOR FARMERS WHO ARE
JUST STARTING OUT
Many young farmers do not know when they are really doing
well and frequently when they have made a good start and are in
a fair way to distinguish themselves as excellent and successful
farmers will sell out This is all wrong Stick to your farm
and if you have a good location do not sell out expecting to better
it because you are offered a good price If your neighbor can
make farming pay on your farm resolve that you can do it as well
as he can Plan a system of improvemeut and as your means
warrant carry this system out Do not enter into any specula
tion either with other peoples money or your own Do not mort
gage your farm to buy goods Do not buy fancy stock at enor
mous prices without knowing how you will make the investment
profitable Do not keep poor stock when you can keep good at
the same expense and twice the profit Do not be tempted by
high prices to plant excessively of anj7 one crop Ten chances to
one the price of that crop will be low at harvest time while the
price of the crops you neglect will be high Do not try to grow
crops for which your farm is not adapted Resolve and stick to
it that if industry and good management will make it so your106 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
farm shall be a profitable one Put your surplus earnings into such
improvements as will add to the profit appearance and convenience
of your farm Make experiments despite what your neighbors
may say Make yourselves thoroughly acquainted with the princi
ples of agriculture and be guided by them Do not keep more
stock than you have pasture for If you own more land than you
can cultivate well are in debt or need money to make necessary im
provements sell part of your land and use the monev to pay your
debts or make your improvementsExchange
XRAYS IN AGRICULTURE
What is probably the first application of Roentgens rays to the
elucidation of an agricultural problem has been effected at Munich
nhoto t 7 btained by the a f the Xy the
photograph of a pg one day old The outline of the skeleton sys
tem s clearly sh An examination of the mage of the gkee X
of this young pig makes much more intelligible than would a long
dissertation the necessity of a diet rich in phosphatic matter and
ite effect upon the perfect development of the osseous sy tern
The young animal of which the bony tissues are so imperfectly
constituted at the time of birth finds in the maternal milk the
nitrogenousand phosphatic ingredients essential to the formation
of bone After it is weaned such food as is afforded in cereal
grams furnishes it with phosphoric acid the lime and the mag
nesa required for the completion of its osseous structures
COTTON FUNGUS ENEMIES
leafbthl8 TV bTUy fUDgUS eUemieS amon them
leaft blight frenchiug damping off or sore shin anthracnose
shedding angular spot mildew leaf blight and roo To
practical remedy has been found for these diseases There are
some effective remedies but they are expensive Grow ottoAnnual Publication foe 1896
ior
in rotation with other crops so the same land will not be planted
in cotton oftener than once in four years This will starve out
fungus enemies The same practice has like advantages for other
cropsBulletin Alabama Station
ERADICATING NUT GRASS
From College Station Texas comes this advice Do not let
the seed mature Stir the soil frequently during the growing
period The best time to fight both is between midsummer and
frost during a dry time Choke it out with a vigorous growing
crop After one crop is harvested in the summer prepare the
land for another vigorous growing crop Cowpeas and sorghum
are good crops for Southern localities to choke out these pests
GUARD AGAINST HOG CHOLERA
Proper sanitation food aud good care may ward off the cholera
In localities where cholera appeared last summer and fall new hog
lots ought to be provided and the animals should not be allowed
to run in pastures frequented by diseased stock Lots can usually
be moved at comparatively small expense Unless precautions of
this kind are taken another outbreak may occur at any time108
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
JULY
COMMISSIONERS LETTER TO GEORGIA FARMERS
IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSEDCOTTON AND CORN PRO
ZTsTouTrrrrLYMuTiLATioN de
ROOTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN LAYING BY THE CROP
oFrTnEBAEcZpNEToTo ate the mp
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga July 1896
Under ordinary Conditions this is the month when a wellkept
farm shows to the best advantage Our principal crops of corn and
cotton are progressng the former toward early maturity the
wheat and oat crops beeQ or are Y
he forage ps are we uuder way J fe
taken no chances but by careful forethought has planned for the
preparation planting and cultivation of each crop in its season and
now tl t th battle is almost won he may calculate JTreason
able certainty on the returns for his years work We make the
tt7heT7nt K qUaHfied h0W6Ver the on
that the final workings of these crops be characterized by the same
judgment and care which have marked the earlier periods
LAYING BY COTTON AND CORN
welt bulr1 I1 T ma ky l0W maUy a 1oidered
wellbult plan In laying by both corn and cotton we should
avod any mutilation of the delicate roots as carefullv as we would
anynry to that part of the plant which appears abovl tc
As a rule corn should not beplowed after the tassel forms but if
from prevous mismanagement or untoward season it becomes
cessary to break the crust or destroy the weeds and grass whTctAnnual Publication for 1896
109
have sprung up we should to avoid injury to the roots and leave
exposed as little surface as possible to evaporation set the plow to
run as shallow and as level as possible In plowing at this season
we should keep two objects in view to prevent evaporation and
to promote the free access of air to the soil with as little root cut
ting as possible Of course we should be guided in part by the
growth and condition of the plant but deep plowing at this season
will almost inevitably cause the cotton to shed its young fruit
and the corn to turn yellow We have seen a field of vigorous
dark green glossy cotton so pleasant to the eye of the experienced
farmer reduced by one days injudicious plowing to such a state
of collapse as to appear as if a sudden blight had swept over it
Such are the peculiarities of the cotton plant however that a check
of this kind is often in a great measure although never entirely
repaired But corn once receiving such a setback is irredeemably
injured Its season for development is comparatively so short that
the utmost care should be exercised in order to promote its
perfect growth In plowing cotton at this season some consider
tion must be given to the variety as well as the condition of the
plant In the largelimbed late maturing varieties the crop
should be laid by as early as possible in order to check the leaf
growth and encourage the plant to begin taking on fruit for when
the plant is growing rapidly it does not often form fruit at the
same time On the other hand with the smaller varieties if the
crop is in promising condition that is if the development of fruit
and foliage is properly balanced the surface cultivation may be con
tinued well into August one shallow furrow in the middle being alL
that is necessary
FORAGE CROPS
Let every spare moment be utilized for getting in the various
forage crops peas millet foddercorn etc and as the opportunity
occurs prepare for sowing clover In almost any locality German
clover may be made a profitable crop and in more northern lati
tudes the other varieties may also be successfully managed In
preparing for clover of all kinds the annual as well as other va
rieties the soil must be deeply and thoroughly broken and then110
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
harrowed to as fine a tilth as possible Iu the inquiry columns
will be found full directions as to making and saving this crop more
especially the annual crimson or German variety all of which
names apply to the same variety There is also an inquiry as to fill
ing a silo and although we have previously replied to repeated in
quiries on this subject we again give all the principal points on this
truly important subject for although at the South we are blessed
with a genial climate and our stock is not confined to shelter
during the entire winter ensilage has been found a most valua
ble aid in supplementing the regular ration for all farm animals
the hog alone excepted
CLOVER
Where clover has been seeded with the grain crops the mistake
is often made of allowing the weeds to spring up after the grain is
cut and if nothing is done to check their growth they mature
and not only deprive the young clover of that much plant food
but by developing a full supply of seeds lay the foundation for
a bigger and more troublesome crop another year To prevent this
seeding run over the field with a mower when the weeds are about
half a foot high and before the seeds have formed Set the
mower so as to take off about half their growth This will pre
vent them from seeding and the fallen tops will act as a mulch and
shade to the young clover a very important consideration in
our climate
WEEDS
on ditches terraces fence corners and fence rows should also
be prevented from seeding Select every favorable opportunity
during the late summer and early fall and cut them down be
fore the seeds are formed The labor of doing this now is far lighter
than if the work is put off until a younger heavier and more
widely disseminated crop springs up to interfere with another
years work
PEAS
The difficulty of obtaining seed peas is one evidence that
farmers are beginning to appreciate the importance of this
crop to the improvement of the land as well as the feedino 0fAnnual Publication foe 1896
Ill
stock Everywhere we see evidence that they are taking hold of
this work in earnest but it cannot be urged too often that no
corn crops should be laid by without sowing peas either
broadcast or in the middles over the entire field Also work
over the wheat and oat stubbles and sow the peas broadcast or if
time and other work are pressing run off the rows about two
and onehalf or three feet apart plant the peas and break out the
middles later as opportunity occurs If practicable apply equal
parts of kainit and phosphate at the rate of about 200 pounds
to the acre This will increase the growth and vigor of the peas
and they in turn will gather a supply of nitrogen and humus
two most important agents in reinvigorating our hardrun and
overtaxed fields Besides these two important offices they also
serve to shade the land and keep down the weeds In our climate
bare lands steadily retrograde The alternate blistering heat and
washing rains deprive them of untold and uncalculated amounts
of plant food Any crop which will cover the land will serve to arrest
this steady drain but for the above reasons leguminous crops are to
be preferred
THE LATE CROP OF IRISH POTATOES
is becoming a very important item in our fall trade Full direc
tions have heretofore been given for preparation planting fertiliz
ing etc When one does not care to take the trouble to bed the
potatoes in order to secure sprouted seed the Lookout Mountain
furnishes a variety which is sure to produce a good stand It is
peculiarly adapted for fall plauting and produces abundantly
SWEET POTATOES
may be set out during the entire month using cuttings from the
vines which produce the smoothest best keeping potatoes The
cuttings should not be too long three eyes are sufficient for rapid
rooting The longer cuttings will produce a greater number of
potatoes but the quality and size will be inferior
FALL OATS AND RYE
Dont put off until the last moment sowing oats and then hur
riedly and superficially scratch in a crop which of all others has112
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
proved most valuable to the farmer The present year has again
illustrated the fact that the spring sown crop cannot be relied on
but that the fall crop if properly prepared for and sown early
enough is almost certain Prepare the land thoroughly to be
ready to begin sowing in September The value of rye as a reno
vator a grain food for stock during the winter months and an ac
cumulator of humus is not generally fully appreciated While
not as valuable as peas if sown on the pea stubble it will take
hold of the work where the peas left off and continue it through
the winter It is a very hardy crop and if sown in the cotton
fields does much to prevent the wasting and washing of the
cleanly cultivated soil
SORGHUM
nay still be planted to advantage The Early Amber is best for
the late plantings It is exceptionally good for fattening hogs
and f cut before the seeds fully form mav be fed with profit to all
farm animals only being careful to regulate the amount as like
all other green foods it is injurious if given in unlimited quan
titles
PASTURES
often fail at this season and while the hot dry weather may seem
sufficient reason to many for this failure very often it is the result
of too close grazing The stock are turned on day after dav in
discriminately and no thought is given to the fact that any plant
will at last fail if its foliage is continually destroyed The grass
is given no time to repair the daily damage and the consequence
is that being eaten off as fast as it tries to put out a fresh growth
it finally gives up the fight and our midsummer pastures become
brown and bare It is here that the green crops of sorghum for
age corn peas clover come in as a most valuable supplement and
feed systematically will save the pastures and in the fall the
abundant growth which has sprung up on them will give the ani
mals a good start and save the use of much of the stored winter
R T NesbittAnnual Publication for 1896
CONDITION OF CROPS
113
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN CORNCOTTON PROMISES WELL
WHEAT AND OATS HARVESTED
COTTON
This the chief money crop of the Southern States at this time
promises well The plant at this time is large and healthy and
blooming has commenced unusually early in most sections of the
State As a rule the crop is fairly clean though here and there a
report comes of grassy fields There are many complaints of lice
but the plants have attained such size that these cau do no great
amount of harm Though the crop looks unusually well for this
date still it is too early to make any predictions as to the ultimate
yield All men who raise cotton know that July and August are
the months that tell the tale and until they are safely passed
there is no certainty of a large yield
CORN
There has been a great improvement during June in this crop
The dry weather of April and May had induced but little growth
and given the blades a yellow cast Through June however we
have had good rains and corn has grown rapidly and assumed its
usual rich dark green color The prospect is good in all sections
of the State except in isolated cases where from lcal drouth over
small areas or from want of work the crop will be cut off
WHEAT AND OATS
have both been harvested the former turning out better than
usual though I regret that but little was planted in the State
The oat crop proved a failure not over 50 per cent of an average
crop This failure must be attributed to the severe spring drouth
extending through April and May Much of the oat and wheat
stubble has already been sowed to peas and turned under and this
with the now almost universal practice of sowing peas broadcast at
the last plowing of corn is indicative of a determination on the
part of our farmers to keep up the fertility of their lands
8aHt Department of AgricultureGeorgia
OTHER CROPS
Sugar cane sorghum groundpeas all doing well and so is rice
both upland and lowland An unusually large crop of sweet po
tatoes has also been planted With a few more weeks of seasona
ble weather the farmers will again be blessed with an abundant
provision crop
FRUIT
The fruit crop has this year disappointed expectations A fair
crop of both peaches and apples was promised but the unusually
dry spring and the unchecked attacks of various insects caused
most of these fruits to fall and the crop will be short The various
insect enemies of all fruits have become so firmly established in
this State that we can no longer expect a good crop unless we re
sort to a proper spraying of the trees Where this course has been
pursued this year a good crop has rewarded the grower The
acreage in melons was greatly reduced this year aud good prices
should be realized for this crop Grapes promise abundant yield
STOCK
The condition of all kinds of stock is unusually good throughout
the State Some cases of glanders among horses have been re
ported and upon the advice of the department the owners have
promptly destroyed them Our farmers should use every care in
buying stock and only from responsible parties The roving
bands of gipsy horsetraders frequently palm off diseased animals
on unsuspecting farmers aud they should not be permitted to ply
their rascally vocation in the StateAnnual Publication for 1896
115
QUESTIONS AND ANSWEES
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS INQUIRY BOX FOR THE MONTH
OF JULYGENERAL RULES FOR APPLYING FERTILIZERS
TO DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF LANDHOW TO DESTROY
PARASITES IN STOCKCURE FOR GRUBS IN THE HEAD OF
SHEEPCURING CORN CROP ETC
QUESTION
Can you give me some idea about applying plant food to dif
ferent qualities of land Of course I know that no specific rules
can be given but in a general way I would like to have some re
liable guide so that when I begin to make my estimates for fertil
izers I may not apply certain kinds where not needed or leave off
au important constituent where most necessary I know that I
have wasted hundreds I may say thousands of dollars by an in
judicious use of various plant foods which if properly applied
would have been money in my pocket Even at this late day I
wish if possible to obtain a clearer knowledge of certain princi
ples of which I was lamentably ignorant
ANSWER
It may be set down as a general rule that unless land has a rea
sonable amount of humus no commercial fertilizer will succeed
well This isthe one grand mistake that most Southern farmers
have made We have sedulously cultivated most of the humus
out of our lauds paid very little attention to rotation of crops or
other means for replacing it and then depended on commercial
fertilizers to do the entire work We should make this question
of the needs of the different crops one of earnest study Having
learned their requirements and habits of growth we become better
qualified to regulate their relations in our general farm manage
ment and thus secure ourselves against the mistake of planting in
succession two or more crops on the same land which absorb very
much the same amounts as well as the same qualities of plant116
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
food By a careful regulation of this succession of crops we can
in great measure control the constituents in most soils and also
get the very best returns from elements of plant food which too
often by thoughtless cultivation are prevented from doing their
best service or allowed to waste altogether Your question is com
prehensive because the needs of the land are so intimately associ
ated with the needs of the crops that we can scarcely discuss one
without including the other
The Cornell Experiment Station givessome general rules for
applying plant food to the ordinary classes of lands of which the
following are some of the principal points Reclaimed low land
rich in vegetable matter is likely to be rich in nitrogen but defi
cient in phosphoric acid Well drained high land particularly on
exposed locations is more likely to be deficient in nitrogen than
in phosporic acid A small growth of leaf or stalk if the plant
is otherwise favorably developed indicates a deficiency of nitrogen
For instance a large yield of plump bright grain from a small or
moderate size stalk indicates an abundance of phosphoric acid and
potash in the soil and a lack of nitrogen On the other hand a
redundancy of leaf and stalk with a small light grain indicates an
abundance of nitrogen and an insufficient amount of phosphoric
acid and potash As a rule plants having the greatest leaf devel
opment require the most potash Farm manures that have been
well cared for and protected contain about twice as much nitrogen
as phosphoric acid and therefore land that has received recent
liberal applications of barnyard manures is not apt to be deficient
in nitrogen In purchasing commercial fertilizers it is well to re
member that highgrade goods give more plant food for their cost
than low grade
Soils that contain an abundance of lime do not need much phos
phoric acid but require potash If the soil is not rich in lime
acid phosphate is the best form as well as the cheapest source of
phosphoric acid If cotton is the crop to be grown the less solu
ble and less expensive brands give as good results because the
plant continues its growth through a long season But for corn
grain or any quickly maturing crop it is important to use theAnnual Publication for 1896
117
more soluble forms Nitrogenous fertilizers are expensive and are
not needed on soils which produce a good stalk or leaf growth but
if the plants are weak and small give them nitrogen Cottonseed
meal and nitrate of soda are the best forms for general use
If large amounts of fertilizers are to be used apply broadcast
before planting if only a limited amount apply in the drill and
run a long narrow scooter in the same furrow to thoroughly mix
the fertilizer with the soil In the limits of an article like this we
can only touch on the most important points of this farreaching
subject It is one ever new and ever developing If where con
ditions are suitable we would grow peas it is not yet too late to
sow them cut the hay turn under the stubble and before plant
ing put on our fertilizers which can be applied more heavily be
cause of the humus furnished by the peas we would soon beable
to produce more satisfactory and better paying crops This system
holds good for cotton corn and all small grain crops Cowpeas
should be sown on all land uot in other crops and if they are
never gathered they make a good return in their improvement to
the land though a better one if the vines are utilized for hay
and the stubble turned under
Our decision as to whether we will apply our fertilizers in the
drill or broadcast must be influenced by the kind of crop and
special local conditions If the crop needs the stimulus during its
first stages or only a small quantity is used then drill in a part of
the fertilizer with the seed otherwise broadcast if the quantity
warrants this plan Materials which are readily soluble may be
scattered over the surface Of these there are nitrate of soda sul
phate of ammonia soluble phosphates and soluble potash salts
Others not so easily dissolved are better well mixed through and
beneath the soil They then become more rapidly soluble and are
also better retained in the soil Of these there are dried blood
bone meal fish scrap etc The first class are better applied just as
the crop is ready to utilize them or they may leach out of the soil
before the plants can take them up The second class in which we
may also reckon stable manure cottonseed meal and certain potash
compounds as well as soluble phosphates should be applied to the
land before the crop commences its growth118
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
SALT TO DESTROY PARASITES IN STOCKGRUBS IN SHEEP
QUESTION
I notice that my sheep and cattle the young lambs and calves
particularly aie every year after being turned on the pastures
affected with some disease which often causes them to droop and
in some cases die I can assign no certain cause for this trouble
the pastures are abundant and there is a stream of pure running
water in easy access Can you suggest any cause for this Is
there any certain cure for grub in the head of sheep
ANSWER
We should judge from your description that your cattle need
salt Every pasture no matter how well manured or how flourish
ing is more or less infested with the germs of parasitical diseases
The eggs or larvaj of the parasites are deposited on the young
tender grass and are taken into the stomachs of the animals while
feeding Salt is about the only practical means which we can use
to prevent injury from their attacks Salting once or twice a week
will not be sufficient Salt is as much a necessity to animals as to
man and should be placed where they can have daily access to it
A little copperas mixed in the salt about twice a month in the pro
portion of one part to ten of salt has been found beneficial An
occasional dose of sulphur is also good
For the grub prevention is the only sure and paying remedy
If the cattle are provided with a place where they will be protected
from the sun during the hot months they will escape in great meas
ure the attacks of the flies Thick woods or a dark shed will furnish
this protection and sheep thus sheltered will have almost entire
immunity from grubs in the head It is well however to watch
them both old and young and once or twice a month syringe out
their nostrils with turpentine and linseed oil equal parts An ex
perienced sheepman says the best way to do this is to insert the
syringe three or four inches up the nostril give a quick syringe and
let go the head at once In a short time treat the other nostril the
same way Tarring the nostrils has also been used with encourag
ing success It is better to spend some effort in the use of preven
tives than to waste our time and strength in endeavoring to re
move the grubs after they have obtained a firm footholdAnnual Publication for J896
119
AN INQUIRY ABOUT LICE
QUESTION
Our cotton plants are covered with lice Some spots have turned
red and the leaves crisp up Can you suggest a remedy
ANSWER
It is not often that any poisonous remedies are used against cot
ton lice which in some seasons do a great deal of damage to the
stand of cotton They flourish most during the cool nights of
spring A remedy highly recommended and doubtless better than
the arseuites is tobacco Make a decoction by boiling refuse to
bacco stems or dust in water or by pouring boiling water over
them Reduce the strength of this decoction by the addition of
cold water until there are two gallons of water to every pound of
tobacco used Sprinkle on the plants affected
The kerosene emulsion can also be used successfully against all
the aphides or plant lice family Of course care must be taken
that the emulsion is very thoroughly mixed as free kerosene is very
likely to kill the leaves it gets on Rapid cultivation frequently
does good either by knocking off and covering up many of the lice
or by inducing such a vigorous growth as to hide or quickly repair
their ravages The cool nights of May generally bring these lice
and as a rule they disappear before the hot sunshine and warm
nights of June
PREVENTIVE FOR THE HORN FLY
QUESTION
Is there any sure preventive for the horn fly If so please give
it through your inquiry columns
ANSWER
The eggs of the horn fly are deposited in freshly dropped cow
dung in which the larvae develop During hot weather the change
from egg to fly may be completed in two weeks They may be
kept off of cattle by the application of fish oil to which a little
carbolic acid is added The application should be very light and
repeated every four or five days This keeps off the flies but does
not kill them They may be killed by the use of tobacco powder120
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
dusted on the cattle along the back neck and tail and at the base
of the horn A good authority recommends the fish oil for the
belly udder and other parts of the body where the tobacco cannot
well be applied and the powder for the other parts of the animal
The larvae can be destroyed by scattering the droppings of the cow
each morning so that they will quickly dry up preventing the
development of the eggs The same end may be attained by mix
ing plaster with the manure in the stable or lot
CUEING THE CORN CROPSHREDDING
QUESTION
Can a small farmer succeed in shredding his corn crop after he
lias saved it in the shocks I mean is it practical for him to cut it
up without a machine It seems to me a most tedious and ex
pensive job I would like to cure my corn in this way as I am
fully aware of the superior advantages of the plan but I am de
terred by the trouble of getting it properly cut and stored
ANSWER
Until we can have some arrangement similar to that for harvest
ing our grain crops that is until the machines can be carried to the
small farmers the plan of cutting and curing the corn stalk and
all with a view of shredding will not be found practical Farmers
who plant large areas in com will find a machine an economical
investment but small farmers although they may understand that
much of the most valuable constituents of our crop are lost by our
wasteful methods of stripping off the fodder and ears and leaving
the bare stalks standing yet cannot afford the expense of a machine
Until these machines come into general use on the same plan as
our public gins and threshers the man of small means must bide
his time He may however avoid much trouble from cut worms
by cutting down the stalks and using them in the bedding for his
stock The standing stalks furnish a breeding place and protection
for the worms and if these are plowed into the laud with the
stalks when turned under they often destroy the crop We trust
the time will come when we will never see a corn stalk left stand
ing in our fields but the whole plant stalk blades and ears will
be applied to the more economical usesAnnual Publication for 1896
121
PLANTING FALL TURNIPS
QUESTION
Please tell me how to get my laud ready for a fall crop of tur
nips what kiud ofmanure to use aud how to prevent injury from
the turnip fly which I have found very troublesome and destructive
when the plauts begin to grow
ANSWER
Break your land thoroughly and deeply leaving it well pulver
ized and free from clods Use well rotted stable manure if you
can get it aud thoroughly incorporate it with the soil Plant in
the drill and cultivate rapidly if you expect fine turnips They
are generally too crowded in the drill and should be left at least a
foot apart to attain fine size It is exceedingly difficult to guard
against the ravages of the fly as they frequently destroy the young
plants as soon as they appear above the ground To prevent this
as soon as you discover the turnips coming up dust them heavily
with a mixture of equal parts of plaster and wood ashes air
slacked lime from oyster shells has also been used in the same
manner by market gardeners Sprinkling wood ashes or lime on
the ground as soon as the seed is sown is also recommended by
some
SEVERAL REMEDIES FOR LICE ON COTTON
QUESTION
I inclose you some bugs which as you will see are injuring
the cotton A great many have recently made their appearance in
this section They stick so fast to the leaf that they will pull in
two before they will let loose Please tell me what they are and
how to get rid of them
ANSWER
The bugs you send are called lady bugs or lady birds of which
there are several varieties They are friends to the farmer and
fruit raiser and should never be injured Your cotton is being
damaged by lice aud the lady bugs are present because they live
on aphides or plant lice wherever they can find them whether on122
Department op Agriculture Georgia
the cotton plant or on the leaves of the various fruit trees or
elsewhere The larva of the lady bug when about to transform
to a pupa attaches the end of its abdomen to a leaf when shortly
the skin splitting at the back of the head permits the beetle to
come out leaving the shedded skin firmly attached to the leaf
The only practicable remedy for the lice on cotton is to encourage
raPd growth of the plants thus enabling them to endure and
survive the attack of the lice This can be done bv judicious
fertilizing and frequent plowing after the plant is up In small
or what we farmers call fancy patches of cotton spraying with
strong soap suds weak lye or tobacco water not very strong would
be productive of good but these remedies could not well be ap
plied on large fields
CRIMSON CLOVER
QUESTION
What is the best month to sow crimson clover What time
should it be cut and how shall I manage to have it reseed itself
Does this crop improve the land to the same degree as peas and
other varieties of clover
ANSWER
September and October according to locality are the best
months to sow crimson clover The ground must be put in first
class condition and if necessary kainit and acid phosphate ap
plied Sow and roll as for other clovers Just as the heads begin
to show in the spring it may be cut or it may be grazed and if the
cutting is stopped or the cattle taken off in March it will again
spring up perfect seed and dying down scatter them over the
land where they will remain dormant until September when the
young clover will again come into life and gradually recover the
Jand As a leguminous plant it is fully as valuable as peas or
other varieties of clover
HORSE SUFFERING FROM INDIGESTION
QUESTION
I have a horse seven years old does very little work gets plentv
of corn and fodder eats heartily yet is poor all the time Can
hear his stomach roaring often seems drowsy sweats easily Can
you give me some remedyAnnual Publication for 1896
123

ANSWER
Your horse is suffering from indigestion caused probably by
irregular teeth which do not properly masticate the food and the
stomach then cant digest it Examine teeth and if they are sound
and smooth the indigestion then proceeds from some other cause
Change food often feed green stuffa pasture would greatly benefit
him Give plenty of salt and a tablespoonful of the following
morning and evening in feed
Powdered gentian 1 ounce
Powdered mix vomica 1 ounce
Common baking soda 2 ounces
Under this treatment your animal should improve
TO KEEP WORMS OUT OF DRIED FRUIT
QUESTION
How can I keep worms out of dried fruit in the summer season
ANSWER
The worms that appear in your dried fruit are probably hatched
from eggs deposited during the process of drying the fruit in the
open air on dishes and trays The egg being deposited I know
of no plan by which you can prevent its hatching Possibly if
the sundried fruit before being put up for the summer could be
subjected to a high artificial heat for a short time the vitality of
the eggs might be destroyed and your fruit be free from worms
The best plan is to dry your fruit in an evaporator where no in
sects can reach it to deposit their eggs Then as soon as dry pack
in boxes or tie up in paper bags and keep in cool dry place
Fruit thus treated will never have any worms will be better fla
vored better colored and will sell for more than that dried in
the sun
FERTILIZING SUGAR CANE
QUESTION
I have low gray sandy land in sugar canenot bottom land I
put freely of stable manure in the drill when planting cane which
is now the best I ever saw I want to make it do all it can so
please advise me as to the best fertilizer to apply in the siding fur
rows at the next plowing124
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
Your land having already had a liberal dose of stable manure at
planting time which has thus far pushed forward the growth of the
cane should uow receive 300 to 400 pounds of cottonseed meal in
the sding furrows The nitrogen in the meal seems to be especially
adapted to pushing forward and developing all members of the
grass family to which sugar cane belongs In addition to the large
percentage of nitrogen thereis from 2 to 3 per cent of phosphoric
acid and 1 to 2 per cent of potash in cottonseed meal
MELANOSIS IN COWS
QUESTION
I have a cow in a strange fix knots swell up in her flanks or
just in front of her shoulders or just under her ears from as big
as your fist to as big as a mans head She is losing flesh rapidly
I lease name the disease and is it catching
ANSWER
The trouble with your cow is called melanosis It is usually
found in white cattle or horses It is a morbid deposit of the
pigment or coloring matter in the blood giving rise to tumors
It is not contagious and it is not advisable to cut out the tumors as
others will appear in different places It is a very rare disease
and is always fatal
TEATS COVERED WITH WARTS
QUESTR N
I have a fine Jersey heifer 18 months old with her first calf
One of her teats is nearly covered with warts and they are rough
and sore giving trouble in milking How can I take them off
ANSWER
The quickest aud bestway to get rid of the warts is by the use
of the knife afterwards applying acetic acid to the exposed raw
places for four or five days Of course you will have great diffi
culty m milking her for a few days after cutting off the warts and
they are not very troublesome it might be better to defer cutting
them until she goes dryAnnual Publication foe 1896
125
AUGUST
TALK OF THE COMMISSIONER TO FARMERS
CROPS OF THE STATE DAMAGED BY HEAVY AND CONTINUED
RAINSFARMERS AGAIN URGED TO PLANT FALL IRISH POTA
TOESTHE COMMISSIONER ADVISES THE SOWING OF PEAS
AND MILLET ON OVERFLOWING LAND
Agricultural Department
Atlanta Ga August 1 1896
The heavy and continued rains throughout the State succeeding
the protracted drouth have worked some damage to the crops
The fields at one time phenomenally clean now begin to show
some grass and weeds and cotton has suffered both from the wet
weather and the cool nights causing a too rapid growth and a dis
position to rust When the steady sunshine comes again it may
become necessary with late cotton on account of these conditions
to plow this crop again the rams having prevented the work at
the proper time but it should be done on a level and so shallow
that no injury is done the roots which now penetrate in all direc
tions very near the surface Ordinarily when the first of August
comes if the crops are in good growing condition no further work
is needed At this seasou we are anxious that the energies of the
plant should be directed to producing fruit rather than foliage
We know that stirring of the soil produces the latter Therefore
if the cotton has attained a good size and there is not enough grass
to seriously interfere let the plows stop Keep the
SWEET POTATOES
clean and with a hoe or fork loosen the vines that may have taken
root in the middles They will only form small inedible potatoes
each one of which detracts that much from the main vine If the
patch is intended for hogs however it does not make any material
difference if the vines are left to root at will126
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
FALL IRISH POTATOES
should also be planted We have repeatedly referred to the iml
portance which this crop is assuming and have given full directions
for those who wish to try it and havent the experience necessary
to make it a success As a strictly fall potato the Lookout MounI
tain stands as yet without a superior They will produce a practiJ
cally perfect stand which is an undertaking of some difficulty with
the ordinary spring grown seed but they cannot be used for thed
early spring crop as their powers of reproduction seem dormantl
until a later period Therefore if the fall crop is planted with a view
to raising seed for the early spring market potatoes from those dugl
last month should be used under conditions to which we have herel
tofore referred at length
FODDER PULLING
Until some economical plan is perfected by which the entire
plant stalk blade ear shuck and top can be saved and housed
we are compelled to continue the timehonored but expensive pro
cess of fodder pulling Under this plan much of the actual value
of the corn crop one of our principal resources is absolutely lost
wasted in the fields The machines at present in use for cutting up
and storing the entire product are too expensive for private use
except in the case of extended farm operations but when the far
mers have solved the question of saving the whole crop without
the unnecessary waste of any part of it doubtless the necessary
machinery to store and preserve it will be at hand This has been
the history of agriculture and it holds good in every department
of our work The Englishman who used the first drill for sowing
seed only excited the jeers of the incredulous onlookers whose
comment was that he was sowing pepper out of a cruet In
England today the drill is universally employed aud the farmers
wonder how they have ever managed without it It is an encour
aging sign that inquiries on this and many other subjects connected
with the development of our industry are being received from dif
ferent quarters The time may have been when anything was con
sidered good enough to farm with but that day has passed The
conviction that careless farm methods do not pay is becoming more
firmly grounded each dayAnnual Publication for 1896
127
PREPARATION FOR FALL CROPS
The most that can be done this month is to prepare for crops
that are to be planted later on Success with these crops means that
we give them a good deep seed bed and plenty of food On poor
hard soils it is useless to make the attempt By care in the selec
tion of seeds and soils and by judicious preparation and manuring
any farmer may have an abundance of forage during the
winter If we have stable manure nothing gives a better founda
tion and on this we may build with commercial fertilizers Clov
ers red and white and winter grasses thrive best on stiff soils
Of the latter orchard and red top are better adapted to our soir
and climate than blue grass Bermuda if grown with the white
clover furnishes a most excellent combination neither interfering
materially with the other The Bermuda is shallow rooted and a
hot weather plant the clover deep rooted and attaining its best
growth in the cooler months On sandy or light soils none of
these clovers or winter grasses succeed well On this quality of
land it is better to plant crimson or burr clover They are hardy
and properly managed will hold their own against all odds If
the stock is taken off or the cutting stopped by the first of April
the clover seed will mature and scatter over the ground The
land can then be put in late corn or in peas and when these crops
are taken off the September rains will cause the dormant clover
seed to spring into life and soon cover the ground with another
crop which will furnish good grazing or cutting during the winter
Rye and barley are also suited to light lands and furnish splendid
green food for winter use All manure for these crops should be
thoroughly worked into the soil and the land brought into the best
condition by repeated plowiugs harrowiugs and rollings From
the first to the middle of September is about the time for seeding
sow liberally cover lightly and roll
The land for sowing wheat should have been selected before
this and kept as far as possible free from weeds and grass as
wheat does best on clean land Wholesome unadulterated
homemade flour is a blessing and the manure for a wheat crop
and the stubble after the crop is cut furnish both food and hu128
Department of AgricultureGeoegia
mus on which to build future crops and the latter assists in
preventing washing of the land Dont delay sowing the fall
oats which in nine cases out of ten succeed better than the
spring sown grain Be careful to select Southern grown and
wmter raised seed On general principles it is well to sow in
gram or grass every acre on the farm which can be so utilized
The work can go on from the first of September and with fa
vorable seasons continue into December and once accom
plished acts as a safeguard against washing and consequent
leaching of the soil Besides the harvested crops furnish a
residue of humus for succeeding crops
SOWING PEAS AND MILLET ON OVERFLOWED LAND
We have had several inquiries as to the advisability of sow
ing peas and millet on the bottom lands which have been over
flowed by the recent heavy rains Our reply has been invari
ably that it be done at once We are now engaged in sowing
a rich bottom on which the corn has been drowned out in
these two crops and if the seasons are suitable will gather an
abundant harvest of splendid hay The millet lessens the diffi
culty of curing the peavines and together they form a first
class feed
TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS
which have been in use to make this years crop should not he
left to rust and ruin in the fields Good work cannot be done
with tools m such condition and not only this but they require
extra power to work them It is less trouble and expense to
clean them off now and put them under shelter than to strug
gle with them rusty and out of order in making another crop
or to buy new ones With a little care the old ones will do
just as good work
R T Nesiutt Comm
issionerAnnual Publication for 1896
129
CROP CONDITIONS
TOO MUCH RAIN IN JULY PROVED AN INJURY TO COTTON IN
SOME SECTIONS
COTTON
Too much rain through July has injured this crop in many
portions of the State The early planted cotton that came up
promptly is good having grown finely and fruited well On
the other hand the cotton that was planted late or was late in
coming up on account of the dry April and May has not and
is not doing well While it has grown rapidly and made a large
weed it has not fruited correspondingly A good deal of rust
also has developed in the cotton fields particularly on sandy
aud flat lands In the southern counties of the State picking
has begun the crop being a few days earlier than usual The
indications now are for a good yield and a full average crop
CORN
Another bountiful crop of this valuable cereal is assured for
the State While in some portions of the commonwealth the
crop is cut off by dry weather in most counties the yield will
be as heavy as it was last year and again as in 1895 Georgia
will not have to look to the West for her bread and meat The
heavy rains of the past month have caused overflows inmost
of the rivers and creeks and much of the bottom land corn has
in that way been injured or totally destroyed Most of the crop
throughout the State has been laid by clean of both grass
and weeds Fodder pulling has commenced in South Georgia
but daily rains render it almost impossible to save any in good
condition
WHEAT AND OATS
Not much wheat planted in the State but the yield of that
planted was very satisfactory Oats in many cases were an
entire failure and the crop in the aggregate was very short130
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
We can never count on a full oat crop when planted in the
winter or spring The true time to plant oats in Georgia is
from the middle to the last of September according to locality
Wanted properly at that time they will survive four out of five
winters and yield good crops
FIELDPEAS
I think there are more fieldpeas planted than ever before
The farmers seem fully awake to the importance of planting
this valuable renovator of the soil and now wherever you bo
in the State you will find the fields that were in oats or wheat
sowed to peas and peas growing all through the corn fields
broadcasted or drilled there at the last plowing This is just
as it should be and indicates that the fanners have determined
to ennch their lands without relying solely on commercial fer
tuizers
CANE AND SORGHUM
These important crops are both in fine condition well ad
vanced and promise a bountiful yield Without a drouth in
the next few weeks homemade syrup will be abundant in
Georgia next fall and winter
RICE
The crop of lowland rice is unusually promising and if the
equinoctial storms pass without damage the yield will be grati
fying Upland rice has also done well but there is not enough
planted Every farmer should plant at least a patch of this
valuable grain with the same regularity that he plants his other
ci ops
GROUNDPEAS SWEET POTATOES ETC
These crops are all doing well except in certain limited
areas where there has been a deficiency of rainAnnual Publication for 1896
131
FRUIT
Excessive rains in July have injured the various fruit crops
seriously causing peaches melons and grapes to rot Still the
supply of these fruits seems to be fairly abundant and the mar
kets are well supplied at very reasonable prices I find many
of the peaches affected with the curculio and our fruit grow
ers should take more pains to get rid of this enemy so destruc
tive to their crop
STOCK
The condition of all kinds of stock is reported as good
throughout the State but little hog cholera prevailing and the
prospect fine for a full supply of homemade meat Some cases
of glanders have been reported to the department but the ani
mals have been promptly destroyed and it is hoped that the
disease has been stamped out132
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
INQUIRY BOX FOR AUGUSTMUCH INFORMATION FURNISHED
HOW TO DESTROY WILLOWS GROWING ON CREEK BANKSTHE
BEST TIME TO PREPARE A HOTBEDREMEDY FOR TICKS ON
COWSHOW AND WHEN TO KILL BERMUDA GRASSTHE
JERSEY AS A DAIRY COW
QUESTION
Please give me the best plan to kill Bermuda grass Shall
I begin now or would it be best to wait until later
ANSWER
The late fall or winter is the best time to begin operations to
destroy a Bermuda sod Have a sharp turning plow and set it
to run about three or four inches deep The object is to go
just deep enough to get under the mat of roots and turn them
over exposing them to the drying influences of sun and
air As soon as they are somewhat dry run the harrow over
the Held This will drag many roots to the surface where they
will dry more thoroughly The horse rake can now gather
them into winrows and when dried sufliciently to tire they
should be burned Repeat this through the winter as oppor
tunity occursfirst the plowing then the harrowing lastly
rake into winrows and burning When the spring opens plant
the land in some cleanly cultivated crop and when this is taken
off put in a quickly growing smothering crop as cowpeas or
later rye oats wheat if the ground is in fine tilth crimson
clover or vetch While Bermuda is dreaded by many farmers
on account of the difficulty of eradicating it we would if we
had a wellset pasture of Bermuda hesitate a long time before
we would decide to destroy it It is peculiarly adapted to our
climate and both as a green food and for hay ranks among the
first Like ever other green thing it improves under cultureAnnual Publication for 1896
133
and with plenty of food but will also make a brave fight for
existence even under the most adverse circumstances With
cowpeasand Bermuda and the assistance of such fertilizers as
we can save or buy we ought to in time be able to fill up the
washed places and cover our worn red hills Howard an
authority on the grasses of the South says To destroy
Bermuda grass run a coulter or narrow bull tongue through it
then set a turning plow to run very shallow and turn the sur
face over but not under This exposes the roots to the cold and
frost which will certainly kill it as it will sugar cane
HOW TO PREPARE A HOTBED
QUESTION
Can you give me some dots as to how to prepare a hotbed
Also tell me when is the proper time to prepare one and sow
seeds to secure early spring plants
ANSWER
Throw out the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches in a space
as large as desired Around this and on top of the ground set
12inch planks supported in place by stakes and firmly joined
at the corners You now have a pit about two feet deep On
the bottom of this spread fresh undecomposed horse manure
and leaves to the depth of 12 inches Tramp this solid and
over it spread three or four inches of fine rich woods earth
This will bring the bed up to about eight inches of the top of
the boards Make the cover of oiled canvas or glass and have
it to fit closely to exclude the cold air In a short time the
decomposing horse manure will cause the temperature of the
bed to rise rapidly so high indeed as to kill the germs of any
seeds which may be planted in it Ko seed should be sown
until the heat subsides which may be tested by inserting sticks
at three or four different points and leaving them for twenty
four hours When withdrawn their heat is a sure index of the
temperature of the bed and we should be guided accordingly
The time for preparing the hotbed varies with locality In the
far South January and February or even December will not be
found too early farther north February or March134
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF AMMONIA
QUESTION
How shall I prevent the escape of ammonia from my manure
pile and also from my stables That it does escape I am con
vinced as more than one sense bears testimony to the fact
ANSWER
The most popular absorbent of ammonia is fine ground land
plaster or gypsum Any lowgrade potash salts will also pre
vent the escape of the ammonia If either is sprinkled in the
stable daily it will prevent any disagreeable odor arising from
the decomposing manures As to which should be used de
pends very much on the land on which the manure is to be
applied If the hind needs potash then use kainit which con
tains about 12 pounds of potash to the 100 pounds or some
other potash salts Where the land needs lime use plaster
Woods earth is also a good absorbent
TO DESTROY GROAVTH ON CREEK BANKS
QUESTION
I have tried vainly to kill some willows growing on creek
banks but they invariably spring up again from the stump
and instead of one stem send out several luxuriant shoots
Can you give me any certain plan of destroying them without
the yearly vexation of seeing them multiply instead of die
ANSAVER
We suppose that you have committed the error of cutting
down the willows during the growing season when the effect
is as you describe to encourage a fresh and perhaps more
vigorous and also more troublesome growth A better plan is
to girdle the trees about three feet from the ground and then
peel the bark down to the ground and leave it hanging there
If no strips of bark are left growing on the trees they will be
thoroughly killed to the rootsAnnual Publicationfor 1896
135
A REMEDY FOR TICKS ON COWS
QUESTION
My cows are troubled with ticks the first time in my expe
rience that they have appeared in any considerable numbers
and I am at a loss as to how I shall get rid of them Please
tell me some remedy not too expensive which will be effective
ANSWER
L At the Texas Experiment Station various tests have been
made and the following was found to be the most effective
Cottonseed oil gallon place this in a suitable vessel over a
slow fire then add J tumblerful of dead oil and the same of
pine tar Stir together and when the tar is melted remove
from the fire When cool it is ready to apply and one appli
cation is usually found sufficient to destroy the ticks in 24
hours If not thoroughly effective apply a second time After
a little practice one can judge accurately of the amount neces
sary to do the work in one application The dead oil is noth
ing more nor less than crude carbolic acid and costs about 30
to 50 cents per gallon according to quantity The cost of the
other materials is nominal If the theory that the ticks trans
mit fatal diseases holds good it is very important that they be
destroyed
TO STIMULATE THE GROWTH OF CABBAGE
QUESTION
How should I encourage my fall cabbage to quick growth
Last year they were healthy looking plants but grew so slowly
that they had not thoroughly headed when cold weather came
ANSWER
Doubtless your land was not rich enough Cabbages are
gross feeders and unless the land is very rich or made so
they will not produce good hard heads even where allowed
plenty of time The land should not only be filled with plenty136
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
of vegetable matter by broadcasting stable manure or plowing
under green crops but a commercial fertilizer with full per
centage of nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash should also be
added and this should be thoroughly mixed with the soil in
the rows before the plants are set out After being set out if
their growth is not satisfactory a top dressing of nitrate of
soda from J00 to 200 pounds to the acre will be found a won
derful stimulant It should be applied just before a rain
THE JERSEY THE BEST
QUESTION
Another year I expect to keep two or three good cows I
will have ample and comfortable accommodations and first
class food What breed would you advise me to invest in
ANSWER
All things considered we believe the Jersey oilers the great
est inducements as a dairy cow She can adapt herself to most
situations and on the same food her butter product will be
greater than that of any other breed She is not adapted for
beef her frame is small but as a milk and butter machine she
has no superior In the past few years the more general intro
duction and grading of this breed has caused prices to fall and
at the present time the possession of fullbred Jerseys need not
be limitedto men of large means A tine cow can be bought
today for far less than the price demanded even a few years
ago and graded cows onehalf threefourths or even four
fifths Jersey can be bought at very reasonable figures
BLACK RUST
QUESTION
There is a disease that is killing my cotton and already the
stand is seriously injured I send you some stalks andhope
that you can give me the name of the disease and some
remedyAnnual Publication for 1896
137
ANSWER
After a careful study of the plants you sent I am satisfied
that they are suffering from what is called black rust In
some points the leaves bear a resemblance to what is called
frenching and they also have a likeness to leaf blight
A microscopic examination is frequently necessary to distin
guish these diseases one from the other Black rust is due
to the combined effects of several microscopic plants called
fungi which growing within the leaves of the cotton plant
destroy the living tissues Man theories have been advanced
relative to the black rust in cotton Some say that it is
due to the physical condition of the soil or to a want of some
fertilizing ingredient The subject has not yet been sufficiently
investigated but it is certain that the disease has been destruc
tive on good land well fertilized Another common theory is
that black rust is due to atmospheric conditions This is
an error though it is true that certain conditions of the amos
phere conduce to the growth of the fungi Wet weather con
tinued for a long time is unfavorable to the cotton plant but
is favorable to the growth of the parasites which cause black
rust There is no remedy for this disease when its makes its
appearance and some years it is very destructive By a rota
tion of crops which would bring the land in cotton only once
in three years it is thought by many that cotton would be less
liable not only to this disease but to others which now attack
it yearly The constant cultivation of the same land in cotton
year after year enormously increases the parasites and fungir
which feeding upon the cotton plant cause it to sicken and die
By a judicious rotation of crops I believe that such diseases as
frenching blight mildew root gall and rust
might almost be obliterated while on the contrary our present
style of planting encourages their growth as well as their
virulence
THE COTTON MOTH
QUESTION
I send two moths which I think lay the eggs that produce the cot
ton worm Am I correct and if so how shall I best fight the worms138
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
The moths you sent are as you supposed the cotton moth the
forerunner of the dreaded caterpillar While as yet there have
been no complaints of caterpillars the wet weather of the past
month is very favorable to their development and I daily expect
to hear of their appearance in the cotton fields Upon their first
appearance active warfare should be waged against them This
can be done successfully and cheaply with either Paris green or
London purple One pound of either of the above arsenites mixed
with twenty pounds of flour and ten pounds of cottonseed meal
will suffice to dust over an acre of cotton This can be applied
by inclosing a half peck at a time of the above mixture in a bur
lap sack and shaking over the cotton plants whiie walking rapidly
between the rows This should be done soon in the morning
while the dew is on the leaves and must be repeated after rain if
the worms are still present The poison should be very thor
oughly mixed with the dilutents Wood ashes would do as well
perhaps better than the cottonseed meal to mix with the flour
The sieves very commonly used iu some parts of the country arc
too wasteful of the material using from 50 to 75 pounds to the
acre It is not so much the quantity but the even distribution of
the poison that is desired In some parts of the West the plants
are poisoned by attaching a bag containing Paris green to each end
of a pole 6 to 8 feet long balanced from the pommel of the saddle
The rider passing down the cotton rows the poison is dusted over
the plants at each step of the animal he rides This is probably
the most rapid way of distributing the poison At the end of the
days labor the animal should be well washed to get rid of any
particles of poison that may adhere to him So cheaply and so
thoroughly can the cotton caterpillar be destroyed that no farmer
can have any excuse for letting them eat up his cotton crop
SELECTING SEED CORN
QUESTION
Would you advise that seed corn be selected in the field or is it
just as well to select the fine ears after the corn is housed MyAnnual Publication for 1896
139
plan has always been to keep boxes or barrels handy and in taking
the feed corn out of the crib to reserve the very fine ears by
throwing them into these receptacles
ANSWER
In selecting seed corn we should reserve not only the finest ears
but these should be taken from the best stalks After the corn is
gathered and thrown into the crib we of course can form no idea
of the stalks on which the best ears were grown and therefore it
is the safest plan to select the seed from the field as the crop is
gathered This may be done by going through the field select
ing the finest ears on the most vigorous and best developed stalks
The ears should not only be large but well formed alsothat is
the same or nearly the same size from tip to tipwell filled at the
ends as well as in the middle the cob small and the grains wedge
shaped that is much smaller at the bottom than at the top If not
practicable to gather the seed corn first then have a box in the
wagon and as the crop is gathered throw the selected ears in this
If you do not make the selection yourself dont trust it to the
judgment of the ordinary farm handdelegate it to some one on
whose discrimination you can depend In the matter of seed corn
fanners as a rule do not realize the importance of careful selection
By actual test it has been shown that good seed will make a differ
ence of several additional bushels to the acre To keep up this
advantage the seed should be selected every year and not once in
three or four years In making selections select from stalks with
two ears
FORMULA FOR BORDEAUX MIXTURE
QUESTION
Please tell me if the Bordeaux mixture will protect from mil
dew and blights and if so how shall I make it
ANSWER
The Bordeaux mixture is very beneficial in preventing the at
tacks of fungi and blights and is made according to the following
official formula of the United States Department of Agriculture 140
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
la a barrel that will hold 45 gallons dissolve six pounds of cop
per sulphate using 8 or 10 gallons of water or as much as may be
necessary for the purpose In a tub or half barrel slake four
pounds of fresh lime When completely slaked add enough water
to make a creamy whitewash Pour this slowly into the barrel
containing the copper sulphate solution using a coarse gunny sack
stretched over the head of the barrel for a strainer Finally fill
the barrel with water stir thoroughly and the mixture is ready
for use Prepared in this way the cost of one gallon of the mix
ture will not exceed 1 cent the price of copper sulphate being 7
cents per pound and lime 50 cents per bushel In all cases it is
desirable to use powdered copper sulphate as it costs but little
more and dissolves much more readily It is highly important also
that fresh lime be used By the addition of Paris green or Lon
don purple to the Bordeaux mixture you will have an excellent
insecticide and fungicide combined For plums peaches and other
stone fruits you can add two ounces of Paris green to 45 gallons
of the Bordeaux mixture without injury to the leaves For other
fruits use from three to four ounces of either Paris green or Lon
don purple to 45 gallons of the Bordeax mixture
IRISH POTATOES
QUESTION
Can I make a second or summer crop of Irish potatoes and
if so where will I get seed
ANSWER
There is no trouble to make a second or late crop of Irish
potatoes provided you go about it the right way It used to
be the custom to throw back the small potatoes and cover them
while digging the crop depending upon them to come up and
produce a second crop This was very unsatisfactory as the
stand was generally poor and the yield small Of late years
the following much better plan has been successfully followed
Select from the first crop after they have been dug two or
three weeks mediumsized smooth tubers and bed them as youAnnual Publication for 1896
141
would sweet potatoes only using no manure and covering only
about two inches in dirt From the middle of July to the first
of August in Middle Georgia take up these bedded potatoes
and plant whole only those that show signs of sprouting Plant
as you would in the spring getting down as deep as possible
into the ground but covering shallow not more than two inches
deep After the potatoes are up work the dirt to them grad
ually Potatoes thus made keep readily through the winter
and make the best of seed for spring planting and are even in
great demand from the Northern States as being particularly
hardy and healthy There has recently come into notice a
variety of potato called the Lookout Mountain which seems
to be peculiarly adapted to summer planting These need not
be bedded and may be cut to seed pieces as is usually done in
spring planting I quote what our Experiment Station says of
this potato The Lookout Mountain is a potato said to
have originated in Northwest Georgia as its name indicates
and is probably a seedling from the Hoosier which it much
resembles and which shares to some extent its remarkable
keeping qualities It is quite large oblong and of excellent
quality pure white mealy and of unsurpassed flavor and rich
ness It will not do well planted as a spring crop but seems
to be especially predestined for its present missionsummer
planting Its growth is extremely upright and vigorous with
dark green foilage almost entirely exempt from the inroads of
the macrosperium fungus It may be obtained of H H
Arrington Seedsman Summerville Chattooga county Ga at
prices no greater than those ruling in season for the different
standard varieties
THE GRAPEBERRY MOTH
QUESTION
I send you some grapes I find them stuck together in
bunches of three or four They look like they are ripening
but upon examining them I find they have been bored into by
some kind of insect What are they and how can J get rid
of them 142
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
The grapes are injured by the grapeberry moth fender
mis botrana The injuries inflicted by this insect are not
always easily distinguished from the black rot The grown
moth is an active small bluish colored insect that lays her eggs
late in May or in the early part of June These hatch in a
few days and the worm at once begins to eat into the grape
The last of June or the first part of July the grapes that are
attacked begin to show a discolored spot at the place where
the worm entered
Upon opening such a grape you will finda very small white
worm with a brownish head It feeds on tbe pulp of the grape
and as it grows if one grape is not sufficient for its sustenance
it will fasten others to the one it has destroyed by means of
silken threads and bore into these one after the other eating
the pulp of each one As it matures it become darker and
finally spins its cocoon on the leaves of the vine whence it
emerges in about twelve days a little bluish colored moth
Remedies The only remedies now known are clean culture
gathering and burning the fallen leaves in winter and picking
off and destroying all infested fruit
BEETLES INJURING GRAPEVINES
QUESTION
I send some bluish colored beetles that are injuring the bud
and leaves of my grapevines Will you tell me their name
and give a remedy
ANSWER
The bluisbed colored bugs are known as the grapevine flea
beetle They do their greatest damage by boring into the
buds upon their swelling in the spring though they continue
feeding on the leaves afterwards The females lay on the un
der side of the leaves clusters of yellow eggs which in a few
days hatch out small darkbrown colored larvge These at once
begin to devour the foilage and when in large numbers soonAnnual Publication for 1896
143
leave only the ribbed skeletons of the leaves When fully
grown which takes about four weeks they leave the vine
enter the ground form earthen cocoons and change to yellow
ish pupae In about three weeks these are transformed into
the perfect beetle which again attack the leaves and lay eggs
for another brood of larvae The best remedy is spraying with
Paris green one ounce to 20 gallons of water They can also
be destroyed with pyrethrum or insect powder The beetles
are quite sluggish on cool mornings and may then be collected
on sheets by jarring the vines The cheapest and beat remedyr
though is the Paris screen144
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
SEPTEMBER
MR NESBITTS TALK TO THE FARMERS
MONTHLY LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
THE COTTON CROP CUT OFF AT LEAST A THIRD BY THE IN
TENSE HEAT AND DRYNESS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHSFARM
ERS CONSIDERING THE EXPEDIENCY OF HOLDING THEIR COT
TON FOR HIGHER PRICES ETC
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga September 1 1896
Lookiug over the cotton fields today one scarcely recognizes
them as the same which were a month ago laden with the promise
of an abundant crop At that time the plants were in luxuriant
growth although the crop as a rule got a late start in the spring
the following seasons were very propitious and thus the farmers
had ample opportunity to accomplish the first workings promptly
therefore when the needed rains in June began everything was fa
vorable and from that time the crop continued to improve so steadily
that the prospect for a heavy yield was nevermore promising On
all sides the crop was greeted by the glossy dark green of the
rapidly maturing plants The bottom crop was maturing and the
middle and top crops fast forming when the drouth of July and
August began This has been so fierce and so long continued that
in many instances particularly in the late planted cotton fields
the ground is covered with the forms and youug bolls of the mid
dle and top crops and a large percentage of the more mature bot
tom crop which still clings to the stalks has been prematurely
forced open by the intense heat and dryness The results are an
inferior staple and a stained sample Under these conditions
which are not confined to our own Statebut are even intensified in
Texas Mississippi Alabama Louisiana and Arkansas the cer
tainty of a short crop and consequent high prices seem a foregone
conclusionand many farmers are consideringAnnual Publication foe 1896
145
THE ADVISABILITY OF HOLDING COTTON
for better prices than are now quoted To give positive advice on
this question is as risky as predicting the weather or standing se
curity for the amiability of a Georgia mule Each individual
farmer must be guided by his own judgment and by circumstances
which render his selling at an early day important or immaterial
to his own business interests The visible supply of cotton is very
short and the crop is certainly cut off at least a third if not more
but on the other hand spinners are overcrowded with goods many
of the mills have shut down or are working on shorter time added
to which the financial crisis renders all predictions as to the prob
able outcome extremely uncertain Speculation also controls the
market to a great extent
EARLY AND LATE PLANTED COTTON
What is of equal importance to us and a lesson which we can
take to heart and study with profit is the superiority of the crop
on the early planted and well prepared cotton fields over that
which was carelessly prepared for aud planted late Even the in
experienced eye can detect the difference at sight On my own
farm I insisted that a portion of the cotton crop should be planted
earlyand though some of the tenants did the work under pro
test they are today rejoicing that in these fields at least a part of
the fruit remains Where the cotton was planted early land well and
deeply prepared and manuring judiciously donethe per cent of grown
bolls is very encouraging The lesson to be learned is that having
attended to the preliminaries of thorough preparation it is safer to
make one two or even three plantings with intervals between than
to trust our entire crop to one plantingand also that careless
methods do not pay We not only take greater chances on some
portion hitting the seasons properly but by planting at intervals
the ease of handling the crop is greatly increased because the cul
tivations of each planting will follow each other in such order as
to avoid the unprofitable rush which is inevitable when all are
pressing for attention at the same time The same may be said of
the gathering146
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
INCREASING THE YIELD OF LINT
to each pound of seed cotton is another subject for profitable study
and progress By systematic work on this line the sugar beet has
been made to yield double the proportion of sugar that it once did
Wheat corn oats barley all have by the same careful methods
of saving and selecting seed judiciously applying fertilizers and
thorough preparation aud cultivation been made to increase the
proportion of grain as compared to stalk chaff etc Cotton is
equally susceptible to improvement A few farmers have realized
the importance and the profit of this work and from much of the
improved seed which they have placed on the market we gain a
more wellbalanced plant aud a larger yield of lint but the ma
jority of farmers even those who have invested in these high
priced seed too often suffer them to lapse into mediocritythrough
carelessness after selection The seed for the succeeding crop is
taken indiscriminately from the seed pileor if certain pickings
are selected there is no distinction made as to the mature and im
mature bolls all are thrown into one common pile and naturally
when planting time comes the inferior seed stand an equal chance
with the good The hoe hand can mark no difference in the plants
which spring from perfect or from inferior seed and often the
former is sacrificed in the process of bringing the crop to a stand
to give place to the latter
CAREFUL SEED SELECTION
is always important but much more so this year than usual be
cause of the number of immature boils which have been forced
open by the long drouth The average proportion of lint to seed
in the usual run of cotton is about onethird that is about 100
pounds of lint to 300 pounds of seed cotton although we have
known the amount of lint to be considerably increased Any pro
cess of preparation fertilization and cultivation which will in
crease the ratio of lint without a corresponding increase in the
other parts of the plant will do much to reduce the cost of pro
duction which should be our constant aim It is known that an
excess of nitrogen will produce a luxuriant weed growth with aAnnual Publication foe 1896
147
diminished yield of fruit It is also shown by analysis that the
lint is largely composed of potash Keeping these facts in mind
and also remembering that to attain its highest benefit the plant
food for cotton must be in immediately available condition we
must conclude that the potash in our fertilizers for cotton should
be abundant and available while the ammonia and phosphoric
acid though equally available should be more restricted as to
quantity otherwise we develop the plant where we do not need it
that is in stalk foliage and seed and restrict its production of
lint which is just the reverse of what we desire to accomplish As
long as we have to use these artificial fertilizers to produce our cot
ton we should certainly study to use them to the best advantage
in order to gain a large yield of lint with a comparative small pro
portion of the other parts of the plant Another subject to which
we should give more attention is the
BALING OF OUR COTTON
The Savannah Cotton Exchange has sent out the following
circular letter which is of importance to cotton planters
For the past few years complaints from Europe as to the
condition of American cotton bales have steadily increased and
so much so was this the case this year that the Liverpool ex
change issued a circular imposing a penalty on all cotton that
was not up to a certain standard as to condition By the most
urgent effort the penalty has been postponed for another sea
son but in the meantime all handlers and packers of bales
should strive for an improvement
At a convention held in Augusta in April last at which
Charleston Savannah and other cities were represented the fol
lowing resolutions were adopted as recommendations to the
ginners and packers of cotton
That the bales should be well covered with a good quality
of bagging weighing not less than two pounds to the yard
That each bale should be tied with six ties of the standard
size148
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
That the bale should be made in boxes measuring 28 inches
in width by 58 inches in length
A uniform bale of 28x58 inches can be easily attained at a
very small expense by nailing strips of wood in boxes that are
now larger
Bales of all one size will certainly facilitate business and be
a benefit to every one in the trade but especially so to the
freight steamers and such cotton will undoubtedly command a
less rate of freight which really goes to the seller You are
therefore requested to comply with the foregoing recommenda
tions and thus assist in improving the condition of the Ameri
can cotton bales
The penalty referred to was imposed by the Liverpool Cotton
Association and was a deduction of five pounds from the
weight of each bale found to be covered with inferior bagging
and ties or in otherwise bad condition This association also
recommends the size mentioned above 28 inches wide by 58
inches long This uniformity in size will facilitate handling
and transportation vessels will be enabled to store more cot
ton in the same soace which will lower freights and result in
higher prices in our home markets A reform in this matter
would thus result in direot benefit to us the producers Very
few farmers realize that there is at present a deduction made
on account of the bad condition in which American cotton
reaches the Liverpool market and that this loss falls directly
on themselves It is deducted before the price is fixed
THE COTTON TIE TRUST
Learning that a combine is in force to wring from the farm
ers a heavy aggregate expense in the increased price of cotton
ties I as the representative of the farming industry of Georgia
and in compliance with numerous appeals from farmers have
set on foot inquiries as to the practicability of using wire as a
substitute Had the trust advanced the price in moderation no
complaint would have been made but to more than double the
price of ties without any corresponding advance in their costAnnual Publication for 1896
149
and to endeavor to force this additional price from the farmers
when they were considered powerless to prevent the gouge has
excited universal indignation The wire ties while costing less
than the steel are of lighter weight and therefore bring the
farmer less in the final disposal of his cotton but the almost
universal feeling seems to be that the greed which would thus
seek to rob the farmers should be rebuked and that the wire
tie should be used even if it costs a little more The following
will give the farmers a clear idea of what has been and what is
still being done to circumvent the plans of this trust which is
endeavoring by such unfair methods to force over 1500000
from the cotton planters of the South
TPIE COTTON TIE TRUST
Atlanta Ga Aug 3The State Department of Agriculture
has taken hold of the cotton tie trust and will make investiga
tions for the purpose of finding a substitute for the ties that
have been cornered
Commissioner R T Nesbitt today issued the following man
ifesto on the subject
To the Farmers of Georgia and the South
A few years ago we were confronted by a gigantic monop
oly the bagging trust which tried to force from the farmers
thousands of dollars which they in their depressed condition
could ill afford to lose By united efforts on the part of the
farmers this evil was averted and the octopus which had fast
ened itself on the agricultural industry was destroyed
Today we are confronted by similar trouble The manu
facturers of cotton ties have formed another great combination
and without any cause except to gratify an unlawful greed
have agreed to raise the price of their goods 100 percent If
the price of iron had advanced there might be some reason for
this action but iron was never cheaper and the same may be
said of coal and labor The fact is simply that an effort is being
made to force the farmers of the South to contribute millions to
swell the profits of a powerful combination of manufacturers150
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
The farmers are in good condition just now to fight this trust
They have their provisions there are few debts to be met until
later and therefore no pressing necessity to force their cotton
on the market I would advise that they hold meetings iu
every section of the South and denounce this attempt to de
fraud them of their earnings At the same time let them ad
vise together as to what isthe best way to meet this new enemy
Meanwhile this department will make investigation as to sub
stitutes for cotton ties that will meet the requirements of dura
bility and safety
Signed R T Nesbitt
Department of Agriculture
After careful investigation and the reception of encouraging
letters from farmers in all sections we issued the following
Atlanta Ga August 21
To the Farmers of Georgia
This department has been investigating the question of substitut
ing wire ties for the flat ties heretofore used in baling cotton and
I believe now that a satisfactory solution of the question has been
reached I now urge upon the farmers of this and the other cotton
growing States to meet together in their respective counties and
devise plans for securing wire ties If necessary delay packing
your cotton for a short time in order that you may get the wire
ties
The following letters explain the matter The ties used by
Mr George W Truitt are made by the Continental Wire Com
pany Laclede building St Louis Mo They weigh 18 pounds to
the bundle and are offered at 50 cents a bundle 30 ties on the
cars at St Louis in car loads lots or 60 cents in smaller quantities
The ties recommended by the Farmers Alliance Exchange of
South Carolina can he purchased from Washburn Moen Manu
facturing Company 241 Pearl street New York They weigh
37 pounds to the bundle and will cost 90 cents a bundle laid
down in Atlanta Any further information desired will be cheer
fully furnished upon application to this department
K T Nesbitt CommissionerAnnual Publication for 1896
151
Mr Truitt writes that the wire ties are a success in every par
ticular and Mr Duncan manager of the Farmers Alliance Ex
change of South Carolina urges its adoption at once Many other
letters indicate that it has been given a favorable reception and
has stood tests as to strength durability and injury to bagging
The heavier wire is preferred
WORK FOR THE MONTH
Push the fattening bogs Every pound of flesh gained as the
weather grows colder is made at additional expense Hogs which
are already for the knife the first cold spell make the best and
cheapest meat Give them variety of food and see that they are
kept in clean quarters with plenty of pure water to drink Give
an occasional dose of copperas and keep ashes and salt mixed dry
where they can easily reach it Fall oats should be sownthe
land well prepared and fertilized Also put in the crops of rye
and barley Where the location is suitable the grasses and clovers
should also be sown They require rich land and a fine deep seed
bed Gather the cotton as carefully as circumstances will admit
The prematurely opened boll will require more care than is usual
Dont gin when damp and dont leave exposed to the weather
R T Nesbitt Commissioner152 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
THE COTTON CROP WILL NOT BE AS LARGE AS WAS
EXPECTEDGOOD PRICES COMING
COTTON
The bright prospect of a month ago has vanished and the pres
ent outlook is about as poor as it could be The rains of July pro
duced a vigorous growth of weed and during that month the
plants were taking on fruit rapidly and the outlook was encourag
ing for a large crop About the first of August the rains ceased
and then followed several weeks of the hottest weather ever ex
perienced in the State In addition to the heat came drouth
causing the plants to shed leaves forms and even young bolls
So hot and dry has the weather been that many of the bolls have
opened prematurely resulting in great loss It is difficult to esti
mate the damage to the crop Rains now cannot add any fruit to
the plants but might enable the half grown bolls to mature A
very conservative estimate would be 25 to 30 per cent off from
what was promised on August 1 From the bad reports from all
the cotton growing States the present outlook is for a crop but
little if any in excess of the last If this estimate is correct cotton
should bring from 9 to 10 cents a pound to the farmer and I be
lieve that price will be reached whenever Liverpool recognizes the
disaster that has befallen the crop
CORN
The very fine promise of a month ago relative to this crop has
been somewhat curtailed by the drouth and heat of August The
greater part of the crop was secure when the drought came but a
considerable amount of late planted corn has been injured and
even that which was planted in good time would have filled out
and made heavier corn had the heat and drouth been less severe
Nevertheless the State is blessed with a crop sufficiently large for
all ordinary purposes and there will be no need to import corn
for man or beast Fodder pulling is over except in the more
northern counties and this valuable product has been saved in
fine conditionAnnual Publication for 1896
15a
SORGHUM SUGAR CANE ETC
These crops though injured by the heat are in fairly good con
dition and promise an average yield Grinding of the former will
very soon commence in North Georgia
SWEET POTATOES ETC
Sweet potatoes will be abundant though in some cases those
planted late will make nothing Gardens as a rule have burnt
up and very few turnips have been sowed the lack of moisture
rendering it impossible to properly prepare the ground Ground
peas and rice have both made fair crops being well advanced to
ward maturity before the August drouth came
FRUIT
The Georgia fruit crop except apples has all been marketed and
at prices which probably left a fair profit to the growers
STOCK
Condition good all over the State with very few reports of sick
ness of any kind Plenty of corn has a tendency to keep stock in
good order and healthy and following the fine corn crop of last
year the department has noticed a great diminution in the reports
of cholera and other diseases among hogs and hollowhorn hollow
tail etc among cattle154
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS QUESTION BOX FOR THE MONTH
A SIMPLE PLAN OF ASCERTAINING THE NET WEIGHT
OF HOGSHINTS TO BARN BUILDERSHOW TO BRING UP
WORN SANDY LAND TO A BETTER STATE OF FERTILITY
WORMS IN FREESTONE PEACHES
QUESTION
1 I have a piece of worn sandy land that I wish to bring up
to a better state of fertility I have just sowed it in peas after
manuring it with ashes and acid phosphate and breaking it deeply
How shall I proceed further
2 I have a tenacre piece of ground with a branch on one side
of it I think with a ram I could irrigate this land at a cost of
200 to 300 I want to raise truck Do you think I could do
so successfully
3 This land will make 1000 pounds of seed cotton to the acre
Is it good enough to at once commence putting it in garden truck
4 Will it do to sow scarlet or crimson clover behind the cotton
pickers in the fall
5 What place in Georgia ships the most garden truck
ANSWER
1 On your worn sandy land just sowed in peas June 1 the
plan will be to cut the peavines for hay about October 1 or sooner
if ready Then thoroughly break the laud applying per acre
about 200 pounds of acid phosphate and 100 pounds of cottonseed
meal there will be enough potash in the soil if you applied a
liberal dressing of ashes recently and sow the crimson clover
harrowing it in Next spring you should harvest a good crop of
clover hay and at the same time your land will be much betterAnnual Publication foe 1896
155
than at present both the peas and the clover having collected and
added nitrogen to the soil Eepeat the rotation of peas and clover
again next year and your land should then be in condition to pro
duce fair crops You will notice that by this plan while building
up the land you will at the same time be getting remunerative
crops of peavine and clover hay I would not advise the sowing
of rye with the clover as it would be of no benefit
2 I do not think it would pay you to attempt to irrigate ten
acres by the use of a ram and tank I know that you could not
d3 it at an expense of 200 or 300 and I doubt whether you
could do it at all by that system as it would take an immense
amount of water to irrigate ten acres in truck I think if you
could arrange to put the ten acres in strawberries and also to water
them if necessary it would pay you better than anything else We
frequently have a dry May like the last when strawberries fail
for want of water and in such an event if you could water yours
they would certainly prove profitable
3 If your laud is full of humus you might at once engage in
raising truck with the liberal use of fertilizers If the land is
devoid of humus you had better put scarlet clover on it this fall
to be followed by peas next spring
4 I dont think it a good plan to sow scarlet clover behind the
cotton pickers on land that must be tramped and packed The
ground on the contrary should be thoroughly prepared and fer
tilized and the clover seed harrowed in about the last of Septem
ber
5 Savannah ships more garden truck than any other place in the
State and some of the truck growers there have made a good deal
of money in the business They have however the advantage of
low freights by rail or steamship and can put their products in the
Northern markets much cheaper than you can Before engaging
in the truck business I would advise you to visit Chattanooga
where they raise a vast quantity of strawberries as well as garden
truck of various kinds Examine well the methods and the crops
cultivated by the successful men in the business and then decide
upon your courseiSH Department op AgricultureGeorgia
HAY CAPSHOW THEY ARE MADE
QUESTION
I save a good deal of hay each year but some years it is badly
damaged by rain would it pay me to get hay caps and how are
they made
ANSWER
There is no question as to the service rendered bv the hay caps
in stormy weather and they are used by many good hay makers at
the Worth To make them buy common brown sheeting 60 inches
wide Cut this into squares and sew the edges all around over a
stout cord leaving a loop of the cord at each corner about 6
inches long by which it can be fastened to the ground Make your
hay cocks some 5 or 6 feet high and about 4 feet wide at the base
ThroW the caps over the hay cocks and pin them at each corner
with a wooden pin driven into the ground If a g00d coating of
boiled hnseed oil is applied to the caps they will last longer and
um water better If care is taken of them they will last 10 or
10 years Hay caps are also made now of paper and many pre
fer them to those made of cloth Either kind will answer the pur
pose they are made for and to a hay maker are well worth their
DROPPINGS FROM THE POULTRY HOUSE
QUESTION
I have always been in the habit of keeping the droppings from
the poultry house during the summer months in boxes or barrels
and appvlng them the following fall or spring to any place which
I wish to make especially rich But I find that they become hard
and after having applied it is sometime before they are thorough
ncorporated with the soil Will you for the benefit of myself
and other poultry raisers tell me of some plan by which I may
onceveTJl 7 Cnditi0D aUd at the Same time rend a
once available for any crop I may plant Annual Publication for J 896
157
ANSWER
Your plan of keeping the droppings in boxes or barrels is of
course preferable to leaving them in the poultry houses where
they not only affect the health of the fowls but furnish a breeding
place for several forms of insect life more or less injurious Before
the droppings are placed in the barrels mix them with an equal
amount of dry earth to which has been added kainit in the pro
portions of a peck to each bushel of earth Then place in the
barrels and keep damp not wet until needed The soapsuds from
the family washing are excellent for this purpose When the time
comes for applying to fall crops the mixture will be found in fine
condition to be immediately taken up by the crops During the
winter and early spring the best plan is to broadcast the droppings
as fast as gathered up and chop or harrow them into the soil This
will prevent them from becoming hard and the necessary chemical
and mechanical changes will at once begin
HOW TO BUILD A GOOD BARN
QUESTION
I intend putting up a nice barn Am a young farmer just start
ing out and would be glad if you would give me a few important
points to be looked after in order to secure a comfortable and con
venient barn
ANSWER
The location of your barn is of the first importance It is easy
to make additions and add conveniences but if the situation is
bad the defect can never be remedied Build on a hillside and
you can so arrange as to have second story on a level with the
wagon way which is a great convenince in driving in and out and
in unloading and storing the crops It may also be arranged to
have a level drive way which adds greatly to the expedition and
ase with which the feeding the handling of the manure and other
operations may be carried on The situation should also be selected
with a view to convenience that is within easy access from the
fields and also the dwelling without being too near the latter158 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
While good drainage to prevent dampness or standing water is
important it is equally important to prevent washing Too often
we see the rich dark streams from our barnyards borne off to the
nearest watercourse to be swept beyond our reach when a little
care and forethought would enable us to preserve and add these
wasted but precious elements to our hardrun fields If possible
the barn should be protected from the cold north winds although
at the South this is not a matter of so much moment as in the
colder regions of the higher latitudes Having determined on
these main points examine different plans and settle on that which
suits you best allowing for ample room and also having an eye to
an attractive and inviting appearance to which a little whitewash
adds a wonderful percentage
WORMS IN PEACHES
QUESTION
I have four clearstone peach trees they were well fruited The
fruit should ripen from July 1 to 10 The peaches have all fallen
off before ripening and every peach has from one to four worms
in it What are they and how can I prevent tbem
ANSWER
The insect that has ruined your peaches is the curculio which
is a small brownish beetle and attacks indiscriminately all the
stone fruits This beetle lays its eggs just under the skin of the
peach and in four to eight days the eggs hatch out a soft foot
less grub with a horny head which commences to eat its way at
once to the center of the peach It will remain from three to five
weeks in the peach when the injured fruit usually falls to the
ground and the grub then burrows from four to six inches in the
earth where after remaining about three weeks it becomes a
beetle and issues forth to again begin its destructive round As a
rule the fruit containing this grub falls to the ground before ma
turity though this is not always the case It requires constant
care to get rid of this pest They have a habit when alarmed of
folding their legs close to the body and dropping to the groundAnnual Publication for 1896
159
there remaining motionless as though dead By taking advantage
of this habit many can be destroyed by giving the tree a sudden
blow and catching the beetles in a sheet spread for the purpose
then burning or mashing them to death Repeat this frequently
When possible it is also well to let hogs and poultry have the run
of the orchard as they destroy most of the grubs before they bury
themselves in the ground Spraying is also recommended with a
very weak solution of Paris green say 1 pound to 400 gallons of
water to which add several gallons of lime water The foilage of
the peach is very easily injured and I would suggest the other
remedies as the surest and least dangerous
MUCK FOR COTTON
QUESTION
Would it be a good plan to open a deep furrow put muck and
leaves in and cover them with another furrow and then in the spring
bed on it and plant cotton What kind of fertilizer shall I use
for poor sandy land where cotton fires badly
ANSWER
It would not be advisable to use the muck as you suggest Fer
mentation of the muck is necessary to make its ingredients avail
able as plant food To get the best results you must compost it
with stable manure which would result in a fermentation which
would bring inert materials into available forms and improve the
mechanical condition of both the muck and the stable manure
One load of manure to three loads of muck of good quality will
make a compost which some authorities contend is as good load
for load as manure Now you can either use this compost as you
would lot manure or if you wish a stronger fertilizer add 500
pounds of acid phosphate and 50 pounds of muriate of potash to
each 1450 pounds of the compost
Your cotton fires no doubt for the want of humus in the soil
and the humus must be restored before you can hope to prevent the
firing of the cotton by the use of fertilizers According to the
best authorities humus supplies nitrogen to the plant it im160
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
bibes and absorbs and holds water and the vapor of water it
improves the texture of many soils And it absorbs and holds
ammonia and the salts of ammonia as well as various other sub
tances Moreover by its slow decay humus supplies carbonic
add for the dissolving of plant food To replace the humus in
your soil you must plant rye this fall to be turned under in the
spring follow that with a crop of peas fertilizing at the same time
with 100 pounds acid phosphate and 50 pounds of kainit to the
acre Gather the peas and let the vines remain upon the land
The following spring put in cotton if you wish and using the above
fertilizer I am sure you would make a good cotton crop After
that rotate your crops in such a manner that you will not have cot
ton on the same land oftener than once in three years Plant more
small grain more fieldpeas etc and in this way you can keep up
the fertility of your soil and make crops that will be a pleasure
and a profit
CURE FOR LAMP AS
QUESTION
My horse has a swelling of the bars on the roof of the mouth
called I believe lampas Can I cure it without burning with a
hot irou which seems to me a needlessly cruel operation
ANSWER
Never permit the cruel and brutal practice of burning the roof
of mouth for lampas This method is still pursued in some
sections but it is an evidence of ignorance and cruelty This con
dition is frequently due to teething in young horses sometimes in
old horses to indigestion and it frequently occurs when a young
horse is taken from grass and fed on grain Generally this swell
ing will get well without any treatment but should the inflamma
tion be great enough to interfere with mastication then lance where
the most swelling appears Afterwards wash the mouth two or
three times a day with a solution of alum and water Keep this
up for three or four days feeding on grass or ground corn or oats
and your animal will get wellAnnual Publication foe 1896
161
GRAFTING AND BUDDING
QUESTION
Please tell me in grafting or budding does the new growth take
the nature of the stock on which it is grafted or of the tree from
which the scions were taken
ANSWER
A grafted tree is an instance of blended growth As the emi
nent authority Storer says The leaves and stems of the graft are
nourished by food taken in from the soil through the roots of the
stock while the roots and other tissues of the stock are supported
in their turn by food taken in from the air through the leaves of
the graft The graft however retains the nature of the tree from
which it was taken the stock being only the medium for furnish
ing it with nourishment from the earth
IRISH POTATOES
QUESTION
Living in the latitude of Macon could I plant Irish potatoes in
the spring follow with peas cut the vines off and then sow turnips
in time to mature Will pomegranates grow from the seed or how
are they best propagated
ANSWER
It would not be impossible for you to make a crop of potatoes
peas and turnips the same season with a very early spring and a
very late fall to help you out Under ordinary conditions you
could not do it and would have to content yourself with potatoes
or peas followed by turnips The pomegranate is easily propa
gated by cuttings layers suckers or seeds The seed should be
planted soon after the fruit is ripe or but few of them will vege
tate
DIVERSIFIED FARMING
QUESTION
Are there any statistics to prove that diversified farming is the
safest and most profitable
11 a162
Depaetment of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
The United States census for 1890 shows that 98 percent of the
farms sold under mortgage were devoted to only one or perhaps
two crops while of farms upon which several crops were grown
only 2 per cent were thus disposed of This fact should be a strong
argument in favor of diversified farming
TO ASCERTAIN NET WEIGHT OF HOGS
QUESTION
Please give me a simple plan to ascertain the net weight of
hogs
ANSWER
Under usual conditions that is when the hogs are in moderately
good order fourfifths of the gross weight is about equal to the
net weight that is substract onefifth from the weight of the hogAnnual Publication foe 1896
163
OCTOBER
LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSEDCOTTON NOT THE ONLY
CROP THAT WILL SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE LONG
DROUTHTHE SOWING OF SMALL GRAINS GRASSES ETC
UNAVOIDABLY DELAYEDTHE ADVANTAGES OF FALL
PLOWING
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga October 1896
FALL CROPS
The consequences of the long drouth are not confined to the
cotton crop The land has been in such parched condition
that no preparation for the usual fall crops could be made
The small grains grasses clovers which should have been pre
pared for in August and early September and sown in the lat
ter month have been unavoidably delayed and unless the
seasons are unusually favorable from the present date the
farmer will be disappointed in his seeding of these fall crops
We should not however be discouraged but take advantage
of every available opportunity and put in as large areas of
these necessary crops as circumstances will admit Dont make
the mistake because time is pressing of too hurried prepara
tion and seeding An acre well prepared and fertilized will be
worth several times as much as a far larger area sown in the
oldtime careless method
FALL PLOWING
The cotton fields being cleared so much earlier than usual
will give farmers the opportunity so rare in cotton lands of
testing the value of fall plowing Last fall we turned over164
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
with a twohorse plow several acres of stiffland on which there
was a heavy growth of vegetable matter leaving the furrows
flush that they might get the full effect of the air the frosts
and the rains Could those who doubt the advantages of fall
plowing have followed each successive step in the management
of the crops grown on these acres they would no longer
urge objections to the plan From the outset when the spring
preparations began this land was easier to manure During
the time of preparation when other fields became too hard to
plow these were still manageable and all during the cultivation
of the crop it Las been much easier to keep the mulch of
flnely pulverized soil on these than on less favored spots
Today although these crops have suffered in common with
every other green thing from the effects of the protracted dry
spell the yield is superior and the plants in better condition
than elsewhere On all heavy lands underlaid with the stiff
clay subsoil fall plowing is above value The greatest need in
our section for the successful production of crops is a sufficient
supply of moisture during the long hot months when the usual
summer drouth prevails And there is no more certain method
of supplying this moisture on demand than by storing it up in
the subsoil If fall plowing is properly done the subsoil being
loosened so as to receive and absorb the winter rain we form a
reservoir underneath the immediate surface When the hot
dry weather of summer begins the moisture gradually ascends
and when it comes in reach of the thirsty roots it is imme
diately absorbed by them and goes to nourish the drooping
plants Let a farmer make the experiment with a small patch
of land and mark the difference between the plowed and the
unplowed plats even in the winter months Where the land is
left hard when the winter rains fall the water instead of
sinking into the land penetrates only the surface and when it
runs off which it will inevitably do it often carries with it
much of the surface soil in many cases fertilized at heavy
expense Let him mark that on the deeply plowed plat we
have the double advantage of retaining both the water and theAnnual Publication for 1896
165
previous elements of fertility Another advantage of fall plow
ing is that a man and a mule will accomplish more satisfac
tory and more thorough work in the pleasant fall weather than
when the busy days of spring come There is time to do
the work carefully and completely no crops are pressing for
attention and each furrow can be most effectively run
Another fact which makes fall plowing most important is
that every acre of such land contains in its subsoil an amount
of phosphoric acid and potash which is more than suffi
cient to supply the needs of any crops that may be grown
on them for an indefinite number of yearsbut in their
present condition these elements are not available It has
been proved over and over again that when these unavail
able elements are brought to the surface and exposed to
the action of the air and the frosts and the rains they
are converted into available plant food It seems folly for
a farmer to run up such heavy bills with the fertilizer
merchants when by putting his plows in deep and bringing
to the surface a small portion of these heretofore unappro
priated elements he can each year supply his crops with the
same portion of the necessary plant food as well as hold the
moisture for further use The prairie lands of Mississippi were
at one time thought to be almost inexhaustible but there
are acres and acres in that State from which the rich
top soil has been ruthlessly skimmedand now that the
hard subsoil has been reached the farmers instead of break
ing this and releasing the stores of plant food confined there
are turning to commercial fertilizers to supplement the thin
layer of top soil which remains And this is but a repeti
tion of the agricultural history of older Southern States
Georgia farmers are just beginning a thorough investigation
of this important question and each year we see new converts
added to the list of those who make fall plowing a study and
a success As before mentioned we have an unusually favor
able opportunity this year for testing this question Cotton
picking will doubtless be over early in this month and labor166
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
will be abundant and cheap The fields which are usually
occupied until the last month of the year now offer no hin
drance to experimentation on this line Let us give a few of
these hardrun acres a chance to recuperate their wasted stores
We would rejoice to see every farmer in the State try it if
only a half acre on this plan and report results at this office
Put the plow in deep and bring a little of the subsoil to the
surface If there is a coating of vegetable matter dont turn
it entirely under leave the furrows at an angle of about 45
degrees Dont bring up a large quantity of the subsoil and
leave it flat on the surface there to harden and bake The
plan is to go gradually deeper and deeper each yearbring up
a small quantity of the subsoil to the surface leaving it there
for the forces of nature to complete the work of disintegration
and decomposition On sandy lands this plan is not admissi
ble they require different treatment It is only on heavy clay
lands having stiff clay subsoils that the full benefits of fall
plowing may be realized Dont leave the sweet and Irish
POTATOES
in the fields until the tops are killed by frost In a measure
the keeping qualities of the potatoes are injured and moreover
after the first frost we are apt to have rains which prevent the
saving of the potatoes in a perfectly dry state an absolute
necessity if we would preserve them successfully through the
winter months It is also important that they bekept dry If
the straw earth or other covering becomes damp it should be
removed and dry material substituted
FEEDING FOR MANURE AND FOR BEEF
In the inquiries for this month is one of great importance
and interest as to the merits and costs of different foods in
producing manure fat and flesh The study of these questions
indicates an advance in our system of agriculture and those
who inquire into and investigate this subject will discover that
our methods have been illadvised and wasteful and that for aAnnual Publication for 1896
167
given amount of food judiciously used we can produce a much
more profitable return in both meat and manure than has here
tofore been customary
THE COTTON TIE TRUST
is also inquired into by a farmer who wishes to know the his
tory and cause of the recent fight made against the combine
which has forced up the price of ties beyond all reasonable
limits We have replied at length in order to show the farmers
how they have been fleeced and to put them on guard against
a repetition of the same tactics another year The trust has
made several hundred thousand dollars out of the farmers
which prompt and united effort could have prevented
R T ISTesbitt Commissioner
CONDITION OF CROPS
CONTINUED DROUTH INJURES COTTON THE CORN CROP
LIKELY TO BE SHORT
COTTON
Condition worse than at last report on account of drouth
through September With reasonably fair weather the crop
will be entirely gathered by the middle of October A full
estimate of the yield would be 60 per cent of an average crop
for this State and from seven to seven and a half millions for
the entire crop The price should be and I think will be
higher
CORN
This crop is injured more than was supposed a month ago
and in some portions of the State the supply will be short I
therefore urge upon those farmers who know they will be short
of stock feed to save everything possible in the way of forage
viz peavines groundpea vines and hay of any kind And
also to plant rye patches and early oats that by these means168 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
they may supplement their corn crops and he saved from buy
ing corn and fodder In most of the counties in this State there
is a sufficient supply of corn made
FALL CROPS
Such as potatoes sugar cane peas sorghum etc have been
injured seriously particularly the three first Sorghum has
turned out fairly well while the grinding showed a lack of
juice the long drouth had eliminated nearly all the water from
the sap and very little boiling was required to convert it into
syrup Sweet potatoes peas and cane will be shorter than for
many years past indeed in many places these crops might be
called a total failure
WHEAT AND OATS
A large acreage should be planted in these grains this fall
The early gathering of the cotton crop will enable those so dis
posed to prepare thoroughly and plant with care a larger crop
than usual of these two important cereals one or both of which
should be planted on every farm in the State
STOCK
The condition of stock continues to be good and doubtless
there will be more hogs killed this winter than for many years
past This is as it should be Our farmers should never relax
their efforts to make their farms selfsupporting then and
then only will they be truly independentAnnual Publication foe 1896
169
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES
OCTOBER QUESTION BOXTHE HITT WIRE COTTON TIE
CERTIFICATES FROM COMPRESS COMPANIES WHO SAY
IT IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE OLD FLAT TIETHE FER
TILIZING PROPERTIES IN A TON OF COTTONSEEDHOW
TO DESTROY LEAF FOLDER
QUESTION
What has become of the wire cotton tie in which we as
farmers should be much interested We have heard nothing
of them recently and suppose from this that you have been
unable to secure a substitute that would answer all the purposes
of the flat tie We as farmers would like to know if we will
be compelled to submit to the imposition of the cotton tie trust
another year
ANSWER
Owing to the rapidity with which the crop has been gathered
and also to the fact that most merchants and ginners had already
purchased a supply of the flat ties it has been impossible to
introduce the wire tie generally this season The first ones
tried did not give entire satisfaction but you will see from the
following certificates that the improved Hitt wire tie double
strand and patent buckle is not only a substitute but is consid
ered superior to the flat tie in many respects A bunch of
these weighs 50 pounds and costs 110 at present prices The
flat ties weigh 45 pounds to the bunch and costs 135 We
trust that farmers will read these certificates and investigate
the merits of these new ties Any questions addressed to the
Department of Agriculture Atlanta will be cheerfully an
swered
The Brunswick compress where the ties were tried is one of
the largest in the South The certificate speaks in no uncer170
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
tain tones as to the superiority of the wire tie The ties will
be on exhibition at the Agricultural Department and we would
be glad to have farmers come in and examine them The two
additional certificates are from two different compress companies
in Albany Ga
Brunswick Ga September 23
To Whom it May Concern
I am now handling cotton upon which Hitts wire tie and
patent buckle has been used and having had twentyrive years
experience in stevedoring and compressing will say that I can
highly recommend the Hitt device to the public as being in
every way far superior to the flat bands and buckles heretofore
used
1 It is cheaper hence the planter gets a benefit
2 Wire bands will not break and can be tied just as quickly
as the flat ones hence the compress people are benefited
3 Wire bands can be tied tighter than flat bands which
means a greater density and as there will be no broken bands
the cotton arrives at destination in much better condition than
if it had been compressed with flat bands thereon hence the
shippers are benefited in two ways first by lower ocean rates
on account of increased density and secondly by having cotton
reach destination in better condition than if pressed by flat
bands
4 There are no sharp ends of bands to cut the hands of
laborers when handling cotton compressed with the Hitt device
hence the steredores will prefer wire bands upon cotton
Underwriters should make a reduction in insurance rates
on cotton with wire bands upon it and no doubt they will
when they are generally used as in case of fire wire bands will
stand more than double the heat of flat bands without break
ing hence a great deal more cotton will be saved in bales than
if it were in the loose condition as loose cotton burns very
rapidly
Respectfully A F Churchill
President The Brunswick Terminal CompanyAnnual Publication foe 1896
171
Brunswick Ga September 24
Hon R 1 Nesbitt Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Ga
Dear SirI forgot to mention in my letter of yesterday to
you that I have had considerable experience in the use of wire
bands upon cotton I have used them in the past when
doubling cotton putting two bales together under great press
ure in our Brunswick compress Necessity compelled me to
use wire as the flat bands would not hold double bales
Wire bands will not cut the bagging of cotton bales when
two bales are pressed into one let alone upon single pressed
bales I have proved this fact from practical experience and
I make this statement without fear of contradiction Further
more the tensile strength of wire is far more than tensile
strength of flat bands hence there will not be any broken
bands or burst bales when tied with wire which must cer
tainly be a benefit to everybody who is interested
I cannot discover any disadvantage in the use of the Hitt
device but vice versa it has an advantage over the flat band
in every particular
Very respectfully yours
A F Churchill
President The Brunswick Terminal Company
Albany Ga September 24
To Whom It May Concern
In a trial of the Hitt bale tie at our compress we find it
altogether available for compress requirements
It secures the bale at the density to which the press reduces
it fully as well as the band tie
Respectfully
Albany Compress Company
H Nott Parker Secretary and Treasurer
Albany Ga September 24
Dear SirAfter having tried the Hitt bale tie I find theDepartment op AgricultureGeorgia
strength of the tie and its method of buckling entirely
effective J
Yours truly
TTr Albany Cotton Compress
J K Whitehead Manager
A irdernfoQthTeSe ti63 ln Cai l0ad l0ts dressed to James
A Ferrell 253 Broadway New York will meet with prompt
response r l
HARVESTING UPLAND RICE
QUESTION
I have a half acre in upland rice which is very fine When
wil it be at the proper stage to harvest and how should it be
gathered
ANSWER
The proper stage for harvesting is when you find the straw
turning yellow and the grains well filled out in the heads You
can cut with a reap hook tie in bundles at once and hang on
poles hek up by props at the ends or you can cut and lay upon
the 8 Ubble to dry after which it can be put in small stacks
Should you hang on poles a weeks exposure will be sufficient
and you can then house until ready for threshing Dont bind
m bundles when the dew is on the straw
VALUE OF COAL ASHES
QUESTION
I have a quantity of coal ashes which I do not like to throw
away if there is any value in them either as a fertilizer or as a
oset J0U teH me theJ aie VaIliaWe f0r either PU1
ANSWER
Coal a9heS may contain a slight quantity of phosphoric acid
but if so the amount is so small as to be of no practical value
The ashes may be used to improve mechanical conditions of
ery heavy soils which contain vegetable matter They areAnnual Publication for 1896
173
also of use as an absorbent and may be placed around fruit
trees with advantage In all cases they should be fine and dry
and sifted
PLANTING ONIONS
QUESTION
I have an acre of good hammock land now in peas I wish
to plant this laud in onions as soon as the peas are taken oft
After broadcasting well rotted stable manure over the ground
will it require any commercial fertilizer If so what kind and
how much What variety of onion seeds would you advise
How many seed will it require Where can I get reliable
seed
ANSWER
Your land should be deeply broken and harrowed and re
harrowed until the soil is thoroughly pulverized This careful
preparation in addition to heavy manuring is essential to the
successful raising of onions In addition to a liberal applica
tion of well rotted stable manure you will find it advantageous
to add at least 500 pounds of cottonseed meal and 500 pounds
of kainit half of which should be broadcasted and half applied
in the drill The onion likes a heavy dose of nitrogen and is
also fond of potash and salt both of which it will get from the
kainit In your latitude below Savannah to have early
onions on the market you should sow the seed in a seed bed
from Sept 1 to Sept 15 When the young plants are three
or four inches high transplant them taking care to retain all
the root fibres if possible set out in rows eighteen inches apart
and four to five inches in the row This should be done imme
diately after a rain to insure the plants from dying In trans
planting press the small bulbs firmly into the ground The
Bermuda or the Italian varieties are best to plant from the seed
in this latitude Five pounds of seed should furnish enough
plants for an acre and good seed can be obtained from any of
the leading seed growers such as Landreth Buist or Hender
son Dont fail to have your land rich and well prepared if you174
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
wsh for success The causes of most of the failures in onion
culture and indeed in all truck growing have been poor prep
aration of the soil or insufficient manuring or both
BULKY PORTIONS OF A FERTILIZER
QUESTION
The question is often asked What are the other ingredi
ents of a fertilizer not included in the analysis as published
and may not the pure materials given in the analysis be pur
chased alone and a great saving in freight be made
ANSWER
This question so often asked by farmers is so well answered
by the North Carolina Experiment Station that I give their
answer Take for an example a fertilizer with 964 per cent
available phosphoric acid 239 per cent ammonia and 3 05 per
cent potash These three added together only make 15 08
out of 100 parts Of what is the remaining 8492 per cent
composed The following table answers this question
Moisture rtn
Available phosphoric idZZZZZZ J T
In80luWe 168
Nitrogen in the ammonia Q
Potash
3 05
Volatile and organic matter 000
Sulphate of limeZZZZZZZ1 1500
Lime combined with phosphoric acid n 00
Silica
300
Chemical salts m
Miscellaneous
336
Total
10000
The above represents an ammoniated fertilizer The moist
ure and organic matter are necessary to accompany the material
furnishing the nitrogen or ammonia Nitrogen is a gas and
must be held in combination and considerable bulk is neces
sary depending on the kind of material used Lime must be
present combined with phosphoric acid and sulphate of lime isAnnual Publication foe 1896
175
derived from the union of sulphuric acid added to the phos
phate of lime to make it more soluble The chemical salts are
generally combined with the potash The silica is found with
the phosphate
An acid phosphate is made up of phosphoric acid combined
with sulphate of lime the largest constituent necessarily pres
ent as explained above moisture and miscellaneous
STRAWBERRIES VS POTASH
QUESTION
I planted an acre of strawberry plants last spring on a
freshly clearedup piece of ground The dry year has retarded
the growth of the plants very materially except where I had
burnt the trash heaps in clearing up On these spots the plants
are as vigorous as in a favorable season Did the potash in the
ashes cause the vigorous growth What per cent of potash is
there in ashes from burnt tan bark What would be their com
mercial value per ton
ANSWER
The potash in the ashes undoubtedly caused the fine growth
of the strawberry plants which being rendered more vigorous
than those not on the ash piles sent their roots deeper and far
ther in search of food and moisture and so when drouth came
they were in better condition to retain their vigor and resist
the effects of dry weather
There is usually from three to eight per cent of potash in the
ashes from burnt tan bark of course I mean unspent bark
and they are worth from 4 to 8 per ton according to their
purity and freedom from sand and other foreign substances I
will give you another reason for the plants growing as you de
scribe When you burned the trash heaps the heat killed all
the seeds of grass and weeds in the ground under the fire and
when your strawberry plants were set out their growth was
never retarded by grass and weeds as perhaps the others had
been176 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
SOWING WHEAT
QUESTION
How deep should wheat be covered to produce the best crop
borne of my neighbors argue in favor of shallow and some of deep
covering Which is considered the best a bearded or a beardless
wheat
ANSWER
Many experiments have been made to find out the proper depth
to plant wheat and it has been demonstrated that from 3 to U
inches is the depth to insure the largest yield Some prefer the
beardless and others prefer the bearded wheat I think the bearded
varieties suit our soil and climate best but are not the most popu
lar in this State r
TO PREVENT A COW FROM SUCKING HERSELF
QUESTION
Do you know any way to prevent a cow from sucking herself
ANSWER
Many plans have been suggested to put a stop to this bad habit
that some cows have The best plan I have heard of is this viz
put a pair of straight hames on the cows neck just in front of the
shoulders and another pair just back of her horns Nail to these
two pairs of hames two stout strips of wood on each side of her
neck This will effectually prevent her from sucking herself and
will not prevent her grazing An animal addicted to this habit
had better be fattened and butchered for beef for in all probabil
ity when you remove the side bars you will find the habit as strong
as ever b
PLANTING CABBAGES
QUESTION
I am preparing to plant several acres of land in winter cabbages
for Northern markets The land is fair sandy loam with good
red clay subsoil Now tell me what is the best commercial fertilAnnual Publication for 1896
177
izer I can use how much ought I to use per acre where can I
get it and what will it cost me cash
ANSWER
Cabbages are very gross feeders and need a fertilizer rich in all
the elements of plant food Well rotted stable manure is the best
fertilizer for cabbages as indeed it is for almost all plants In the
absence however of stable manure commercial fertilizers are used
very successfully You want a mixture carrying 7 to 8 per cent
of nitrogen 6 to 7 per cent of potash and 7 to 8 per cent of
available phosphoric acid You should use 1500 to 2000 pounds
to the acre broadcasted and from 400 to 500 pounds in the drill
You can get such a fertilizer put up by any of the guano facto
ries and it will cost you in the neighborhood of 40 a ton Dont
forget to tear that clay subsoil all to pieces if you want to make
fine cabbages
FERTILIZING PROPERTIES OF COTTONSEED
QUESTION
I have a quantity of cottonseed for which I am oifered 700
per ton Will it pay me to accept that price or are the seed more
valuable to the farm as a fertilizer Please tell me the fertilizing
properties in a ton of seed and their value
ANSWER
I have always endeavored to convince the farmers of Georgia that
it would not pay them to sell their cottonseed at 700 per ton 10J
cents a bushel The haul of the seed must be counted against
the farmer and cannot be estimated at less than 100 per ton
leaving him 600 per tonor less than 9 cents per bushel As
meal is selling for about 1800 per ton you will be giving three
tons of seed for one of meal
Let us compare the value of three tons of seed to a ton of meal
in fertilizing properties 178 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
Phospho Pot
Nitrogen ric Acid ash
lbs lbs lbs
In a ton of whole seed 614 204 334
In three tons1842 612 702
In a ton of cottonseed meal1416 560 360
Thus you see that the three tons of seed contain of nitrogen
426 pounds of phosphoric acid 52 pounds and of potash 342
pounds more than the ton of cottonseed meal worth in the aggre
gate 640 When you sell your seed do not do it for less than 15
cents per bushel or 1000 per ton for when you sell for less you
are simply giving away valuable fertilizing material and not only
giving it away but furnishing a team and hauling it to the pur
chaser yourself In the above calculation no value has been given
to the mechanical effect of the whole seed when used as a fertilizer
though every farmer knows that in using the whole seed he adds
considerable humus to the soil and renders stiff tclay soils more
friable and easier of cultivation
TO DESTROY THE LEAF FOLDER
QUESTION
I have a number of vines that are affected with the leaf folder
What will prevent them and will they do much damage to vines
this late in the season I also have some vines affected in a man
ner that I do not understand I send you some sample leaves Is
it not the rose chafer What shall I do to remedy the mat
ter
ANSWER
The best method of destroying the leaf folder is to crush
them suddenly within the leaf with both hands To prevent their
appearance however is less troublesome provided the neighboring
grape growers unite in the effort The chrysalis is formed withiu
the folds of the leaf and by going over the vineyard in the autumn
before the leaves fall and carefully picking and destroying all
those that are folded and crumpled the supply for the following
year will be cut off This remedy though very effective will avail
but little unless all in a neighborhood unite in it I do not thinkAnnual Publication fok 1896
179
theleaf folder will injure your vines this late in the season
September 10 but you should take steps to reduce their numbers
for another year The leaves sent are injured by the grape leaf
hopper and not by the rose chafer The former attack the
thin leaved varieties of grapes in preference to those with thicker
leaves like the Concord etc They fasten their beaks in the leaves
and suck the juices until at length the leaves become sickly yel
low and prematurely dry giving the vine the appearance it should
have at the approach of winter The most promising remedy yet
discovered is to dust the leaves with pyrethrum insect powder or
tobacco dust in the early life of the leaf hopper before they
have acquired wings Millions of them may be destroyed by this
means After they acquire wings there is no remedy yet known
that has much eifect upon them
CHICKENS SUFFERING FROM ROUP
QUESTION
Can you tell me the disease and give me a remedy for iny
sick chickens several of which are affected as follows A
thick offensive discharge from the nose heads swollen the
eyes often closed great weakness and constant thirst
ANSWER
Your chickens are suffering from roup which is very fatal
unless prompt measures of relief are taken
The sick fowls should at once be removed from the flock
and placed in dry warm quarters Warm soft food in which
a teaspoonful of sulphur for a dozen fowls has been mixed
should be given them Alittle cayenne pepper or powdered
ginger should also be mixed with the food three times a day
Wash the head and nostrils with castile soapsuds and then
with weak alum water several times daily Syringe the nostrils
and throat daily with a solution of one part of chloride of soda
to two of water Should they show no improvement under
this treatment you had better kill and bury or burn them180
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
It is easier to prevent roup than to cure it Warm dry
shelter in bad weather fresh pure water to drink cleanly and
nutritious food no crowding together in large flocks and active
measures kept up to prevent lice and filth will insure your
chickens not only against roup but also against many other
diseases to which poultry are subject
RICE AS STOCK FEED
QUESTION
I have a field of upland rice that has a very fine growth of
stalk It is now heading out and as the heads appear they
dry up the stalk Can you tell me why this is Should I cut
the rice now what kind of stock feed would it make
ANSWER
Not knowing all the conditions relating to the soil rainfall
etc it is difficult to give a satisfactory answer to the first ques
tion It is possible that the soil is so dry that the plants can
advance no further towards maturity or it may be that the
land was enriched with a fertilizer not properly balanced and
that in its growth it has exhausted the plant food necessary to
make the grain and has so come to a stand still
By all means cut it for stock feed as both mules and cattle
will eat it greedily If the heads have not filled at all it will
make fine long forage and if the heads are partly filled it will
be of course that much better
MARE TROUBLED WITH URTICARIA
QUESTION
I have a pony mare 10 or 11 years old She has had some
thing like itch for three or four years First appears as itch
then in hard whelks has been getting worse every summer
almost disappears in the winter There is no eruption She
seems perfectly well and hearty otherwise Can you tell me
what is the matter and give me a remedy Annual Publication for 1896
181
ANSWER
Your horse is troubled with urticaria an itching skin trouble
due usually to high feeding with insufficient exercise It is
neither dangerous nor contagious Give her six drachms of
Barbadoes aloes made into a pill reduce her feed give her
more work and the disease should soon disappear
TO REMOVE WARTS
QUESTION
I own a fine colt two years old that has a large wart on its
hind leg on the knee joint I cut it off once and applied
pulverized bluestone but it has grown out again The colt is
a valuable one and I would like to know how to get rid of the
wart It is as large as a mans fist
ANSWER
Cut off wart again and apply acetic acid daily until cured
You should have no trouble in removing it permanently by
this means It is always best to remove warts before they
grow so large as the operation then would be less painful and
a cure more easily effected
LOSSES m LIQUID MANURE
An English chemist points out the fact that in every ten
gallons of urine there will be found as much nitrogen as is
contained in seven pounds nitrate of soda thirtyfour pounds
of bonemeal or one hundred and twentyseven pounds of white
turnips This puts in a comprehensive way the loss that
occurs when liquid manure is permitted to drain or soak away
A farmer would certainly not throw away a bag of ground
bone Yet he may thoughtlessly lose more than enough liquid
manure to pay for the bone By the use of absorbents he may
save all of the urine including the water or by using plaster
he may let the water go and save only the nitrogen In any
case it is just as much a mistake to let the liquid manure escape
as it would be to throw a ton of fertilizer into the brook
Exchange182
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
NOVEMBER
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS TALK TO FARMERS
MONTHLY LETTER OP THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICUL
TUREATTENTION CALLED TO THE CONDITION OF CROPS
ON LANDS SUPPLIED WITH HUMUS IN CONTRAST TO
THOSE WHERE COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS ALONE WERE
DEPENDED UPON TO FURNISH ELEMENTS OF PLANT
GROWTH
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga November 1 1896
Our accounts for the year 1896 must soon be made up In
summing up these accounts and in taking a general review of
farm operations for the past year there are certain facts which
stand out in bold relief It is from these that we should
deduce conclusions to be remembered in planning for and man
aging the crops another year The immunity of the early
planted cotton from many of the disasters which befell the
later plantings we have already referred to but we wish now
to call attention to the condition of the cotton crop and indeed
of all crops on lands supplied with humus in contrast to those
where the commercial fertilizer alone was depended upon to
supply all the elements of plant growth But we hear some
farmers say the commercial fertilizers profess to contain all
these elements and if this is true why need we supply any
thing else except the necessary preparation and cultivation of
the land This is in a measure reasonable Reliable
fertilizers do contain all the main elements of plant
growth but in order that plants may appropriate these
elements to the greatest advantage in the proper development
of stalk foliage and fruit certain conditions of the soil are
absolutely necessary some of the most important of which areAnnual Publication for 1896
183
moisture a deep seed bed a finely pulverized surface All of
these may be largely supplied by judicious plans of preparati on
and cultivation but every experienced farmer knows how mucH
easier these conditions are reached if there is plenty of vegeta
ble matter in the soil In such protracted drouths as we have
suffered from the past season the contrast in the crops is even
more marked In September of the past season many cotton
fields were bare of both leaves and green bolls while on lands
well supplied with humus the frost which came about the
middle of October found the plants still covered with leaves
and a top crop of bolls maturing At this writing all further
growth has been checked but even now the appearance of these
plants is altogether different from those on lands from which
almost every vestige of vegetable matter has been used up
Let us examine into some of
THE USES OF HUMUS
and we will at once understand the wonderful effects its presence
exercises on all plant growth But before we enter into this
subject we must first understand that by the term humus we
mean decaying vegetable matter This is of course at first
unavailable but by gradual decomposition it becomes not only
available itself but in the process of its own decomposition
forms combinations by which the surrounding soil is also
decomposed Nearly every soil is rich in the mineral elements
of plant food but in such form that we cannot appropriate
them to our use As an agent for unlocking these valuable
stores humus cannot be too highly valued The process is
partly as follows The decomposing vegetable matter or humus
is constantly generating carbonic acid which is known to be
a powerful solvent of mineral substances The carbonic acid
thus formed uniting with the soil water becomes the power
ful though silent agent by which we breakdown and dissolve
immense deposits of plant food otherwise useless because
insoluble in water alone184
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
EFFECTS OF HUMUS ON DIFFERENT SOILS
Another benefit derived from humus is its mechanical effect
on different soils It loosens stiff clay soils increases their
power to take up water from rains and also to absorb moisture
and gases from the atmosphere On loose sandy soil its office
is to bind it togethermake it more compact This will pre
vent the rains from carrying off the available plant food and
enables the soil to hold whatever moisture there may be depos
ited in it A porous soil of this kind when filled with
humus has also the power in very large degree of absorbing
moisture from the air This may be illustrated at any time by
an examination of such soil but is more marked during a
drouth or early in the morning Lands which are well filled
with humus whether they be stiff clay lands or the lighter
sandy soils do not suffer from drouth to the same degree as
lands destitute of vegetable matter and the stiffest clay soils
well supplied with humus rarely bake or crust even during a
drouth
WATERHOLDING POWER OF HUMUS
The addition of humus to the soil not only increases its
power of absorption from the atmosphere but during dry
weather the soakage in the subsoil is constantly returning
toward the surface where the humus will hold it and prevent
its escape into the atmosphere The amount of water needed
for healthy plant development cannot be reduced without injury
to crops but we may by the use of humus and other means
notably shallow surface cultivation and destruction of all un
necessary plants and weeds which also draw on the water
supply control for the use of our growing crops the reserve
supplies of moisture which would otherwise be evaporated
into the atmosphere or appropriated by grass and weeds That
HUMUS IS A SOURCE OF NITROGEN
has also been proved This is the case more especially from
peavines and clover when plowed under but is measurably true
of all decaying vegetationAnnual Publication foe 1896
185
HUMUS ABSORBS HEAT
By darkening the soilhumus certainly increases its power to
absorb heat This is a very important fact to those who real
ize the necessity of pushing forward their crops in the early
spring
HUMUS IS NOT FAVORABLE TO INSECT LIFE
The carbonic acid gas which is being generated in all lands
supplied with humus is known to be destructive to insect life
This is perhaps the main reason that crops on fresh land are
freer from blight and disease than on old land where commer
cial fertilizers alone have been used for several successive years
with the result that nearly every vestige of humus has disap
peared from the soil
RYE
as an improver of the land takes almost the same place in win
ter that peas do in summer It also prevents washing It may
be sown all through the fall and is a valuable green food for
stock during winter Turned under during early spring it
contributes a large share of the needed humus to the soil Even
the natural growth of
WEEDS AND GRASS
which spring up after every cultivated crop can be turned under
and made to do duty in manufacturing plant food for future
crops Dont wait for heavy frost to destroy the most valuable
constituents in these spontaneous crops but turn them under
as soon as possible Treated thus they will not only decom
pose but if the furrows are only partly turned they will keep
the soil open and porous and prevent washing by gathering up
the winter rains and storing them in lower depths If the veg
etable growth is very heavy an application of lime will be
found to hasten decomposition It also helps to liberate other
wise unavailable materials contained in the soil In executing
this186
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
FALL PLOWING
lay off the beds across the fall of the land so that the water
will not run in the line of the plow and wash away the soil If
this precaution is observed washing will be checked and the
water will eventually reach a lower level by a slower and less
destructive process It will thus be seen that in
SUPPLYING LAND WITH HUMUS
we are furnishing one of the most needful as well as most im
portant helps to our agriculture because we give the land be
sides the actual plant food which we put into it the power to
appropriate and supply to our growing crops the lockedup ele
ments which it already contains It is not yet too late to sow
WHEAT
but every effort should be made by cross plowing harrowing
and rolling to put the land in the very best possible condition
OATS
may also be sown In the Atlantic and Gulf States the crop
stands a better chance to escape winter killing when sown late
than in higher latitudes The protracted drouth prevented the
early seeding of this crop and many farmers will take the
chances now As a general rule however it is safer when the
sowing is so long delayed to defer it until after Christmas
All of these green crops furnish more or less humus to the soil
but rye more especially is an improver of the land Where it
is possible all unoccupied land should be seeded in some one of
these green crops Few farmers have carefully studied this
question of protecting their lands from washing and from de
terioration It should be their aim to secure both these condi
tions at the smallest possible cost If the wonderful processes
of nature are observed and her laws carefully followed in pros
ecuting this important workin other words if we will give
her the necessary raw materials at the proper timeshe will atAnnual Publication for 1896 187
once take hold of them and begin the important work of con
verting them into valuable plant food to be ready for the de
mands of the spring crops The work of
COMPOSTING
all available materials should be steadily gathered all during
the winter One can scarcely employ his spare time more
profitably than in gathering up and preparing to give back to
his land some part of what he has been taking from it year
after year The stables should be supplied with bedding and
the accumulated manure liquid and solid should be removed
as often as necessary If not composted or put under shelter
it should be hauled at once and spread on the land rather than
allowed to lose some of its most valuable constituents by being
thrown out into the open barnyard
FATTENING HOGS
should not be kept after they are in condition for good pork
The plan is to push them now to be ready for the first cold
spell We have generally found that pork killed before Christ
mas stands a better chance for keeping than that killed later
We cannot expect the best quality of meat unless all the details
of cleanliness and comfort are attended to See that there is
plenty of clean food and pure water and that the pens are kept
free of filth
E T Nesbitt Commissioner188
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS QUESTION BOXPLANTING OATSWHY
SO FEW SHEEP ARE RAISED IN GEORGIAMORE ABOUT THE
WIRE COTTON TIEJERUSALEM ARTICHOKES AS A FOOD FOR
HOGS AND HOW TO PLANT THEMIMPORTANCE OF THE SE
LECTION OF GOOD SEED
PLANTING OATS
QUESTION
I want to plant a large oat crop Would you advise me to
plant it all now What kind of seed oats would you recom
mend
ANSWER
On account of the frequent winterkilling of oats I would
advise planting half your land now and the rest of your crop in
the spring In this way you do not take the risk of having all
your crops killed and are moderately sure of at least a partial
crop If your land is rich or if you propose to fertilize I would
recommend the wintergrazing oat They stand the cold better
than any other variety and ou good land will make you a fine
crop Sow from a bushel and a half to two bushels per acre
Should you not be able to get these or if your land is only fairly
good sow the Texas rustproof oats and for fall sowing always
use seed from fall sown oats as they are without doubt more
hardy than seed from those sowed in the spring For your
spring planting use the Burt oat sowing at least a bushel and
a half to the acre The Burt oat is very light and therefore
not as valuable for feeding as other varieties but it grows off
rapidly and matures early and there is more certainty of a crop
from them than from any other variety when sowed in the
spring Dont be afraid to fertilize your land for the oat cropAnnual Publication foe 1896
189
for none responds more readily to thorough preparation than
this the cheapest and best food crops for our horses arid mules
After taking off the oats next summer dont fail to plant the
land in peas and thus keep up the fertility of your fields

i
x
i
a

rr
QUESTION
Why is it that in Georgia many parts of which State are
peculiarly adapted to sheep raising there are so few sheep raised
One would suppose that if properly managed it could be
made a most profitable business
ANSWER
In Southern Georgia there are a good many sheep raised
Several years ago one of the largest sheep owners reported that
he clipped annually ninety cents worth of wool from sheep
which cost him only fourteen cents a head in expenses There
is only one reason why sheep husbandry is not one of the lead
ing industries of the State and that is there is no law for their
protection against the dogs which roam at will through the
country It has been said by men of experience that one acre
well sodded in Bermuda grass will support five sheep nine
months of each year This was on ordinary land which had
not yielded profitable returns in other crops For the remain
ing three months we have other crops such as rye turnips bar
ley potatoes and the hardy native grasses all of which can be
grown in abundance The sheep more than pay for their keep
in the increased fertility of land on which they are folded One
hundred sheep regularly folded will fertilize eight acres of land
to such a degree as will enable it to double the crops produced
on it Besides the added value to the lands in the droppings
we have the crop of wool and the increase of the flock which
last may be reasonable calculated as ninety per cent of the
whole Nor are these all The character of the crops required
to support the sheep are just those needed to recuperate our
toooften exhausted lands Bermuda is particularly adapted
to these lands and the grass roots serve to hold the soil to190
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
gether and prevent the washing aAvay of the accumulating
vegetable matter Many worn fields could be thus reha
bilitated that now offer no encouragement to cultivation
in other crops We trust the day will dawn when the present
difficulties in the way of successful sheep raising will be removed
and instead of about 500000 the present number of sheep
in the State Georgia will contain at least 3000000 or 4000000
Our mild winters and early spring give us many advantage of
which growers north of us are deprived In some sections of
the State the sheep receive no attention beyond the annual clip
ping and until the price of wool was so much reduced they
were even under this careless management found profitable If
more attention were given to raising crops for them to improv
ing the breeds and to the general care of the flocks there is no
reason except the one mentioned why sheep raising should
not be made profitable in our section An experienced sheep
raiser in Southeastern Georgia once said to me that it was
cheaper in that section to raise a sheep than a chicken because
a chicken had to be fed while the only attention the sheep re
ceived was an occasional salting
HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF SHEEP
QUESTION
How can I tell the age of sheep
ANSWER
By examining the front teeth The first year eight small
teeth make their appearance The second year the two middle
ones are shed and two teeth of much larger size take their
place The third year two other small teeth are shed one on
each side of the two center teeth and they are replaced by two
large teeth thus giving them four large teeth in front on each
side of which are two small pointed ones In the fourth year
this process is repeated the animal then having six large teeth
in front flanked on each side by one small tooth In the fifthAnnual Publication foe J896 191
year the last of the small teeth are lost and are replaced hy
large ones thus giving them eight large front teeth In the
sixth or seventh year they generally begin to drop out and if
not they will begin to break or show signs of wearing
WIRE TIES
QUESTION
I notice that there is much complaint from compresses as to
the wire ties with which some of the cotton has been baled
Are these the same ties of which you speak in your last
months report or are there other patents on the market
ANSWER
There have been several ties used all more or less unsatis
factory on account of the inflexible quality of the wire light
weight and inconvenient methods of fastening Most of these
are single large wires without buckles or other means of fasten
ing quickly and securely The Hitt patent wire tie to which
we called attention last month consists of two flexible wires
with patent buckle which can be quickly and securely adjusted
and weighs fifty pounds to the bundle Wherever this has been
tried it has proved not only equal but superior in many re
spects to the flat tie Had it been patented earlier in the sea
son there is no doubt that it would have been largely used but
it was perfected too late to be used on this years crop
Many merchants ginners and compress companies had laid
in a stock of the flat ties and were not willing to try the
wire It will however be given a thorough test during the
present season at compresses in the different sections of the
South and another year it will doubtless be a strong com
petitor against the flat tie Besides the reasons given by
compress men for its adoption is the fact that no special
machinery is required for it manufacture192
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ARTICHOKES TO FATTEN HOGS
QUESTION
Are Jerusalem artichokes good to fatten hogs If so how
are they planted
ANSWER
A few years ago the Jerusalem artichoke seemed to he mak
ing its way into favor with the farmers but of late little is said
about it It is highly recommended as a fattening food not
only for hogs but also for horses cattle or sheep It costs but
little to raise them they will grow on almost any soil if not
wet They are said to yield two or three times as much as po
tatoes and they are easily stored and kept With these advan
tages I think they should be planted more largely The great
objection urged against them is the difficulty of getting rid of
them once they are planted but my opinion is that a few
hogs confined to the patch of artichokes would soou find every
tuber that had been overlooked in gathering They may
be planted in drills three feet apart and two feet in the
drill Plant whole small tubers and cut the large ones as you
would Irish potatoes Cultivate as you would corn They do
best on a rich mellow light soil and the land should be pre
pared and manured as you would for Irish potatoes This plant
is a native of Mexico but has been cultivated in Europe for
more than two centuries It grows from five to eight feet
high and is a hardy perennial I hope you will plant at least
a patch and report result to this department
TURNING UNDER DEAD GRASS
QUESTION
Where I planted corn this year I have a heavy coat of dead
grass Would you advise burning this off or turning it under
Will not the burning of the grass kill most of the seed and
benefit me in that way Annual Publication for 1896
193
ANSWER
By all means turn under the dead grass instead of burning
it off It is to a small extent a fertilizer and if it does no
other good it at least aids mechanically in loosening up and
making the soil more porous so that air and moisture can
more easily reach the roots of plants The burning of the
grass would undoubtedly kill some of the grass seed but the
heat is too shortlived to kill them all and next spring when
cottonhoeing time comes you would not miss those ruined by
the lire Lay it down as a general rule never to burn off your
fields but always turn under all vegetable matter even if it is
dry and dead and the more you can turn under the better for
your land especially if it is a stiff clay
FERTILIZING PEACH ORCHARDS
QUESTION
Should peach orchards be fertilized and if so what would be a
good formula
ANSWER
It has not been very usual for our peach growers to fertilize
their orchards with special reference to the trees and their fruit
As a rule the fertilizing has been done to promote the growth of
ome crop requiring shallow cultivation such as cotton or ground
peas and the fertilizer applied to these crops between the rows of
peach trees has usually been considered enough for the trees with
perhaps the addition of a little ground bone applied immediately
around the tree This plan is not conducive to either healthy trees
or fine fruit Fertilizing the peach orchard is as essential to suc
cess as fertilizing the garden or the cotton field As you would
not expect to make fine cabbages or onions on poor land neither
need you expect fine peaches from an impoverished and worn
out soil Fertilizing the peach trees not only improves the
fruit both in size and flavor but it gives vigor and health to the
trees and thus to some extent enables them to resist the attacks
13 a194
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
of insect enemies always ready to pounce upon and destroy any
tree that shows signs of loss of vitality or strength Nitrogen
potash and phosphoric acid are as essential to the perfect growth of
peach trees as they are to any of the cereals The use of large
quantities of nitrogen should be avoided as an excessive growth of
leaves and wood would be the result with deteriorated fruit Gen
erally speaking sufficient nitrogen can be supplied by planting
peas in the orchard annually and giving them clean cultivation
If however the trees show want of vigorous growth apply from
75 to 100 pounds of nitrate of soda or its equivalent in cottonseed
meal or dried blood per acre Potash may with great benefit be
used liberally on land devoted to peaches especially after the trees
have commenced to bear This can be supplied by muriate or
sulphate of potash by kainit or by ashes While phosphoric acid
is perhaps of less importance on most lands than potash it should
by no means be omitted if you wish to improve both the health
and the fruitfulness of your peach trees Late experiments seem
to prove that proper manuring not only adds greatly to the crop
but also to the life of the tree To illustrate this one of the most
profitable peach orchards in New Jersey received annually 200
pounds nitrate of soda 200 pounds ground bone 200 pounds acid
phosphate and 200 pounds nitrate of potash This from the time
the trees were three years old until now they are twelve years old
with no signs of decay where the average life of a peach tree is
only eight years The following figures taken from the New
Jersey Experiment Station report will show the yield with and
without manure
The yield without manure
18841893 Inclusive 10 years average per year
The yield with complete chemical manure
Baskets
per acre
003
Baskts
per acre
1834
18841893 inclusive 10 years average per year
You will thus see that by the proper use of fertilizers the crop
was increased 300 per cent annually During the ten years theAnnual Publication foe 1896 195
fertilized orchard received 250 pounds of nitrogen 560 pounds of
phosphoric acid and 750 pounds of potash
In your case supply the nitrogen by sowing peas and you will
only have to buy the potash and acid phosphate
HINTS ON BREAKING LAND
QUESTION
My crops are all gathered I have sowed my oats and wheat
now would lt not be a good idea for me to break my land for
next years crop
ANSWER
Your crops being all gathered by all means start at once to
break your laud for another year Many of our farmers when
then crops are housed make the serious mistake of waiting
until spring before starting their plows This mistake fre
quently results in serious loss for should the spring be dry the
ground packed by the heavy winter rains becomes so hard
that it la impossible to break it properly and the result is that
they are forced to plant on poorly prepared ground
The old adage that a crop well planted is half made is
perfectly true therefore take time by the forelock and go
to work at once preparing your land for another crop In
doing this work dont follow the too common plan of simply
scratching the surface as it were but get your plows deep into
the ground bringing to the surface if possible not less than
an inch of the subsoil upon which the sun has never shone
At the same time turn under everything that is on the surface
such as grass cornstalks cottonstalks peavines etc Burn
nothing except in exceptional cases where on very rich land
the cotton stalks have grown so large that burning is necessary
to get rid of them J
Our farmers as a rule do not appreciate the importance of
this deep fall plowing The advantages of it are numerous
and important Among others I regard the deepening of the
soil as most important Should you turn to the surface in the196
Department of AcxRicultureGeorgia
spring an inch of the red clay subsoil it would probably be
baked into clods by the heat of the sun interfering with the
growth and proper cultivation of the crops through the entire
season Turned up however in the fall this subsoil becomes
disintegrated by the frequent freezings and thawing and when
you plow your land in the spring it becomes thoroughly incor
porated with the top soil adding to its depth and fertility and
thus insuring you better crops You see at once that if this
process is repeated annually you will in a few years have a
deep mellow soil capable of withstanding drouths and in a
condition to hold the rain that falls upon it There are other
advantages in fall plowing which make it desirable
The grass cornstalks etc which are turned under now add
to the fertility of the land whereas by spring their fertilizing
properties have been largely exhausted by evaporation and by
leaching rains Then again land that is deeply plowed at this
season will not wash so badly as that that is left untouched
Another very important gain is that your fields will be in fine
tilth for your spring preparation for planting and while your
neighbor perhaps will find his ground at that time so hard
that he cannot plow it yours so treated will be as mellow and
friable as an ash bank These advantages of course apply
chiefly to stiff lands for where the soil is a deep sand ten to
twelve inches perhaps to the subsoil I can see no advantage in
fall plowing except the single one of getting the grass etc
turned under while yet they have some fertilizing properties
I trust that the farmers of this State will generally try fall
plowing at once this year being particularly favorable for it
the crops having been gathered so unusually early I am fully
satisfied that it needs but a fair trial to become the rule in
stead of the exception as at present
INSPECTION OF GUANO
QUESTION
Is guano inspected at the factories in bulk or where do the
inspectors get their samples Under the present inspectionAnnual Publication foe 1896
197
system is there much room for fraudulent guano to be sold in
Georgia
ANSWER
3 Some years since it was the practice for the inspectors to take
samples from the guano in bulk in the factories but tbat
method has been positively prohibited by order of this depart
ment Now the inspectors take samples wherever they find
the goodsin the warehouses in the farmers wagons on the
farms or in freight cars The manufacturers of course cannot
know from what sacks samples will be taken and are there
fore compelled to make their goods equal to the guarantee that
the law requires them to brand on their sacks 1 will say here
however that from my acquaintance with the guano manu
facturers I consider them as honest and honorable in their busi
ness dealings as any men in the State and the suspicions en
tertained against them is in most cases entirely unfounded
The manufacturers are required by law to notify this depart
ment of every shipment made by them giving the name of
the goods shipped to whom sent and the number of sacks in
the shipment They are also required by law to have a tag on
each sack or barrel in which they ship their goods which shows
that said goods are registered with this department These
tags cost the manufacturers 10 cents for each ton of guano
sold This trifling expense adds nothing to the cost of the
goods to the purchaser and yet the aggregate amount received
from the sale of tags pays the salaries and expenses of the in
spectors the salaries of the State Chemist and his two associ
ates the salaries of the Commissioner and his clerk and in
addition to all this turns over a large amount to the public
school fund This State uses more commercial fertilizer than
any other State in the Union indeed almost twice as much as
any other and the mode of taking samples and making
analyses affords better protection to the farmers than the
methods adopted in any other State Were there no inspection
or analyses made the State would be flooded with worthless
fertilizers which the farmers could not distinguish from honest198
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
goods The inspectors are all sworn officials of the State and
are selected for their fitness for the work The safeguards
thrown around this business in this State are so many and so
carefully prepared that there is practically no chance for
worthless fertilizers to be sold within our borders without de
tection To show the great increase in the fertilizer business
and consequently the greater necessity of careful inspection I
append a table showing the number of tons inspected for each
of the last twentyone seasons
Season of 187475
Season of 187576
Season of 187677
Season of 187778
Season of 187879
Season of 187980
Season of 188081
Season of 188182
Season of 188283
Season of 188384
Season of 188485
Season of 188586
Season of 188687
Season of 188788
Season of 188889
Season of 188990
Season of 189091
Season of 189192
Season of 189293
Season of 189394
Season of 189495
Season of 189596 wZ T
fo61780 tons
4864800 tons
5531600 tons
7582400 tons
9317800 tons
8504900 tons
11058300 tons
15242400 tons
12532700 tons
12537700 tons
15184900 tons
17015300 tons
16070500 tons
16607808 tons
20800739 tons
20286936 tons
28811230 tons
30673500 tons
29634200 tons
30751930 tons
31561200 tons
GOOD SEED FOR PLANTING
QUESTION
Is the selection of good seed for planting as important as
many think
ANSWER
Good seed is the very first requisite for a good crop but a
great number of farmers are very indifferent on this pointAnnual Publication foe 1896
199
seeming to think that any seed of a given plant will produce a
good crop There could be no greater mistake For instance
take seed of oats or wheat that has been cut when the grain
was only half ripe and what is the result There is an im
mediate deterioration in the crop the yield diminishes and
smut and rust are greatly increased Let your seed for plant
ing be always fully matured and ripened that the resulting
crop may have in it but few imperfect plants Seed corn should
not be selected in the crib but in the field where the stalk as
well as the ear can be seen and where by judicious and per
sistent selection great improvement in size of ear and early
maturity can be attained There is much room for improve
ment in the way we select our cottonseed for planting and
with more care in this respect we could considerably increase
our cotton crop
STOCKING A FISH POND
QUESTION
On my farm I have just completed a fish pond covering
about an acre and from one to six feet deep How can I get
some fish to stock it and what kind would you recommend
ANSWER
Captain J D Edmondson of LaGrange is the Fish Superin
tendent of this State and you should write to him on the sub
ject Carp and tench have been the fish most usually selected
for our ponds on account of the ease with which they thrive
and multiply but they are poor fish for the table and I would
recommend for your pond the black bass or trout and the
bream both of which are very fine table fish and being very
game afford much sport in the catching If the government
does not distribute these last you might find out from the
Fish Superintendent where they can be obtained The speckled
catfish is also a good pond fish200
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
BALKING HORSES
QUESTION
How do horses acquire the habit of balking and can they be
cured of it
ANSWER
The balking habit in horses is not a natural or inherited one
but is taught them through bad or careless driving When
first acquired by exercising great care this fault may be cor
rected Never whip a balky horse or use any harsh means
whatever to subdue him Nothing but gentle means will avail
anything towards effecting a cure When this bad habit is
once thoroughly acquired it is considered incurable and the
animal is rendered almost worthlessAnnual Publication for 1896
201
DECEMBER
THE QUESTION OF FERTILIZERS
ONE THAT IS INTERESTING EVERY CONSIDERATE FARMER
THE ECONOMY OP HOMEMIXINGCOMMISSIONER OF
AGRICULTURE NESBITT IN HIS MONTHLY TALK TELLS
HOW TO GET THE VERY BEST RETURNS FROM OUR SOILS
AT THE LEAST POSSIBLE COSTFAIR SUPPLY OF HUMUS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
State Agricultural Department
Atlanta Ga December 1 1896
FERTILIZING ROTATION SOILS ETC
The question of fertilizers is just now one in which every
thoughtful farmer is interesting himself not only as to their
price and the feasibility and economy of mixing them at home
but also as to the kinds needed by our different qualities of land
and best suited to the most perfect development of our various
crops A careful study of principles of plant growth and of
fertilizers and a practical application of these principles to our
lands and to our different crops will certainly mean money to
those farmers who take the trouble and the time to make the
investigation As uo two crops take from the soil exactly the
same elements in exactly the same proportions it follows that
to get the very best out of our land we must study the compo
sition of our soils as well as the demands of the crops to be
grown on them Owing to the principle just mentioned that
different crops make different demands on the soil it is an
established fact that a carefully planned and executed rotation
of crops exercises a powerful influence in enabling us to get the
very best returns at the least cost and at the same time add to
instead of diminish the fertility of our lands Our first inquiry202
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
should be as to the general qualities and needs of our lands
and to ascertain these we are compelled to
STUDY OUR SOILS
We all know that the three principal elements nitrogen pot
ash and phosphric acid are absolutely essential to plant growth
and that while our lands as a rule supply all that is needed of
the lesser elements these predominating elements have been
in a greater or less degree exhausted from our surface soils at
least To resupply these in the best and most economical
manner is the most important subject which we have to con
sider In beginningthis investigation we may lay it down as an
invariable rule that land will not give profitable returns without
a fair supply of humus or decayed vegetable matter on which
to build our supply of plant food Lands which have been
recently cleared or those where a careful rotation alternating
with green and leguminous crops has been practiced usually
contain an abundance of humus but unfortunately on a ma
jority of Georgia farms the longcontinued clean cultivation of
corn and cotton without alternating with any humusgiving
crop and the leaving of these bare lands to the washing leach
ing action of winter rains and spring floods have all combined
to deprive them of their last vestige of vegetable matter If
we keep in mind that no commercial fertilizer can give the best
returns without humus and if we realize that the destructive
effect of drouths is in great measure due to its absence we will
at once set about supplying this necessary humus by every
means in our power There is nothing better for this purpose
than stable manure and its beneficial effects after one applica
tion may be observed for several years but we can only obtain
this in limited quantities and therefore we have to cast about
for other available humusmaking materials Cottonseed for
clay soils and cottonseed meal for sandy soils are excellent
but are expensive A well considered system of rotation using
green or leguminous crops first for forage and the residue to
be plowed under for manureis less costly and on the wholeAnnual Publication for 1896
203
more satisfactory Here again it is necessary that we be thor
oughly familiar with the peculiarities of the soils with
which we have to deal Many soils have become so much
worn and in such poor condition being hard and dry that it is
folly to attempt to plant even cowpeas as a renovating crop
On these lespedeza has been found to do well It will grow
where peas will not and by an application of cottonseed meal
may be made to do well on almost any soil On land which is
in better condition cowpeas are a better paying renovating
icrop Their growth is heavier their roots are larger and pene
trate more deeply into the soil thus bringing to the surface
more of the mineral elements which are locked up in the
subsoil and when these roots are left in the land they furnish
more of vegetable matter to be converted into humus On
richer laud there is no better renovating crop than clover Its
system of large strong roots extending in every direction and
penetrating deep into the subsoil often reaching down several
feet make it peculiarly valuable but it is exacting It will not
do well on saudy land but requires either clay land or lighter
land underlaid with a stiff clay subsoil Nor will it succeed
on land which is not thoroughly drained It has not the
power of the cowpea to forage for a liviug and having ob
tained enough for its own needs to leave a generous share for
the use of succeeding crops Clover will only grow on land of
good quality where ample food is furnished ready for its im
mediate use but once wTell set it gives back without stint all
and more than it has received
Where the soil is rich in lime melilotus has been tried and
found to be incomparable as a fertilizing crop Its roots are
larger and extend deeper into the soil than any other renovat
ing plant and those dying at the end of the second season
and decaying furnish a large quantity of valuable plant food
It will not grow except on soils well supplied with lime but
where this is present in abundance though the land be appar
ently barren melilotus will grow and flourish and for such
lands is the best renovating crop known204
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
Crimson clover hairy vetch rye all occupy important places
among our renovating crops and besides their direct benefit to the
land in collecting nitrogen possess the power of carrying on their
great work during the winter months thus furnishing green food
for farm animals at a season when most other crops are dormant or
dead and covering and protecting the land for a period of several
months when it is peculiarly liable to injury Ou our ordinary
lands and under present conditions rye perhaps is the crop most
used first because of its preeminent ability to hunt for food and
again because it may be sown up to and even into the present
month The clover and vetch require early seeding aud also
that the laud be of good quality and brought to a fine mechanical
condition The seed are also more expensiveand just now that
is one of the main difficulties in the way of a more general trial
of the vetch It is comparatively new and the seed are scarce and
high but those who have tried it pronounce it incomparable as a
renovating plant A very recent publication from the United
States Department of Agriculture recommends it in the highest
termsstates that it has been grown successfully in all parts of
the country and has proved to be hardy in the moist coastal regions
of Washington the dry prairies of South Dakota and the rich
loamy soils along the gulf In our own State the common vetch
has been tried for years with eminent success The hairy vetch is
hardier and in all respects more desirable The seed of hairy
vetch should be sown at the rate of a bushel and a half to the
acre from the latter part of April to the middle of May for sum
mer forage aud from the middle of August to the middle of Sep
tember for winter forage The nutritive value of the hay is very
high The yield usually varies from one and a half to four tons
per acre according to the fertility of the soil We would be glad
for farmers whenever possible to try if only a limited area in this
crop and report results to this department
We have said enough as to these renovating crops to emphasize
the important fact that they should form the foundation for any
system of fertilizing which we may adopt and that their rotation withAnnual Publication for 1896
205
other crops is also of the utmost moment in reclaiming our worn
lands The next step of importance is to decide on the proper
FERTILIZERS
to select for our various soils and crops to be used in conjunction
with these renovating crops and with a judiciously chosen crop ro
tation in building up our lands If we could by judicious man
agement and feeding produce all the manure we need on our farms
this question would be forever settled but this has been found im
possible Under present conditions the need for commercial fer
tilizers is real but the enormous sums spent for this artificial plant
food may be considerably reduced if we apply ourselves to more care
fully considered and more judicious methods Our great mistake
has been that we have depended entirely on commercial fertilizers
to supply the gradually diminishing fertility of our farms whereas
they should be regarded and used only as adjuncts to a careful sys
tem of manuring and rotation They have always been found to
give best results when the soil is well filled with organic matter
and as mentioned before this condition can be best maintained by
a system of green manuringthat is planting leguminous crops
cutting a part for stock feed and turning under the residue for
land feed
GENERAL RULES FOR FERTILIZING
In buying our fertilizers two points should engage our attention
and studythe needs of the land and the needs of the crop to be
grown A few of the most important facts bearing on these two
questions are all that may be attempted in the limits of this article
but the farmer who interests himself will find that there is a wide
field for investigation and that the variations of results according
to different plans of management and difference in soils and local
conditions are almost limitless
As a general rule however it will be found that our sandy soils
will require all three elements nitrogen phosphoric acid and pot
ash while clay soils usually contain some portions of the mineral
elements A soil rich in humus is sometimes lacking in the min206
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
eral elements A limestone soil generally contains a good deal of
phosphoric acid Of course the most certain way of finding out
what the soil needs is to make the soil itself answer the question
by experimenting with different crops and different fertilizers but
as a general rule farmers are averse to undertaking these experi
ments regarding them as too complicated and too expensive They
have preferred to trust to luck and have lost thousands of dol
lars by following one fixed rule of fertilizing for all crops and all
lands alike R T Nesbitt Commissioner
SOURCES OF FERTILIZING MATERIALS
QUESTION
Please give me a few hints on fertilizers and the best way to
select them I must confess to deplorable ignorance on this im
portant subject and often I am confused by the multiplicity of
terms used in designating the different plant foods I have almost
decided to try mixing my fertilizers at home but am somewhat at
a loss as to the best brands to buy for the purpose Would I run
any risk in buying the concentrated materials or are they of uni
form value as to contents and availability In buying the fertil
izers already mixed is there any sure way by which I can at least
partially judge of their merits
ANSWER
It is the law of Georgia that each manufacturer register with
the State Department of Agriculture the sources from which his
nitrogen is derived This has a more important bearing on our
success or failure with different crops than most farmers are
aware Before purchasing any commercial fertilizers farmers
should carefully inform themselves as to the sources from which
the three principal fertilizing elements contained in them are de
rived and their availability for the different crops to be grownAnnual Publication for 1896
207
The following important facts are condensed from a valuable bul
letin by Professor Vorhees and we trust are in such form as to
arrest the attention of thinking farmers and also aid them in se
lecting the best and most suitable materials for the various crops
to which they are to be applied
SOURCES OF NITROGEN
All materials containing organic nitrogen must undergo a
change before the nitrogen becomes available as plant food
and the time needed for this change varies with circumstances
The material may be hard and dense or the treatment it has
received may delay the natural decay or it may be associated
with other substances which tend to prevent the necessary
changes This causes organic nitrogen to differ in its degree of
availability not only from the material which furnishes it but
from the treatment that material has received The most val
uable sources of organic nitrogen are dried blood dried meat
concentrated tankage dried fish refuse from fish oil and can
ning establishments and cottonseed meal These products
also furnish more or less phosphoric acid
Other materials which are less desirable as sources of nitro
gen are leather meal horn and hoof meal wool waste felt
waste etc These decay so slowly that they are of doubtful
value unless the object is to gradually increase the fertility of
the soil rather than to secure immediate returns Commercial
nitrogen in the form of sulphates and nitrates is extremely
soluble in water and while very valuable is liable to be washed
out of the soil if applied too heavily or before the plants are
ready to take it up In this form nitrogen should be applied
after the crop begins its growth and is then at once taken up
by the plants while the organic nitrogen may or may not be
used up by the crop depending on whether conditions are fa
vorable for the changes it must undergo before it becomes en
tirely available208
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
SOURCES OF PHOSPHORIC ACID
The phosphoric acid of commercial fertilizers occurs in three
forms Soluble that is that which is easily taken up by
plants because readily soluble in water reverted or that
which is insoluble in water but readily used by plants and that
which is soluble only in strong acids and therefore is taken up
very slowly by plants All three of these forms are derived
from materials called phosphates Organic phosphates are
those containing organic or animal matter mineral phos
phates are those which contain no animal matter Of the for
mer bone in its various forms is the chief source Of the lat
ter the river and land phosphates of South Carolina the soft
pebble and rock phosphates of Florida and the mine phos
phates of Tennessee are those with which we are not familiar
The mineral phosphates are insoluble and have to be treated
and acted upon by strong acids before they become available as
plant food They are first ground to powder and then mixed
with strong sulphuric acid which changes the insoluble phos
phoric acid to the soluble form They then become super
phosphates This name is applied to any material containing
soluble phosphoric acid as its chief element and of course those
containing the greatest amount are the most valuable The
soluble distributes itself in the soil and goes to the roots of
the plants while the reverted remains where it is placed and
the roots of the plants must come to it An important fact to
remember is that phosphoric acid is not washed from the soil
iTbecomes fixed by combinations with lime iron and other
mineral substances Bone or organic phosphates are more
valuable than the mineral because of their greater tendency
to decay and because they may be used directly on the soil
without other treatment than the grinding necessary to make
them more easily available The finer this grinding the more
valuable the product because very fine ground bone is more
easily acted on by the forces which cause it to decay and thus
it becomes more quickly available Another fact which addsAnnual Publication foe 1896
209
to the value of bone phosphates is that they contain consider
able nitrogen Pure raw bone usually averages about 22
per cent of phosphoric acid and 4 per cent of nitrogen In
boiled or steamed bone not only is the bone made finer
but it is softer and acts more quickly than if it is merely
ground By boiling or steaming the percentage of nitrogen is
reduced while the phosphoric acid is increased Steamed
bone is therefore much richer in phosphoric acid than raw
bone Tankage is a bone product which contains consider
able nitrogen The amount is variable depending upon the
proportions of bone and meat used in its preparation Tank
age is not used as much as bone Of the other phosphates
derived from bone bone black bone ash etc are much
less valuable than the forms already mentioned Superphos
phates made from animal bone contain nitrogen in addition to
phosphoric acid and are therefore often called ammoniated
superphosphates
SOURCES OF POTASH
All forms of potash are soluble in water and are considered
as about equally available but it is important in selecting any
form of potash to specially consider its suitability to the crop
to which it is to be applied For instance it has been demon
strated that muriate of potash has an unfavorable effect on to
bacco potatoes and certain other crops which is not the case
when other forms of potash are used Our chief source of pot
ash salts are the German mines from which we obtain the kai
nit muriate and sulphate of potash and other forms in general
use Kainit which has obtained such favor in recent years is
a crude product of these mines and contains besides potash
common salt and magnesium sulphate It contains on an
average about I2J per cent of actual potash The muriate
and sulphate of potash are more concentrated They are man
ufactured from the crude forms and contain about 50 percent
of actual potash
In purchasing the ingredients for home mixing of fertilizers
14 a210
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
the following may be depended upon to furnish a uniform
amount and form of certain constituents no matter where se
cured and for that reason they are regarded as standards Ni
trate of soda sulphate of ammonia dried blood superphos
phates and potash salts all come under this head and like
other articles of trade have a certain commercial rating
R T Nesbitt
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS QUESTION BOX FOR THE MONTH
PLANTS THAT ARE POISONOUS TO THE HUMAN TOUCH
HOW TO UTILIZE TERRACESREMEDY FOR THE CABBAGE
PLUSIASOME POINTS ON PURCHASING FERTILIZERS
THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR MADE FROM BEETS
QUESTION
Will lucerne or alfalfa grow in the sandy soils of the wire
grass section of Georgia If so what is the proper time to
plant and how much seed is needed for an acre
ANSWER
Alfalfa should do finely in South Georgia under proper con
ditions as it delights in a light sandy loam which however
must not be underlaid by a stiff subsoil impervious to water
The subsoil must be penetrable by the roots of the plant which
sometimes reach to the depth of ten or twelve feet At the
same time the soil below the surface must not be water sobbed
as it is termed or alfalfa will not thrive upon it With the
above conditions of a well drained sandy loam with a per
meable subsoil you are ready to raise alfalfa successfully pro
vided you follow directions If your subsoil is deficient in
lime it will be essential to success to apply a liberal dressing
say 100 to 150 bushels to the acre as lucerne will not do wellAnnual Publication foe 1896
211
on land deficient in this fertilizer In addition to lime yon
will need a complete fertilizer rich in nitrogen potash and
phosphoric acid and it must be applied with a liberal hand as
alfalfa will give a very poor return on land that is not rich in
all the ingredients of plant food AVith your land now highly
enriched break it and subsoil it as deep as possible the deeper
the better Then harrow and reharrow until you have it
thoroughly pulverized and free from clods You are now
ready for planting and I would urge you not to broadcast the
seed as is so often recommended for if you do the weeds and
grass are almost sure to choke out the young alfalfa and you
give up the experiment in despair Plant in rows 20 to 24
inches apart and usefrom 20 to 25 pounds of seed to the acre
You know the importance of a good stand in any crop and
with alfalfa you want the plants thick enough to hold their
own against the grass and weeds which are sure to spring up
with them Plant about the last of September or the last of
February As soon as the plants are up well commence the
cultivation eradicating all weeds and grass and keeping the
ground mellow by frequent stirrings Cut when 16tol8inches
high and after that cut as often as necessary not allowing it
to go to seed and it will soon cover the ground and keep down
the weeds For hay it should be cut when the first flowers ap
pear It should improve up to the fourth year and after that
will yield you four to five tons of the best of hay annually
for many years provided of course that you keep out the
weeds The hay is equal to or even better than clover and is
much relished by stock If your soil is suitable I would
recommend that you try it
COTTONSEED FROM A NORTHERN LATITUDE
QUESTION
Do you think there is any benefit to a farmer in South
Georgia getting cottonseed from a more northern latitude 212
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ANSWER
The farmer in South Georgia would undoubtedly increase
his yield of cotton if every three or four years he would get
his planting cottonseed from a point 200 or 300 miles north of
his farm The farther south the plant is carried the greater
the tendency to run to weed as it is termed namely to
make a large growth of wood and leaves at the expense of the
fruit This is clearly shown in the coast regions of Mexico
where frost is unknown or very rare there the cotton plant
grows to a small tree in size bearing however but few bolls
filled with inferior lint Our farmers as a rule pay too little
attention to the selection of their planting seed especially cot
ton It is my opinion that if every farmer would in person or
through a trusty hand go through his cotton fields and pick
the bolls only from the best stalks of cotton and from these
save his planting seed the crop would soon be increased at
least 25 per cent without any increase in acreage Those
farmers who by careful selection of seed have so improved
their cotton that they make usually a bale to the acre and
readily sell their seed for a dollar a bushel began the improve
ment in the way I have indicated and keep it up continuously
in order to prevent deterioration of their seed If you will
follow the plan suggested you will not need to send anywhere
else for cottonseed but will soon find your crop materially in
creased and yourself famous for having the best cottonseed in
your section The same theory holds good in selecting seed
corn Go through your fields before gathering your crop and
select for seed the best ear from such stalks as have two or
more well matured ears Continue this practice for several
years and you will find your corn has become more prolific and
that the yield has preceptibly increased Year by year we
should strive for improvement and not be content to continue
in the old ruts made by our fathers They cultivated our lands
when they were fresh and made good crops under any circum
stances Now however conditions are changed and a farmerAnnual Publication for 1896
21c
must be wideawake and progressive or he cannot hope to make
anything but meagre crops
FERTILIZING
QUESTION
I have got 2000 bushels of cottonseed 100 barrels of ashes
from the slab pit and 100 barrels of ashes from the furnace
In addition I have 50000 pounds of horse manure I want
3our advice how to use this in a compost I can get kainit or
acid phosphate My cotton dies with the black root What
can I use to stop it
ANSWER
In consequence of the uncertain value of the ashes it is not
an easy matter to give a satisfactory answer to your question
Ashes vary from 1 to 5 per cent in phosphoric acid and from
1 to 20 per cent in potash according to circumstances The
ashes from the slab pit have of course had rains upon them
and are undoubtedly more or less leached making those in the
bottom of the pit much richer in potash than those nearer the
top In consequence they must be thoroughly mixed before
using so that the potash may be equally distributed through
out the mass Assuming that your ashes carry 8 per cent of
potash and 3 per cent of phosphoric acid I would suggest a
compost made of 600 pounds of ashes 600 pounds of cotton
seed and 800 pounds of acid phosphate This would give you
a fertilizer containing about 650 per cent of phosphoric acid
about 33 of potash and about 1 per cent of nitrogen If your
land is in the habit of causing rust in the cotton crop you had
better add 150 pounds of muriate potash to the above which
would give you a fertilizer with nearly 7 per cent of potash
The black root in cotton is hard to deal with and difficult to
subdue No doubt the best plan is to rotate your crops bring
ing cotton on the same field not oftener than once in three or
four years By this plan you can at least diminish the damage
from this disease and sometimes entirely eradicate it Con214 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
eerning the horse manure I suggest that you add 2000 pounds
of it to 2000 pounds of the above described compost and after
mixing thoroughly apply say from 500 to 600 pounds to the
acre for cotton This should make you a good crop should the
necessary work and rain accompany it
PURCHASING FERTILIZERS
QUESTION
The farmers in my neighborhood have formed a club and
would like some points from you on buying fertilizers as cheap
as possible Give us some suggestions

ANSWER
There are two ways open to individuals or clubs to get their
fertilizers The one most generally followed is to buy their
goods already mixed by the factories with the guaranteed
analysis branded upon the sacks This plan saves the farmer
some labor toth of head and hand and consequently is the most
popular The other plan is to buy the ingredients yourself
either as individuals or in clubs and do the mixing yourself
This plan will impose upon you some thought and some labor
but will enable you to save from 2 to 4 a ton on your fertil
izer bill This is the plan adopted by many of the shrewdest
and most successful farmers of the State and if adopted by allT
would save about 1000000 annually to the farmers of Geor
gia If now you want a cheap fertilizer for corn or cotton
such as you have usually paid 18 to 20 for buy the following
ingredients and mix them thoroughly before using
Acid phosphate 14 percent available 1200 lbs
Cottonseed meal nitrogen equal to SJ percent ammonia 300
Kainit 12 per cent potash 300
Total 1800 lbs
The cost of the material should be at wholesale prices about
15 not including the cost of mixing which should not exceedAnnual Publication for 1896
215
a half days wages of one hand Another higher grade fertil
izer for corn or cotton would be the following
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available1300 lbs
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per cent ammonia 300
Kainit 12 per cent potash 400
Total 2000 lbs
Cost of materials for above mixture should be at wholesale
prices about 1660 per ton while the usual selling price is
about 22 a ton Add to the cost of the above materials a half
days wages of one hand
Some farmers demand afertilizer of a higher grade contain
ing more nitrogen and more potash This demand can be
easily supplied but of course will cost more money The fol
lowing
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available 1300 lbs
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per cent ammonia 400
Muriate of potash 50 per cent potash 300
Total 2000 lbs
would give you a fertilizer of a very high grade the ingredients
of which would cost you about 21 at wholesale prices but for
such goods the usual selling price is about 26 You can get
all the ingredients for making your fertilizers from any of the
large manufacturers and I suggest that your club discuss the
matter find out just how much they want and then buy it in
carload lots They will make a decided saving by this plan
The mixing must be thoroughly done and all lumps broken up
The prices given above for materials for fertilizers does not in
clude freight which on an average will not add more than a
dollar or a dollar and a half per ton to the amount given One
advantage in buying mixing and using the higher grade goods
is the saving in freight For instance dried blood is usually
twice as rich in nitrogen as is cottonseed meal and muriate of
potash is four times as rich in potash as is kainit consequently
to get a definite amount of nitrogen or potash the freight
charge would only be half as much on blood as on cottonseed216
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
meal and onefourth as much on muriate of potash as on kai
nit Before mixing screen the materials with a common sand
screen to get out the lumps which can then he easily crushed
I have repeatedly urged the farmers of Georgia to mix their
own fertilizers and I trust that this season a great many will
follow my advice
PLANTING OF TERRACES
QUESTION
Is there no way that I can utilize my terraces I have a good
many and I have been thinking that something might be planted
on them
ANSWER
Of course you can plant your terraces in various crops and you
are wasting some good land if you are not doing so Some farmers
plant their terraces in fruit trees particularly plums but I think
this a poor plan as the tree soon branches out and prevents plow
ing right up to the terraces without injury to the trees Where
terraces are near the house I have seen fine strawberres raised upon
them and I think they would be excellently adapted to growing
raspberries or blackberries The roots of any of these fruits would
be useful in binding the terraces and thus preventing their washing
away I think though that on the whole sorghum or cattail
millet or chicken corn would be the best crops to put on the
terraces The roots of either of these would offer great resistance
to any tendency of the terraces to break and any of these could
be cut green for soiling or could go to maturity for seed or grind
ing and in both cases their roots would be left in the soil render
ing it difficult to break the terraces with even very heavy rains
Of course this planting of terraces is best done before they become
old packed and well sodded with grass Then they are better let
alone for any disturbance in the way of cultivation would only
weaken and injure themAnnual Publication foe 1896
217
HORSE SUFFERING FROM HEAVES
QUESTION
I have a fine young horse which has lately developed a short
wheezing cough and when driven out of a very slow gait seems
to breathe with difficulty his breathing then being short and fast
What ails him and what can I do to cure him
ANSWER
Your animal undoubtedly is suffering from what is called heaves
or broken wind This disease is caused by ruptured or enlarged
air cells of the lungs and is consequently incurable as no medical
science can repair these bursted cells The best you can do is to
lessen the evil by paying strict attention to the food of the animal
Dont give large quantities of hay or fodder but feed liberally of
oats with a small quantity of fodder The idea is to distend the
stomach as little as possible as to do so in such cases is always
harmful Always dampen the oats and fodder before feeding
Bran mashes are also good By feeding carefully as suggested the
trouble will be to some extent alleviated and the animal rendered
more serviceable though you can never hope for a cure
CABBAGE PLUSIA
QUESTION
Inclosed find some worms and a moth which produces them
The worms have seriously injured our cabbages and turnips eating
off the tops Please name them and give a remedy against them
ANSWER
The insect is called the cabbage plusia It works great injury
to many garden crops but especially to cabbages and turnips The
female moth dark gray in color with a bright spot near the mid
dle of each front wing deposits her eggs either singly or in clus
ters on the upper surface of the cabbage leaves The eggs soon
hatch and the young worms begin at once to devour the leaves218 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
and bore small irregular holes in the cabbage head In this sec
tion there are several broods of this destructive insect each season
The moth usually fly at night but may sometimes be seen flitting
about during a cloudy day To get rid of them dust upon the
plants pyrethrum insect powder mixed with three times its
bulk of flour They may also be destroyed by spraying with
kerosene emulsion
POISONOUS PLANTS
QUESTION
Are there any plants poisonous to the human touch
ANSWER
Fortunately there are but few plants that cannot be handled with
impunity The poisoning or poison oak a climbing vine is one
of these Few persons can handle this plant without finding them
selves poisoned and some are so susceptible to it that if they even
pass near it they are affected Then there is the poisonous sumac
the sap of which getting on the skin will cause painful blisters
Some varieties of mushrooms are also very poisonous even to
handle and cause death if eaten There are quite a number of
plants that are poisonous if eaten and doubtless many mysterious
cases of death among the cattle might be traced to this cause
SUGAR MADE FROM BEETS
QUESTION
How much sugar is made annually from beets in Europe How
much in this country
ANSWER
During the season of 189495 there was made in Germany
1850000 tons in Austria 1050000 tons in France 790000
tons in Belgium 285000 tons in Holland 90000 tons in other
countries 106000 tons a total of 4847000 tons In the same
year the product in the United States was 267000 tonsAnnual Publication for 1896
219
I THE LAW GOVERNING THE INSPECTION OF FER
TILIZERS AND FERTILIZER MATERIALS

On the 19th of October 1891 an act the full text of which is heieby given
was approved by the Governor The hearty cooperation of manufacturers
dealers and their agents in complying with the provisions of the law will
obviously render their dealings with the department more pleasant and at
the same time will better enable the Commissioner to give an efficient service
and will aid him more readily to detect any spurious article that is sought to
be imposed upon the people of the State and in protecting the farmers at
the same time to protect the honest manufacturer and dealer
AN ACT
To amend and consolidate the laws governing the inspection analysis and sale
of commercial fertilizers ch emicals and cottonseed meal in the State of
Georgia and to repeal all other laws and parts of laws in conflic t therewith
and for other purposes
Section I Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia
hat all manufacturers of or dealers in commercial fertilizers or chemicals
or cottonseed meal to be used in manufacturing the same who may desire to
sell or offer for sale in the State of Georgia such fertilizers chemicals or cotton
seed meal shall first file with the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of
Georgia the name of each brand of fertilizers or chemicals which he or they
may desire to sell in said State either by themselves or their agents together
with the name of the manufacturer the place where manufactured and also
the guaranteed analysis thereof and if the same fertilizer is sold under differ
ent names said fact shall be so stated and the different brands that are iden
tical shall be named
Sec II Be it further enacted That all fertilizers oi chemicals for manu
facturing the same and all cottonseed meal offered for sale or distribution in
this State shall have branded upon or attached to each bag barrel or package
the guaranteed analysis thereof showing the percentage of valuable elements
or ingredients such fertilizers or chemicals contain embracing the following
determinations
Moisture at 212 deg Fahper cent
Insoluble phosphoric acidpercent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash K2 Oper cent
The analysis so placed upon or attached to said fertilizer or chemical shall
be a guarantee by the manufacturer agent or person offering the same for sale220
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
that it contains substantially the ingredients indicated thereby in the percen
tages named therein and said guarantee shall be binding on said manufacturer
agent or dealer and may be pleaded in any action or suit at law to show total
or partial failure of consideration in the contract for the sale of said fertilizer
chemical or cottonseed meal
Sec III Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner
of Agriculture to forbid the sale of either of the following Any acid phos
phate which contains less than ten per centum of available phosphoric acid
any acid phosphate with potash which contains a sum total of less than ten
per centum of available phosphoric acid and potash when the per cents of the
two are added together any acid phosphate with ammonia which contains a
sum total of less than ten per centum of available phosphoric acid and ammonia
when the per cents of the two are added together any acid phosphate with
ammonia and potash which contains a sum total of less than ten per centum
of available phosphoric acid ammonia and potash when the per cents of the
three are added together that no brands shall be sold as ammoniated super
phosphates unless said brands contain 2 per cent or more of ammonia And
also to forbid the sale of all cottonseed meal which is shown by official analy
sis to contain less than 7 per cent of ammonia Nothing in this act shall be
construed to nullify any of the requirements of an act entitled an act to
require the inspection and analysis of cottonseed meal
Sec IV Be it further enacted That all persons or firms who may desire or
intend to sell fertilizers chemicals or cottonseed meal in this State shall for
ward to the Commissioner of Agriculture a printed or plainly written request
for tags therefor stating the name of the brand the name of the manufact
urer the place where manufactured the number of tons of each brand and
the number of tags required and the person or persons to whom the same ia
consigned the guaranteed analysis also the number of pounds contained in
each bag barrel or package in which said fertilizer chemical or cottonseed
meal is put up and shall at the time of said request for tags forward directly
to the Commissioner of Agriculture the sum of ten cents per ton as an inspec
tion fee whereupon it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture
to issue tags to parties so applying who shall attach a tag to each bag barrel
or package thereof which when attached to said bag barrel or package shall
be pnma facie evidence that the seller has complied with the requirements of
this act Any tags left in possession of the manufacturer or dealer at the end
of the season shall not be used for another season nor shall they be redeem
able by the Department of Agriculture
Sec V Be it further enacted That it shall not be lawful for any person firm
or corporation either by themselves or their agents to sell or offer for sale in
this State any fertilizer chemicals or cottonseed meal without first registering
the same with the Commissioner of Agriculture as required by this act and
the fact that the purchaser waives the inspection and analysis thereof shall be
no protection to said party so selling or offering the same for sale
Sec VI Be it further enacted That the Commissioner of Agriculture shall
appoint twelve inspectors of fertilizers or so many inspectors as in said Com
missioner s judgment may be necessary who shall hold their offices for such
terms as said Commissioner of Agriculture shall in his judgment think best
lor carrying out the provisions of this act The greatest compensation that any
one inspector of fertilizers shall receive shall be at the rate of one hundredAnnual Publication foe 1896
221
dollars per month and his actual expenses while in the discharge of his duty
i as such inspector It shall be their duty to inspect all fertilizers chemicals or
cottonseed meal that may be found at any point within the limits of this State
and go to any point when so directed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and
shall see that all fertilizers chemicals or cotton seed meal are properly tagged
Sec VII Be it further enacted That each inspector of fertilizers shall be
provided with bottles in which to place samples of fertilizers chemicals or cot
tonseed meal drawn by him and shall also be provided with leaden tags
numbered in duplicate from one upward and it shall be the duty of each in
i spector of fertilizers to draw a sample of all fertilizers chemicals and cotton
seed meal that he may be requested to inspect or that he may find unin
spected and he shall fill two sample bottles with each brand and place one
leaden tag of same number in each sample bottle and shall plainly write on a
label on said bottles the number corresponding to the number on said leaden
tags in said bottles and shall also write on the label on one of said bottles the
name of the fertilizer chemical or cotton seed meal inspected the name of the
manufacturer the place where manufactured the place where inspected the
date of inspection and the name of the inspector and shall send or cause to
be sent to the Commissioner of Agriculture the samples so drawn by him an
nexed to a full report of said inspection written on the form prescribed by
said Commissioner of Agriculture which report must be numbered to corre
spond with the number on said sample bottles and number on the leaden tags
placed therein and it shall also be the duty of said inspectors of fertilizers to
keep a complete record of all inspections made by them on forms prescribed
by said Commissioner of Agriculture Before entering upon the discharge of
their duties they shall take and subscribe before some officer authorized to
administer the same an oath faithfully to discharge all the duties which may
be required of them in pursuance of this act
Sec VIII Be it further enacted That the Commissioner of Agriculture shall
have the authority to establish such rules and regulations in regard to the in
spection analysis and sale of fertilizers chemicals and cottonseed meal not
inconsistent with the provisions of this act as in his judgment will best carry
i out the requirements thereof
Sec IX Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner
i of Agriculture to keep a correct account of all money received from the inspec
tion of fertilizers and to pay the same into the treasury after paying out of
said sum the expenses and salaries of inspectors and for the tags and bottles
i used in making such inspections
Sec X Be it further enacted That all contracts for the sale of fertilizers or
chemicals in the State of Georgia made in any other manner than as required
by this act shall be absolutely void provided that nothing in this act shall be
construed to restrict or avoid sales of acid phosphate kainit or other fertilizer
material in bulk to each other by importers manufacturers or manipulators
who mix fertilizer material for sale or as preventing the free and unrestricted
shipment of these articles in bulk to manufacturers or manipulators who mix
fertilizer material for sale
Sec XI Be it further enacted That any person selling or offering for
sale any fertilizers or chemicals without having first complied with the
provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction222
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
thereoi shall be punished as prescribed in section 4310 of the code o
Georgia
Sec XII Be it further enacted That all laws and parts of laws in conflict
with this act be and the same are hereby repealed
1 With the provisions of the above law the Commissioner requests that
all manufacturers and dealers in commercial fertilizers chemicals and other
fertilizer material immediately comply
AVhile the law itself is sufficiently explicit to be thoroughly understood to
facilitate its operations the following form is prescribed
REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION
To R TJtsbitl Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Ga
You are hereby requested to register for sale and distribution in the State
of Georgiamanufactured by
at
THE FOLLOWING IS THE GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
BRAND
OF THE
Moisture at 212 Fahper cent
Insoluble phosphoric acidper cent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash K2 0per cent
The ammonia is in the form of
Theis put up inof
lbs each
It is identical with
In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the above brand be
fore the official analysis thereof is madeagree and bind
to cancel all sales thereof and forfeit all
claims for purchase money therefor if after the official analysis is made the
Commissioner of Agriculture shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law
2 Under section 4 relating to requests for tags in order that no delay may
occur in shipments the manufacturer or dealer need not notify the Depart
ment at the time of the request for tags of the name of the purchaser or
consignee but must notify the Commisssioner in writing of every sale or con
signment on the day in which the same is made This notice must dis
tinctly state the brand of the fertilizer or the name of the chemical or fertil
izer material and the number of tons together with the name of the pur
chaser or consignee and their places of residence It must request inspection
and contain an agreement to cancel all sales thereof in the event the Com
missioner shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law The following form
may be used substantial compliance with the above rule being regarded as
sufficientAnnual Publication foe 1896
223
NOTICE OF SALES AND CONSIGNMENTS AND REQUEST FOR
INSPECTION
To R T Ncsbitt Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Ga
You are hereby notified thathave this day made the follow
ing sales and consignments and request that the same be inspected
J
03
a 03 oS 1 V
m it 3
o o oS P p g
a 6 a cB Iz i 6 0
In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the above before the
official analysis thereof is madeagree and bind
to cancel all sales thereof and forfeit all claim for
purchase money thereof if after the official analysis is made the Commissioner of
Agriculture shall prohibit its sale in accordance with law
Manufacturers and dealers by this rule are not required to delay shipment in
order that the inspection may be made but are required to see that their goods are
properly tagged the inspection being made while the fertilizer or fertilizer mate
rial is in the hands of the purchaser or consignee
3 All orders for tags must be sent direct to this department and the request
must be accompanied with the fees for inspection at the rate of ten cents per ton
for the fertilizer or fertilizer material on which they are to be used
Manufacturers and dealers or their agents may request tags in such quantities
as they see fit but each request must state distinctly the brand or brands on
which they are to be used with the number of tons of the brands or of each of
said brands
It is not necessary that the fertilizer or fertilizer material be actually on hand
at the time the request is made but manufacturers or dealers can order such a
number of tags as they may need during the season bearing in mind that no tags
carried over will be redeemed by the department
In the event that more tags are ordered for any brand than it is ascertained can
be used on the sales and consignments of that brand by proper notice with the
consent of the Commissioner the tags can be used on another brand put up in
packages or sacks of the same weight and sold or consigned the same season
4 If a fertilizer be offered for registration inspection or sale branded as either
of the following
Ammoniated Superphosphate
Ammoniated Dissolved Bone
Ammoniated Guano
Guano
Fertilizer
or other words implying that the same is an ammoniated superphosphate the224 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
guaranteed analysis must claim that it contains not less than two per cent of
ammonia actual or potential
6 That part of section 3 excepting from the operations of the act an act to
require the inspection and analysis of cottonseed meal leaves the inspec
tion of that article under the Calvin bill which requires that all cottonseed
meal for whatever purpose to he used be inspected It is therefore necessary
and is required that a request for inspection be sent to the Commissioner and
that the inspection be made in the hands of the manufacturer dealer or their
agent or if shipped in the State at some convenient point before the meal is
sold or distributed In all cases fees will be sent direct to the Commissioner
who will immediately order the nearest inspector to make the inspectionAnnual Publication for 1896
225
CALVIN BILL
COTTONSEED MEAL
A bill to be entitled an act to require all cottonseed meal to be subjected to
analysis and inspection as a condition precedent to being offered for sale
and to forbid the sale in this State of such cottonseed meal if it be shown
by the official analysis that the same contains less than 7 per centum of
ammonia to prescribe a penalty for the violation of the provisions of this
act and for other purposes
Section I Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same That from and after the passage
of this act it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to offer for sale in
this State any cottonseed meal until the same shall have been duly analyzed
by the State Chemist and inspected as now required by law in the matter of
all fertilizers and chemicals for manufacturing or composting purposes nor
shall it be lawful to offer such cottonseed meal for sale in this State if it be
shown by the official analysis that the same contains less than 7J per centum
of ammonia provided that the provisions of this act as to the per centum
mentioned in this section shall not apply to meal manufactured from sea
island cottonseed but the Commissioner of Agriculture shall upon the pass
age of this act fix and make public a minimum per centum which shall con
trol as to the cottonseed meal referred to in this proviso provided further
that if any cottonseed meal shall not analyze up to the required per centum
of ammonia the same may be offered for sale as secondclass meal provided
the analysis be made known to the purchaser and stamped on the sack
Sec II Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That there shall
be branded upon or attached to each sack barrel or package of cottonseed
meal offered for sale in this State the true analysis as determined by the State
Chemist and the number of pounds net in each sack barrel or package
Sec III Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That it shall be
the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to take all steps necessary to
make effective the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this act
Sec IV Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That any person
or persons violating the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished as described in section
4310 of the code of 1882
Sec V Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That all laws and
parts of laws in conflict with this act be and the same are heieby repealed
Approved July 22 1891
15 a226
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
ELLINGTON BILL
No 1GS
An act to regulate the sale of fertilizers in the State to fix a method for
determining the value of the same and for other purposes
Section I Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia and it is
hereby enacted by authority of the same That from and after the passage of
this act it shall be lawful for any purchaser of fertilizer from any owner
thereof or agent of such owner to require of the person selling and at the
time ofsale or delivery to take from each lot of each brand sold a sample of
its contents
Sec II Be it further enacted That said sample so taken shall be mixed to
gether and placed in a bottle jar or such other receptacle as the purchaser
may present It shall then be the duty of such purchaser and seller to deliver
said package to the Ordinary of the county who shall label same with the
names of the parties and of the fertilizer
Sec III Be it further enacted That said Ordinary shall safely keep said
package allowing neither party access to the same save as hereinafter pro
vided The Ordinary shall receive a fee of ten 10 cents from the party de
positing such sample for each sample so deposited
Sec IV Be it further enacted That should said purchaser after having
used such fertilizer upon his crops have reason to believe from the yields
thereof that said fertilizer was totally or partially worthless he shall notify the
seller and apply to the Ordinary to forward the said sample deposited with
him or a sufficiency thereof to insure a fair analysis to the State Chemist
without stating the names of the parties the name of the fertilizer or giving
its guaranteed analysis the cost of sending being prepaid by the purchaser
Sec V Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the State Chemist
to analyze and send a copy of the result to said Ordinary
Sec VI Be it further enacted That should said analysis show that said
fertilizer comes up to the guaranteed analysis upon which it is sold then the
statement so sent by the State Chemist shall be conclusive evidence against a
plea of partial or total failure of consideration But should said analysis show
that such fertilizer does not come up to the guaranteed analysis then the sale
shall be illegal null and void and when suit is brought upon any evidence
of indebtedness given for such fertilizer the statement of such Chemist so
transmitted to the Ordinary shall be conclusive evidence of the fact
whether such evidence of indebtedness is held by an innocent third party
or not
Sec VII Be it further enacted That in lieu of the State Chemist should
the parties to the contract agree upon some other chemist to make said analy
sis all the provisions of this act shall apply to his analysis and report to the
Ordinary
Sec VIII Be it further enacted That should the seller refuse to take said
sample when so required by the purchaser then upon proof of this fact the
purchaser shall be entitled to his plea of failure of consideration and to sup
port the same by proof of the want of effect and benefit of said fertilizer uponAnnual Publication for 1896
227
innocent holder or not Smd Suit is h by an
Approved December 27 1890
Special attention is called to
Sec I Requiring seller to take the sample
bEC II Requiring purchaser and setter to deliver oackaetnn x
Sec VRequmng cost of sending being prepaid by purchaser
REMARKS OX THE ELLINGTON BILL
Unless the law is complied with and samples are taken
rfwrcfiwer and seller and kept in cha f rhln j 6 Presence of
not make the analyses IfThe samn fint 11 8tEte Chemist wil1
and kept in charge by the 2 taken m the presence of the seller
ing it with dirt could cause thP J T u absenceof the seller and mix
cally dealer by adding SnTe lT nd Ve a
swindle an honest farmer mgredlent8 r titntrng another sample conld
wnlirTStf S t0
their guarantees This is eZZZtsl JH f T f
purchaser nor seller should have pJZtoZZZl
SpSxr1issihtbe seainrith wax f ai1
is advisable that it shou d be done A f V T n require il rt
of the names of the two parties the r6Crd shuld be kt by the Ordinary
the sampes shouFI uT red t ken and gUarantee and
be put upon the bottles When thVSTi Md CrreSP0lding nuber should
should be scraped oheltbZHT Tttl T8
placed in another bottle and numbered m Sample ehould b
prevent samples getting mfxeThOrfir J reCOrd bk to
county on the packa whenshippingwThVS T Mme f the
county the package belonm TffZ m hemSt may know to what
which are sLt to thitTce b CZaSZlT Sam
where it is from ailmg to wrlte on e package228
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
REPORT OF THE CHEMIST
Laboratory op the State Chemist State Capitol
Atlanta Ga September 1 1896
Hon R T Nesbitt Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia
Dear SirThe fertilizer season just closing has been one of unusual char
acter in the history of the department The largest number of brands of
fertilizers offered for sale in Georgia during any one year have been put
upon the market during the past season The largest number of tons of
fertilizers sold in Georgia during any one year have been sold for this years
crop Georgia is the largest consumer of fertilizers of any of the States of
the Union She has become almost as large a user of these materials as the
two States which rank next to her put together This enormous consump
tion of fertilizers made up under so many different brands necessitates a
great number of chemical analyses to determine the character of the goods
offered for sale
The farmers of the State are studying the subject of fertilizers and fertil
ization of crops with deep interest and are appreciating more and more
fully the importance of the intelligent use of fertilizers The enormous mul
tiplication of brands is not for the best interests either of the manufacturer
or the farmer A healthy increase in the number of brands commensurate
with an increase of the number of manufacturers and of new and desirable
combinations is unobjectionable but it is not wise for a manufacturer to put
up goods by a certain formula and sell them far and wide over the State
under many different names The objection to this is obvious A farmer
may buy a certain brand of goods and find it totally unfitted for his land and
the crop he wishes to raise naturally he desires no more of that brand
although it may contain all the plantfood guaranteed it is not suited to the
peculiar conditions of his crop or his land lie wishes to try something
else He goes to another dealer and buys a different brand thinking he is
getting a change If it happens to be the same old brand under another
name his crop suffers accordingly and his faith in fertilizers is much shaken
He certainly would not have bought the same goods a second time if he had
been aware of their identity A wrong is thus put upon him Many dealers
desire to appear as manufacturers and have their own special brands made
for them These brands are sometimes made one season by one factory ami
give satisfaction another manufacturer comes along and offers to make him
the goods for next season with the same guarantee for less money he
accepts the offer and the goods will reach the guarantee but with far les
margin than the others and probably made up with different materials
The purchaser tries them the first season and is pleased he tries them the
second season and is disappointed he is told that the goods are all right as
shown by their work the first season and that the weather and other adverse
causes are accountable for his poor crop In this way he is often unfairly
persuaded to use the brand a third season
Some manufacturers are accustomed to consider their brands as simply
formulae containing certain amounts of available phosphoric acid ammoniaAnnual Publication foe 1896
229
and potash varying the source of these substances as best suits their pocket
books or convenience This is eminently unwise as a given brand should
represent a certain amount of plantfood from definite sources A farmer who
faas successfully used a fertilizer ammoniated with blood certainly is not
treated fairly if sold the same brand next season ammoniated with nitrate of
soda without his having any knowledge of the change
We believe that it would be wise to inaugurate a definite system in regard
to the matter This should be done by requiring each manufacturer when
he registers a brand with the Commissioner of Agriculture to give the kind
of materials to be used in it If a manufacturer desires to vary the ma
terials of a brand according to the market prices he can so register it that
is state that it may be composed in part of all the specified ingredients or a
portion of them to meet the given guarantee It would not be just to require
a manufacturers formula but it is right that a farmer should know whether
the brand he used successfully last season is made up of the same materials
this season or secures its ammonia and potash from some other source
This is a matter of great importance to the farmer who wishes to secure the
best results for the money upon his crop on his land
A reasonable number of brands should be allowed to each manufacturer
any excess over such number should pay a proper fee to the State Chemist
for each brand to enalbe him to accomplish the work necessary to keep up
with the increasing number of brands It has only been by working fourteen
hours a day for a large portion of the year that he has kept pace with the
present large number of brands And the number of brands grows larger
each year
During the past season there has been an unusual number of samples sent
direct to the State Chemist under the provisions of the Ellington bill This
hill gives most complete protection to any farmer who doubts the character
of the fertilizer purchased The sample is taken in the presence of buyer and
i seller and given in charge of the ordinary of the county If the buyer finds
the crop results unsatisfactory he notifies the ordinary who sends the sam
I pie without the name of the brand or the name of the manufacturer or
I the name of the buyer or the name of the seller to the State Chemist who
makes the analysis free of charge
The amount of work done during the season of 189596 was as follows
Acid phosphates with ammonia and potash complete fertilizers 926
Acid phosphates with ammonia 4
I Acid phosphates with potash i 79
j Acid phosphates 141
Potash salts 33
Fertilizers under provisions of the Ellington bill 27
Cotton seedmeals 58
Minerals 151
Substances not otherwise enumerated 162
1681
Very respectfully
George F Payne State Chemist230
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
VALUATIONS
For Available Phosphoric Acid Ammonia and Potash for Season of 1S95189
Available phosphoric acid3J4 cents a pound
Ammonia or its equivalent in nitrogen 11 cents a pound
Potash434 cents a pound
If calculated by units
Available phosphoric acid 65 cents per unit
Ammonia or its equivalent in nitrogen 2 20 per unit
Potash 85 cents per unit
The relative commercial value which is given each fertilizer is calculated
from the above figures with an addition to each of 260 per ton to cover in
spection sacks mixing and handling
To calculate the commercial value of a ton of a given fertilizer bear in minu
that a ton weighs 2000 pounds and one per cent of this is twenty pounds
If a goods contain one per cent of available phosphoric acid this will be
twenty pounds of available phosphoric acid in a ton Twenty pounds of
available phosphoric acid at three and a quarter cents a pound will be sixty
five cents for each per cent contained in a ton or sixtyfive cents per unit as
it is generally designated Ammonia being eleven cents a pound each one
percent or twenty pounds in a ton will be worth 220 Potash being four
and one quarter cents per pound each one per cent or twenty in a ton will
be worth eightyfive cents
To illustrate this take a sample containing
Available phosphoric acid1000 multiply by 65 6 50
Ammonia 260 multiply by 220 5 72
Potash 200 multiply by 85 1 70
Inspection sacks mixing and handling 2 60
Relative commercial value16 52
These values represent approximately the comparative original wholesale
cost of the goods and not their retail prices To estimate the approximate re
tail value one should add the freight to his particular market from the chief
points of distribution in the State and a fair profit on the cost of the goods
It is well to bear in mind that goods are sold very close for cash but when
sold on time dealers are compelled to charge full prices to cover interest cost
of collection and bad debts
It is impossible to fix exact values for an entire season upon mercantile
goods subject to the fluctuations of the market hence these values while
considered fairly approximate are to be regarded as relative and not as abso
luteAnnual Publication for 1896
231
WHOLESALE CASH PRICES OF FERTILIZER MATERIALS
January 1896
These are the Substances from which Ordinary Commercial Fertilizers are
Manufactured mixing handling freight sacking etc increasing the cost
of the finished product
Phosphate Rock free on hoard Charleston S 0 per ton 2 75 to 5 3 50
Peace River Fla per ton 3 00 to 3 50
Land Pebble 70 Phosphoric Acid per ton 4 00 to 4 25
Sulphuric Acidin bulk50Bper ton 6 50 to 7 50
Acid Phosphateper ton 0 50 to 8 45
Acid Phosphate sold by the unit of available Phosphoric
Acidper unit 50 to 65
To obtain the price of a given acid phosphate multiply the per cent of
available phosphoric acid by the price per unit One ton of ground phos
phate rock and one ton of sulphuric acid will make two tons of acid phos
phate The cost of available phosphoric acid at 65 cents a unit is 3J cents a
pound
Blood dried red high grade with nitrogen equivalent to 16
per cent ammoniaper ton 28 80
Blood dried low grade with nitrogen equivalent to 14 per
cent ammoniaper ton 23 1
Tankage High gradeper ton 18 00 to 19 CO
Low gradeper ton 17 00 to 18 00
Fish Guano or Fish Scrap dried free on board at the
factoryper ton 19 00 to 19 50
Fish Guano or Fish Scrap acidulated free on board at the
factoryper ton 9 00 to 9 50
Bones roughper ton 19 00 to 20 00
groundper ton 24 00
Bone Meal steamedper ton 22 00
Bone Black Refuseper ton 18 00 to 18 50
Sulphate of Ammonia containing about 24 to 25 per cent
ammoniaper ton 44 00 to 49 00
Nitrate of Soda containing nitrogen equivalent to about 19
per cent of ammoniaper ton 35 00 to 37 00
Cotton Seed Mealby carloadcontaining nitrogen equiva
lent to about 8 per cent ammoniaper ton 18 70
Kainit containing 1200 per cent potash K20 at Savan
nah Ga in lots of less than 25 tonsper ton 11 00 to 13 75
Kainit containing 1200 per cent potash K20 invoice lots
as to portper long ton 2240 lbs 8 55 to 9 80
Muriate of Potash containing about 5100 per cent potash
K20 at Savannah Ga in lots of less than 25 tons per
ton41 00 to 52 00
Muriate of Potash containing about 5100 per cent potash
K20 invoice lots as to port per long ton 2240 lbs 35 00 to 36 00
Cottonseed Hull Ashes averages about 2275 per cent potash
K20 but varies from 10 per cent to 42 per cent per ton 16 00232
Department of AgeicultobeGeoegia
These prices give a fair idea of the value of fertilizers in large wholesale
lots The phosphate rook is quoted F 0 B at the mines the freight to any
given point will have to he added to give the wholesale value at such place
Sulphuric acid is given at New York quotations but sulphuric acid is prob
ably made as cheaply in Georgia as at the north as acid phosphates have
been sold in the State in bulk so low as to warrant this presumption
Blood tankage bones boneblack sulphate of ammoniaand nitrate of soda
are quoted at New York prices But as most of the blood tankage and bones
comes from the western markets they are probably delivered almost as
cheaply in Georgia as in New York City Fish scrap is quoted at the factory
The freight rate on fertilizers from New York to Savannah is from SI60 to
200 per ton so 200 added to the fish scrap prices would give about cost at
Savannah
With these figures as a basis the value of the plantfood in these materials
taking the prices for large quantities is as follows
Available phosphoric acid ob cents cents
tained from phosphate rock per ft i to 3 per unit 50 to 60
Ammonia or its nitrogen equiv
alent in the form of blood per ft S4 to 9 per unit 165 to 180
Ammonia or its nitrogen equiv
alent in the form of Sulphate
of Ammoniaper ft 1io 22 per unit 245 to 250
Ammonia or its nitrogen equiv
alent in the form of Nitrate of
Sodaper ft 9 to 9jV per unit 184 to 192
Ammonia or its nitrogen equiv
alent in the form of Cotton
seed Mealper ft 11 per unit 220
Potash K20 in the form of
Kainitper ft y2 to 4 per unit 70to 90
Potash K20 in the form of
Muriateper ft 3 to 4TV per unit 64 to 82
Potash K in the form of
Ashes of Cottonseed Hulls per ft 3 per unit 72
As tankage bones fish scrap and boneblack refuse contain phosphates as
well at nitrogenous matter they would not be treated fairly if valued on their
nitrogen aloneAnnual Publication for 1896
233
The Percentage in Ordinary Fertilizing Materials of the Three Plant Foods
Most Easily Exhausted from the Soil is as follows
s o 3 o H Per Cent of Available Phosphoric Acid Thii subtracted from the total Phosphoric Acid present will leave the Insoluble Phosphoric Acid Per Cent Ammonia Calculated from Nitrogen present o 5
Acid Phosphates Soft PhosphatesBlood 1200 to 2000 1986 190 1200 825 2274 10 00 to 1900 207
1200 to 1700 800 to 1400 880 4 63 2480 1900 800 to 900 450 to 650
Tankage 540 315 800
Fish dried



UottonSeed Meal 280 250 180
Sea Island Cotton Seed Meal 150 11 00 to 13 00
Muriate of Potash 885 10 40 114 151 170 70 10 17 17 109 41 31 51 50
Cotton Seed Hull 775 2275
Ashes Anthracite 10
AshesBitunious Ashes limekiln 40 120
Ashes wood 1 27
Ashes wood unleached 525
Ashes city cre 130 35 53 121 72 67 70 1 8S 72 52 237 00 59 68
Muck 15
Cattle Excrement 10
Horse Excrement Human Excment 35 25
Swine Excrement 13
Sheep Excrement Cattle Urine 15 49
1 50
Human Urine 17 07 01 30 32 20
83
Stable M a nure 2 26
60
Barnyard Manure 34

234 Department of AgricultureGeorgia
FRUITS
AND THEIR PRESERVATION FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES
By Dr George F Payne FCS State Chemist of Georgia
From Druggists Circular
Many substances have been suggested and tried for the preservation of
fruits for exhibition purposes with more or less success It is possible to
preserve the most delicate fruits and berries but it is a matter of extreme
difficulty to preserve at the same time all of their magnificent coloring as
well as to prevent either their shrinking or bursting
To preserve the natural size of some fruits it is important to prepare a
preserving fluid of the same specific gravity as the juice or must of the fruit
A must spindle or other specific gravity spindle for liquids heavier than
water can be used for this purpose The juice of the fruit should be
squeezed out and its gravity taken and the preserving fluid should be made
to correspond with it by the addition of sugar a beer saccharometer which
can be purchased for 75 cents is well suited for taking the specific gravity of
the juices of the fruits Each degree upon its stem represents one ounce of
sugar in each 100 ounces of the solution when made up with water A
gallon of water contains 128 fluid ounces or weighs about 133 avoirdupois
ounces hence each degree on the spindle indicating 1 per cent of sugar or
one ounce in the hundred will mean ounces of sugar in the gallon Then
a juice of 10 degrees is equivalent to 13 ounces of sugar in the gallon
Test the gravity of your solution after mixing to see that you are correct
The less the gravity of the solutions the more inclined will be the fruits with
skins to swell so a little shortage on the sugar is only inclined to make the
fruit look large too little sugar may cause them to burst
The specific gravities of the juices or must of some of our best known
fruits when ripe are as follows in the degrees of the saccharometer
DewberriesAbout 1 degree
Tomatoes 4 decrees
Strawberries 5 to 6
Raspberries 7 to 8
Huckleberries 8
Plums 10
Mulberries 8
Peaches s to 10
Apples 10 to 12
Pears 10 to 12
Cherries 12 to 15
Crapes 11 to 15
Scuppernongs 13
The specific gravities of the juices of fruits vary considerably and it is
better to verify these figures than to take them for granted the juices of
green fruits contain less sugar than when ripe where one cannot secure
enough juice or must to take the specific gravity it can be fairly approxi
mated by assuming the gravity of some similar fruitAnnual Publication foe 1896
235
In making up the solutions it is advisable to use distilled water if it can be
secured and if not accessible rain water freshly caught in a clean tub or bar
rel will be excellent Pure spring water or artesian water boiled and cooled
in most cases will be probably next best If well water is used it should also
be boiled and cooled
All fruits before being put into the containers should be washed gently in
pure water after being placed in the bottles let it drain a few minutes then
pour off the water and add the preserving fluid If a half or an inch layer of
melted paraffin is slowly poured on top of the fluid it will harden and make
an excellent top covering
For this paraffin covering ordinary paraffin candles are well suited They
are also admirably adapted for sealing the jars which must be done by rub
bing the warm paraffin thick upon the stopper then warming to incipient
melting and inserting quickly and firmly and allowing to cool and set before
moving The stoppers can be removed at any time by gently warming the
neck of the jars or bottles The stoppers should also be bound down with
twine or preferably tied over with cloth or paper
Fruits should be picked immediately after attaining their full size and
color so as to secure the greatest firmness possible consistent with its proper
representation If convenient the stems should be retained on the fruits
On the label the name of the variety of fruit should be always given if possi
ble and the date of gathering A number of different materials and formula
have been tried to establish which are the best for preserving fruits for exhi
bition purposes We have found no perfect formula and one no matter how
good will not serve for all fruits without a proper adjustment of its specific
gravity for the fruit intended to be preserved
Strawberries
Cover with ninetyfive per cent alcohol and allow to stand some two of
three months The alcohol will extract the chlorophyll from the sepals and
the red coloring matter from the berry itself These oxidize into a brown
color which leaves the alcohol of a corresponding hue and of course utterly
unfit to be exhibited in that condition After standing for some time this
alcohol is poured off and the berries rinsed off lightly by pouring on a little
more ninetyfive per cent alcohol which is poured off and the jar filled with
fresh ninetyfive per cent alcohol which has been colored pink either with
cochineal or fuchsin The berries when thus treated are far firmer than
when first put up and retain their shape and size excellently but not their
color Use nothing but the alcohol and coloring matter Sugar is not neces
sary in the case of a berry of the structure of a strawberry which is really
made up of a multitude of little fruits
Peaches Plums Cherries and Currants
Salicylic acid1 ounce
Sodium salicylate2 ounces
Sugar34 pounds
Water5 gallons
Pears and Light Colored Grapes
Sodium bisulphite8 ounces
Water1 gallon
Use no sugar as the sodium bisulphite makes fluid of high enough gravity236
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
Dark Colored Grapes and Other Dark Colored Fruits
Formic aldehyde aqueous solution2 ounces
Sugar1 pound
Water1 gallon
Apples
Strong fresh sulphurous acid aqueous solutionQ ounces
Sugar5 ounces
Water1 gallon
The specific gravity of each one of these solutions can be readily adjusted
by putting in more or less sugar as the fruit may be green or very ripe The
above strengths however are about correct for the average fruits
It is scarcely necessary to add that fruits preserved as above are rendered
unfit for edible purposes by the chemicals employed and are intended for
exhibition onlyAnnual Publication foe J96
237
COMMERCIAL PLANTFOOD
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE WORDS MOISTURE INSOLUBLE
PHOSPHORIC ACID AVAILABLE PHOSPHORIC ACID
AMMONIA ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL AND POTASH
IN THE ACT GOVERNING THE INSPECTION AND
ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZERS IN THE STATE
OF GEORGIA
Moisture at 212 Degrees FallThis means the water cr dampness which can
be driven out of the fertilizer by drying it at a temperature of 212 degrees of
the Fahrenheit thermometer scale 212 degrees Fah is the temperature of
boiling water Fertilizer materials contain a varying amount of water which
has been absorbed in several ways according to the character of the mate
rial All vegetable and animal products contain a certain amount of water
as neither vegetable nor animal life can exist without it all vegetable and
animal materials are found to contain it in various percentages Substances
dug from the earth like phosphate rock naturally contain a certain per
centage of water due either to rainfall or moisture from other natural
sources Sulphuric acid which is so largely used in the manufacture of acid
phosphates contains considerable moisture as steam is one of the necessary
materials in its manufacture
Insoluble Phosphoric Acid and Available Phosphoric AcidPhosphoric acid
as put upon the market for plantfood usually exists in one of three forms
or a combination of either two or all three of said forme The condition in
which phosphoric acid is usually found in commercial fertilizers is in the
form of either of these three materials Tricalcium phosphate dicalcium
phosphate and monocalcium phosphate These three calcium phosphates also
have the common name of phosphates of lime as lime is a calcium oxide
Tricalcium phosphate is usually spoken of as bone phosphate in com
merce Phosphate rock as dug in the mines of South Carolina Florida and
Tennessee contains its phosphoric acid in combination with the lime in
such a way as to form tricalcium phosphate The phosphoric acid which
exists in this combination in ordinary phosphate rock is insoluble in the
waters of the soil and when this is the case it is called insoluble phosphoric
acid This raw untreated phosphate rock in its action on the crops is not
identical with true bone phosphate as found in the finely ground bonemeal
as we have found by actual analysis that there is considerable available
phosphoric acid in such bonemeal and that there is none in the ordinary
untreated phosphate rock What is determined as phosphoric acid is really
a phosphorus oxide It is known chemically as phosphoric anhydride or
phosphorus pentoxide and is abbreviated or symbolized by the letters and
figures P205 meaning two atoms of phosphorus to five atoms of oxygen
This is what is called in all fertilizer analyses phosphoric acid but to be
really phosphoric acid it has to combine with the elements of water
Three molecules of lime calcium oxide and one molecule of phos
phoric anhydride socalled phosphoric acid P205 make one molecule of
tricalcium phosphate238
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
Two molecules of lime calcium oxide one molecule of phosphoric anhy
dride socalled phosphoric acid P2Oa and one molecule of water make
two molecules of dicalcium phosphate
One molecule of lime calcium oxide one molecule of phosphoric
anhydride socalled phosphoric acid P205 and two molecules of water
make one molecule of mouocalcium phosphate
Three molecules of water and one molecule of phosphoric anhydride
socalled phosphoric acid P205 make two molecules of true phosphoric
acid or orthophosphoric acid
Two molecules of water and one molecule of phosphoric anhydride make
one molecule of pyrophosphoric acid and one molecule of water and one
molecule of phosphoric anhydride make two molecules of metaphospho
ric acid
The phosphoric anhydride in the tricalcium phosphate is insoluble in soil
waters as above stated and is called insoluble phosphoric acid The phos
phoric anhydride in dicalcium phosphate is soluble in soil waters and is
called reverted phosphoric acid The phosphoric anhydride present in mono
calcium phosphate is soluble in water and is called soluble phosphoric acid
The phosphoric anhydride in true phosphoric acid is also soluble in water
and is also called soluble phosphoric acid In the analyses of fertilizers all of
the phosphoric anhydride which can be dissolved out of the fertilizer with
water is determined and is called soluble phosphoric acid This as stated
above gives all of the phosphoric anhydride present in the form of mono
calcium phosphate and of free phosphoric acid After the water has dis
solved all of the phosphoric acid it can obtain from the fertilizer the resi
due is treated with a neutral solution of ammonium citrate of such a
strength as to represent the solvent powers of soil waters After the fer
tilizer has had all of the dicalcium phosphate dissolved out of it by this
solution the residue is treated with strong nitric and hydrochloric acids
which dissolve out all of the remaining phosphoric acid which exists as
tricalcium phosphate In this acid solution the phosphoric anhydride is
determined and gives us what is called the insoluble phosphoric acid
Then in another portion of the fertilizer the whole of the phosphoric acid
is dissolved out with strong nitric and hydrochloric acids and deter
mined This gives the total phosphoric anhydride or what is known as
the total phosphoric acid
To obtain the amount of phosphoric anhydride present as dicalcium
phosphate we subtract the insoluble phosphoric anhydride from the total
phosphoric anhydride and this gives the total available phosphoric acid
or the soluble and reverted phosphoric anhydride from this amount the
soluble phosphoric anhydride is then subtracted this leaves the reverted
phosphoric anhydride or reverted phosphoric acid as it is called The
available phosphoric anhydride is the soluble phosphoric anhydride and
the reverted phosphoric anhydride added together as they are both soluble
in the waters of the soil and available as plantfood
The use of sulphuric acid with phosphate rock is to break up the combi
nation of the lime calcium oxide with the phosphoric anhydride the
sulphuric acid combines with the lime calcium oxide and forms calcium
sulphate or sulphate of lime replacing the phosphoric anhydride and
leaving less lime in combination with it and thus producing dicalciumAnnual Publication for 1896
239
phosphate monocalcium phosphate and phosphoric acid as the case may
he depending upon the amount of sulphuric acid added Manufacturers
avoid an excess of sulphuric acid as it rapidly destroys the sacks and
also makes an acid phosphate which is wet and sticky The words acid
phosphate refer to the fact that these phosphates are acid phosphates of
lime they are acid with phosphoric acid and if no excess of sulphuric
acid has been used there is rarely any appreciable evidence of free sul
phuric acid present it being all combined with the lime as sulphate of
lime or calcium sulphate On this account ordinary acid phosphate
usually contains a considerable percentage of sulphate of lime Sulphate
of lime is sometimes known as gypsum and also as landplaster
Ammonia Actual and PotentialSubstances which contain combined
nitrogen are valuable as plantfood whether in the form of nitrates
ammonia salts or organic nitrogen The nitrogen of our atmosphere
exists in an uncombined form it only being mechanically mixed with the
oxygen Kitrogen as it exists in the atmosphere is in an inert form and
most plants do not readily assimilate it from the air and it is a moot
point as to whether any plants directly assimilate nitrogen from our
atmosphere It may be possible that all plants secure a small amount in
some way from the air but there is no positive proof of such being a fact
Plants of the natural order of the leguminosse or thellegumebearing fam
ily such as peas beans clover and the iike certainly indirectly obtain
nitrogen from the atmosphere The chief amount of nitrogen which they
secure has been traced to certain bacteria which thrive upon the surface
of the roots of these plants These bacteria assimilate nitrogen from the
atmosphere and this nitrogen which they have combined chemically in
their organisms is taken up from them by the roots of the plants It is prob
able however that all of the combined nitrogen which we have available
to us as plantfood has been won from the nitrogen of the atmosphere
this however has been by the long processes of time Agriculturists
can secure large amounts of available nitrogensby planting leguminous
crops and ploughing them under as a source of nitrogenous material but
for chemical fertilizers we are limited to those substances which already
contain considerable amounts of nitrogen in a combined form The sym
bol used for nitrogen by chemists is the letter N the symbols for ammonia
are KHj H standing for hydrogen hence one atom of nitrogen and three
atoms of hydrogen make a molecule of ammonia The atomic weight of
nitrogen is 14 times that of hydrogen hydrogen being 1 hence 14 pounds
of nitrogen and 3x1 or 3 pounds of hydrogen make 17 pounds of
ammonia hence every 14 pounds of nitrogen is equivalent to 17 pounds of
ammonia The Georgia State law requires the statement of the amount
of nitrogen present to be in the form of ammonia actual or potential
actual meaning real ammonia and potential meaning of the same
strength and power as ammonia that is the nitrogen present calculated to
ammonia as it is the nitrogen in the ammonia that is valuable as plant
food and the nitrogen in other materials which is also valuable for that
purpose Cottonseed meal is usually spoken of as having from 8 to 9
per cent of ammonia but the nitrogen in it really exists in organic com
bination and not in the form of ammonia Ammonia salts are readily
soluble in water and so are the salts of nitric acid The nitrates furnish240
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
very quickly available nitrogen of fully equal value to the nitrogen fur
nished by the salts of ammonia Both of these forms of ammonia are
more quickly available to the plant than when it is in organic combina
tion as in cottonseed meal and in blood but they furnish nitrogen so
quickly and in such a concentrated form that in many cases the cotton
seed meal and blood is preferred
Potash ir20In chemical fertilizers our supply of potash is chiefly
derived from the potash salts of the Stassfurt and Anhalt mines in Ger
many There is also a limited supply secured from ashes but these hardly
figure to any degree in chemical fertilizers The potash salts chiefly sold
as plantfood are potassium chloride or muriate of potash potassium sul
phate and kainit Kainit is an impure salt of potash containing potash
equivalent to about 23 per cent of potassium sulphate the balance is
largely common salt The metal potassium is known to chemists as ka
lium and the capital letter K stands as a symbol for kalium or potassium
The letter O is used by chemists to designate oxygen and the symbols K0
are used to designate kalium oxide or what is the same thing potassium
oxide which is designated in the Georgia law as potash Two atoms of
kalium unite with one atom of oxygen to form kalium oxide or what we
call potash The kalium present in either muriate of potash sulphate of
potash kainit or any other substance is determined and figured to this
definite standard of K20 or potash The kalium in muriate of potash is
combined with chlorine and in the sulphate of potash the kalium is com
bined with sulphuric anhydride The word potash is a coined word
from pot and ashes referring to the first source of potash which was the
ashes from under the pot and the name has clung to this material as one
of our English words The Germans use the word kalium much more
generally than do Englishspeaking people to designate the metal potas
sium The symbols used by chemists are the same all over the world
but the common names for chemicals vary greatly if every languageAnnual Publication for 1896 241
ANALYSES OF SOME SUBSTANCES SOLD AS CREAM OP
TARTAR
BY DR GEORGE F PAYNE FCS
From Druggists Circular
Pharmacists as a class are aware of the fact that a number of drugs are
often adulterated by various parties who supply cheap goods Particularly
is this the case in such drugs and chemicals as are sold in grocery stores
and other establishments which are not licensed pharmacies The pro
fession of pharmacy in the United States occupies a strange and remarka
ble position with colleges of pharmacy unsurpassed by those of any other
country and strict examining boards in almost every State to pass which
requires long study and experience yet the dear public still regard the
pharmacist as simply a merchant and one whose professional services
have no monetary value In the sale of cream of tartar as well as of some
other drugs many pharmacists have found that their sales have steadily
decreased instead of increasing as they should with the passing years and
added population The public think Cream of tartar is cream of tartar
and if the drug store charges fifty cents a pound we can get it at the
grocery store at forty cents
The Bard of Avon sang Whats in a name that which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet This may have been true in
the days of Shakespeares lean apothecary as regards odors and it may
have been true then of names also but certainly as regards names during
hese modern times things do not seem as sweet by some names which
they more rightly deserve as they do by the names under which thev
masquerade J
The general impression in regard to the enormous profits made by the
pharmacist is no doubt to blame for a considerable amount of the adul
teration practiced The desire to sell cheap drugs and to use them as a
leading card by various establishments has been catered to very liberally
by the adulterators There is no business which can long charge an ex
cessive and unreasonable profit upon its sales without other firms soon
coming in and bringing matters down to a fair and moderate profit The
pharmacist with his great responsibility the time required in dispensing
his small individual sales his expensive help and a number of other
causes finds his net profits small indeed where if only the cost of drugs
was considered they would seem large The modern pharmacist has long
since accepted the condition which insists upon his profits being compared
upon the same basis with those of either the grocery store or the depart
ment store and regulates his prices accordingly When however he is
met by the sale of adulterated or substituted goods the position he is
placed in is a most unjust one indeed
A customer came into a pharmacy and asked for a good diuretic to use
in a case of dropsy Cream of tartar was recommended He purchased a
small package and left the store after securing directions how to give it
A few weeks afterwards he again entered the store and complained that
the cream of tartar was not doing good like it did at first and won
dered why somethingwas not recommended which would keep up the242 Department of Ageicultuee Georgia
good effects He was informed that he could uot expect the small quantity
of cream of tartar purchased to last any length of time and that he cer
tainly could not have been using it as directed or it would have been con
sumed in a few days He replied Oh as soon as the package of cream
of tartar I bought from you gave out I purchased what I wanted to use
from a grocery store as I could get so much more for the money 1
thought cream of tartar was cream of tartar and did not see why the gro
cery store could not sell just as good cream of tartar as the drug store
This illustrates with what the pharmacist is sometimes brought in contact
The sales of cream of tartar in the drug stores of some sections have cer
tainly decreased for a number of years and the business in cream of tar
tar in the grocery stores has largely increased and so has dyspepsia
The pharmacistis expected to keep the best drugs and chemicals and
yet the thoughtless public expect him to sell them in competition with
articles sold by people who are utterly incompetent to judge of their purity
and who are ofttimes totally indifferent as to what they are so long as they
are cheap and satisfy the customer The pharmacist cannot afford to sell
an article which is not true to name as his business would be injured as it
should be by any such proceeding He is however put at a great disad
vantage by the unscrupulous whether in his own profession or in other
lines of business
Adulterations can be detected and checked when the proper legal ma
chinery is available In the State of Georgia we have an excellent law upon
the subject of the adulteration of drugs Our greatest need now isi funds
to enforce that law A bill for this purpose was presented before the last
legislature and passed the Finance Committee of the House unanimously
and would most probably have become a law if the time had been ade
quate for it to reach a final vote before the adjournment which proved not
to be the case
Analyses are given below of eleven different samples of cream of tartar
ten obtained from grocery stores in various portions of the State and one
sample from a drug store Out of the ten samples purchased from gro
cery stores five samples contained absolutely no cream of tartar what
ever two contained less than 57 per cent one less than 80 per cent and
two only were samples of firstclass cream of tartar This socalled cream
of tartar is frequently sold by the jobber in handsome ornamented tins at
the rate of twenty cents a pound and retailed by the grocer at forty cents
a pound when it is considered that it is chiefly made up of dried alum
and acid calcium phosphate there seems to be an enormous profit for
some one In the samples examined however it was found that there
was not only a substitution of dried alum and acid calcium phosphate for
the cream of tartar but that the substitutes themselves are in some cases
adulterated to the extent of 75 per cent with terra alba and starch
Many merchants who would scorn the idea of adulterating goods them
selves frequentlv buy the doubly adulterated combinations of others It
is strange the way some persons feel in regard to adulterated articles
Some as stated above do not scruple to buy and sell adulterated goods
whileinwardly conscious that they are not what they should be beyond
that they do not care to inquire Others again who would scorn the
thought of mixing a cheaper powder with a dearer one to reduce its priceAnnual Publication for 1896
243
think nothing of weakening adulterating their liquid preparations as far
as they feel safe to go Some queer ideas of right and wrong come to one
when he begins to substitute or adulterate or to use short measures
The bold way in whicli some adulteration is practiced is shown in the
appended analysis the neutralizing power expressed in sodium bicarbonate
being less than J of what it should be in samples 2 3 4 and 8 These so
called cream of tartars strange as it may seem are bought and used by
the people when their weakness and general worthlessness would seem so
apparent Many of the determinations made are not given in detail as it
will be more graphic to give the percentages of the substitutes as they
probably existed when mixed together The phosphoric acid was deter
mined in each of the three different forms iu which found and calculated
to monocalcium phosphate bicalcium phosphate and tricajcium phos
phate and the total of the three added together
Sample No 1 from a Pharmacy at Atlanta Oa
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate9S5G
Calcium tartrate84
Moisture and undetermined60
10000
Sample No 2 from a Grocery at Atlanta Oa
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate00
Dried ammonia alum 696
Calcium sulphate terra alba6069
Starch1541
Moisture and undetermined1694
10000
Neutralizing power in sodium bicarbonate cold test 1026 hot test
1126
Sample No 3 from a Grocery at Atlanta Ga
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate 00
Dried ammonia alum 696
Calcium sulphate terra alba 6062
Starch 1593
Moisture and undetermined 1649
10000
Neutralizing power in sodium bicarbonate cold test 1040 hot test
1126
Sample No 4 from a Grocery at Atlanta Ga
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate00
Potassium suphate22
Calcium phosphates 810
Calcium sulphate5922
Starch2306
Sodium sulphate 130
Moisture and undetermined 610
10000
Neutralizing power in sodium bicarbonate cold test 891 hottest 1193244
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
Sample No 5 from a Grocery at Columbus Oa
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate9960
Calcium tartrate00
Moisture and undetermined40
10000
Sample No 6 from a Grocery at Columbus Ga
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate5584
Calcium tartrate00
Free tartaric acid 262
Starch3407
Moisture and undetermined 747
10000
Sample No 7 from a Grocery at Columbus Ga
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartratet 9720
Calcium tartrate 00
Moisture and undetermined 180
10000
Sample No 8 from a Grocery at Austell Ga
Per Cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate 00
Calcium phosphates 905
Potassium sulphate 09
Calcium sulphate 5954
Magnesium sulphate 261
Sodium sulphate 83
Insoluble matter 293
Moisture and undetermined 2495
10000
Neutralizing power in sodium bicarbonate cold test 551 hot test 840
Sample No 9 from a Grocery at Marietta Ga
Per cent
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate 00
Calcium phosphates 56 62
Potassium sulphate g5
Calcium sulphate 4 49
Starch 32 n
Sodium sulphate j j
Insoluble matter jg
Moisture and undetermined 4 06
10000
Neutralizing power of sodium bicarbonate cold test 4083 hot test 4923Annual Publication for 1896 245
Sample No 10 from a Grocery at Marietta Ga
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate gg
rf i892
Moisture and undetermined j 40
10000
JNeutrahzing power in sodium bicarbonate cold test 3747 hot test 3747
Sample No 11 from a Grocery at Marietta Ga
Cream of tartar potassium bitartrate OO
Calcium phosphates iqs7
Calcium sulphate 2880
Starch
44 ol
Sodium sulphate
Moisture and undetermined 1112
10000
246
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
THE WATERMELON
AN ASH ANALYSIS GIVING THE MINERAL SUBSTANCES IT TAKES
FTJOM THE SOIL
DR GEORGE F PAYNE FCS
An investigation of leading characteristics and distinctive features of
important crops is a subject of deep interest and study to agricultural
chemists The principal crops of the world have been widely studied from
various points of view There is however an important crop of our sec
tion which has been comparatively little investigated The crop to which
we refer is that of the watermelon It is not a crop that is widely grown
even in our own country with great success It is this very reason which
makes it a desirable crop to handle in Georgia as the watermelon in this
State attains finer flavor crispness juiciness and sweetness than any
where else in the world The amount of plant food which is taken out of
the soil by most crops has been pretty fully studied but as far as we are
aware no one else has ever investigated the watermelon in this direction
Upon analysis of two mediumsized watermelons cut up and mixed
together we found them to contain just of 1 per cent of pure ash calcu
lated as free from carbonic acid The exact figures were 3338 which ia
our calculations we will round off into an even J which it practically is
The composition of watermelon ashes is as follows
Sulphuric anhydride 441 per cent
Calcium oxide 554 per cent
Magnesium oxide 674 per cent
Potassium oxide6118 per cent
Sodium oxide 431 per cent
Silicon dioxide 215 per cent
Phosphoric anhydride1025 per cent
Chlorine 494 per cent
Iron sesquioxide48 per cent
Total10000 per cent
A good average crop of watermelons is considered to be about onehalf
carload to the acre though much larger crops than this are sometimes
made Large watermelons are also considered desirable hence in consid
ering what is carried off from the land by the removal of the crop it is
well to consider how much would be taken off by a large crop as it is the
large crops which we desire to produce and if plantfood is not present in
sufficient quantities for the production of such a crop we know that our
wish is an impossibility We have before us a report of a crop of water
melons upon an acre of land which is an unusually large one but which
was weighed up in the presence of disinterested witnesses and sworn to by
them as being honestly grown upon an acre and correctly weighed This
crop weighed 39766 pounds Onethird of 1 per cent of such a crop would
be pure ash and consequently the mineral plantfood taken out of an acre
of land by such a crop would be as followsAnnual Publication for 1896
247
Sulphuric anhydride sulphuric acid 585 pounds
Calcium oxide lime 734 pounds
Magnesium oxide magnesia 893 pounds
Potassium oxide potash 8109 pounds
Sodium oxide soda 571 pounds
Silicon dioxide silica 285 pounds
Phosphoric anhydride phosphoric acid 1359 pounds
Chlorine 655 pounds
Iron sesquioxide 64 pounds
13255 pounds
Of the mineral substances taken out of the soil by such a crop the pot
ash aud the phosphoric acid are those which are most quickly exhausted
soils do not always contain them in large amounts and crops usually require
a large comparative percentage of these two materials Sulphuric acid
lime magnesia soda silica chlorine and iron usually exist in sufficient
quantities in most soils for all ordinary crops with the possible exception
in some cases of lime and probably magnesia In the case of lime how
ever the addition of fertilizers containing phosphoric acid usually supplies
this deficiency as the acid phosphates of the market are made from cal
cium phosphate and these phosphates treated with sulphuric acid result in
a mixture of sulphate of lime and acid phosphate of lime The two min
eral substances potash and phosphoric acid are then the ones to be chiefly
considered
In the crop mentioned above to replace the phosphoric acid and potash
carried off from one acre by the melons alone not taking into account the
vines and roots would require
Acid phosphate 13 P205 100 pounds
Muriate of potash 50 K20160 pounds
A fair crop of melons upon good land however is usually considered to
be about onethird of the above large crop or about onehalf carload If
we estimate then the amounts of phosphoric acid and potash required for
an average crop of fair character such a crop will take from the soil ma
terials to replace which will require about
Acid phosphate33 pounds
Muriate of potash53 pounds
This will give about 4J pounds of available phosphoric acid to an acre
and about 27 pounds of pure potash to an acre The usual goods on the
market guarantee about 10 per cent of available phosphoric acid and about
one per cent of potash The use of 300 pounds of such goods upon each
acre of watermelons furnishes 30 pounds of available phosphoric acid or
about 6J times as much as is needed to replace what is carried off by the
watermelons It also furnishes about 3 pounds of potash which is only
oneninth of what is carried off by the crop removed This being the case
it shows with what advantage and economy the watermelon grower can
replace a large proportion of his phosphoric acid with potash It may be
true that the plant cannot take up the phosphoric acid which becomes re
verted in the soil with the same facility with which it can the potash
which is soluble in water Reverted phosphoric acid while it is not soluble248
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
in pure water is soluble in soil waters containing as they do carbonic acid and
vegetable acids It is very likely that phosphoric acid on account of this reversion
is not always taken up quite so readily as potash and for this reason a larger
amount would be necessary than what seems to be the case at first glance To
offset this however potash salts on account of their extreme solubility in water
are easily removed from porous soils The watermelon thrives particularly well
in sandy loams which are much more likely to lose their potash by leaching on
account of its solubility than they are their reverted phosphoric acid which is
not soluble in pure water and hence less likely to be carried off by heavy rains on
account of such heavy rains decreasing the usual amount of soil acids such being
the case it would be necessary to at least return to the soil the amount of phos
phoric aeid and potash carried off by the crop or probably more of each if we
expect to secure even an equal crop the next season To compensate however
for the loss of potash by leaching and the possible changing of part of the phos
phoric acid to less available forms it is always safe to add an increased amount of
the two substances over that which has been removed especially as it is impos
sible during a season for the plant roots to reach every particle of the available
plantfood present in the soilAnnual Publication foe 1896
249
SOIL ANALYSES
A LETTER IN REGARD TO THEM
Atlanta Qa December 3 1895
M B C Americus Oa
Dear Sir Yours of November 25th at hand It would be a most un
scientific proceeding for me to attempt to tell you how to raise two bales
of cotton to the acre on soil which I have never seen and of which I only
have the chemical analysis to guide me The mechanical condition of the
soil is a most important matter as well as the character of the subsoil
besides the combinations of sunshine and rain probably exercise more
influence than the fertilizers themselves
Many years ago when Leibig first promulgated his idea that soils could
be analyzed and the exact thing that was wanting returned to them the
agricultural world went wild over the suggestion Calmer thought and
investigation quickly proved the insufficiency of such a plan It is true
chemists cau procure and determine everything of which a soil is com
posed but to state positively how much of each ingredient will be availa
ble is impossible it depending largely upon the seasons sunshine and
rain being most important factors soils are also undergoing constant
change depending on the rainfall and the demands of the vegetation sup
ported by them Certain plants also require certain food and have more
or less ability of securing it from various compounds This being the
case it makes the study of the soil in reference to given crops a most com
plicated one when everything bearing upon the matter is taken into
consideration We know that plants vary in their ability to secure food
from the same materials While this is known and taken advantage of
as far as possible there is much in this respect to be learned before we can
have exact figures for the various plants and their ability to secure food
from the different ingredients occurring in the soil
An investigation of the subsoil is also important if the study of the soil
capabilities is to be gone into some plants penetrating with their roots
from five to six feet or more The subsoil also has a great influence upon
the moisture supplied to the plants Even with equal sunshine and rain
similar lands with dissimilar subsoils will differ widely in their yield of
the same crop The first function of the soil is to act as a support to the
plant the next is to feed it with water then comes its content of plant
food and bacteriological conditions By the addition of chemicals furnish
ing proper plantfood good crops can be raised in such substances as pow
dered glass or powdered gold or other materials which will support the
plant mechanically By sustaining them mechanically plants have even
been successfully raised in water containing proper plantfood Baked
and washed sand is used in many experiments and to these are added the
proper plantfoods Within certain hounds it is the practice of many
farmers to regard their poor lands as not containing appreciable amounts
of plantfood as far as nitrogen potash and phosphoric acid are con
cerned and fertilizing them accordingly
Wellposted farmers take advantage of the fact that leguminous crops250
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
are able to utilize the nitrifying bacteria and through their medium can
obtain nitrogen from the air On this account clovers peas etc can par
tially dispense with this valuable material except in small quantities to
start off the crop A plant can be analyzed and in this way one can learn
exactly what it takes out of the soil It is also easy enough to state of
just what a given soil is composed but to say how much plantfood
can be secured from such a soil by a wishedfor crop is impossible
When certain materials exist in ample quantity within the soil we
can within certain bounds allow for such substances but it is hardly
safe to allow too liberally One can readily figure from the analysis
of the plant what a given crop will contain but not what is needed
in the soil for it to attain full development because there will be
much plantfood placed upon the soil which the roots of the crop
will be unable to reach This of course will require an increased
amount of plantfood It is also a fact that plants can feed more
readily and more greedily during good seasons than bad ones conse
quently if only enough fertilizing materials are added to the soil to supply
the plant during the regular even season such supply would not be ade
quate to supply the usual demands caused by unusual vigorous growth
during the limited periods This point is better understood when the fact
is taken into consideration that many fertilizers cannot yield their fertil
izing materials all at once but do so gradually and while a certain quan
tity may be well suited for good seasons the same quantity may not be so
well suited for irregular seasons
I should advise you to use a fair supply of potash in your fertilizer say
in the proportion of 8 per cent phosphoric acid 3 per cent of ammonia
and 3 per cent of potash if for cotton As to the amount of fertilizer you
should use this will depend upon the depth and condition of your soil and
its proper preparation To raise two bales of cotton to the acre economic
ally will require close study not only of the soil itself and its needs but the
local material of which you can avail yourself cheaply It is possible to
raise enormous crops upon the most barren sandbed in Georgia but of
course it would require an adequate supply of humus to the soil to secure
the proper retention of moisture and an appropriate addition of plant
food to feed the crop
I have an acquaintance who bought an acre of land of a very poor char
acter for which lie paid 500 By very heavy fertilization he raised upon it
in one season 987 bushels of onions The same acre furnished him the next
season nearly 1000 bushels of potatoes I have another acquaintance who
raises 600 and upwards of asparagus to the acre but the amount of fertil
izer he uses would astound you He simply regards his soil as a conserva
tor of moisture and a mechanical support for his plants and says that he
cannot expect big crops without high fertilization He spent 25000 for
fertilizers upon each acre
Get your land in good tilth and use ample fertilizers with due regard to
the requirements of the plant and with these two problems to study you
will have an opening for many lines of investigation How to bring up
your land most economically by availing yourself of cheaply accessible re
sources is a subject for careful thoughtAnnual Publication for 1896
251
Soil analyses are usually considered of little value upon cultivated lands to any
one except possibly the owner of that exact field The Department of Agricult
ure at Washington is now making soil tests of the soils in some of the States but
require virgin soils and cooperation of the experiment stationsas the results upon
the cultivated soil can be only of an immediate local value
Very respectfully
Geo F Payne252
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
FERTILIZER FOR TOBACCO AND IRISH POTATOES
Mr M T D Newnan Ga
Jf AfJIBrYUrS f the 21Stat hanrL Both toba and Irish pota
to need a large quantity of potash in the form of sulphate of potash
Mtanate of potash makes potatoes watery and keeps tobacco from burning
300 lbs sulphate of potash t
1300 lbs acid phosphate
300 lbs of blood
100 lbs cottonseedmeal
This will make one ton which will contain phosphoric acid 845 nitro
gen equivalent to ammonia 287 potash 750 This will give you a very
high grade fertilizer which of course will cost more than the ordinarv fer
Wrs of the market The proportions however being right you can use
the same dollars worth of it with better results than with the ordinarv
goods J
I send you by even mail our last bulletin which gives a number of
cheap fertilizers Bear in mind to use sulphate of potash however instead
of muriate of potash for tobacco and Irish potatoes
You ask how to calculate the formula for fertilizers when the per cents
only are given I really do not understand exactly what you wish me to
answer for ma given formula which only gives us a per cent of availa
ble phosphoric acid ammonia and potash it is essential to know the
sources from which they are derived and the richness also of the ingre
dients for instance we use as ammoniates cottonseed meal blood tank
age fishscrap ammonium sulphate sodium nitrate and a number of
other things We also obtain potash from kainit muriate and sulphate
as well as from ashes of various kinds
Available phosphoric acid is usually obtained from acid phosphates but
the vary in their per cent of available phosphoric acid according to the
kndof rock from which they have been made All of these materials
are sold upon guarantee and to calculate a recipe from given percentages
it is simply necessary that we should know the kinds of materials that
you wish to use
To illustrate how the calculations are made if you have a goods that
has 2 per cent of ammonia in it and you know that 8 per cent cottonseed
meal is to be used in it then of course as2 per cent is onefourth of 8 per
cent you use onefourth of a ton or 500 lbs of cottonseed meal is to be
in each ton and so on with the other ingredients
This I surmise will give you the information you desire
Yours respectfully
George F PayneAnnual Publication for 1896
253
DOMESTIC FERTILIZERS
THE INTELLIGENT MIXING OF FIRSTCLASS FERTILIZERS UPON
THE FARM
BASED ON VALUATIONS OF 18941895
The use of formula which produce cheap and almost worthless fertilizers is poor
economy It is a loss of time to the farmer and his help in the actual handling
and manipulation and a still greater loss in the poor results upon the crops Good
fertilizers cheaply ohtained though apparently higher in price per ton secure
given results far more economically In this article we will not discuss the sub
ject of leguminous crops and mucks and the valuahle results to he obtained by their
conservation and intelligent handling in connection with stable yard manure and
composts but will confine ourselves to formula composed of the commercial plant
foods In these formula we will give the approximate retail values of the mate
rials These values of course vary with the markets and location Any farmer
can secure actual selling prices for his location and flgUre the exact cost on his
own farm At wholesale cash prices the materials can be secured still more
cheaply See the articles on Wholesale cash prices of fertilizers and on
Composts
FORMULA NO 1For Cotton and Corn
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available1200 lbs 840 pr ct avl phs acid
Cotton seed meal nitgn equal 8Jpr ct am 500 lbs 212 pr ct ammonia
Kainit 12 percent potash 300 lbs 180 pr ct potash
2000 lbs or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate1200 lbs at 13 00 a ton
Cottonseed meal 500 lbs at 16 00 a ton
Kainit 300 lbs at 12 00 a ton
7 80
4 00
1 80
Cost not including onethird days labor in mixing 13 60 per ton
Wholesale cost value as calculated by Department 14 96 per ton
Usual selling value of such goods 20 00 per ton
FORMULA NO 2For Cotton and Corn
Acid phosphate 14 percent available1300 lbs 910 pr ct avl phs acid
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 pr ct am 300 lbs 240 pr ct ammonia
Kainit 12 per cent of potash 400 lbs 240 pr ct potash
2000 lbs or one ton
cost of materials
Acid phosphate1300 lbs at 13 00 a ton 8 45
Blood 300 lbs at 32 00 a ton 4 80
Kainit 400 lbs at 12 00 a ton 2 40
Cost not including onethird days labor in mixing15 65 perton
Wholesale cost value Department valuation 16 60 perton
Usual selling price 22 00 perton254
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
FORMULA NO 3For Cotton and Corn
Acid phosphate 14 per cent
available1300 lbs910 per cent available phosphoric acid
Blood nitrogen equivalent to
1G per cent of ammonia 200 lbs160 per cent 250 per cent ammo
Nitrate of soda nitrogen equiv nlu
alent to 18 percent ammonia 100 lbs 90 per cent
Muriate of potash 50 per cent
of potash 100 lbs250 per cent potash
Muck woods earth or rich soil 300 lbs0
2000 lbs or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate1300 lbs at 13 00 a ton 8 45
Blood 200 lbs at 32 00 a ton 3 20
Nitrate of soda 100 lbs at 38 00 a ton 190
Muriate potash 100 lbs at 42 00 a ton 2 10
Muck woods earth or rich soil 300 lbs at 00 a ton 00
Cost not including onethird days labor in mixing 15 65
Wholesale cost value Departments valuation 16 96
Usual selling price 22 00
This formula is made up with a moderate amount of nitrate of soda to give the
plants a good strong start The muck woods earth or rich soil may be left out
in this formula if desired The percentages of all the ingredients are thus in
creased and the cost per ton It can be used by the farmer with equal outlay per
acre by proportionally decreasing the amount used as the percentage of plant
food increases
FORMULA NO 4For Peaches Plums and Pears
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available 700 lbs
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per ct ammonia 300 lbs
Double manure salt sulphate of potash and
magnesia with 27 per cent potash 360 lbs
Muck woods earth or rich soil 640 lbs
490 pr ct avl phos acid
240 pr ct ammonia
pr ct potash
2000 lbs or one ton
cost or materials
Acid phosphate700 lbs at 13 00aton4 55
Blood300 lbs at 32 00 a ton 4 80
Double manure salt360 lbs at 24 00 a ton 4 32
Muck woodsearth or rich soil at 00 a ton 00
Cost not including onethird days labor in mixing13 67
Wholesale cost value Department valuation 15 21
This formula can be made much higher grade by simply leaving out the muck
woods earth or rich soilAnnual Publication for 1896
255
FORMULA NO 5For Peaches Plums and Pears
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available 700 lbs490 pr ct avl phos acid
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per et Ammonia 300 lbs240 pr ot ammonia
Muriate of potash 40 per cent potash196 lbs490 pr ct potash
Muck woods earth or rich soil804 lbs0
2000 lbs or one ton
cost of materials
Acid phosphate700 lbs at 13 00 a ton 4 55
Blood300 lbs at 32 00 a ton 4 80
Muriate of potash196 lbs at 42 00 a ton 4 12
Muck etc 00
Cost not including onethird days labor mixing13 47
FORMULA NO 6For Peaches Plums and Pears
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available675 lbs473 pr ct avl phos acid
Cotton seed meal nitrogen equal to 8J per ct
ammonia525 lbs223 pr ct ammonia
Kainit 12 per cent potash800 lbs480 pr ct potash
2000 lbs or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate675 lbs at 13 00 a ton 4 39
Cottonseed meal525 lbs at 16 00 a ton 4 20
Kainit800 lbs at 12 00 a ton 4 80
Cost not including onethird days labor in mixing 13 39
This formula has no muck or other filler as the crude materials are such that
correct proportion can just be gotten into the goods to make them properly exceed
the 10 per cent of total plant food which is considered the lowest limit for com
mercial fertilizers This formula contains a total of 1176 per cent of plant food
All of these fruit formula meet the State requirement of 10 per cent of available
plant food yet they do not force a fruitgrower to use a cotton fertilizer when he
can obtain better results for his money by using a different character of fertilizer
In these formulae he gets a fair amount of potash which he needs most instead of
the usual excessive amount of phosphoric acid in proportion to the potash present
Yet the fertilizer does not cost him any more money Cotton and corn require
large proportionate amounts of phosphoric acid but the peach pear and plum
require a greater use of potash for the best results
MIXING
The mixing is best done by spreading out the materials in layers on top of each
other and cutting through the layers with a hoe and mixing as the compound is
cut down The use of a bricklayers sand screen enables one to make a better
mixture George F Payne F C S256
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
COMPOSTS
AND THE UTILIZATION OF MATERIALS FOUND UPON THE FARM
IN COMBINATION WITH COMMERCIAL CHEMICALS FOR FER
TILIZING PURPOSES
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY DR G F PAYNE THE STATE CHEMIST
IN REPLY TO INQUIRIES IN REGARD TO THE MIXING OE CERTAIN
FERTILIZING MATERIALS
Composts have a certain value upon most lands beyond their actual plant food
as they contain much humus and are on this account great conservators of mois
ture Sandy lands hold moisture much better when the spongelike humus is
present and heavy clay soils are made lighter and more porous by its presence
Its dark color also makes a lighter colored soil warmer by its coloring power
Thw is easily illustrated by laying down a piece of white cloth and a piece of
black cloth upon snow in the winter or powdered ice in the summer and noting
how much quicker melting takes place under the piece of black cloth
r Atlanta Ga January 16 1805
W C W Darktown Ga
The principle of composts is to ferment the organic matter which you have in the
shape of muck leaves litter etc To do this one of the simplest plans is to
treat the material with manure Put one load of manure to every three loads of
your leaves and drift Keep enough litter in your stables to absorb the urine
which is very valuable also After you have mixed your materials together it is
well to cover them up with earth or litter It is claimed that such a compost
load for load is as good as manure
To get the best results you wish to make the material ferment as the fermen
tation brings inert materials into available forms and improves the mechanical
condition of the mass
Avoid hauling the materials as much as possible as hauling is expensive So
ocate your compost heaps that the hauling of the materials from the first until
their final distribution on the fields will cost as little as possible
If you wish a stronger fertilizer than this and desire to use chemicals in addi
tion the following would be suitable
Acid phosphate 500 lbgCogt
Muriate of potash 50 bg
0omPst1450 lbs
2000 lbsAnnual Publication for 1896
257
If you desire morenitrogenous material you can use the following
Acid phosphate 340 lbsCost2 75
Cottonseed meal 165 lbsCost 1 42
Muriate of potash 30 lbsCost 60
Compost1465 lbs
2000 lbs
4 74
January 30 1895
R H M Fralona Heard Co Ga
Yours of the 21st at hand in which you state that you have cow stall and
stable manure and wish to make a complete fertilizer having also some ashes and
cotton seed The fertilizer is desired for cotton
To construct a complete fertilizer one must consider the percentages of avail
able plant food in the materials he wishes to use
Manure while not a concentrated fertilizer can be considered in most cases as
a complete one with an excess of nitrogen Ashes are particularly rich in
potash if they are wood ashes and unleached Coal ashes are almost valueless
Cotton seed is a complete manure but with an excess of nitrogen You have
here three ingredients furnishing ample nitrogen and potash To mix them to
the best advantage there should be a further quantity of available phosphoric
acid added as that present in the three ingredients you desire to use is not
sufficient to properly balance the potash and nitrogen Manure contains about
T3 per cent of nitrogen about T2ff per cent of potash and about T2y per cent of
phosphoric acid
Cotton seed contains about 3 per cent nitrogen about 1 per cent of potash
and about 1 per cent of phosphoric acid Ashes contain about 5 per cent of
potash and 150 per cent of phosphoric acid when unleached If leached they
run down to about 1J per cent of potash
To each ton of manure of 2000 pounds add
Cotton seed200 lbs
Ashes unleached 150 lbs
Acid phosphate400 lbs
Mix well The cotton seed can be killed before mixing by allowing them to get
wet and go through a heat the fermentation killing them This mixture will
weigh about 2750 pounds and will contain from these ingredients
Nitrogen Potash Phosphoric Acid
2000 lbs manure 6 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs
200 lbs cotton seed 6 lbs 2 lbs 2 lbs
150 lbs ashes 7J 2
400 lbs acid phosphate 56
12 lbs 13J lbs 64J lbs
This is equivalent to about
Nitrogen44 per cent
Potash48 per cent
Phosphoric acid233 per cent
17 a258
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
January 24 1895
G M D Carrollton Oa
Yours of the 19th at hand in which you state that you have some fine muck and
pine straw as well as cotton seed stable manure and rich earth around the lot
and that you would like me to advise you how to make them into a fertilizer
In composting muck pine straw etc it is desirable that the materials ferment
To bring this about add one load of manure to every three loads of muck or pine
straw mix well and cover with earth to keep out the rain The fermentation
which takes place breaks down the structure of the organic material and permits
the plant food to assume conditions in which it is much more available Such a
compost when well rotted or ripe is claimed to be load for load of equal value
with manure The value of a compost however must depend not only on its
ripeness but upon the materials used
In saving the manure it would be well worth while to provide means for pre
serving the liquid excrement at the same time This can be done by means of the
pine straw liberally used as an absorbent or by means of a drain
If your muck is sour it would be advisable to use a small quantity of lime to
correct its acidity but not enough to render it alkaline as excess of free lime will
drive out ammonia
If you desire to compost your cotton seed manure and muck use one load of
cotton seed two loads of manure and four loads of muck mix well and cover
with earth
To use the pine straw use three loads of it to one load of manure cover with
earth and let stand until fermented
January 30 1895
J W R Summerville Chattooga County Ga
Yours of the 25th at hand I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine written a
few days ago answering some of the same questions as yours
One load of manure to three loads of leaves well mixed and covered with earth
to keep out rain will ferment and make a good fertilizing material It should be
ripe or well rotted before using if possible so the earlier started the better it
will be
I inclose Bulletin 29 in regard to comparative value of whole cotton seed and
cotton seed meal
You ask if it will pay to sell whole cotton seed at 12J to 15 cents a bushel and
buy cottonseed meal in place of it for fertilizing purposes By referring to page
14 of Bulletin 29 you will see the comparative fertilizing values of the whole seed
and the meal
One ton of whole seed contains fertilizing materials which are equivalent to 880
pounds of meal
One ton of whole seed at 12J cents a bushel and 67 bushels to the ton will be
worth 837
One ton of whole seed at 15 cents a bushel will be worth at 67 bushels to the
ton 1005
Cotton seed meal now sells at 15 a ton and 880 pounds of it are equivalent in
fertilizing power to one ton of the whole seed then as the cotton seed meal costs
75 cents per hundred pounds at 15 a ton 880 pounds would be worth 660
Hence at these figures there would be a difference in your favor if you got eitherAnnual Publication for 1896
259
12 or 15 cents a bushel The difference is not large and whether it is enough to
pay for hauling to and from the mill and the time consumed will depend upon
the distance and other expenses of handling
July 3 1895
S C H Victory Ga
Tours of the 30th of December at hand Kainit contains about 12 per cent of
potash Muriate of potash contains about 50 per cent of potash or about 4 times
as strong as the kainit If you wish cheap hauling you should buy concentrated
fertilizing chemicals You can buy muriate of potash at about 4000 a ton prob
ably a little higher in less lots than a ton
As a fivedollar combination of fertilizers I suggest the following
No 1
Muriate of potash containing 50 per
cent37 lbs at 54000 a ton of potash 0 74
High grade acid phosphate con
taining 18 per cent of phos
phoric acid 280 lbs at 1500 a ton 2 10
Nitrate of soda sometimes called
Chili saltpetre containing ni
trogen equivalent to 19 per
cent ammonia 95 lbs at 4500 a ton 2 14
Muck or woods earth or marl 1588 lbs 00
2000 lbs 4 98
If you wish an ammoniate not quite so quick as nitrate of soda and less iikely
to fire on all shallow soils you might use the following
No 2
Muriate of potash 37 lbs 74
High grade acid phosphate280 lbs 2 10
Dried blood 16 per cent t2 lbs 2 15
Muck woodsearth or marl1571 lbs 00
2000 lbs 4 99
If you desire to use sulphate of ammonia as an ammoniate the following for
mula will answer
No 3
Muriate of potash 37 lbs 74
High grade acid phosphate 280 lbs 2 10
Sulphate of ammonia 8000 a ton 54 lbs 2 16
Muck woods earth or marl1629 lbs 00
2000 lbs 5 00
No 1 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potash92J per cent
Available phosphoric acid252 per cent
Ammonia90J per cent260
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
No 2 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potash92i per cent
Available phosphoric acid252 per cent
Ammonia89J per cent
No 3 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potash 92i per cent
Available phosphoric acid252 per cent
Ammonia67J per cent
The filler which you use whether of muck woods earth or marl will add some
thing to this if well selected
The sulphate of ammonia is a more expensive ammoniate than either blood or
nitrate of soda You write that you will have to pay eight cents a pound for it
This is a very high price for it If you find any of the chemicals higher priced
than figures given above use about 75 cents worth of your potash compound
about 210 worth of your acid phosphate and about 215 worth of your ammo
niate and then use your muck woods earth or marl to make the balance of the ton
and you will strike about the proper proportions for your 500 a ton fertilizer
January 28 1895
G R H Bremen Ga
Dear SirTours of the 28th received in which you inquire what would be
advisable to mix with 2 tons of cow lot manure and 50 to 75 bushels of cotton
seed to make a good fertilizer for corn sweet and Irish potatoes
This will be a good proportion
Cow manure 2 tons
Whole cotton seed 1 ton or 50 to 75 bushels
Muriate of potash1C0 pound
Acid phosphate1500 pounds
If you have any muck leaveswood litter or rich woods earth you can mix
about an equal quantity with the above cover with earth to keep out rain and let
it go through a heat or ferment
July 20 1895
J L H Pelham Ga
Yours of the 17th at hand Both ground raw bone and dissolved bone would
be good yet both are lacking in probably the most important ingredient in the
culture of grapes Ground raw bone usually contains between 3 or 4 per cent of
nitrogen and 20 odd per cent of phosphoric acid Of this phosphoric acid only
about J is in an immediately available form In the dissolved bone if really true
dissolved bone there would be a good percentage of nitrogen and of available
phosphoric acid but the dissolved bone of the market is usually simply acid
phosphate so it is quite important to know which you are using As a matter of
economy in fertilizing it will of course depend upon the price of materials Cot
tonseed hull ashes and ground bone mixed together in equal parts would make an
admirable fertilizer for the vines If you wish to use acid phosphate or socalled
dissolved bone I would suggest the following
Acid phosphate800 lbs
Blood500 lbs
Sulphate of potash700 lbsAnnual Publication for 1896
261
This would make one ton and will give available phosphoric acid 5 per
cent nitrogen 4 per cent and posash 11 per cent Grapes require considerable
more potash than they do of either phosphoric acid or nitrogen This formula can
be varied if you desire to use other forms of potash or nitrogen Cotton seed
meal for instance can be used in place of blood Cotton seed hull ashes kainit
or muriate of potash can be used in the place of sulphate of potash In doing
this however the weights should be so adjusted as to bring about a proper per
eentage
A formula which contains an equal amount of nitrogen and phosphoric acid and
an amount of potash equal to both is well adapted to your purpose Such a fertil
izer is also suited to peaches or pears
January 26 1895
S C Delia Ga
Yours of January 25th at hand in which you request a fertilizer formula to en
able you to compost your cotton seed ashes canebrake soil and manure Mix ii
the following proportions
Canebrake soil 2 jons
Manure ton
Cottonseed 600 lbs
Ashes 450 lbs
Acid phosphate 1000 lbs
Mix well cover with earth and let it go through a heat or fermentation
January 22 1895
W E H Colquitt Miller County Ga
Yours of the 14th at hand If you desire a fullstrength goods the following
formula will prove satisfactory being made of the materials you wish to use
Acid phosphate1200 lbs cost about 7 80840 per ct av phos acid
Nitrate of soda 250 lbs cost about 5 00237 per ct am
Kainit 00 lbs cost about 1 80180 per cent potash
Muck marl or rotten leaves 250 lbs
2000 lbs
14 60
II you wish a cheaper fertilizer add more of the last ingredient If you desire
a stronger one leave out the last ingredient Muriate of potash is a more concen
trated form of potash than kainit and costs less for freight and for the actual pot
ash in it Kainit contains about 12 per cent of potash and muriate about 50 per
cent
Farmers can save money by clubbing together and buying acid phosphate in
bulk for cash and making their own fertilizers It is difficult to farm successfully
in most sections of Georgia without the use of fertilizers but it is allimportant to
secure the best fertilizers at as close figures as possible
Acid phosphate can now be bought in bulk for cash at 850 a ton Cottonseed
meal can now be bought in bulk for cash at 15 a ton Muriate of potash can now
be bought in 12ton lots for cash at 42 a ton At these figures the materials for
an average fertilizer of the market will be 262
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
1400 lbs acid phosphate containing 14 per cent avail phos acid at 850
a ton 5 95
620 lbs cottonseed meal containing nitrogen equivalent to 8i per ct am
at15aton 3 90
80 lbs muriate of potash containing 51J per cent potash at 42 a ton 1 68
Making a total of 2000 lbs at a cost of 1153 containing the following percentage
of plant food per ton
Available phosphoric acid980 per cent
Ammonia221 per cent
Potash 20G per centAnnual Publication for 1896
263
FERTILIZERS FROM THE FARMERS STANDPOINT
There are but few intelligent farmers who deny the value of science to agricul
ture in fact we might say that there are no intelligent farmers who do not ac
knowledge the importance of scientific knowledge in their work for science is
knowledge the comprehension and understanding of truth or facts Scientific
men endeavor to systematize all facts and knowledge as much as possible so as in
this way to bring out other unknown facts A theoretical farmer is not always a
scientific one Theory means a doctrine or a scheme of things which terminates
in speculation or contemplation without a view to practice Hence the theoreti
cal farmer is often deservedly laughed at by the practical farmer A practical
farmer in his successful efforts in agriculture is simply carrying out the wellknown
facts of chemical and physical science Every successful farmer is to some extent
a scientific man as his work is conducted upon the basis of scientific facts In the
study of the requirements of the various crops it has been developed that besides
the three important requisites ol air water and sunlight there are certain ingre
dients also extracted from the soil which though small in quantity are of vital
importance Most ordinary soils contain a sufficient supply of these materials
with the exception of phosphoric acid nitrogen and potash and these three ma
terials being often lacking in certain soils and also quickly exhausted from those
of much fertility constitute the substances chiefly used as fertilizers The use of
fertilizers whether profitable or not depends upon a number of conditions
Farmers as a rule agree that with a fair season the use of fertilizers pays them an
excellent profit upon their investment yet a good understanding of the facts or
science involved in the matter enables one to get a far better return upon his out
lay than would be the case if he does not study the matter thoroughly Some
crops require a greater proportionate amount of one or the other of these mate
rials An intelligent use of this fact alone is of much value We will not go into
a discussion of this at present however as we wish to speak more upon the subject
of what is called the complete fertilizer that is a fairly proportioned combination
well adapted for all crops and for use by those least versed in scientific fer
tilization The ordinary commercial fertilizer of the market is well adapted
to our average field crops the average of the complete fertilizers sold
in Georgia last season being 9 per cent available phosphoric acid 2J per
cent ammonia and 2 per cent potash which at the calculated values of the de
partment were worth 51850 per ton but for which small buyers of course had to
pay a larger amount probably about 2200 per ton While these mixed fertil
izers are most excellent it is incumbent upon the wideawake farmer to become
more familiar with the materials used in making these fertilizers and thus learn to
buy them to the best advantage We will not enter in this article into the pro
portions of the various ingredients used in making complete fertilizers but wish to
call attention particularly to economical business management in securing the
proper materials We first take phosphoric acid it is considerably cheaper to buy
this in the form of acid phosphate than in the form of mixed fertilizers Acid
phosphate of good quality can be bought at some of the factories in this State as
low as 850 per ton This however is in quantity and for cash and to secure
any such price it would be necessary for a number of farmers at a given point to
act in concert Nitrogen can be secured very cheaply in the form of cottonseed
meal blood and tankage Cottonseed meal if used as a cattle food first and a fer264
Department op AgricultureGeorgia
tilizer afterwards loses but about 6 per cent of its raanurial value and if thus used
is a remarkably cheap source of nitrogen Blood can be bought sometimes for
less per unit for its nitrogen content than can cottonseed meal this is offset in cot
tonseed meal to a small extent by the amount of phosphoric acid and potash
present the percentage of phosphoric acid in cottonseed meal being slightly
larger than that in blood Blood may sometimes be higher per nitrogen unit
than cottonseed meal on account of the market and freight Potash is usually
purchased in the form of kainit or muriate of potash the prices for which are fixed
annually by the potash syndicate in Germany At the ordinary cash market price
for these materials the farmer can buy them and mix them at home with consider
able economy as such materials as cotton seed meal acid phosphate and kainit
an be mixed with comparative ease by putting down in layers one upon the
other cutting through the layers with a spade and then throwing upon a sand
screen It is advisable that the kainit should be crushed quite fine as otherwise
the potash will not be as thoroughly disseminated There is one source of potash
which is available to some extent in this State which is not sought after as its
value deserves and that is cottonseed hull ashes The mills readily sell every
ton they produce most of it being shipped to a distance The quotation during the
season of 18941895 on these ashes was only 1600 per ton The material at such a
figure it only containing 22 per cent potash which is a fair average furnishes
potash more cheaply than it can be bought either in the muriate or kainit except
in very large quantities Some cottonseed hull ashes it is true run a little lower
than this but many of them run very much higher some as high as 40 to 42 per
cent of potash thus making them a correspondingly cheap source of this valua
ble material
In addition to this percentage of potash cottonseed hull ashes also contain 7 to
8 per cent of available phosphoric acid and a small amount of insoluble phos
phoric acid If we take the average cottonseed hull ashes and figure them as con
taining 7f per cent of available phosphoric acid and 22J per cent of potash thay
would be worth as a manure 2440 per ton if calculated at 4 cent per pound each
for the available phosphoric acid and potash At 1600 per ton if of good aver
age character they are a remarkably cheap source of phosphoric acid and potash
when these two materials cost 4 cents per pound in other substances which is about
the present price It seems strange that when this material can be bought at
1600 per ton a single ton of it should be permitted to go out of the State
Muck is another easily obtained material of value as a fertilizer Muck depends
upon its nitrogen content fr its fertilizing value Mucks however are very un
certain in their composition The average muck does not contain more than 1J
per cent of ammonia when calculated from the nitrogen present This would be
worth only about 340 per ton if estimated by other nitrogenous materials There
are mucks however which run as high as 3J per cent This would make a value of
700 per ton at 2 per unit The amount of phosphoric acid and potash usually
present in mucks is very small Nitrogen in muck is not quickly available and
should go through a process of heating or fermentation to make it so This is done
in the manufacture of compost One load of manure to three loads of muck if
covered with earth and allowed to ferment until ripe makes a valuable fertiliz
ing material the combination being claimed load for load of equal value to the
manure Such a compost however would be overrich in nitrogen and would
give better returns for the outlay of time and money if used in combination with
phosphoric acid and potashAnnual Publication for 1896
265
Another valuable source of nitrogen is leguminous crops which are those which
bear legumes or pods such as peas beans clovers and the like They have the
remarkable power of rendering nitrogen from the atmosphere available as plant
food This is done through the medium of certain microbes which grow upon the
roots of these plants and are found in large numbers in the little nodules which ad
here to the roots After the peas or beans are gathered as they are too valuable
to use as a fertilizer the vines should be allowed to dry thoroughly and then
plowed under If plowed under green they are liable to render the land sour
The roots as well as the tops of all leguminous plants add largely to the nitrogen
ous fertility of the soil and their use is one of great economic value to the farmer
As the nitrogenous materials of fertilizers are worth in the market about two and
a half to three times as much for each percentage of nitrogen present as is an equal
percentage of either phosphoric acid or potash the conservation of nitrogen is of
great importance
George F Payne P C S State Chemist266
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
INJURIOUS INSECTS
They may be divided into two divisions or classes according to their manner of
selling
1 Biting or chewing insects include all those perfect or imperfect forms which
bite and consume substances upon which they feed
2 Sucking or piercing insects include all of those perfect or imperfect forms
which pierce their food substances with a beak and suck out the sap or juice from
beneath the surface
Insects that belong to the first division and like the potato bug eat the leaves
may be easily destroyed by Paris green or London purple applied to the food sub
substance either in a powder or a liquid If on the other hand like squash bugs
plant lice and other insects belonging to the second division thev suck the sap
from the plant causing it to wither and die poison will have little effect on them
because we cannot apply it to the inside of the plant where they get their food
Most of this class of insects may however be easily destroyed with remedies like
Insect Powder or Hellebore Thes powders kill by contact when applied to the
insects themselves Such insects have breathing holes distributed over their bodies
It is usually claimed that powdered substances should be applied in the morn
ing when the plants are wet with dew while this may may have its advantages
it is not always necessary as it may in most cases be applied at any time in the
day hut never when the wind is blowing hard
In using Paris green or London purple or Hellebore the following rules should
be observed
The poison should be kept in a safe place and plainly labelled Poison
Do not distribute the poison with the hands
Always keep to the windward side of the plants or trees when applying the
powder or liquid
Do not use them upon leaves or fruits that are soon to be eaten Give the rain
a chance to wash it off
Never apply it to fruit trees when in bloom as the poison will kill the bees so
necessary to the formation of the perfect fruit
Paris green and London purple may be diluted with a cheap quaility of wheat
flour which is probably the best substance for the purpose on account of its adher
ing to the plants and being more readily eaten than other substances Land plas
ter is also recommended or a mixture of half and half 50 pounds each of flour and
plaster to 1 pound of poison is about the proportion when used in a dry form on
potato plants fruit trees etc To use in a small way mix about ounce poison
with one quart of flour or plaster It can be applied to great advantage by the
use of a powder gun
When used with water the following proportions are recommended
For potatoes one pound poison Paris green or London purple to 100 gallon
of water
For apple trees one pound poison to 150 gallons of water
For pear plum and cherry one pound poison to 200 gallons of waterAnnual Publication for 1896
267
For peach one pound poison to 300 gallons of water
The Paris green or London purple should he mixed into a smooth paste before
adding the water The mixture must be applied in a fine spray so as not to deluge
the foliage and should be well stirred while being used
White Hellebore is a vegetable substance which will kill certain insects both by
poisoning and contact and is used successfully against currant worms rose and
cherry slugs Its principal value however is that of destroying currant worms
To use whale oil soap dissolve onehalf pound of soap in about one quart of water
then add from four to live gallons of cold water and apply every other day with
garden syringe or an ordinary watering pot
For the trunks and branches of trees use thicker and apply with a brush
KEROSENE EMULSION
FOR DESTROYING PLANT LICK aphides
Kerosene Oil2 gallons
Water1
Soap whale oil preferredJ pound
Dissolve the soap in the water by boiling Take from the fire add the kerosene
and churn rapidly with a force pump or stir and whip briskly with a paddle or old
broom until emulsion is complete
One gallon of this emulsion to 25 or 30 gallons of water and mixed well will kill
most plant lice For bark lice use one gallon of the emulsioD to nine gallons of
water
For peachtrees during the dormant season the solution if necessary can be used
as strong as one gallon of emulsion to five gallons of water
For hardy rose bushes one gallon of emulsion to ten gallons of water will be
safe
Instead of using whale oil soap and water in making the emulsion sour milk
can be used if desired
Kerosene oil2 gallonj
Sour milk1 gallon
Make emulsion as described above and use the emulsion when finished with
the same amounts of water as that made with the use of soap268
Department of AgricultureGeorgia
COTTON
SOME INTERESTING FACTS IN REGARD TO THIS IMPORTANT PRODUCT
COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
BY DR GEORGE F PAYNE FCS
OUR COTTON CROPPRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
Texas because of its enormous area produces more cotton than any
other Statemore in fact than any foreign nation and nearly as much as
all the world outside of the United States
The following circular diagram shows the annual cotton crop of the
world by countries of production
The United States manufactures only about onethird of its own cotton
crop as is shown by the following sphere divided into segments indicating
its distribution among the various countries of theworld Annual Publication foe 1896
269
The total cotton crop of the United States in 1889 was 7311322 bales and the
entire value was about 374000000 In 1892 the crop was the largest ever raised
up to that date reaching a total of 9035379 bales but its market price per pound
was so much less than that of 1889 that its aggregate value was smaller The
average value of the cotton crop is about onetenth that of our entire agricultural
product
The cotton crop of the world is about 9256000 bales this is manufactured in
various countries as followsthe figures representing bales of 500 pounds each
MANUFACTURED COTTON OF THE WORLD
Great Britain3060 000 Sweden 56000
France 620000 Netherlands 48000
Germany 756000 Belgium 104 000
Russia 738000 Switzerland 104000
AustriaHungary 470000 UnitedStates2020000
ItalV 304000 India 566000
SPain 210000 Sundries 200000
Total 9256000 bales
From Frank Leslies Illustrated Weekly
consumption has rapidly increased in the United States since the above
was written
The ibo
o
COTTON
Commercial Cotton Crops by States for the Commercial Year beginning Sept 1st and ending with August SM
Texas Indian Territory and Oklahoma
Georgia
Mississippi
Alabama
South Carolina
Arkansas
Louisiana
North Carolina
Tennessee
Florida
18951896
18951894
18941893
18931892 18921891
990000
079000
860000
830000
664000
620000
430000
384000
252000
48000
7157000
3276000
1300000
1200000
1000000
800000
850000
600000
465000
350000
60000
9901000
2059000
112500
916000
925000
750000
625000
400000
425000
275000
50000
755000 l
2108000
940000
755000
740 000
635000
535000
340000
367000
235000
45000
6700 000
2400000
1200000
1250000
1075000
780000
800000
635000
480000
350000
65000
9035000
U