Publications of the Georgia State Department of Agriculture [1897]

THE LIBRARY OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIAG4
CoMpi

AgPUBLICATIONS
OF THE
GEORGIA STATE
Department of Agriculture
For the Year 1897
r
TOGETHER WITH PORTIONS OF OTHER AGRICULTURAL
BULLETINS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS

Volume XXIII
R T NESB1TT
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
ATLANTA GA
Geo W Harrison State Printep
Franklin Prtg and Pub Co
1898
GENERAL LIBRARY
University or GeoG
ATXSM CHOMIALIBRARY1
MAR 6 1945PREFACE
In accordance with the custom of the Department of Agriculture
we have compiled some of the publications of the Department in
this the twentythird annual volume of the Department 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
Our aim is to make it eminently practical and useful The copious
index has been arranged with a view of assisting the reader and with
the contents of the book will we have no doubt insure the pre
servation and appreciation of the volume

GENERAL LIBRARY
University of GeoucJANUARY
A WARNING TO FARMERS
MR NESBITT CALLS ATTENTION TO THE ADVANCES OF AN
THRAX THE GREATEST BANGER EXISTSCOMMISSIONER
OF AGRICULTURE URGES THAT STEPS BE TAKEN AT ONCE
BY STOCK RAISERS AND TILLERS OF THE SOIL TO PRE
VENT THE SPREAD OF THE DANGEROUS DISEASE SOME
TIMES CALLED CHARBON
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga January 1 1897
Among the inquiries for this month is one which we deem of
uch paramount importance that we have given place to it to the
exclusion of our usual monthly letter We refer to that in regard
to Anthrax its symptoms treatment etc The advances of this
insidious disease are so gradual and so imperceptible to the naked
eye that farmers and other stock owners are apt to be lulled into a
feeling of security when in reality there is the greatest danger W e
trust that our note of warning will be heeded and that greater
care will be exercised in the use of disinfectants and in the total
destruction of all bodies of animals which have shown the symp
toms belonging to Anthrax
WORK FOR THIS MONTH
has been emphasized in previous letters A matter of great im
portance to be determined now is the areas for the different crops
which are to be grown during the coming season To be on the
safe side take care of the provision question first arrange for
ample home supplies of meat and breadwe are then at liberty to
plant all the cotton which we feel that we can successfully manage
In the matter of

6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FERTILIZERS
we would advise that as far as possible they be mixed at home
Ascertain the kind of plant food best suited for your purpose pur
chase the concentrated materials and thus save the cost of freight
and manipulation We have heretofore written at length on the
suitability of different fertilizers to different soils crops etc and
we refer parties interested to those letters Of course all the home
manure should be carefully saved and either hauled out at once and
spread on the land or composted and thoroughly covered with
earth to prevent the escape of its valuable constituents By no
means allow these precious elements of fertility to waste in the open
lot or to be leached away by winter rains R T Nesbitt
ANTHRAX
SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
QubstionI have heard a good deal lately of a dangerous dis
ease called Anthrax which is said to be very contagious and very
fatal to animals and men Is there any preventive and what is
the treatment if there is any that is effective Please give me
the symptoms as they appear in mules hogs and cows Is the dis
ease of recent origin How is it communicated
AnswerYour questions are very important in view of the re
cent outbreak in different sections of Anthrax or Charbon as it is
sometimes called This fatal disease had its origin hundreds of
years ago but until very recently little was known of its nature or
the causes of its communication and dissemination The investi
gations of the worldrenowned Koch as to this and other diseases
arising from the development of spores and their transformation
into bacilli are of untold value and have thrown a great deal of
light on a subject which has for centuries been clothed in darkness
Replying to your questions in order Preventive inoculation which
has been extensively and successfully used in European countries
has been found the only certain preventive As in inoculation or
vaccination to prevent smallpox the Anthrax vaccine is carefullyANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897 7
prepared and applied and while producing only a mild fever in the
animal will protect it against contracting the more fatal disease
It is not always possible however to procure the vaccine or to
properly apply it when therefore there occurs an outbreak of this
dread disease among farm animals those not affected should be at
once removed from the infected cases and not as is so often done
left in the infected quarters while the sick are taken out thus
spreading the disease All the droppings and refuse in the infected
lot should be burned and the quarters or stables thoroughly disin
fected by the use of lime crude carbolic acid or other powerful
disinfecting agents These should be spread over the ground and
all wood work given a thorough coat of a wash composed of lime
and water mixed with crude carbolic acid one pint of the acid to
about three gallons of the whitewash To prevent the attacks of
fleas which are industrious disseminators of the disease make an
emulsion as follows and apply to all parts of the animals Hard
soap 1 pound fish oil 2 gallons dissolve the soap in 1 gallon boil
ing water and while still hot add the fish oil stirring constantly
until thoroughly mixed and cold When applied use one part of
this emulsion thoroughly mixed with from 8 to 15 parts of cold
water and apply all over the animal which can be done best with a
sprayer or a large sponge All these measures are in the nature of
a preventive and so far seem the most successful remedies If an
animal could be treated promptly with proper remedies some cases
might be saved but the disease acts so quickly that the subject is
usually past hope before anything is done In northern Louisiana
where there were many fatal cases the past year the disease pre
vailing to an alarming extent in ten parishes there was scarcely
found a single satisfactory remedy the only successful treatment
was found to be not curative but preventive Of all the healthy
animals which were vaccinated in the beginning and received the
second inoculation only a small per cent died while of the un
vaccinated cases scarcely one survived Work animals were found
to be peculiarly susceptible to the disease In reply to your second
question we give the symptoms as taken from a recent bulletin
issued by the Louisiana Experiment StationDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
SYMPTOMS OF ANTHRAX IN HORSES OR MULES
High fever accompanied by chilis and convulsive contractions of
the muscles external temperature irregularly disturbed mucous
membrane of eyes nose and mouth dark colored and weeping
sometimes from both eyes Expression sad The animal is stu
pefied and the gait is staggering In some cases there is cerebral
xctement Abdominal pain which in some cases is accompanied
by a liquid bloody discharge from the bowels Breathing quick
ened and laborious Death which is indicated by profuse
perspiration occurs within from six to thirty hours Re
covery ls rare External tumors are developed upon the
abdomen chest inner surface of the limbs the scrotum ex
ernal genitals etc This form has a somewhat slower course than
the preceding its average duration being from two to three days
SYMPTOMS OP ANTHRAX IN HOGS
Enlargement of the throat intense fever copious flow of saliva
nausea vomiting discoloration of the mucous membrane of the
mouth difficult and quickened breathing wheezing and rattling
respiration etc Death occurs as a rule by asphyxia
SYMPTOMS OF ANTHRAX IN COWS
The acute form without external swelling is the most frequent
High temperature accelerated pulse 80 to 100 per minute small
and imperceptible The mucous membranes of the nose and mouth
are red and often dark colored There is sometimes a flow of tears
from the eyes Weakness and stupefaction are very pronounced
the appetite is gone and the animal does not chew the cud The
gait is uncertain trembling of the body especially the flanks and
hind quarters The expression of the countenance is very
dejected Sometimes stupefaction is replaced by rabiform
attacks the patient bellows scratches the ground pushes
gainst obstaces etc The gastric trouble includes constip
tion slight bloating abdominal pain diarrhoea expulsion
of bloody matter etc The urine often contains blood or
is highly stained with the coloring matter of the blood BloodANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
stained liquids may be emitted from the natural openings viz
Mouth eyes nostrils anus vagina General stupefaction coma
and weakness continue to increase and death follows in convulsions
within from 12 to 48 hours Charbon tumors are sometimes ob
served as primary accidentsat other times during the course of
acute or subacute Anthrax They may appear upon the head neck
chest shoulders abdomen sheath milk glands flanks and limbs
HOW ANTHRAX IS COMMUNICATED
In order to answer your third question as to how the disease is
communicated we must explain somethiug of its nature and pecu
liar attributes In the bulletin referred to it is defined as a spe
cific power affecting animals and communicable to man and which
is dependent upon the introduction into the system of a specific
microorganism the bacillus anthracis We are also told that
there are three recognized ways by which the germ may penetrate
into the animal body viz 1st the alimentary canal 2nd the skin
3rd the lungs but it is exceptional for the disease to be transmit
ted from a diseased to a healthy animal
This bacillus anthracis cannot live without oxygen which during
the animals life is supplied through the lungs with every breath
that is drawn
After death if the infected animal is at once burned and none of
the excretions from the natural or other openings be allowed to
escape all possibility of infection from that animal at least is
destroyed But if the carcass is mutilated or lett exposed to the
ravages of carnivorous or other animals or if the body fluids or
excrementitious matter containing the baccilli be exposed to the
air or allowed to escape these organisms coming in contact with the
oxygen of the air will form spores which are preserved on the sur
face of vegetation or of the soil itself for an almost indefinite time
Animals grazing over these contaminated spots become infected
and grain or forage crops raised on such places being infected with
the spores of the disease will produce Anthrax when fed in the
stable to perfectly well animals It is needless to say that animals
feeding on infected carcasses are in turn infected and become the10 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
vehicles for conveying the disease not by actual contact but by
their droppings and other means mentioned Besides the three
mentioned other animals are liable to the disease sheep goats deer
camels cats rabbits mice dogs foxes and fowls
The drinking water of pastures or even wells if the surface
water is allowed to flow into them may also become contaminated
Ihe disease germs are washed by rains into ditches ponds pools
creeks etc and may be transported great distances causing sudden
and unaccountable outbreaks of this disease After he disease once
gains a foothold there can be no doubt that flies become the chief
agents for spreading it Hence the importance of using the fish
oil emulsion After sucking the blood of an infected animal if
they alight on a healthy animal for a similar purpose they convey
the germs of the disease by direct transmission and thus inoculate
subject after subject When these flies containing Anthrax blood
die the bacilli may begin to sporulate on the ground and in this
way also contaminate the pastures Certain soils are also peculiarly
fitted for the development of Anthrax notably such as are rich in
organic matter of a swampy turfy character or where lowlands are
exposed to submersion and become partially dry during the hot
season The three forms of Anthrax as given in this valuable bul
letin are first
INTESTINAL ANTHRAX
When the disease is taken into the system through the alimentary
canal it is termed intestinal Anthrax and is usually produced by spores
which are swallowed with the food and drink
Second
EXTERNAL OR CARBUNCULAR ANTHRAX
This condition is usually found where animals having wounds
come in contact with the bacteria when lying in infected pastures
or are bitten by bloodsucking insects which have been feeding on
infected living or dead animals Even after death a diseased ani
mal contains bacilli and then if they are not destroyed will by
contact with the air form spores which do not decompose but re
main intact after the carcass decomposes and thus multiply indefiANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
11
nitely the causes of disease For the same reason bacilli deposited
ou the soil in the droppings of diseased animals become prolific
sources for the spread of the disease The third form is produced
by inhalation or through the lungs in this the spores come in con
tact with the mucous membrane of the air tubes of the lungs We
have replied to your question at length in order to call attention to
the careless methods which have heretofore been in common practice
in regard to disposing of the bodies of diseased animals The usual
plan has been to dump them at any convenient place in the woods
and leave them to deposit their death dealing germs Sometimes
such animals are skinned and their hides sold again multiplying
the chances of infection
BURNING THE CARCASSES
is the only effective method of disposing of them in order to pre
vent infection Pasteur discovered that even where such bodies
were buried the spores or germs of the disease found their way to
the surface through the agencies of our common earth worms
After reaching the outer air these germs may be disseminated
through various mediums winds waters plants etc
TO BURN ANTHRAX BODIES
effectually the most convenient method as advised by the Louisi
ana Experiment Station where they have had considerable experi
ence with the disease and its dire consequences is to dig a trench
similar to a barbecue trench In the bottom place the dry wood
and kindling ou which a little kerosene may be poured Across
the top of the pit lay a sufficient number of green poles on which
place the carcass Dry wood and kindling may be piled above and
around and when the fire is lighted the work is finished expedi
tiously and thoroughly Great care should be exercised in handling
the carcass to prevent the escape of blood fluid or excrement and
all articles coming in direct contact with the carcass should also be
burned We have written at length on this
DREAD DISEASE ANTHRAX
because of the recent outbreak of Louisiana and because of several
sporadic cases which have come to our knowledge Specialists in12
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
different parts of the country are urging the importance of taking
care in these details less we have introduced among us an epidemic
which has heretofore carried off thousands of the human race as
well as unnumbered hosts of animals of different kinds
R T Nesbitt
WARNING IN REGARD TO UOMP03T PEDDLERS
In the Monthly Talks and Answers to Questions for January
1 took occasion to denounce one J D Butler President of the
Champion Chemical Process Co of DunnFayetteville and Thom
asville N C and published him as a fraud and a swindler in that
he was selling a worthless formula for making a fertilizer thus
robbing our farmers wherever he could I am now in receipt of a
Bulletin from the North Carolina Experiment Station exposing this
same rascal for selling his fraudulent formula in North Carolina
in that State he claims to be from Georgia in this he gives North
Carolina as his residence I have advertised this particular rascal
so thoroughly simply to put the farmers on their guard against all
venders of fertilizer formulas As a rule they are rascals and un
less they can show the indorsement of their formulas by this de
partment they should be promptly arrested and punished Should
the aforementioned Butler again make his appearance in Georgia I
trust that he will be promptly arrested If an example could be
made of one of the swindlers that sell worthless formulas for ferti
lizers the business would be broken up much to the benefit of the
farmers I again repeat that this department is at all times ready
to furnish good formulas for making composts and they can be
had by simply writing to this office Another point to which I
wish to call the attention of the farmers is this Sometimes guano
or cottonseed meal is offered for sale either untagged or with tags
of the previous year on the sacks This is a violation of the law
and subjects the manufacturer upon conviction to the penalty of
fine or imprisonment or both The manufacturers should know
the law on the subject and if they violate it they ought to suffer
Occasionally a tag will accidentally be removed from a sack and
of course the law would not apply in such a caseANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
13
NEWS AND NOTES
It is an undoubted fact that cattle are scarcer than a year ago
while feed is abundant
The practice is gaining of cooking food for stock
Yon lose a most valuable fertilizer when you permit the drop
pings of the hennery to go to waste
Watering the stock regularly is an important item in winter
When there is plenty of straw use it as a lining for the walls of
wood sheds for stock It will exclude the cold windsExchange14
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS QUESTION BOX FOR THE MONTH
VALUABLE INFORMATION GIVENTHE CABBAGE MAGGOT
QUESTION 1
I had a fine crop of rutabagas when in September I noticed they
began to wilt and die Upon examination I found a small fly
or moth which laid the eggs on the stems of the plant and when
they hatched the worms or moths ate their way down the stems of
the plants to the roots eating them also which of course killed the
rutabagas I send one of the flies Tell me the name and a rem
edy lor them
ANSWER 1
The cabbage maggot Anthomyia brassier is the name of the
pest which destroyed your rutabagas They are a twowinged fly
and look something like the common house fly The egs as you
mention are laid on the stems of the plants and soon latch out
small whitish maggots These burrow down the stems into the earth
and there feed on the roots of the plants In from 20 to 23 days
after hatching the maggots pupate and in a few days thereafter ap
pear as adult flies There are three or more broods each season
Many unsatisfactory remedies have been suggested for this insect
Perhaps the best is the kerosene emulsion applied about the roots
which kills the maggots Dr Riley has suggested the use ofslacked
lime or ashes as a probable remedy
PRUNING
QUESTION 2
belte beDfit dCriVed frm PrUUig Wh6U and h0W should t
ANSWER 2
When pruning is properly done at the right time it is beneficial
iu seyeral ways It regulates and improves the form of healthy
vigorous trees and benefits weak and feeble trees by increasing
their vgor Tins mcrease of vigor is brought about simply beANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
15
cause all the sap of the tree is directed into a few branches instead of
being diffused throughout a great many and thus giving sufficient
nourishment to none Then again all the force of the circulating
fluid being thrown into a smaller number of branches causes the
growth of larger sap vessels and more vigorous shoots Pruning
also permits lreer access of air and sunshine to every portion of the
tree and in that way tends to produce wellflavored fullymatured
perfect fruit Pruning fruit trees of various kinds should be done
while the trees are dormant either in the late fall or in mid winter
or even in the spring provided the buds have not begun to swell
There are different methods of pruuinga favorite plan is to cut
off half the previous years growth this to be done over all the out
side branches as well as the inner ones This is called shorten
ing in and generally produces good results in peach trees
HOW TO GET RID OF THE SAN JOSE SCALE THE INSECT
WHICH HAS RECENTLY MADE ITS APPEARANCE IN DIF
FERENT SECTIONS
QUESTION 3
I send you a small piece of peach limb showing some insects that
I fear are the San Jose scale They are killing our peach and
plum trees very fast Please give me all the information you can
on the subject of the San Jose scale how to get rid of them etc
ANSWER 3
I had hoped that the dreaded San Jose scale had not yet effected
a lodgment in Georgia but the peach limb that you sent was
pretty well covered with them and as your trees are dying they are
doubtless in great numbers in your orchard Mr L O Howard
entomologist to the United States Department of Agriculture
speaking of this insect says
We wish particularly to impress upon the minds of fruit growers
that as soon as this insect is found to occur in an orchard the most
strenuous measures must be taken to stamp it out No halfway
measures will suffice The individual must remember that not
only are his own interests vitally at stake but those of the entire
community in which he resides Trees badly infested should be in
stantly burned The individual may think that he cannot bear the16
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
loss but the loss in consequence of the slightest neglect will be
much greater
This pest is most likely to be introduced into new localities upon
nursery stock bought from infected nurseries and no fruit grower
should introduce into his orchard a single young fruit tree or cut
ting or even a bud without being absolutely satisfied that it is free
of the San Jose scale The female insect fortunately cannot fly
but is supposed to be carried from tree to tree by the young lice
crawling on other insects and birds and then crawling off when
they have lit in other trees It is also thought that they may be
blown from tree to tree by the wind The insect lies dormaut un
der its scale through the winter and begins feeding as the weather
gets warmer in the spring During the latter part of April or early
in May the females give birth to living young in great numbers
These are very minute orangecolored quite active and without
any covering or scale They run about the limbs for a short time
seeking a suitable place on the bark or leaves in which to insert
their suckingtubes As soon as they commence feeding the scale
or covering begins to form over them and in about 30 days the
insect is fully developed and begins to bring forth its living young
as previously mentioned They thus continue to multiply brood
after brood until cold weather commences Now that this insect
has become domiciled in Georgia it is very doubtful if it will ever be
eradicated and indeed it will require the constant care and strenu
ous efforts of the fruit growers to keep them from destroying the
orchards There are but two remedies for this insect the ax and
whale oil soap thoroughly and carefully applied Where the trees
are badly infested cut them down and burn without delay Where
not so numerous they may be exterminated by a very careful ap
plication of whale oil soap which application must be made in win
ter when the tree is not in leaf and before the buds begin to swell
The soap can be made as follows Concentrated lye 3J pounds
water 8 gallons fish oil 1 gallon The lye should be dissolved
in boiling water and the oil added while the former is hot The
boiling should continue two and onehalf hours before allowing it
to cool The soap thus made should be used at the rate of 2iANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
17
pounds to 1 gallon of water and should be applied warm The
whale oil soap can be purchased for from 5 to 7 cents per pound
at wholesale and it takes about two quarts of the liquid to cover
thoroughly a peach or pear tree 3 or 4 years old The application
should be made by spraying and the nozzle of the sprayer should
be so directed that every portion of each limb should be covered with
the liquid Without the greatest care the application will prove
ineffectual for unless every scale on the tree is covered with the
liquid and a few of the insects escape they will infect the whole
tree the subsequent season The whale oil soap acts as follows
The caustic potash loosens or softens the scale on the insect and it
is then smothered as it were by the oily material in the soap By
this you will see the necessity of covering every scale on each tree
The advent of this destructive insect into the State along with
many others almost as bad impresses upon me and should espe
cially impress upon all fruit growers in our borders the importance
of having an entomologist appointed by the State whose entire
time should be devoted to investigating and destroying these nox
ious insects This is a matter of vital importance to our fruit
growers and if neglected the consequences will be fatal to their in
terests
MEASLES IN HOGS
QUESTION 4
I had a sow that had pigs in the early fall Soon afterwards
she got down in the loins and I put her up to fatten She then
commenced and continued breathing hard but seemed to thrive
and fatten Upon killing her I found the meat full of small lumps
about the size of No 2 squirrel shot and each little lump had a
sack around it full of clear water The lumps were all through
the heart also What would you call the disease and could it
have been cured
ANSWER 4
Your hog was troubled with what is called measles This dis
ease in hogs results from small internal parasites which are embryo
forms of the common tapeworm being caused by eating the egg18
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
of the common tapeworm of man Measley pork is unfit for hu
man food and if eaten without being most thoroughly cooked will be
sure to cause tapeworms as the eating of trichinainfected pork
will cause trichina It is a wellknown fact that dogs are subject
to tapeworms probably from eating raw flesh hence they void the
eggs of this parasite and if swine eat their excrement they will be
liable to become infected Allowing hogs to eat the excrement of
other animals is a fruitful cause of this disease Raw flesh such
as the refuse from slaughterhouses should never be fed to hogs as it
may contain the embryo tapeworms and will be liable to produce
measles in the hogs that eat it This disease seldom proves fatal
to hogs though it is generally regarded as incurable It is more
easily prevented than cured If however taken in the early stages
daily small doses of sulphur saltpetre or epsom salts be given for
two or three weeks with a liberal supply of wholesome nutritious
and easilydigested food the eggs might be passed from the stomach
and bowels but this is by no means certain The foregoing is
taken from Flints American Farmer a most excellent authority
The symptoms of this disease make it easily distinguishable the
animal coughs is feverish on examining the skin watery pimples or
pustules of a reddish color will be found There is a weakness of
the hind legs and sometimes a discharge from the eyes and nose
Any curative treatment will be useless except in the very earliest
stage of the disease
FRAUDULENT FERTILIZERS
QUESTION 5
I enclose a formula that is selling in this section to make ferti
lizers Has it been submitted to the department for examination
and is it a good formula
ANSWER 5
This is a formula offered by the Champion Chemical Process
Company of Dunn Fayetteville and Thomasville N C J I
Butler President and General Manager This formula has not
only been disapproved by this department but it has beenANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
19
denounced through the mails repeatedly and I now take
this opportunity of publishing in every county in the State
that it is an utter fraud and humbug gotten up to deceive and rob
the farmers There is no such chemical as murate sulphate of
amonia There is no such chemical as murate sulphate of pot
ash neither is there such a thing as murate sulphate of soda
Sulphate of soda was never heard of except by this bungling
rascal J D Butler If any farmer or club that has been swindled
by this man or his agents will apply the law for swindling and
cheating to them I have no doubt he or they could be deservedly
punished They are violating the law in offering a formula that
has not been sanctioned by this department and they are cheating
and swindling the farmers by a guarantee of perfect satisfaction
in a fertilizer the important parts of which cannot be ohtained save
in the fertile brain of this rascal J D Butler I have again and
again warned the farmers of Georgia against such impositions as
this and yet the rascals continue to work the State with consider
able success Grand juries and solicitorsshould take the matter in
hand and prosecute all who are in any way connected with this
nefarious business Any farmer in Georgia who wants to make
compost can get full instructions in the matter by simply writing
to this department which will be glad to furnish the necessary in
formation There is no excuse therefore for being swindled by
these irresponsible imposters who annually canvass the State sell
ing their worthless fbrmulse
BARLEY
QUESTION 6
Is it too late to sow barley If not please give me advice as
to preparation fertilizing and seeding
ANSWER 6
It is too late to sow barley now for a winter and early spring
crop but in February if the ground is deeply plowed well ferti
lized and otherwise thoroughly prepared by harrowing the grain
may be sown and barring unusual disaster will be found a most20
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
satisfactory crop At the South very little comparatively is known
of this most valuable grain Our efforts and energies are all di
rected to producing the corn crop which is both expensive and
troublesome While barley is a more economical crop and more
easily managed it is also more valuable as stock feed On the
Pacific slope notably in California its use is almost universal and
there it is preferred to corn for this purpose Of this crop the
Georgia Experiment Station says that it does better on sandy loams
than on stiff clay soils The fertilizer recommended is 200 pounds
acid phosphate and 400 pounds cottonseed meal on light sandy
land an addition of 50 pounds nitrate of potash will be found very
beneficial The preparatory plowing should be deep and close
followed by a harrowing which should leave the land fine and
smooth The seeding should be liberal from four to five bushels
to the acre In order to get this amount in evenly the field should
be sown two or three times in opposite directions Harrow or roll
the seed in leaving the laud smooth that there may be no difficulty
in using the mower or scythe to cut the crop W the crop is in
tended for seed a sowing of two bushels to the acre will be sufficient
We have mentioned the commercial fertilizers because in any con
siderable crop of barley it is difficult to get a sufficient supply of
farmyard manure although this is undoubtedly the best fertilizer
that can be usedif well rotted and liberally applied
EABLY i ORN
QUESTION 7
I am a new citizen of your State having moved from Michigan
and waut some information I wish to plant a few acres in an
early variety of corn for feed what would you recommend and
where can I get the seed For a general crop I can get some fine
seed corn from Virginia or Missouri would you advise me to use
this or the corn raised around me
ANSWER 7
There are many varieties of early corn and each has its advocates
I prefer for South Georgiathe section in which you livethe
Golden Dent You can plant it in your county from Feb 15 toANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
21
20 and on good land or on poor land well fertilizedyou can count
on its making a fair crop Plant in feet rows and 3 feet in the
drill one stalk to the hill This corn will mature in time to be
followed by a crop of field peas or sweet potatoes You can buy
the Golden Dent from any seed store in our cities or towns As
to planting your general crop of corn with seed from Missouri or
Virginia I advise against it Get a good seed corn from any of
your neighbors and with it you will make a better crop than with
seed brought from Missouri Afterwards improve your seed an
nually by passing through your cornfield before gathering the crop
and selecting for seed the best ear from those stalks that have two
or more ears By this plan you will soon add materially to the
yield per acre
BREAKING A COLT
QUESTION 8
In breaking a colt to harness would you advise me to use a blind
bridle or not
ANSWER 8
Most horsemen are strongly opposed to the use of blinders as
they are called claiming that in a great many cases they cause dis
ease of the eyes and not infrequently blindness Besides this a
horseeis more easily frightened when he has on a blind bridle be
cause of the fact that he gets a distorted view of objects by the
roadside when without the blinders he would see clearly every
passing object and find no cause for fright Loud startling
noises are also apt to frighten the animal whose eyes are covered
with blinds Hearing the noise but not being able to see what
makes it he naturally imagines something terrible is after him
and just as naturally runs to get away from it No one can give
any good reason for using blind bridles and my advice is never
put one on your colt and you are more apt to make a gentle animal
of him than by use of the blinders22
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FEBRUARY
PREPARATIONS WELL ADVANCED
GEORGIA FARMERS GET A GOOD START ON THIS YEARS CROP
FAR BEHIND IN ANNUAL RAINFALLCOMMISSIONER OF AGRt
CULTURE NESBITT IN HIS MONTHLY TALK URGES THE THOR
OUGH BREAKING OF LAND INTENDED FOR CORNSOWING
CLOVER AND GRASSESAMPLE PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE
FOR GOOD CROPS
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga February 1 1897
January has given us more than its usual average of bright days
and all through the State preparations for another years crops are
going on apace This with the fall plowing of which a good deal
was accomplished gives us a very fair start and should February
prove a very rainy month we will possess our souls in patience
We are very far behind in the annual rainfall and it were better
perhaps to have it made up in this month than later on when the
young crops might be retarded in their growth if not seriously
injured by heavy spring floods
PREPARATION
The work of preparation should go on steadily whenever the
weather permits remembering that the land intended for corn
should be thoroughly and deeply broken Corn is more sensitive
to drouth than most of our cultivated crops and needs a deep and
mellow seedbed When planting time comes if this breaking has
been done some time previous it may become necessary to harrow
the land before putting in the seed but the additional labor is fully
returned in benefit to the crop Corn unlike cotton is made in a
few weeks and after deep breaking and proper manuring we must
depend on repeated surface stirring to conserve moisture keep
down weeds aerate the soil and thus promote the perfect develop
ment of the crop In preparing land for any crop we should be
guided by the character of the soil and its present condition as well
as the previous crops planted on it and their cultivation If theANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
23
soil be deep we may put the plows in deep and turn each furrow
leaving a mellow bed for planting time But if the soil be shallow
and the subsoil near the surface this plan will not answer If the
turning plow is used it should go just deep enough to bring a little
of the subsoil to the surface and the furrows be left on edge as it
were in order that the small amount of available plant food may
not be buried out of reach of the young plant roots We have
always found however that on such lands a better plan is to use a
long narrow straight plow running the furrows close together
which will break the subsoil without bringing it to the surface and
leave the top soil in good condition Another important point m
preparing for our crops is that we return to the land as fax as possi
ble every particle of vegetable matter left on the surface from the
previous year The crying need of our lands is humus and when
there is a heavy growth of weeds broomsedge cotton or corn stalks
or any other humusmaking material on the land is should not be
burnt off before the plows but every effort should be made to break
it down and put it in condition to be turned under when the plowing
is done For this purpose select a cold morning and drag a harrow
over the land in every direction With the exception of corn
stalks this will break down all the growth In reply to an inquiry
in another column in regard to the value of these corn stalks
which are usually left standing in the field we have endeavored
to show how much valuable feeding material is thrown away
each year by this wasteful practice The average farmer re
gards these standing stalks as so much waste material wuich
is to be removed as thoroughly as possibleand burning is
the usual method of getting rid of them If cut down and
turned under whole they are a menace to the proper prepa
ration and after cultivation of the land the practice of cutting
in shorter lengths by hand and then turning under is considered
loss of time and labor and every farmer who has tried the plan
knows that if they are hauled to the stable and put in the stalls
in the hope of adding to the manure heap they are a constant
source of annoyance and worry It does seem strange that this
portion of the corn crop which contains such a large per cent ol24
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
the nutritive value of that crop should be regarded as a nuisance
and be annually and literally thrown into the fire We are doing
all in our power to check the further progress of a mistake which
is each year losing us thousands of tons of healthful and nutritious
forage Once the farmers fully realize the truth they cannot be
induced to leave this crop in the field to waste any mere than they
would allow their other crops after they are made to stand exposed
to the destructive agencies of wind and weather We need a re
form here and we need it at once To resume the subject of prep
aration the stubble lands and the lands which were not planted
the previous year if not plowed in the fall should be the
first to be broken after Christmas Being full of vegetable
matter they are not so liable to be packed by the heavy
winter rains If cottonseed is to be used as a manure we
have found it is a good plan to lay off the land put in the
seed and acid and cover well with a list This gives the
cottonseed time to decompose before planting time and yet
not to a degree that will cause a loss of its elements of plant
food before they are needed by the crop Another advantage of
this plan is that when we complete the bed and open the planting
furrow the soil is in nice fresh condition for the reception of the
seed Eye and barley patches may be left to be plowed until the
last in order to get all the benefit possible from them as green food
We have seen such patches turned under late and then laid oil
manure put in and bedded up for potatoes The slips were not
put out until July but the potatoes were as large and the yield as
great as from slips put out in May As is usual when this crop
matures rapidly the eating quality of the potatoes was not as good
but their feeding value for stock was unimpaired
OATS
may be sown until the last of this month In the more northern
sections of the State oats sown in February are not so liable to dis
aster from frosts as the January sowings but as the crop has a
shorter time for developing the land should be thoroughly pre
pared and highly fertilized in order that the young plants may at
once begin to take up their food supplyANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
25
CLOVER AND GRASSES
The next best plan to sowing these crops on land especially and
carefully prepared for them is to sow on the growing small grain
crops Run a harrow over the grain which will benefit rather
than injure it then sow the seed which will require no further
work The best varieties are red and mammoth clover tail
meadow grass orchard grass red top and rye grasses Japan
clover should be sown later it will grow on land too poor
for almost any other crop It is a nitrogen gatherer good for
stock feed and may be used as a starting point for more desirable
crops Alfalfa or lucerne requires more care should be sown
only on rich land and requires careful cultivation the first year
The plants are delicate and until a good stand is secured are liable
to be choked out by more vigorous growths It always succeeds
best when planted and cultivated in rowsafter the middle or lat
ter part of February It pays better to put
MANURES
directly in the ground instead of making compost heaps By this
plan there is no danger from overheating and both time and labor
are economized If preferred however the compost heaps may
still be built Leaves muck scrapings from fence corners etc
may all be mixed with the stable manure and if phosphates and
potash are added they not only retain their own valuable fertiliz
ing properties but will materially improve the whole mass It is
in the nitrogenous fertilizers that there is danger of loss Of
these cottonseed and cottonseed meal are perhaps the safest as
heing less liable to losses of ammonia
KAFFIR CORN
An inquiry as to Kaffir corn was crowded out this month In
view of the fact that our crops are liable to injury from our usual
summer drouth which sometimes as during the past summer
proves very destructive to our corn crop it would be well to devote
a certain area to this variety of corn whichhas shown remarkable
drouthresisting qualities Next month we hope to give full par26
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ticulars as to its planting cultivation gathering as well as its
analysis as a food
We would again urge that in deciding on
THE AREAS FOR DIFFERENT CBOPS
ample provision be made for food crops of all kinds and in decid
ing on the cotton land dont put in any that will not make at least
a half bale to the acre We need not calculate on more than 7
cents for our cotton crop and the plan of putting in from five to
ten acres to make one bale cannot under the most favorable cir
cumstances pay expenses
R T NESBITT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
THE VALUE OF CORNSTALKSA SUBJECT OF GREAT IMPOR
TANCE HANDLED BY MR NESBITTCOMMISSIONER ANSWERS
QUERIESHOW TO SAVE WHAT HAS HERETOFORE BEEN RE
GARDED BY THE FARMERS OF THE SOUTH AS A PRACTICALLY
WORTHLESS PRODUCT
QUESTION 1
Will you kindly republish information as to the value of corn
stalks and the method of converting them into fodder
ANSWER 1
We have from time to time during the last few years written a
good deal on this subject It is one of great importance to farmers
north and south Such however is the difficulty of changing
established methods that farmers as a rule show very little inter
est in saving what they have been taught to regard as a practically
worthless product The usual treatment of our cornstalks is an
extravagant waste of one of the principal resources of our farmers
But farmers have grown so accustomed to seeing these stalks
either burned or imperfectly plowed under that they regard any
attempt to utilize them as among the chimeras of bookfarming
No general reform has ever been accomplished in a day In our
efforts to induce an entire change in this matter we have been sus
tained by this fact as well as by the conviction that a practice so
pregnant with good results to our agricultural interests must eventANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
27
ually receive general recognition and indorsement During a re
cent visit to tthe Georgia Experiment Station Where experiments
on this line have been in process of development for two or three
years we found on inquiry that the cut or shredded stalks are
eagerly eaten by farm animals A sample of two or three wagon
loads was sent to one of the principal livery stables of the town iu
order to test its value there and the proprietor assured the director
that both horses and mules ate it greedily
He seemed to think that with an abundance of this forage the
long established but expensive method of pulling would become
a thing of the past Others who have used the shredded fodder
bear testimony to the same facts The fodder is also a firstclass ab
sorbent and if during the process of feeding any considerable
amount is thrown out in the stalls it is not thrown away but helps
to retain much of the liquid manure Which under careless misman
agement is usually wasted For the same reason it furnishes an ex
cellent bedding for stock and in addition is soft and comfortable
to them Professor H 0 White who is the chemist of the sta
tion tells us that shredded stalks contain more nutriment than cot
tonseed hulls which are now so popular as a winter feed it has
been shown by analysis at the Maryland Experiment Station that
two and a half pounds of shredded stalk butts that is the stalk after
the leaves ears and tops have been taken off are equivalent as food
to one pound of good corn meal while in fertilizing properties it
outranks wheat oat or rye straw At the Iowa Station an anal
ysis has shown that the shredded fodder is as valuable for feeding
as their famed timothy hay We are convinced that when these
facts are generally understood by farmers it will be unnecessary to
urge them to save every part of the corn plant which appears
above the ground and the result will be storehouses and barns
filled to overflowing with a nutritious wholesome food which is
now allowed to rot in the field As to the best method of
CURING AND SHREDDING CORNSTALKS
it has been found that it is a saving of labor as well as of the nu
tritive properties of the product to cut down and cure the plant28
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
entire that is stalk blades shucks ears and top instead of stripping
the blades taking off the top shucks and ears and leaving the bare
stalk standing That these bare stalks are valuable however it
should be mentioned here that it was from such stalks at the
Georgia Experiment Station that the shredded fodder was made
which called forth such favorable comment To cure the whole
plant at once the stalks should be cut down when the corn is well
glazed but before the fodder becomes too dry These stalks
should then be set up into shocks of 200 or 300 stalks each and tied
together with binders twine After they are cured they may at
any convenient time be hauled to the barn and put into the shred
ding machine which being fed on the same principle as a thresh
ing machine takes hold of the stalks shucks and throws the ears
to one side and converts the remainder of the crop that is blades
shucks tops and stalks into a finely shredded fodder which it also
conveys by means of a sliding frame and pulleys directly into the
barn These machines are as yet expensive but any man owning
a small engine may make it and a shredding machine profitable by
shocking and shredding the corn crop on shares as is now done with
the small grain crops Another advantage of thus harvesting the
corn crop besides utilizing the entire plant for feeding and fertil
izing purposes is that the crop being moved out of the way gives a
chance for the fall plowing and the sowing of fall grains vetches
crimson clover and the other winter crops which are beginning to
attract so much interest Even if it is inconvenient to remove the
shocks from the field as soon as cured they can if they have been
put into regular rows the rows being as far apart as possible be
hauled out as is most convenient The greater portion of the field
will thus be cleared ready for the plows By this plan the whole
plant will not only be utilized but the different parts are actually
made more valuable because in the shocks there is greater protec
tion against the destructive effects of the weather and afterwards
less waste in hauling to shelter Many enterprising fanners hav
already adopted this plan and we trust that its practice will ere
long become universalANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
29
Besides the large machine mentioned above there are several
smaller machines on the market run by horse and hand power
which are suitable for cutting either the cured stalks or any green
crop suitable for ensilage When the farmers realize what a big
loss is sustained in this yearly waste of forage these machines will
come into general use They will then be more able to keep more
stock in better condition and at less expense This cut or shred
ded fodder is one of the most valuable of stock feeds both on ac
count of its sugar and starch content and because by utilizing it
we convert what is now a waste product into paying farms This
will enable us to sell for the cash much of the hay and other kinds
of feed which are now consumed on the farm It has been shown
by reasonable calculation that in the one item of allowing then corn
stalks to waste in the fields the farmers of the United States lose
annually 540724836
The advantage of the cured cut fodder over silage is that no ex
pensive silo is required for storing the fodder and also that the dry
fodder may if preferred be cut as needed while the silage must
be cut at a certain stage of its growth or it loses much of its value
The bulletin of the Maryland Experiment Station College Park
Md for March 1893 may be had on application and contains very
full and valuable information on this subject
INSECTS IN GRAPE VINES
QUESTION 2
I have quite a number of grape vines in apparently healthy con
dition but unless X sack the grapes each year they are attacked by
rot or else perforated by insects The sacking is both troublesome
and expensive Can you give me some information and directions
about spraying Is it a certain preventive and protection When
shall I begin
ANSWER 2
With even a few vines spraying pays and on larger areas the
man who does not spray will be distanced by his more progressive30
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
brother who has taken this precaution against fungus diseases ami
insect pests Now is the time to begin preparation Get a
sprayer suited to the area to be gone over For small vineyards
the knapsack sprayer is best suited while for larger areas the cart or
barrel sprayer should be used These can be run up and down the
rows by either hand or horse power and do their work effectively
For a few vines in the yard or garden there are hand sprayers
which answer every purpose Bordeaux mixture has been found
most effective for rot and downy mildew and should be applied
from the time the buds begin to swell and at intervals of two or
three weeks until the fruit begins to color Copper carbonate dis
solved in two quants liquid ammonia of 26 per cent strength and
diluted with 4G gallons of water is considered the best mixture for
the last application because the deposit of copper sulphate from the
Bordeaux mixture might affect the ready sale of the fruit If pre
ferred a simple solution of copper sulphate may be used for the
first spraying This should be applied before there is any green
foliage on the vines Each spraying must be carefully and thor
oughly done and repeated at shorter intervals than above men
tioned ifthe weather should continue clamp and warm For the
Bordeaux mixture the following directions which are plain being
free from technical terms have been published Dissolve f pound
of Milestone in a wooden or earthen vessel using about 2 gallons
hot water In a separate vessel slake 3 pounds of lime with enough
water to render it thin enough to strain through a coarse cloth
The lime solution is strained to prevent it from clogging the nozzk
of the sprayer After the copper solution has become cool mix it
with the strained lime solution and dilute with 40 gallons of water
It will then be ready for use
MAKING FERTILIZER
QURSTION 3
I have on hand acid phosphate with potash running 12 per cent
phosphoric acid and 4 per cent potash I have also cottonseed
meal S per cent ammonia and muriate of potash 50 per centANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
31
potash Kindly tell me how to mix these materials to make a
fertilizer that will analyze 8 per cent phosphoric acid 2 per cent
ammonia and 4 per cent potash another that will analyze 826
and another that will run 833
ANSWER 3
To make a fertilizer out of thei materials you mention that will
analyze 8 per cent phosphoric acid 2 per cent ammonia and 4 per
cent potash you must mix as follows
Acid phosphate with potash1350 lbs
Cottonseed meal 500 lbs
Muriate of Potash 52 lb
Earth 98 lbs
Total2000 lbs
To make a fertilizer running 826 you must mix as follows
Acid phosphate with potash1350 lbs
Cottonseed meal 500 lbs
Muriate of potash 132 lbs
Earth 18 libs
Total 2000 It
To make a fertilizer running 833 you must use in the mixture
Acid phosphate with potash1350 lbs
Cottonseed meal 500 lbs
Blood 120 lbs
Muriate of potash 30 lbs
Total2000 lbs
In this last formula you cannot get the ammonia you want from
cottonseed meal and you must therefore use blood which contains
about twice as much ammonia as does cottonseed meal In other
words it would take 750 pounds of cottonseed meal to furnish the
3 per cent of ammonia while you get the same result from the
500 pounds of cottonseed meal and 120 pounds of blood32
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
PICKLING BEEF
QUESTION 4
Will yon be so kind as to give me the best method of pickling
beef Also inform me of the best way to save pork I expect to
kill thirty fat hogs
ANSWER 4
There are several good recipes for pickling beef The follow
ing is simple and will give satisfaction Cut up your beef in pieces
to suit rub well with salt and pack tightly or rather closely in
a barrel or cask two days before putting in pickle This draws
out the blood and the meat must be taken out of this first vessel
and washed before packing for pickling Then pack in a clean oak
or cypress barrel as closely as possible and when the barrel is
nearly full pour over the meat a brine made as follows To 4 gal
lons of water add 7 pounds of salt 2i ounces of saltpetre and 1
pounds of granulated sugar boil strain with care and let it be
perfectly cold before pouring it on the meat Then put a weight
on the meat to keep it down below the surface of the brine In a
few weeks the beef will be ready for use
The same method may be pursued in curing hams and shoulders
of hogs If then you wish to smoke your hams and shoulders
take them out of the pickle in five weeks wipe dry and hang up for
a day or two before smoking Then smoke with corn cobs or hick
ory wood for a week or ten days taking care that the meat does not
get hot while being smoked After smoking dip the hams and
shoulders for thirty seconds in boiling water to destroy any eggs
that the flies may have deposited on them then wipe dry and wrap
thorn in sweet well cured hay and slip them in cheap sacks of any
kind that have no holes in them Lastly tie up and hang in a cool
place Hams thus treated will be good at all times and best after
hanging up for twelve months The sides and heads may be pick
led in the same way and then smoked or not as you prefer Here
is another recipe for those who like spiceflavored meats For every
100 pounds of meat take 8 pounds of salt 3 pounds of brown sugarANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
33
or 1 quart of molasses 2 ounces of saltpetre 3 ounces of cloves
and 1J ounces of black pepper Put these in sufficient water to
cover the meat when packed and boil and skim carefully when
perfectly cold pour over the meat that has been packed in a barrel
or cask keeping the meat weighted down below the brine Of
course the meat to be thus pickled should be well rubbed with salt
and packed for two days before pickling in order to draw out the
blood Then take up and wash before pickling There is no
trouble in saving the side meat either cut up and pickle as above
or rub well and pack in boxes putting plenty of salt on each layer
of meat as you pack it If you desire to smoke the sides take them
out of the salt in five weeks and treat them as you do the shoul
ders If you cannot get the oldfashioned coarse salt increase the
quantities recommended at least 15 per cent Much pork is lost
in Georgia every year especially in the southern portion of the
State by trying to cure it by the dry salted method and again
much is lost by allowing it to get heated while smoking By
pickling and care in smoking none should ever be lost
VIOLATION OF CHEMICAL LAWS
QUESTION 5
In your last months Talk in answer to a question you urged
upon grand juries and solicitors to prosecute parties selling chemi
cals or formulas for making fertilizers contrary to law Please
publish the law that is violated in the selling of chemicals or form
ulas for using chemicals in making fertilizers
ANSWER 5
I am glad that you asked the above question as it gives me
an opportunity to again call the attention of the farmers to the
cheating and swindling that they are subjected to by the unprinci
pled men who rob them of their hardearned money A month
ago I denounced one J D Butler of Dunn N C who had trav
eled extensively through the State selling a formula for composts
the chemical ingredients of which absolutely have no existence
3a34 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Under the law which I will presently quote that man could have
been fined and imprisoned in any county in Georgia where he sold
his socalled chemicals I have recently received a letter from the
said J D Butler stating that I had misrepresented him and ask
ing me to retract my published statement concerning him In the
same letter he sent me the following formula representing it Co be
the same that he sold or offered for sale in Georgia
Nitrate potash 72 lbs
Sulphate of ammonia 12 lbs
Sulphate of potash 12 lbs
Calcium Oxide100 lbs
Garb Soda 20 lbs
Chloride Soda 2 bus
This is an unlawful formula The calcium oxide and the
carb soda would drive off the ammonia and the term chloride
soda is quite a loose way of designating what is probably intended
for common salt Chloride of soda of the drug stores is a disin
fecting solution It was offered for sale unlawfully in that it was
not approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture Therefore I
retract nothing of what I published in last months Talk 1
wrote him that one of thei purposes for which I was elected Com
missioner of Agriculture was to protect t3he farmers from fraudu
lent fertilizers and I intended to do my duty no matter who it
might hurt Now for the law I quote you the first and second
sections of an act to regulate the sale of formulas patent or other
wise for composting fertilizers and for other purposes
Section 1 After the passage of this act it shall not be lawful
for any person to sell or offer for sale in this State any formula for
composting fertilizers unless the same has been first submitted
to the Commissioner of Agriculture and by him approved and a
certificate of approval by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be
presented by salesman whenever offered for sale
Set 2 Any person violating the preceding section of this act
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction of the same
shall be punished by fine or imprisonment or bothANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
35
You will thus see that no fertilizers or chemicals to make fertil
izers can be lawfully sold in this State without the approval of this
department This law is solely in the interest and for the protec
tion of farmers and as they largely compose our grand juries I
think they should be particularly active in ferreting out all who
violate it
FERTILIZING AN ORCHARD
QUESTION 6
I have a young peach orchard under my care that needs immedi
ate attentionfertilizing pruning and cultivating I turned un
der a crop of green pea vines last summer now will it need fertiliz
ing with commercial manures this spring or would you advise to
rely on the pea vines alone
ANSWER 6
It is no easy matter to renew the vigor of a young orchard that
has been neglected and the trees consequently dwarfed and stunt
ed Especially is this difficult where the soil is naturally poor or
partially exhausted Turning under the pea vines was of course
beneficial adding nitrogen and humus to the soil but it would
have been better to have left the vines to die on the land before
turning under as you would in that way have obtained better re
sults both in the way of nitrogen and humus You cannot rely
alone upon the vines plowed under last summer but this spring and
as early as possible you must apply at the rate of 400 pounds per
acre a fertilizer composed of 800 pounds of acid phosphate 800
pounds of kainit and 400 pounds of cottonseed meal applying it
more liberally near and around the trees than elsewhere Turn
this fertilizer under being careful in doing so not to injure the
roots of the trees The latter part of April sow broadcast in peas
allowing none however to grow within 3 or 4 feet of the trunk of
the trees This clear space about the trees must be kept free from
grass and weeds and the ground kept mellow with the hoe through
the growing season Pick the peas as they ripen and in the early
GENERAL LIBRARY
University or Geokcu
Atwewi Cewia36
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
fall plow under the dead vines running your plow as deep as possi
ble always being careful not to injure the roots of the trees Re
peat the process next year using the same fertilizer and your land
should then be in fine condition and your trees restored to their
lost vigor I have said nothing about the pruning worming
etc which of course you understand or you would not have charge
of the orchard
KIND OF FISH FOR POXD
QUESTION 7
I have a pond of clear spring water average depth 5 feet
covering one acre of ground I want to stock it with fish Please
I am not stuck
tell me the kind to get and where to get them
on carp
ANSWER 7
The carp is a very poor fish for the table and is only tolerated
where one can do no better You should stock your pond with
bream and other members of the perch family You might also
have the black bass called by our people trout Both of these are
fine fish for the table and afford much sport in the catching of them
A portion of your pond should have a growth of water lilies among
which the young bream and perch could find safety from the trout
which would otherwise eat them up I would advise that you
stock your pond from the streams from your neighborhood which
I know contain both trout and perch
THE BORER IN PEACH TREES
QUESTION 8
I am engaged in peachgrowing and being a beginner I would
like to know what insects are liable to injure the trees or damage
the fruit prospects at this season just before the buds begin to
swell
ANSWER 8
The worst enemy to your peach trees at this season of the year
is the borer which is found in all sections of this country andANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
37
Canada It hatches from eggs laid during the summer on the
Dark of the tree near the ground After hatching the larra work
their way into the sapwood of the tree and also downwards into
the inner bark of the large roots As they grow they continue to
feed upon the sapwood of the tree doing it great damage Their
tunnels can always he discovered by the exudation of guni at the
entrances To destroy them remove the earth carefully from the
base of the tree exposing all the large lateral roots then with a
isharp knife cut out the borer wherever an exudation of gum in
dicates the presence of one They can frequently be destroyed
without cutting them out by inserting a stiff wire or small knife
Made wherever their presence is indicated Some growers destroy
them by the application of scalding hot water the earth of course
being first removed as above mentioned To prevent the moth
from depositing her eggs near the surface of the ground and conse
quently near the roots many growers bank up the earth around
the base of the tree to a height of 8 or 10 inches doing this late in
the spring and removing when cool weather commences Some
cover the bark at the base of the tree with paper or straw which is
said to afford considerabLe protection This insect is unknown in
the older countries and seems to be confined as yet to America
For other enemies at this season examine with great care for any
of the scale insects which if present may be found on the limbs
Especially is this necessary now that the San Jose scale the worst
enemy to the peach grower has found its way to Georgia These
and other scale insects may be destroyed by a very careful and
thorough spraying with whale oil soap2 pounds to one gallon
of water This must be applied before the buds begin to swell or
they will be injured by the wash
TO IMPROVE BERMUDA PASTURES
QUESTION 9
I have a Bermuda grass pasture in which the ground has become
hard and packed by the continued grazing of stock Would it be
of benefit to plow and fertilize it and if so tell me how to do it38 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ANSWER 9
Your Bermuda pasture would certainly be much benefited If
properly plowed and fertilized On each acre broadcast 6 two
horse wagon loads of wellrotted stable manure and 20 bushels of
unleached ashes then at once plow and crossplow the patch with
a small scooter or bulltongue Should you not have the stable
manure use 400 to 500 pounds of cottonseed meal in its placeANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
39
MARCH
POINTERS FOR SPRINGTIME
SOUND DOCTRINE PROMULGATED BY COMMISSIONER NESBITT
TOUCHES FARM AT EVERY POINTTHE IMPORTANCE OF
THOROUGH PREPARATION FOR PLANTING ABLY ADVOCATED
FALLPLANTED GRAIN VINEYARDS ORCHARDS AND GAR
DENSWHITEWASH FOR THE HOMEMARCH A BUSY MONTH
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga March 1 1897
As was predicted and expected the rainfall in February has
been very heavy which in view of the previous deficiency is for
tunate for the coming years crops But the recent continued wet
weather has somewhat delayed the final preparations for planting
Where there has been thorough fall and winter plowing the
farmer is relieved of much of the vexation and worry of hurried
preparation now In such cases it is a comparatively easy matter
to complete all preliminary work
PLOWING LANDS WHEN TOO WET
The great danger is that farmers who do not take advantage of
the fine days of the fall and winter to keep the plows going may be
tempted now to plow their lands when too wet In view of the
short time before the crops are to be planted their anxiety to get
their lands in condition to receive the seed is pardonable but no
more grievous mistake was ever made than that of plowing when
the soil is reeking with moisture On the light sandy lands we may
venture sooner after heavy rains than on our stiffei clay soils but
even there the greatest discretion should be exercisd We know
the temptation when time is pressing and the sun shining to do
this work at all hazards but we have seen fields so injured by such
injudicious plowing that the effects could not be eradicated for
months afterwards and the crops showed a corresponding falling
off It were better to reduce the intended area and put the re40
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
mainder m thorough condition than to hasten over a greater num
ber of acres at such manifest injury to the land and loss to the crops
not to mention the additional annoyance and worry fo die subse
quent cultivation of such injudiciously plowed fields
MARCH IS A BUSY MONTH
with the farmer in many other respects besides the preparation of
the land There are terraces and ditches to he kept in order
After each heavy rain they should be examined all breaks re
paired and all weak points strengthened All fences not in repair
should be righted the fence rows cleared out and the trash burned
The growth from successive years should not be allowed to accumu
late nor should it be allowed to encroach further and further each
year on the cultivated land The fences and fence corners should
be kept clean By this plan we not only preserve an appearance
of greater neatness but many destructive insect and fungus agents
which are becoming a menace to our agriculture are checked
FALLPLANTED GRAIN
If the fallplanted grain is not vigorous but shows a sickly yel
low appearance it should receive a top dressing of some nitrogenous
fertilizer nitrate of soda or cottonseed meal the former to be ap
plied just before a rain from 50 to 100 pounds to the acre the lat
ter at any convenient time about 200 pounds to the acre
VINEYARDS ORCHARDS AND GARDENS
also need looking after All prunings accumulated trash and re
fuse should be gathered up and burned for the same reason that
we destroy these harbors for insect life and fungus diseases in our
fence corners The fruit grower and gardener should wage a per
petual warfare on these enemies which too often are allowed to
gam a firm foothold before we are aware of their presence and then
the troubles and expenses from their depredations are inevitable
A touch ofANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
41
WHITEWASH
here and there as opportunity occurs should be also regarded as
one of the duties of this early spring month It is astonishing the
power which is in one barrel of lime to add to the che rfulness and
the neatness of a farm home and its effect goes through the entire
year It is a purifier as well as a beautifier Where stables out
houses and even the dwelling receive a thorough coat of white
wash inside and out once a year sanitary conditions are much
improved and the risk from contagious and infectious diseases
much lessened Throughout the State March is the
CORNPLANTING MONTH
In the more southern sections planting is already under way
Necessarily the most favorable time for this work in any particular
locality must vary somewhat with the season and with local condi
tions as to drainage exposure quality of the soil etc Well
drained heavy lands with a southern exposure are known to warm
up more rapidly and are therefore more suited for early planting
than where opposite conditions prevail and of course the planting
season opens earlier in the southern than in the northern sec
tions of the State Methods of planting also vary with these con
ditions We have found however that on the greater portion of
our ordinary corn land the double foot plow does the most effective
work Presupposing that the land has been thoroughly prepared
and laid off and unless the land is rich or very highly manured it
is well to give plenty of distance we would plant in the water fur
row taking care not to cover the seed too deeply Deep covering
will do for later planting early corn should be covered lightly
The double foot plow if properly adjusted does very satisfactory
work lelaving a slight ridge on the seed and a small furrow on each
side which will protect the seed from any excess of water settling
on them By this method the plants will come up slightly below
the surrounding surface and at each plowing a little dirt can be
thrown towarls them until when the final laying by comes the
field is left practically level This was the method so strongly ad42
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
vocated by David Dickson and from which he realized such won
derful results He maintained that as the greatest danger to our
corn crop was our usual summer drouth all our efforts should be
directed to protecting it against such a contingency and that corn
so planted and cultivated was much less liable to injury from this
muse than when planted on a high bed Of course on bottom or
moost lands the opposite plan should be followed
GRASSES AND CLOVERS
March is the favorite month for seeding grasses and clovers Is
mentioned in Februarys Talk these may if preferred be sown on
the growing grain fields in which case a light harrow should be
run over the fields before the grass or clover seeds are scattered
To obtain the best results a roller should then be passed over the
land Tim will settle the seeds and the harrowing and rolling so
far from injuring the young grain will be found a positive benefit
lhej encourage tillering and fields which have been so treated
will m a short while take on a fresh vigorous growth All things
considered it is best to sow grass and clover on land specially and
thoroughly prepared and fertilized for their reception but some
times this is not practicable and we have known very good results
from the above plan
PREPARATION FOR COTTON
is also one of the pressing duties of this busy month In the south
ern part of the State cotton planting often begins during the latter
part of the month In making preparations for this crop we should
remember that while it responds promptly to judicious and liberal
fertilizing the profits from such fertilizing are much increased by
careful preparation of the soil not only by actual plowing but by
mechanical treatment Where lands have had the benefit of reno
vating crops as cow peas or clover or have been treated with ap
plications of barnyard manure they are in much better receptive
condition for commercial fertilizers than when they lack organic
matter The usual application of 200 pounds per acre in suciTlandANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
43
will be far more effective than double that number of pounds on
wellworn fields The secret of using commercial fertilizers with
profit is to put the land in such receptive condition that it will at
once respond to the use of the concentrated manure be the applica
tion small or large and this preparatory work is best done by deep
plowing and renovating crops In the inquiry columns will be
found several questions bearing on this subject
HOGS
The pigs intended for pork should be pushed forward rapidly
It has been said with truth that the most profitable hogs are those
which never see a Christmas Spring pigs pushed to maturity
not only make the best meat but show the most clear profit They
should not be allowed to lack for food or proper attention Plenty
of good wholesome food pure water and clean quarters will almost
insure success
R T NESBTTT Commissioner
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTIONS ON ALL SORTS OF SUBJECTS FOR THE FARMSCIEN
TIFIC PRACTICAL ANSWERSGARDEN TRUCK THAT CAN BE
PLANTED IN FEBRUARY
QUESTION 1
Being a newcomer from Wisconsin I would like to know what
garden truck can be planted in February Are there any msecc
enemies to vegetables at that early season If so how can I pre
vent their ravages
ANSWER 1
In South Georgia where you live you can plant in the garden
by February 1 all the hardier vegetables such as green peas onion
sets or onion seed either turnips cabbage spinach beets lettuce
radishes carrots parsnips salsify etc Should there come very
cold weather when the plants are just coming up you might pro44
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
teot them with a coat of leaves or pine straw to be taken off as soon
as the weather moderated Irish potatoes should be planted at
this time and also mustard and collards
About the middle of the month plant some good variety of gar
den corn and for a succession plant a patch every two weeks until
June also plant successive crops of garden peas every ten days
or two weeks until the last of April Many persons in you part
of the State plant their gardens in January but from a long resi
dence in the same latitude I am convinced that from February 1
to 10 is the best time for this purpose There is no piece of ground
on any farm that pays half as well or that affords onetenth part
the satisfaction that is derived from a wellprepared and wedlcul
tivated vegetable garden and yet it is too much the custom for our
farmers to turn over the garden to the care of the women folks
grudgingly letting them have a load or two of stable manure all of
Which they think should go to the raising of cotton A half acre
devoted to the garden will furnish palatable and nutritious food for
a family for the greater part of the year and yet how few good gar
dens do we meet with in the country
Be sure to highly enrich your ground and break it from 10 to 12
inches or even deeper if practicable Plant in rows clear across
the garden so that cultivation can be done with the plow then
work well and though accustomed as you are to the rich soil of
isconsm you will be astonished at the quantity quality and va
riety of vegetables that can be produced on a half acre of Georgia
soil
There are few if any insect pests to contend with so early in
the season Should the cutworms commence their work go over
your garden very early every morning and wherever you find a
plant cut off scratch down in the ground and you will almost cer
tainly find the worm within one inch of the surface when found
you can have the satisfaction of crushing the life out of him or
better still throw him to the chickens There are other plans sug
gested for getting rid of the cutworm but this is the most effectual
and therefore the best Should you find any insect attacking yourANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
45
young turnips radishes or cabbage plants dust over them some
ashes or plaster or best of all some pyrethreum or insect powder
The latter being expensive should be mixed with four times its
weight of common flour and then kept tightly closed for 24 hours
before using You will find this very effective
THE APPLETREE APHIS
QUESTION 2
I send you in a small bottle an appletree twig covered with
small eggs AVhat are they Also a bug which I wish you would
name It these are injurious to tree or fruit give me remedy for them
ANSWER 2
After a careful microscopic examination I find the twig cov
ered with the black shining eggs of the appletree aphis They
are laid in the fall of the year and at first are of a light green or
yellow color but gradually become darker and finally black and
glossy As soon as the buds begin to expand in the spring these
eggs hatch out small lice which insert their bills in the buds and
tender leaves and suck the juices from them These lice attain
maturity in ten or twelve days and then commence giving birth
to living young at the rate of two or three daily They continue
this for two or three weeks when they die The young lice repeat
this process of reproduction exactly like their predecessors and so
it goes on until fall At that time a stock of eggs is deposited on
the bark of the limbs and twigs to continue the species another
season
RemediesScrape the dead bark off the trees during the winter
and wash the limbs with a solution of soft soap and soda This is
done to destroy the eggs To destroy the young lice syringe the
trees at the time the buds are putting out with either strong soap
suds weak lye or tobacco water made by boiling one pound of the
stems or leaves in a gallon of water A cold spell after the lice
have got hatched out will kill millions of them though no degree
of cold seems to hurt the eggs46 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
The bug you sent for identification is called the twospotted
ladybird because of its having two bright orangecolored spots
one on each wing covering The ladybird is the friend of the fruit
grower as she and her larvoa eat great numbers of the lice
ROTTEN PINE STRAW AS A FERTILIZER
QUESTION 3
On a branch which runs through my farm is a large deposit of
swamp muck composed of rotten pine straw leaves and other veg
etable matter mixed with soil washed in from surrounding land
Is this valuable as a fertilizer If so how shall I use it
ANSWER 3
Such a deposit as you describe is valuable if you can utilize it by
a short haul The value of muck lies in the nitrogen and organic
matter the amounts of potash and phosphoric acid being insignifi
cant The nitrogen becomes more quickly available by composting
the muck which brings about fermentation By this means also
the organic matter is converted into humus so important to the
growth of all plants It will be best for you to throw the muck
out on the bank and let it become dry before composting Either
of the three following formulas will give you a good compost
No 1
Uk4000 pounds
Oow manure 0 AAA
2000 pounds
Green cotton seed1AAA
Acid phosphate 2
Jiainit KAn
500 pounds
No 2
lf2000 pounds
tablemanUre 1000 pound
tureen cotton seed AA
Ashes J00 pounds
A j 450 pounds
Acid phosphate inn
1000 poundsANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
47
No 3
Muck1571 pounds
Acid phosphate 280 pounds
Dried blood 112 pounds
Muriate of potash 37 pounds
In each case after mixing cover with earth and let fermentation
or heating take place before using
AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER ON AN ACRE OF COTTON
QUESTION 4
How much fertilizer may be profitably used on an acre of cotton
I have been trying different amounts but so far my experiments
are rather contradictory and disappointing
ANSWER 4
The amount of commercial fertilizer which may be used on an
acre of cotton varies so widely with the quality and condition of
the soil the seasons the previous crops grown and many other cir
cumstances that no set rule can be laid down Generally speaking
if the land has been brought to a very high state of cultivation
very heavy applications may be made but for ordinary Georgia
soils in good condition that is which have been carefully cropped
and improved and not allowed to become hard or destitute of
humus an application of about 700 pounds per acre has been found
most profitable When this quantity is used it is advisable to
apply half in the drill and well mixed with the soil at planting and
the other half at the second plowing in the siding furrow A bul
letin from the Georgia Experiment Station says It has been
shown that 8 worth of well balanced fertilizer may be expected
to increase the yield of seed cotton on one acre 1000 pounds But
such results can only be attained by concentrating the fertilizer on
the best land not by scattering it at the rate of 100 or 200 pounds
per acre over a large worn out plantation The mistake should not
be made of applying large amounts of concentrated fertilizers on
thin worn out land The larger the application the more impor
tant it is that the land be in the best possible condition48
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
THE PROPER PROPORTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN
A FERTILIZER FOR COTTON
QUESTION 5
Please give me your views as to the best proportions in which to
combine phosphoric acid potash and nitrogen to successfully fer
tilize a cotton crop
ANSWER 5
In fertilizing a cotton crop phosphoric acid is relatively the most
important element and controls the action of the other two Its
presence is very important to the development of perfect bolls and
while it may be used alone with some beneficial results it is much
more effective when combined with the other two Neither nitro
gen nor potash when applied alone Droduce any appreciable in
crease in the yield and these only do their best work when com
bined with each other and with phosphoric acid which latter ex
ercises the deciding influence as to the quantity of each which can
be profitably used That is in making up a formula for cotton
the amount of phosphoric acid should determine the amounts of the
other two Potash and nitrogen are generally used in the same
proportions and the amount of phosphoric acid should be from 2J
to 3 times as large Thus Potash 1 nitrogen 1 phosphoric
acid from 2f to 3 would be about the proportion for general use
and these proportions we would get from a fertilizer analyzing
Soluble available phosphoric acid 9 potash 3 nitrogen 3
IS IT BEST FOR COTTON TO APPLY FERTILIZERS IN THE DRILL
OR BROADCAST
QUESTION i
I have decided to make a heavy application of commercial fertil
izer to my cotton crop Would you advise me to apply in the drill
or broadcast The land is in moderately good condition Some
of it was in corn last year some in grain and some in peas
ANSWER g
Our experience has been that when large amounts of fertilizer are
used it is not advisable to apply in a single drill Either two sepaANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
49
rate applications should be made one in tine seed drill at planting
time and well mixed with the soil and the other in the first siding
furrows or if the seed are to be planted very soon after the beds are
made a part of the fertilizer may be drilled into the center furrow
and the remainder in the two listing furrows The experiments at
the Georgia Experiment Station show that it is by no means nec
essary nor is it desirable to broadcast the fertilizer when less than
1500 pounds are to be applied to an acre of corn or cotton or other
wide row crop Broadcast manuring should as a rule be confined
to crops that are planted broadcast as small grains grass etc
Keep in mind that cotton following peas requires a fertilizer run
ning lower in nitrogen than when put on land which has been plan
ted in corn or small grain
COTTON SEED AND COTTON SEED MEAL FOE MANURING
COTTON
QUESTION 7
Which is the best manure for cotton whole cotton seed cotton
seed meal or crushed cotton seed
ANSWER 7
There is a slight difference in favor of cottonseed meal over the
other two The manurial value of whole cotton seed and crushed
seed is about the same As cotton seed is a complete fertilizer with
an excess of nitrogen it is better suited for grain crops than cotton
because the grain requires a larger amount of nitrogen cotton a
larger amount of phosphoric acid
RATIONS FOR MILCHCOWS
QUESTION 8
I have a variety of feedstuffs and want you to give me three bal
anced rations for milch cows weighing 800 to 1000 pounds
ANSWER 8
A balanced ration for a cow weighing 1000 pounds should con
tain according to the Georgia Experiment Station 24 pounds of
organic mattter 250 pounds of protein and 1838 pounds of50 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
carbohydrates Therefore quoting from the same excellent au
thority the following would be the proper rations for a milch cow
oi the abovementioned weight
No 1
Clover hay
Oat straw 10 pound
Wheat bran YY 6 2
Cottonseed meal
2 pounds
No 2
Crab grass hay
Shucks 2 P03
Corn meal10 POUnds
Cottonseed meal I PUIds
oi pounds
No 3
AVheat straw cut and dampened 18 wund
Cow pea hay
Cottonseed meal P0Lm S
4i pounds
No 4
Cottonseed hulls 90
Cottonseed meal
n 5 pounds
torn meal
6 pounds
DEPTH TO APPLY FERTILIZER FOR COTTON
QUESTION 9
At what depth should commercial fertilizers be applied for cot
ton and as it best when a large amount is used to broadcast or put
m the drill r
ANSWER 9
The fertilizer should be applied at a depth of about 3 inches and
well mixed with the soil The reply to No 6 answers the latter
part of your questionANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897 51
THE HARLEQUIN BUG
QUESTION 10
I am a large grower of turnip and mustard seed In the spring
before they ripen much damage is done the plants by a spotted bug
What is it Can you give a remedy
ANSWER 10
The bug that injures your crops is without doubt the Harle
quin bug the worst insect enemy of all cruciferous plants They
live through the winter hidden under leaves or trash of any kind
They are ready to deposit their eggs from the middle to the last of
March and then in from four to six days these hatch out a birood of
larva which at once commence their destructive work by piercing
the leaves and sucking the sap The leaf thus pierced soon with
ers and dies These insects are shy and timid and upon the ap
proach of a person try to hide behind anything that will conceal
them They are very difficult to contend with as they cannot be
reached by any of the arsenical poisons All rubbish under
which the bugs may take refuge during the winter should be care
fully burned and infested fields or gardens should have clean cult
ure Handpicking into pans containing water or kerosene is often
resorted to as a remedy Pyrethrum in decoction or powder and
kerosene emulsion may prove effectual when the bugs are young
Cabbage growers plant mustard between the rows of cabbages
which being preferred by the bugs attracts them in large num
bers when they are effectually destroyed with pure kerosene Pos
sibly you might adopt this plan successfully if your turnips and
mustard are sowed in drills I hope you will try it and report re
sult to this department
BARNYARD MANURE FOR COTTON
QUESTION 11
Is barnyard manure a good fertilizer for cotton I used it last
year but the results did not come up to my expectations52 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ANSWER 11
We have found that barnyard manure acts more effectually for
cotton when used as a soil improver rather than a direct fertilizer
If barnyard manure is to be used it is more profitable to compost it
some time previous to its application to the land combining it with
acid phosphate and potash in some form These not only have a
specific value but by certain chemical combinations with the ele
ments in the manure render it more Valuable than when in its nat
ural condition This composting may be done directly in the drill
and a list thrown on it to prevent the escape of ammonia but there
should always be time allowed for decomposition We would not
advise the application of barnyard manure to cotton just at the time
of planting
IN REGARD TO SENDING OUT SEED
QUESTION 12
If you have any seed for distribution please send me an assort
ment of garden seeds and also some Kings Improved cotton seed
ANSWER 12
In the years 1893 and 1894 this department sent out a great
many seeds of different kinds at a heavy cost but the practice has
been discontinued since January 1 1895 I receive a great many
letters still asking for seeds of various kinds and I give this public
notice that no more seeds will be sent out by this department in
order that postage and the trouble of writing may be saved to all
concerned
The intention of the department at first was to send out only new
and untried seeds that they might be tested by our most experi
enced farmers and gardeners but gradually the custom grew until
every one that applied was furnished with a few choice seed This
proved very unsatisfactory for many reasons and so the practice
was entirely abandoned more than two years since The testing of
new seeds and new varieties is now very carefully and thoroughly
aANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
53
done by the Experiment Station near Griffin and the results are
published in their bulletins and in many papers of the State thus
doing away with the necessity of this department sending out any
seeds for that purpose
The Agricultural Department at Washington distributes a great
many seeds to all sections of the country and parties desirous of
getting them shbuld be able to do so by writing to the Congressman
from their district
KAIN1T FOR RUST IN COTTON
QUESTION 13
Is kaiuit a certain preventive for rust in cotton On some of
my land the cotton rusts badly but I have not found tihat burnt
prevents it I thought perhaps there was some particular way ot
applying it as I have seen it very highly recommended
ANSWER 13
Kainit has been recommended as a specific for blight or rust in
cotton but further experiment is required to settle this as an undis
puted fact It is best always to apply it in connection with the
other two elements nitrogen and phosphoric acid and seems to
have the best effect when used in conjunction with cotton seed or
cottonseed meal rather than other forms of nitrogenous manures
HARROWING OATS TO LOOSEN UP SOIL
QUESTION 14
I have a field of volunteer oats very thick Would it do any
good to run through them with a cutaway harrow to loosen up the
soil If yes when I want to manure them with acid phosphate
and cottonseed meai What proportion of each shall I use
Should I mix any potash with the meal and acid
ANSWER 14
I would advise against using a cutaway harrow on your oats as
I think it would cut them up too much It would be au advan
tage to the oats to cross and recross them with a plain smoothing or54
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
straight tooth harrow which would loosen the soil to some extent
and slightly thin out the oats which would probably benefit them
Do this as soon as the ground is sufficiently dry
A liberal top dressing of cottonseed meal say 300 pounds to the
acre applied just before harrowing would probably insure you a
good yield of oats As however you doubtless expect to follow
your oat crop lift peas I suggest that you add 150 pounds of phos
phoric acid and 50 pounds of kainit to the cottonseed meal In
that case you might expect a fine pea crop after taking off the oate
without any further fertilizing
THE KtND OF PHOSPHORIC ACID BEST SUITED TO COTTOy
QUESTION 15
Does it make any difference what kind of phosphoric acid is used
for cotton or are all equally good
ANSWER 15
The value of phosphoric acid for cotton is in proportion to its
solubility hence acid phosphates which run high in soluble phos
phoric acid should be preferred Insoluble phosphoric acid such
as is found in marl floats slag etc are of little direct value to the
crop though they may benefit the land for future crops These to
be profitable should be applied to leguminous crops and when the
stubble and roots of these crops are turned under and the landis
then planted in cotton the indirect value of the marl floats or slag
as the case may be becomes at once apparent in the increased yield
of the cotton
PROPER SOIL FOR THE CULTIVATION OF PECANS
QUESTION 16
Will you kindly write me something about the cultivation of pe
cansthe proper soil the number of years before bearing etc
I am told they must be planted from the nut for the reason that if
in transplanting the tap root should be broken they would not
bea Is this trueANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
ANSWER 16
55
The pecan tree requires for its best development a rich alluvial
soil being a native of the rich bottom lands of Texas and the States
bordering on the lower Mississippi river They may be grown suc
cessfully on rich uplands of the cotton States but will never
amount to anything on thin thirsty soils where many have been
planted On suitable land the trees should be planted not less
than 40 to 50 feet apart each way and they should be well culti
vated while young It is not true that should the tap root be
broken off in transplanting the tree would not bear At the same
time care should be taken to mutilate the roots as little as possible
Some growers prefer planting the nut where the tree is to stand oth
ers prefer to transplant Under favorable conditions the pecan
will commence to bear in 12 to 14 years
TIME TO APPLY FERTILIZERS FOR COTTON
QUESTION 17
If I should decide to fertilize my cotton crop very heavily will
it be best to apply all the fertilizer at one time or at different peri
ods say a part at planting a second application alt the first plowing
and another later on
ANSWER 17
The answer to your question depends very much on the kind of
fertilizer you will use If the elements are readily available and
highly ammoniated we have found that to divide a large amount
into two and even three parts and apply at different periods of crop
development has a marked effect for good But in the slower act
ing formulas it is more profitable to make one application at the
time of planting dividing it between the planting and the two ad
joining furrows
SAND VETCH
QUESTION 18
I tried a small plat in sand vetch as an experiment but it spread
so close to the ground that I am convinced on a large scale it would56
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
be an exceedingly difficult crop to galther I believe it is as valu
able as crimson clover As a winter crop it is better adapted to
dry soil and if this difficulty can be overcome it will become one
of our most valuable crops Can you suggest a plan for success
fully saving it
ANSWER 18
It has been found that if the vetch is seeded with wheat or rye
the latter will hold it up and prevent it from spreading so close to
the ground It is richer in albuminoids than clover and stands
tihe winter equally as well but should be cut before it becomes too
woodyANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
57
APRIL
THE COMING COTTON CROP
ALLABSORBING TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AMONG FARMERS
SHALL AREA BE LARGE OR SMALLA QUESTION THAT EACH
INDIVIDUAL MUST SETTLE FOR HIMSELFCOMMISSIONER OF
AGRICULTURE NESBITT SUGGESTS THAT THE MATTER BE REG
ULATED BY HOME SUPPLIES
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta G April 1 1897
The cotton crop is now the all absorbing question the area to he
planted the preparation of the land the fertilizer best suited to its
needs the best seed to use the most judicious manner of planting
and the after cultivation all come in for a share of attention
Conventions have met and passed resolutions addresses have been
made letters have been written and at last each individual farmer
must settle for himself according to his surroundings and his
ability to undertake a large or small crop whether he will plant
only a limited number of acres or stretch out the area over vast
fields Before he makes up his mind he should consider several
points carefully First the quality of land in which the crop is
planted As so often urged through these columns it does not
pay to plant cotton on poor land and depend on a little commer
cial fertilizer as an artificial stimulus to force the plants forward
It is far safer to concentrate the labor the fertilizer and other ex
penses of preparing for planting and cultivating the crop in a few
acres in good condition than to handle four or five times that
number of acres from which the best part of the fertility has been
used up by previous crops Again the cotton area should be regu
lated by our home supplies No man has the moral right to risk
the bread and meat of his family on the most uncertain outcome of
an uncertain cotton market It is just as if he were to cast his
other home interests into the ever changing whirlpool of the
stock market and trust to luck to bring them out uninjured But58
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
2r W SUPpHeS T tkat e7 f has a
But it mlTlT manTS 0tt0n HS beSt judent dta
But must be an enlightened judgment and to that end farmers
should lose no opportunity of informing themselves on every point
affecting this question Just now the whole of Europe is in an
inflammable condition and only a small spark might cause a con
flagration which would set the eastern hemisphere ablaze and
knock the very bottom out of the cotton market Another fact to
be remembered is the condition of the cotton millsthey are
almost without exception crowded with goods and spinners are not
in condition to enter the market largely Cotton goods were never
cheaper but trade was never duller The financial affairs of the
country are m such a disjointed state that almost every branch of
rade is in an uncertain and unsatisfactory condition It is true
hat our finances should be on a firm basis but the fact remains
that they are not and that we have as yet failed to receive the
promised restoration of confidence What we may be able to do in
thefuture remains to be seen our duty just now is to hedge
against present difficulties If the farmers as a class will do this
then if a crash should comethey of all classes will feel the shock
less and will be able to bear with comparative calmness disas
ters which will drive the general business of the country to the
wall J
THE HEAVY RAINS AND THE DISASTERS IN SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA
Since the above was written thfe wires have brought the news
ot the terrible storms with loss of life and property in Southwest
Georgia For a large part of my life my home was among these
people and the sorrows of that stricken section seem almost my
own To the parents and families who have lost their loved ones
I can only offer my tendereet sympathy from a heart which knows
wnat this agony of suffering means
To the farmers Who have suffered so severely in their farming
methods I would say dont despair Take courage and begin
afresh It is better that this disaster should have come now than
later on when to repair the damage would be impossibleANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
59
THE HEAVY RAINS
throughout the State have greatly retarded all farm work but the
winds during the latter part of March dried off the land and ena
bled the farmers to get in some telling strokes during the last sun
shiny days of the month The planting of the different crops will
be necessarily much delayed but I remember that one year during
my residence in Southwest Georgia we were visited by just such
destructive spring floods and the prospects for success were dark in
deed But I also remember that we plucked up courage and went
to work and that in the fall we gathered about as much cotton and
corn and other crops as in an average year and our troubles in
the spring were then forgotten
GEORGIAS EXHIBIT AT THE TENNESSEE CENTENNIAL
We would be greatly obliged to any farmers who have speci
mens of last years grain crops in the sheaf such as oats rye bar
ley wheat rice the millets any variety of native or cultivated
grasses if they would spare us if only a little for the Georgia ex
hibit at the Tennessee centennial We would be glad also to se
cure specimens of every variety of corn raised in Georgia All
specimens should be boxed and shipped by freight to Dr George F
Payne care Department of Agriculture Capitol Atlanta They
should be sent before April 20 not later as they are to be used
in decorating the great coat of arms of Georgia which will stand
at the entrance to the State exhibit and which must be ready by
May 1
E T NESBITT
Commissioner of Agriculture0
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
MISUSE OF BIG MONOPOLY
THE SECTION THAT RAISES PRACTICALLY ALL THE EARTHS
COTTON SUPPLY FAILS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS POWERS
I have here a few thoughts which I would like to submit with
only the wish to fix attention on the fact that our misuse of a
monopoly the most gigantic and the most unrestricted ever known
m this world has come very near shipwrecking our agricultural
fortunes
Only in the last few years are we learning to tack with the
wind and it is only since we have commenced to more seriously
study the various influences affecting our great commodity that
we are learning to steer clear of the breakers on which the all
cotton man is bound to meet disaster
This is a subject which is old yet always new and full of in
terest Since a boy I can remember that this cotton crop problem
has engaged a large part of the attention of farmers and has oc
cupied an important place in all agricultural discussions at the
conventions in the towns at the cross toads stores and around
the farm firesides But directly after the war this subject was
surrounded by false conditions The stock of cotton on hand was
reduced beyond all precedent and our better judgment was ob
scured by the high price of cotton50 cents in gold equal to 210
in greenbacks
MISUSE OF OUR GREAT MONOPOLY
The temptation to the impoverished farmer to borrow money to
invest m highpriced mules highpriced fertilizers and highpriced
provisions to raise highpriced cotton was too alluring to be re
sisted Money was plentiful and easy to obtain and many are
today struggling under the burdens imposed by the mistakes of
those first days after the war followed by years of uncertainty
and doubt Many have lost all in the eager race and have awak
ened too late to the fact that a cotton crop unsupported by other
necessary crops is a delusion and a snare Others more far see
ing and realizing in time the mistake of putting all their eggs inANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
61
one basket nave by a system of diversified farming and rotation
of crops been able to gain a firmer foothold and today have the
promising prospect of a successful and remunerative business
They have worked on the idea that a cotton crop although it does
not eat like mules yet requires an abundant provision crop to sus
tain it in healthy condition
The greatest mistake that we farmers at the South have made
is that we have presumed on the prestige which our monopoly has
given us in the markets of the world and have supposed that our
cotton was able unsupported to lift us over all obstacles and out
of all difficulties
WE HAVE A CORNER IN COTTON
That we have a monopoly is attested today by the fact that we
produce at least threefourths of the worlds cotton crop All the
other cotton growing countries many of them with strong govern
ment backing and encouragement have so far been able to produce
only onefourth of the general crop By using every means at
their command they have in a period of twentyseven years in
creased their crop only ten per cent while Our increase during the
same period has been over 200 per cent From 1867 to 1872 our
average crop was 3167000 bales of 400 pounds each During the
same period of five years the foreign crop average was 2337000
bales From 1891 to 1894 our average crop was 9484000
bales foreign 2595000 These figures show for the years men
tioned Increase in American cotton 6317000 increase in for
eign 258000 increase in American over foreign cotton 6059000
bales
Surely with such a monopoly as that we ought to be able to con
trol the markets of the world Why is it then that the cotton
grower is at the mercy of the buyer and must accept his ultima
tum whether it barely pays him back the cost of production or
leaves him in debt Let us examine into the subject a little VV e
find that Georgia alone pays out annually over 3000000 for
mules that in the present year Georgia farmers will use over 350
000 tons of commercial fertilizers that the importations oi corn62
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Wheat
Bushels
2127000
1096000
and meat while greatly reduced in the last few years are still
much too large in a section where the facilities for producing these
items cannot be surpassed
In 1879 Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Texas and Arkansas
each raised more cotton than Georgia Now Georgia makes more
cotton than any State except Texas and more to the acre than doe
lexas We find that Georgia raised in the year
Cotton Corn Oate
Bales Bushels Bushels
1S70 473000 17000000 1900000
1890 1191000 29000000 4700000
The crops 0f hay sweet potatoes butter etc were all increase
but the production is still short of what it should be while Geor
gia a contribution to the biggest cotton crop ever made is second
only to the largest Here we behold farmers struggling to force a
cotton crop on the world for which they often accept less than cost
jmce because they are compelled to have the money to pay for
protons which could have been raised more cheaply at home
Glancing over the tables we find that Georgia had in
Milch cows Other cattle Sheep Swine
180 231000 512000 419 000 9S8 000
18T 29 7000 440000 t
m material increase in any item except hogs and yet we have a
country whose natural advantages for stock raising in climate and
feeding crops green and dry cannot be surpassed in the world
Cottonseed hulls and meal the former for many years a waste
product furnish perhaps the cheapest stock food known to man
and the South has it in almost unlimited quantityI have recently
known of a large lot of cattle shipped from North Georgia to Eng
land which were m fine condition sleek and fat and which had
been ted solely on cottonseed meal and hulls
I have in mind several other late bought and fattened on cot
tonseed meal and hulls without any other feed which were sold at
credit side of the account My object in referring to these factANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
63
and figures is to emphasize the importance of all these socalled by
products to the success of our agriculture Corn oats forage
crops caittle sheep hogs form important adjuncts to the successful
raising of cotton indeed are the foundation on which it must rest
in order to make it absolutely safe
Dr Charles W Dabney Jr assistant secretary of agriculture
in his widely circulated and widely read article on The Possibili
ties of Cotton states that the value of hulls and meal from the
crop of 1896 ought to yield when made into live weight of cattle
36056765 in oil 41750000 in limbers 3100000 in ma
nurial value of hulls 13332627 a grand total of 94239393
whereas we get only 53000000 for these productsa loss of
40000000 to the Southern farmer A big leak somewhere
These figures aptly illustrate the point under discussion namely
that the Southern fairmer in reaching out to an uncertain cotton
market actually throws away a certain profit at home
COTTON IS CASH
It is true that cotton represents cash and the farmer can al
ways sell his cotton whereas he often finds it difficult to market
his other crops But where is the advantage of a cash market for
cotton if by reason of injudicious management he is compelled to
accept less than it cost him to raise it
Mr Dabney also estimates that in the year 1920 the world will
need 20000000 bales of cotton That is a long glance in the
future but I trust that when that demand comes the South will be
able to supply as today the greater part of the marketable cotton
always provided that the demand is backed by a price which will
justify the large outlay of capital and labor necessary to make that
crop Just now our chief concern should be to make our present
cotton production a clear profitand this cannot be done by de
pending on other markets for home supplies and putting all our
available land our money and time and labor in such wi uncertain
investment as cotton has heretofore proved
OUR CHIEF DUTY NOW
There is 5 per cent of our land in cotton If we would expand
the crop to meet the increasing demand let us not reach out to in64
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
crease the area but rather by judicious methods of preparation and
fertilization and regular rotation of crops endeavor to increase the
production of the present area I for one am in favor of each
mans making all the cotton he can after he has taken care that his
position is secured by ample provision supplies at home Cotton
is undoubtedly our money crop but like any other monopoly re
quires forethought and judicious management Suppose the
Standard Oil Company or any other giant monopoly was so short
sighted as to overstock the market to a point where it would be
compelled to sell at a loss in order to pay running expenses would
not such a course be condemned as wanting in the first principles
of a sound business policy And yet that is exactly what the
farmer is doing when he loads himself with a cotton crop for which
he cannot fully pay
If he has allowed himself sufficient margin to be secure of a
clear profit on his cotton be it one bale or hundreds of bales he is
in no danger I am convinced that this question of the cotton
area is one which each farmer must solve for himself and once
the great body of farmers each man according to his surroundings
and conditions has decided on the number of acres which he as an
individual can safely afford to put in the great question of how
much cotton to plant each year will be forever settled To better
enable farmers to arrive at correct conclusions and to throw more
light on all subjects connected with our farm managements farm
ers institutes farmers chautauquas experiment work and every
other means of diffusing information should be systematically
used
What we need is a more thorough knowledge of the conditions
surrounding us
R T NESBITT
State Agricultural CommissionerANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
65
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MR NE3BITT GIVES INFORMATION ON MANY SUBJECTSPLANT
ING AND CULTIVATING ONIONS CELERY AND SWEET PO
TATOES
QUESTION 1
Please give me some idea about planting and cultivating onions
celery and sweet potatoes
ANSWER I
Onions do best on a light loamy soil which must be deeply
broken thoroughly pulverized and highly manured They thrive
on land filled with humus and therefore retentive of moisture
Lime is needed for full development and most soils contain
enough of this element of plant food They should also be pre
ceded by a crop which required clean cultivation such as cotton
or potatoes as the soil will then be in a measure free from weed
and grass seeds Commercial fertilizers are better than animal
manures as they contain no hurtful seeds Use 2000 pounds per
acre of a fertilizer running about 6 per cent available phosphoric
acid 7 per cent potash and 4 per cent nitrogen Broadcast
1500 pounds of this and apply 500 pounds in the drill Plant
the sets as early as possible in the spring in rows 18 inches to 2
feet wide and 6 to 8 inches in the row Sets do bestgrowing
larger and reaching maturity much soonerif planted about the
middle of September in this State A moist lowland suits celery
best though it can be grown successfully wherever it can be
watered when necessary Manure the ground very heavily in the
spring for onions cabbages beets or any other early crop and as
soon as the first crop is taken off plow or spade the ground deeply
pulverizing it thoroughly to receive the celery plants The seed
should be sown towards the last of March in good soil in drills 12
inches apart When the plants are about 3 inches high clip off
the tops and repeat this later on to get a stocky growth and make
the plants more uniform in size When the first crops have been
5a66
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
removed a liberal quantity of commercial fertilizer applied and
the land well prepared you are ready to set out the celery plants
Lay off rows 3J feet wide and place a plant to every 6 inches in the
row Before setting out trim the roots to 2 inches in length and
cut off the leaves even with the top of the bud Set out if possible
in cloudy weather and should it be very hot and dry just after
setting out some protection must be given the young plants
After the plants begin to grow the ground should be frequently
stirred and kept free from grass and weeds When the leaves set
15 to 18 inches long the earth on each side of the row should be
loosened to the depth of 2 or 3 inches then taking the leaves of
each plant in one hand press the loosened earth around the stalk
with the other following with the hoe and drawing up more earth
about the plant As fast as the plants grow continue drawing the
earth to them until the time comes for bleaching from first to
middle of October To do this commence about a foot from the
plants and with a spade throw up a bank of earth covering all the
celery except a few inches of the longest leaves In a few weeks
it will be bleached and ready for use Should the ground become
dry at any time during the growth of the plants they must be well
watered Sweet potatoes do best in a soil somewhat sandy Break
the land thoroughly and moderately deep Lay off rows 3 feet
apart and apply in the opening furrow 500 pounds to the acre of
a fertilizer containing 7 per cent of available phosphoric acid It
per cent potash and 4 per cent nitrogen Then run a scooter in
bottom furrow to mix the manure with the dirt after which bed
and plant placing the slips 15 inches apart in the row Cultivate
on a level stirring the ground frequently
CORN RAISING IN GEORGIA
QUESTION 2
I have made corn for 20 years on the prairie lands of Io va
using no fertilizers and leaving 2 to 4 stalks in the hill I know
nothing about raising corn in Georgia and I and several of my
friends would like some instructions from you Tell us also what
side crops to plant both for hay and for feeding greenANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
ANSWER 2
67
The climatic conditions and the soil of Georgia are so entirely
different from what you have been accustomed to in Iowa that yoa
will have to get rid of your fixed ideas about cornraising and adopt
those in vogue here or make a failure The soil of the Iowa prai
ries is deep full of humus and well adapted to corn and the sea
son of growth being short nature beneficently provides that all ce
reals rush rapidly to maturity In this state we have a thin soil on
our uplands denuded of humus to a great extent by long cultiva
tion in cotton and a long season of summer during which our corn
crop leisurely reaches maturity On account of these differences
in soil and climate you must in Georgia make your rows wider
drop the corn farther apart and leave fewer stalks in the hill than
you would in Iowa On our river bottoms and in the rich valleys
of the Cherokee country you can plant corn much closer and make
good crops but it wont do on our ordinary uplands In prepar
ing the land break up flush or bed out in 5 foot rows plowing as
deep as possible but not bringing the subsoil to the surface I
prefer bedding out the land in 5 foot rows and planting in the wa
ter furrow except in very sandy soil as in that case you get your
corn deeper in the ground and can work it with more ease after
wards as well as putting it where it can best withstand drouth
When ready to plant from first to last of March according to lo
cality strew in the water furrow the planting furrow 300 pounds
of a fertilizer carrying 7 per cent phosphoric acid 150 per cent
potash and 4 per cent ammonia Run a scooter plow back and
forth to mix the fertilizer with the soil then drop your corn 4 feet
apart two grains to the hill and cover with a doublefoot plow
When the corn gets the fourth leaf thin to one stalk in the hill
Taking for granted that the land has been deeply broken before
planting let the cultivation from beginning to end be shallow
eirher with sweeps or cultivators throwing a little dirt to the corn
at each plowing Plow the crop every 15 or 18 days laying it
by just before the tassels appear If carefully plowed there will
be no need of hoeing but should any weeds or grass escape the68
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
plow cut out with the hoe As you lay by sow a half bushel
of cow peas to the acre ahead of the plows By following these
directions you should make from 12 to 20 bushels of corn on any
land in Georgia that is worth cultivating As side erops plan
German millet sorghum cattail millet or drilled corn All of
these should be planted on rich deeply broken land to yield well
In sandy or very poor soil you had better plant your cornin rows
6 feet wide with a row of field peas in the middle
THE OYSTER SHELL BARK LOUSE
QUESTION 3
I have an apple orchard of over 2000 trees and I find a number
of them affected with some injurious insect The ends of the
smaller branches die and the trees have a general look of unhealth
fulness I send you some twigs covered with the insects and
would be glad to know how to get rid of them Had I not better
cut down my infected trees
ANSWER 3
The twigs are well covered with the Oyster Shell Bark Louse
one of the worst enemies of the apple grower You need not how
ever cut down your trees on their account for with proper care
they can be successfully fought During the winter the trees
should be carefully examined and if these or any other scale in
sects are found they should be scraped off as thoroughly as possi
ble This means however will not entirely exterminate the lice
as many will be on the smaller twigs which cannot be scraped
therefore other means must also be used Watch out daily for the
hatching of the young lice which in middle Georgia will occur
early in April or sooner if the weather is warm A close exami
nation will show them moving about on the bark hunting for a
good place to settle and insert their beaks Which once done they
remain stationary for the balance of their lives sucking the juices
of the tree and doing it great damage While running about and
for a short time after they become stationary they are easily deANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
69
stroyed being then very tender and delicate Three remedies are
recommended and doubtless they are all good First when you
find the young lice running about the limbs wash or paint the en
tire hark with a strong solution of soft soap and washing soda To
make this dissolve onehalf pound of washing soda in two and a
half or three gallons of water and with this dilute soft soap to the
consistency of a thick paste Second remedy When the lice are
observed syringe thoroughly with a solution of washing soda made
by dissolving onehalf pound of soda in two gallons of water
Third remedy Spray with kerosene emulsion made as follows
Kerosene 2 gallons whale oil soap pound or 1 quart of soft
soap water 1 gallon Dissolve the soap in boiling water and
add the hot solution away from the fire to the kerosene Agi
tate the mixture violently with a force pump or other means tor
5 minutes or until the liquid becomes of the consistency of cream
If well made this emulsion will keep for a long time to be used as
wanted For this insect dilute the emulsion with eight or ten
times its bulk of cold water In applying any of these remedies
the work must be done very thoroughly so that every portion of
the bark may he reached otherwise some of the lice will escape
and will quickly increase and multiply Before the protecting
scaly shields cover these lice they are quite helpless from attacks
from other quarters and are preyed on by several parasites and by
one or two species of the ladyhug Insect enemies to the various
fruits are very common now in Georgia where but a few years
ago thev were unheard of and only by care and watchfulness and
the use of the washes and sprays of various kinds can we now hope
for the finest fruits
METHOD OF KEEPING EGGS
QUESTION 4
Can you give me some recipe by which I can keep eggs from
March until the following winter
ANSWER 4
There are a number of methods that are recommended for keep
ing eggs but I doubt very much whether any of them Would pre70
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
serve the eggs in eatable condition for the length of time you de
sire I would suggest that yon put up the eggs in September and
October when they are usually very cheap and you can then keep
them untal Xmas and sell at a good profit Either of the follow
ing methods are said to be good but in every case the eggs must
be perfectly fresh or they will certainly spoil Fizst method
Slack quick hme in water sufficiently for your purpose and when it
has settled draw off the water To each gallon of water add 2
pound of salt Immerse the eggs in this solution and be careful
to always keep them below the surface of the water The follow
ing method tried by the Agricultural Department at Washington
was found to keep the eggs in good condition for six months in cool
weather viz Eub or rather anoint the eggs all over with linseed
oil and place them with the small ends downward in dry sand
Still another plan is to dissolve 4 ounces of beeswax in 7 ounces of
warm olive oil anoint the eggs all over with this preparation and
put away m a cool place This will preserve them for many
months it is said
GRAFTING WAX
QUESTION 5
Please tell me how to make grafting wax
recipe for making whitewash that will stick
And give me a good
ANSWER 5
A cheap and good grafting wax can be made by melting together
two parts of beeswax one part of tallow and four parts of rosin
Stir until cool enough to handle and then pull like molasses candy
After applying cover with cloth or paper to protect from a very
hot sun If you want a harder wax use five parts of rosin instead
of four Another grafting wax much used is made by melting to
gether three parts of rosin three parts of beeswax and two parts of
tallow
To make good whitewash take bushel unslaked lime freshly
burned if possible slake with hot water keeping covered in the proANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
71
ess Add to this 1 peck of salt dissolved in soft or rain water
Then add 5 gallons hot water stirring well Cover up and let
stand two or three days before using When using apply hot and
you will find it very satisfactory Whitewash should be used
more freely on our farm buildings and fences as it is conducive
to health preserves the wood and renders attractive in appearance
many buildings that would otherwise be unsightly A cream color
may be given the above wash by the addition of yellow ochre or a
good pearl by adding lamp black
WATERMELON AND SWEET POTATO CULTURE
QUESTION 6
Will watermelons make on land after sweet potatoes or potatoes
after watermelons Is cottonseed meal and acid phosphate a good
fertilizer for cotton and if so in what proportions
ANSWER 6
Watermelons and sweet potatoes are both large consumers of
potash and for that reason only they do not follow each other well
unless a fertilizer is used containing a large percentage of potash
Therefore in following either of theso crops with the other you
should use a fertilizer carrying 6 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid
2 to 3 per cent ammonia and 8 to 10 per cent potash
The vineless yam produces well is a good potato for eating
matures early but is not a good keeper In the contest for the
one hundred dollar premium offered by the Atlanta Weekly Con
stitution for the largest yield of sweet potatoes from one acre of
land a farmer in South Carolina won the prize by raising over 500
bushels to the acre He planted the vineless yam Cottonseed
meal and acid phosphate do not constitute a complete fertilizer for
cotton There is lacking the very essential ingredient potash A
good fertilizer for cotton should contain from 8 to 10 per cent
available phosphoric acid 2 to 3 per cent ammonia and 2 to 4
per cent of potash To get such a fertilizer mix 1000 pounds
high grade acid phosphate 600 pounds cottonseed meal and 400
pounds kainit72
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
REMEDY FOR INFLAMED EYES
QUESTION 7
I have several cows that appear to be going blind with inflamed
0 O rvrvii41 J 3 Till
eyes appetite good all the time
them
Can you tell me what to do for
ANSWER 7
Ophthalmia or inflammation of the eyes is a disease to which
cattle are not very subject the most common cause being exposure
to cold From the number of cows that are troubled with this dis
ease I xnfer that the inflamed eyes are a symptom only of some
other disease If I am correct your description is too meager to
diagnose the cause of the trouble
If there is nothing wrong with the cows save inflammation of the
eyes I would advise that you bathe the eyes carefully morning
and night with the following mixture Sulphate of zinc 20
grams acetate of lead 1 drachm tincture of opium i ounce
fluid extract of belladonna 2 drachms rain water or water thai
has been boiled 1 pint Mix thoroughly Should a white film
form over the ball of the eye apply directly to it morning and night
with a soft feather the following Ten grains of nitrate of silver
thoroughly dissolved in 1 ounce of water that has been boiled
Continue this until the film disappearsANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
73
MAY
ME NESBITT LTST SOUTH GEOKGIA
THE COMMISSIONER WRITES OF HIS OBSERVATIONSFARMERS
FORGING TO THE FRONTONLY ON PLANTATIONS WHERE
TENANTS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF AF
FAIRS IS EVIDENCE OF STAGNATION NOTICEABLERAISING
HOME SUPPLIESWORK FOR THE MONTH DELAYED
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga May 1 1897
A recent and rather extended visit to the southwestern section
of the State has much encouraged our belief in the advance of
Georgia agriculture Farms which for years have been given over
to broomsedge and briars are being reclaimed and what were a few
years ago trackless pine forests are now dotted over with neat farm
houses and well kept farms It is only on the larger plantations
where tenants are entrusted with the management or mismanage
ment of farm affairs that one notices the evidence of stagnation
The watchword seems to be Progress and farmers as a rule are
attaining to a comfort and independence unknown in the years
immediately succeeding the war Of course there are exceptions
but in the main where men have raised their home supplies and
farmed on strictly business principles the reward has been sure
and it has not been long delayed In many cases men who were
formerly working for standing wages or renting a one or twomule
farm by this open Sesame of careful management and of pro
ducing at home all the bread and meat needed to carry on their
business have been enabled to enter on the enjoyment of an in
dependent home life whose equal for comfort and freedom from the
rush and struggle of the general business world is not found on
the globe One negro man who 15 years ago was hiring at 10
a month today owns a 600acre farm with comfortable 8room
Tiouse and necessary outbuildings among which is a smokehouse
containing 800 pounds of home raised meat and cribs stored with74
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
corn and forage for the coming years demands Another man
whate who was once a renter with only a small force at his com
mand today runs 30 plows and owns hundreds of acres of land
On inquiry we found that the inflexible rule in both cases has been
2 ofT Tand amudl cotton as could be
care of In the first case the mans own family of boys have
helped him to gain his position In the second the goal has been
reached by a strict adherence to agricultural busing princip es
coupled with a sagacity which has enabled the owner to 12
clear of speculation and produce his cotton at a figure severade
miest T sfng re mat k ia knd tt
men is there for others of equal pluck and energy
THE WORK FOR THE MONTH
has been very much delayed more especially in the middle and
northern sections of the State The southern sections were not
visrted by the heavy rains of the winter and early spring which the
farmer farther north had to contend against andas wfc
there is very well advanced On account of numerous delays
rther north from the constant rains many farmers were unit
o give the com land the thorough preparation so necessary for I
successful crop and some have simply opened the rows put in the
manure lirown two furrows on this and planted on the is7
Where his is the case now is the time to give the corn land a
thorough and deep breaking out After this time it will be im
possible to put the plow in close and deep without breaking off
ome of the delicate feeding roots which begin to extend in every
direction not very far from the surface J
Where the land has been thoroughly prepared and is in good
outwo J11 be f0UDd a V effective lament
pushing forward effective work Eun diagonally across the rows
u will not hurt the young plants hut will effectually kill the com
ing crop of grass and by its rapid work enable tihe farmer to give
his attention to other pressing duties In the more southern sec
orL thenStetVhe T CrP 11 ready for the second
working Our object then should be to conserve moisture as wellANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
75
as kill grass and weeds and this is best accomplished by cultivat
ing as shallow and as flat as possible
Over the cotton beds where a crust has formed the barrow
does most efficient work and unless the stand is very imperfect
does not injure the cotton After harrowing allow the plants to
remain until they can be brought to a stand at the first hoeing
This obviates the expensive and needless blocking out once so
extensively practiced This plan presupposes the land in good
condition On rough or poorly prepared land resort must be had
to the scooter or narrow shovel using a fender to prevent the close
siding from covering the yOung cotton and bolting on a half scrape
behind the foot of the plow to cover the young grass in the mid
dles
FORAGE CROPS
All sorts of forage crops may be started this month Sorghum
about which we have several answers in the inquiry columns cow
peas Spanish ground peas millets etc Kaffir corn is attracting
considerable attention on account of its drouth resisting qualities
K T NESBTTT
Commissioner
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
INCREASE IN THE COTTON ACREAGEHEAVY RAINS RETARD
CORN CROP
COTTON
The reports from the different sections of the State would indi
cate an increase of from 5 to 10 per cent in the acreage of this
crop Planting from 10 to 20 days late Not enough yet up to
indicate the stand That already up in the lower portion of the
State looking badly from the unusually cool nights Long con
tinued wet weather all over the State has caused a good deal of
delay in farming operations and I fear that much land mil be
planted with but very poor preparation76
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
CORN
The acreage is reported as about the same as last year with pre
paration not so good In some counties in South and Southwest
Georgia corn has had to be replanted on account of the excessive
ramiall by which many fields were completely drowned out Too
early to estimate the stand Land in many cases pooriv prepared
because of the time lost by continued raius
OATS
The acreage 10 per cent greater than last year and the condi
tion very much better Quite 50 per cent of the oat crop was
sowed last fall and as nearly all of it escaped winter killings there
is a good prospect for a fine crop
WHEAT
More wheat planted than for several years past The crop is re
ported as looking unusually well but I fear it will vet be seriously
injured by rust which is reported from several counties in the
middle and lower portions of the State No rust yet reported from
JNorth Georgia where wheat is largely planted
FRUIT
The reports vary much as regards peaches ranging from 10 per
cent m some counties up to a full crop in others After a careful
study of reports I conclude that the shipment of peaches from
Georgia this season will be light while there will be nlentv for
home consumption The same may be said of pears Apples and
grapes promise a full crop Plums cherries and strawberries are
all more or less injured but will make fair crops
STOCK
The report on stock of all kinds as regards both condition and
numbers compares favorably with last year showing a slight in
crease N0 diseases reported except cholera among hogs which is
doing much damage in a few countiesANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
77
THE FAKMEllS BOY
The boy on the farm is just about the same kind of a boy you
will find everywhere He is susceptible to the same influences
and given the same opportunity he will accomplish about the
same results as his fellow in the town or city With perhaps this
to his advantage The farmer boy is nearer to natures great heart
and comes to understand her ways and again the solitude of the
farm gives him opportunity for communion with self if he is a
thinking boy to come to better understanding with himself and
to know his powers and limitations better than his urban proto
type
Boys everywhere need the stimulus of self interest and this is
too often denied them on the farm What he does goes into the
general fund as it were and he does not see how much he is doing
to swell it If the farmer would keep his boy on the farm and
make him a factor in its successful operations fit the young man to
take his place and carry on the work when he is gone or keep him
from seeking a home and fortune out in the great world so full of
doubt and uncertainty he should at an early period of the boys
career give him something to do for himself the returns from
which will be his own
If the farmer raises sheep then a few well bred sheep if horses
and cattle some colts and a cow or two if near a market a coop of
nice chickens or a garden plot for his own cultivationsomething
that shall be the boys own peculiar property and the returns from
which shall be his to do with just as he will Not only will he
grow in independence andlearn for himself the lessons of failure
and success he will have an enthusiasm for the work in hand
which of itself will be a guarantee of success without which life
itself in its best sense is a failure and a vexed problem in many
homes will be forever settledExchange78
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LANDRESISTS BROUMUCH BETTeSeTOB
QUESTION 1
I see that you advise planting sorghum as a forage crop Will
you please adV1se me as to preparation for time of plantLg fer
dz ng feeding tc i have raiged cr 1 g
I Itfll haVe alWayS b6en t0ld that gerous as
ANSWER 1
The variety of sorghum to be chosen for a forage crop differs
from the syrup making varieties in that it should be hardy quick
growing and maturing with abundant seed of soft quaL and
free from astnngency For this purpose the amber varieties are
extensively used at the south as well as the north and wist b
many southern farmers prefer the orange varieties Thee a e
rather ater than the amber and are of coarser growth As a gen
Luid oreaSame P7arati0n Sh0d t0 the asfht
rqu red for a crop of corn or cotton If the land is rough or
oddy shou d be smoothed with a harrow and bedded as fir cot
ton The seed should be sown much thicker when the crop is in
dn Is it should be gven about the same cultivation as corn
cultvaung shallow and often The time of planting should be
decided by the season any time from the middle of April to the
middle of May after the ground is well warmed The pa
grow slowly above ground at first but the root growth is rapTd
and as soon as these are well established the stems tegin to develop
very rapdly and owing to their abundant and long roots the plants
res1St drouth more successfully than com The cling may begt
as soon as the heads begin to form but the best timel when he
seeds are half npe After the first cutting if the field is aJdn
cultivated a second a third and even a fourth cutting ly ZZANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
79
favorable conditions be obtained Often peas beans corn or mil
let is sown with the sorghum broadcast and the field may be pas
tured or the crop cut for hay The practice of sowing legumes as
peas beans etc with the sorghum is a most excellent one because
the legumes furnish the musclemaking materials while the sor
ghum is rich in fatforming substances and the two combined make
a more perfect feed Another advantage is that although the sor
ghum draws very little upon the nitrogen of the soil the peas will
replace whatever of this element is taken off This would indi
cate that a fertilizer ruuning very low in nitrogen with a full per
cent of potash and phosphoric acid should be selected for this
crop
SORGHUM IN SEVERE DROUTHSDOES IT INJURE LAND
QUESTION 2
Does sorghum resist drouth more surely than corn or other for
age crops and is it as injurious to the land as millet
ANSWER 2
Both the saccharine and nonsaccharine varities of sorghum resist
drouth much better than corn This has been proven in those sec
tions of the south and west where severe drouths sometimes occur
The sorghum has beeu fouud to remain fresh and green when the
corn was almost ruined Dry weather may somewhat check its
growth but when the supply of moisture is renewed it will recover
and grow as luxuriantly as ever This is perhaps owing to its deep
feeding roots which unlike corn extend far below the surface
Owing to this peculiarity it is also less exhaustive on the soil thau
millet and many other crops which draw their elements of growth
Irom the upper soil It is also a small consumer of nitrogen
When planted late or sown with cow peasif it is cut before the
seeds ripen and the field plowed as soon as the crop is taken off
the land is left in splendid condition for succeeding crops Where
the canes are large and coarse as is the case when the crop is
planted for syrup it is important that this plowing be deeply and
thoroughly done as soon as the crop is harvested otherwise the
stubble might interfere with working other crops It the cane is80
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
own ttuckly dnlh or broadcast for harvesting or pasturing
httle trouble ths respect is experienced I all cases it is best
however to plow the land as soon as the crop is gathered Expel
XtrgW kQ0W that COttOD Sma11 P
S0R9HUiM AS A REGISTER OF DROUTH
QUESTION 3
I have been informed that sorghum is a good resist of drouth
nd a so a splendid forage plant for soiling and for curing both
the silo and n the field I am thinking of putting in qafte
area to supplant other food crops but as I have had only a limited
expenence n the usual small patches for green feeding and syrup
making would be glad if you me J P
tni d S hTStiDg aQd Uring IS k S3fe t0 ond and
thrd growths for any purpose I have been told that they are
very dangerous for feeding to any kind of stock
ANSWER 3
silatrghFm UCCeSSfuI US6d f0r S0ili Pturage hay and en
u 1 SiS USUaUy S0WD iQ driUs aud sh e cut
when the heads are formed For pasturage the best plan is to
sow broadcast and if peas are sown with it the feeding value of
both crops is greatly increased the peas furnishing the muscle
makng and the sorghum the fatmaking elements The best W
is obtamed by cutting the sorghum soon after it begins to bloom
dough CrP Sh0Wld CUt Wh6n thG S6ed iD th
The usual plan of harvesting the drilled grain is to cut with a
scythe but the mower may be used In our climate where them
not much moisture during the late summer and early fall months
ul Zl 77 Ured 7 SUCCeSsfu11 Where sown broadcast
on with the mower and allow the hay to cure thoroughly which
will require more or less time according to the weather from four
to s x days usually It may then be stored in the barn or put into
stacks topped oft with coarse grass The following plan h recANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
81
ommended by the Texas Experiment Station and is an excel
lent one
After mowing allow the sorghum to lie upon the ground suffi
ciently long to dry out at the ends of the blades If the crop is
thick it should be turned over upon the ground to expose the bot
tom portion of the crop to the sun for a short time usually one
full days sun is required to dry it sufficiently to put into the
cock These haycocks may be 5 feet high and 4 feet in diame
ter of the shape of an oldfashioned beehive All of the hay that
is put up in this manner should be well settled as it is laid on the
pile After having constructed it to the proper height rake the
loose sorghum away from the sides leaving a neat pile of hay that
will turn water in case it should raiu Allow it to remain in this
shape for two or three days for fermentation to take place which
is evidenced by the heating and the deposit of dew upon the inte
rior parts of the cock When thoroughly warm and before the
hay loses its natural color open the cock and expose the hay to
four to six hours sun according to the weight of the crop per acre
and the size of the stacks then the hay is ready to haul to the barn
or be placed in stacks where it may safely be expected to remain
without moulding or heating further If the hay is allowed to re
main in the cocks too long the fermentation proceeds too far and
the hay sours and then rots in the field It will remain longer in
the cocks without damage the less of water or sap it contains when
put up Use no salt or other applications to preserve
the hay The hay may be baled safely if given six to ten hours
sun from the cock depending on the size of the stalks
With ordinary precautions no fear of injury to stock need be
entertained In nearly all cases of trouble from feeding sorghum
it has been found that it was caused from careless feeding
Discretion should be exercised in regulating the feed and the ani
mals should not be allowed to have too much at first particularly
if they are hungry All kinds of stock are very fond of it but
like clover it is liable to cause bloating if fed in too large quan
tities at first In pasturing it is well to allow the dew to dry off
before turning the animals on it and to keep them on only a short82
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
time until they have become accustomed to the forage As the for
age contains an excess of fatforming substances it attains its
highest value when given with other foods containing musclemak
ing elements If animals are turned on a field of sorghum when
hungry and allowed to gorge themselves whether it be the first
second or third growth trouble may be expected and the same is
true of clover and other grass foods
WHEAT SEED COTTON AND CORN
QUESTION 4
How much in pounds of the three fertilizing elementsnitro
gen phosphoric acid and potashare taken from the soil per acre
by a crop of 10 bushels of wheat how much by a crop of 1200
pounds of seed cotton and by ten bushels of corn
ANSWER 4
A crop of 10 bushels of wheat will take from the soil 12 pounds
of nitrogen 6 pounds of phosphoric acid and 395 pounds of pot
ash Should you take off the land at the same time 1200 pounds
of straw there would be taken from the soil an additional 6 pounds
of nitrogen 263 pounds of phosphoric acid and 9 pounds of pot
ash besides 342 pounds of lime and 263 pounds of chlorin
In a crop of 1200 pounds of seed cotton per acre there will be
taken from the soil 2920 pounds of nitrogen 1026 pounds of
phosphoric acid and 1069 pounds of potash in addition to these
should be added 425 of lime Most of these elements are contained
in the seed lint containing no nitrogen and only a trace of phos
phoric acid and a very small amount of potash
In a crop of 10 bushels of corn including the stalk as well as
the ear there is taken from the soil 14 pounds of nitrogen 6
pounds of acid phosphate and 12 pounds of potash
THE PLUM CURCULIO
QUESTION 5
I send you some small bugs that I think are ruining my plums
and peaches every year I have never seen any of them until reANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
83
cently Please tell me what they are and how to prevent their
ravages They pierce the fruit apparently and after awhile the
plums and peaches so pierced drop off prematurely
ANSWER 5
The insect which is giving you so much trouble is the Plum
urculio the very worst enemy to all growers of stone fruit such
as plums peaches etc They are very numerous throughout this
State and indeed in all sections of the country The female at
tacks the young fruit as soon as it is well set cutting a cres
centshaped incision in the skin in which to deposit her eggs
These eggs soon hatch and the little grubs feed upon the pulp of
the fruit gradually working their way to the stone About the
time the larva are full grown the infested fruit drops to the ground
Then the larvse leave the fruit and burrow a short distance into the
soil where they change to pupa In a few weeks they again
change and come forth as perfect beetles There are two remedies
recommended neither of which is entirely satisfactory
The first is spraying with Paris Green4 ounces to 50 gal
lons of water to which some lime should be added as several of
the varieties of plum and peach trees are very easily injured by the
arsenites Three or four sprayings are necessary the first just
before the blooms open the second soon after the blooms have
fallen the third ten days after the second and the fourth fifteen or
eighteen days after the third
The other method of fighting this pest is by what is called
jarring When a tree is jarred by a blow the insectplay
ing possumdrops from the limbs as if dead A sheet spread
beneath the tree catches the curculios which may then be collected
and destroyed If not killed very soon after falling on the sheet
they will cease playing possum and fly away Instead of the
sheet many large growers use a receptacle shaped like an inverted
umbrella mounted on wheels it has sloping sides down which
the insect rolls towards the center where it falls into a vessel con
taining water with a little kerosene Dropping into this the cur
culios perish quickly Jarring is most successfully done in the cool84
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
of the morning and has to be frequently repeated A very large
peach grower in this State is said to have spent in 1895 7000r
using this remedy against the curculio but he saved his crop and
was well repaid for his expenditure Pad or muffle the instrument
with which you strike the tree to produce the jarring that the
bark may not be bruised or knocked off
THE GRANARY WEEVIL
QUESTION 6
How do weevils get into corn and how does the bisulphide
of carbon which you recommend destroy them
ANSWER 6
The common granary weevil so destructive to corn and
other grains in warm latitudes is a wingless insect which may
be found in our fields woods or barns They can only survive
the cold winters of more northern latitudes in the shelter af
forded by barns and other buildings and in such sections are
consequently few in number and do but little damage In this
state and especially in the southern portion they easily survive
the mild winters and sometimes do great injury to the corn
crop even before it is housed though the chief damage is done
after the crop is gathered They work in the following man
ner The female weevil bores a very small hole into the grain
of corn and deposits therein one or two and sometimes three
eggs These eggs soon hatch into little larva that eat out the
soft heart of the grain and in a few weeks develop into full
grown beetles which then cut their way out of the kernel in
which they have been confined The females among them
quickly commence their egg laying in the uninjured kernels
and thus generation after generation is produced in one season
The grown weevils feed indiscriminately on the hard as well as
the soft part of the grain When very numerous the corn is
rendered unfit for food for either man or beast To destroy this
pest is not impossible though many farmers take that view
As soon as your corn is housed place on top of the pile inANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
small
85
ul
shallow vessels such as soup plates or smau ud pans bisul
phide of carbon at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds to every 100
bushels of corn This quickly vaporizes and the vapor being
heavier than the air descends and penetrates into every por
tion of the pile of corn killing all insects with which it conies
in contact as well as rats and mice Such of the weevils as es
cape the first application by reason of being buried in the in
terior of the grain of corn can be killed by a second applica
tion following in four weeks after the first The closer the
crib the more effectually will the work be done Always re
member that the bisulphide of carbon is a deadly poison and
very inflammable and no fire not even a lighted pipe or cigar
should be taken near it This danger ends when all odor of
the vapor has passed away say in two or three days at utmost
The use of this remedy does not injure the gram either for
food or seed purposes if used as recommended if used m larger
quantities the grain is liable to injury as seed I would be
pleased if some of our South Georgia farmers would give this
remedy a fair trial and report the results to this department
PEA VINE HAY
QUESTION 7
Tell me how to save pea vine hay Can I stack it in the
field and leave it until wanted for use Do chufas injure laud
What would be a good fertilizer for them
ANSWER 7
Pea vines can be stacked in the field and left there until
wanted for use and this can be done easily and cheaply and
with absolute success in the following manner Cut three
forked poles the size of a mans arm and 8 feet long In trim
ming off the limbs from these poles leave prongs from 10 to 12
illchges long wherever you can Then place the poles in the
form of a tripod locking them firmly together by means of the
forked tops at the same time pressing the other ends efficiently
4eep into the ground to prevent their slipping and tailing86
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
down Then as the pea vines are brought to the spot throw
them with a pitchfork or by hand on these poles at a distance
of some 2 feet from the ground where they will catch on the
forks projecting from the poles making thus a base for the
stack Then pile on the vines distributing them with some
little care and carrying the stack up as long as yon can throw
the vines to the top with a pitchfork This is a simple way
and will make good pea vine hay regardless of the weather I
have tried it during a light rain when the vines were thoroughly
wet and made fine hay While not essential it will be best to
cap the stack with grass or with a stack cap The vines could
be cut with a sharp grass blade or with a reaper with the cra
dle removed and this should be done when the first peas are
beginning to ripen If left later the vines become too woody
and tne leaves shed off too readily Chufas grow best on a
sandy loam The ground should be well broken and pulverized
Where the nuts are fed off by hogs and the grasslike blades
are not cut for hay there is but slight loss of plant food in the
soil therefore chufas are not under such circumstances an ex
haustive crop When however the tops are cut for hay and
the nuts dug for seed they become quite exhaustive to the soil
They are planted to a considerable extent in South Georgia
they should be planted more largely in all parts of the State
for fattening hogs and are excellent for that purpose Any
complete fertilizer will add largely to the yield of chufus pre
ferably however one carrying from 3 to 4 per cent of potash
VALUE OF SALT AND LIME AS FERTILIZERS
QUESTION 8
What is the value of salt as a fertilizer What of lime
ANSWER 8
While salt is not essential to the growth of agricultural plants
nevertheless it is found to be serviceable as a fertilizer in some
cases It is probable that the salt brings about decomposition
of substances already in the soil and by this means renders
them available as plant food It also attracts moisture It isANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
87
supposed by many that it destroys fungi and insects in the sod
rendering plants more healthy and vigorous Many believe that
an application of 300 to 400 pounds to the acre will prevent
rust in cotton and also increase the yield and improve the
quality Most soils contain sufficient lime for the needs of the
great majority of cultivated crops Lime is not used for a fer
tilizer as much as formerly many persons contending that there
is no appreciable benefit to be derived from its use It may
however be used to advantage to correct acidity in the soil it
tends to disintegrate rocks and minerals It may destroy in
sects and some injurious fungi It increases the power of the
soil for fixing and holding potash It disintegrates and makes
more friable stiff soils while at the same time it binds together
and puts light sandy soil in better mechanical condition Some
crops such as ground peas for instance will make almost a total
failure in soils deficient in lime and their cultivation should not
be undertaken in such soils without first applying to them a
liberal dose of lime
BROOKS COUNTY SELF SUPPORTING
QUESTION 9
Is there any section or county in Georgia which might be
called self supporting
ANSWER 9
As an answer to your question I take pleasure in publishing
the report of a reliable crop correspondent from Brooks county
received last week
This Brooks is the banner county of Georgia when it
comes to hog and hominy We raise lots of meat corn oats
peanuts peas etc There is enough meat raised here each year
to run the county three years without buying any western meat
Our merchants ship meat lard corn etc all over South Geor
gia A great many of our farmers carry balances to their
credit in the bank here of from 1000 to 3000 They run
their farms from sale of meat corn etc and make their cotton
a surplus crop88 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Now I ask you and every other farmer in Georgia to read
and ponder the above statement Is the condition of Brooks
county one to be envied or not Is it a desirable thing
for a farmer to have an abundance of all kinds of provision
crops besides money in the bank or is it not Why cant you
and every other farmer in Georgia place yourselves in the same
condition as the farmers of Brooks county There is but one
obstacle in the way and that is the craze for cotton Bring
about a cure in this respect and all the rest follows as a matter
of course I assert without fear of contradiction that if every
county in the State was doing just as Brooks county is doing
Georgia would be the most prosperous State in the Union and
could bid defiance to trusts Dingly tariffs and other like abom
inations
BIGHEAD AND BIGJAW
QUESTION 10
I have a fine mare suffering with bighead and bigjaw
Is there anything that will cure her
ANSWER 10
This is a common disease among horses and mules at the
south and various are the causes assigned for it Some say it
is caused by damaged corn others attribute it to what are
called blind teeth and many think it is caused by feeding corn
raised on new grounds The truth is the veterinary surgeons
do not know the cause of this disease which carries off many
horses and mules annually The disease if well advanced is
absolutely incurable and the animal suffering with it should
not be tortured by burning holes into the nose and lower jaw
applying setons etc as is too often done There is no satis
factory treatment In the first stage of the disease if the ani
mal is put upon a limestone pasture given good care and fed
well on bright clean oats the disease is sometimes checked
and occasionally even completely curedANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
JUNE
BUSY MONTH FOR FARMERS
THE WORK THAT SHOULD BE DONE DURING JUNE
MR NESBITTS MONTHLY LETTERGEORGIAS COMMIS
SIONER OF AGRPOULTURE GIVES SOME HINTS ON HAR
SgWHEATOAT AND CLOVER CROPSCORN AP
ploIcHING ITS MOST CRITIC XL PERIOD OF GROWTH
KEEPING DOWN WEEDS AND GRASS
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga June 1 1897
The harvesting of the wheat oat and clover crops which usually
falls in this month together with the imperative demands ot the
orn and cotton crops not to mention those of minor forage and
other crops make June a month of hard work for both brain and
muscle With all the various claims pressing for attention a
certain amount of judicious planning is an absolute necessity
The work cannot be taken up haphazard The careful farmer will
not delay preparations for harvesting his grain crops until the last
moment and then put everything on the farm in commotion and
confusion by his hurried and unconsidered directions Often
valuable time is lost by waiting to engage a machine or to supply
some needed part to the one already on hand and then when a
messenger is hastily dispatched to the nearest available point to
secure what is necessary it is found that no machine can be hired
or that the missing link must be ordered and shipped from a
distance These details which if attended to at the proper time
seem insignificant and easily adjusted if allowed to wait for atten
tion until the last moment are often magnified into mountains of care
and worry Another mistake often made is to become so absorbed
in the harvest field as to allow the other crops to suffer for atten
tion If necessary and it is possible to do so any needed extra
labor should be hired even if a little more than the usual price
has to be paid90 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Work properly done in June will bring in better returns than at
any other period during the year It is now that the corn crop is
approaching its most critical period of growth and it should not be
allowed to suffer for the work which is so essential to its perfect
development and which if delayed beyond the proper time can
never afterwards perform the same important office Upon the
promptness and character of this cultivation depends the success or
failure of the crop Keep the plows running but set just deep
enough to stir the surface The finely pulverized surface soil will
act as a mulch to conserve the moisture which during the hot days
is ascending from lower depths and which would otherwise escape
into the surrounding atmosphere After the corn plants attain their
full growth they will serve to shade the ground and themselves
aid in conserving this moisture When giving the last plowing
see that it is as near level as possible and sow peas broadcast
Dont allow the
WHEAT AND OAT STUBBLE
to grow up in weeds which will mature seeds and thus multiply
the vexations of farm life These seeds will not only be scattered
far and wide to spring up in succeeding crops but the plauts them
selves will take up present fertility which ought to be utilized in
producing some useful crop for the maintenance of the farm At
the South the field pea crop fully fills this need
Dont neglect to put out as many
SWEET POTATOES
as time and space will allow While potatoes do not equal corn in
feeding value weight for weight they furnish no mean substitute
and are valuable as giving the necessary variety to the food ration
Another point is that a good crop of potatoes may be grown on
sandy land which will fail to bring a paying corn crop Under
favorable conditions
FORAGE CORN
planted all through this month will mature sufficiently to furnish
good silage It should be planted thick in the drill and close inANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
91
the row but care should be taken not to crowd it to such a degree
as to shut out sunlight and air and thus prevent it from forming
an ear on each stalk Corn which is managed so as to enable it
to mature a full ear up to the glazing stage for each stalk is much
more valuable for feeding than if only nubbins are formed and
these at intervals
To maintain the
COTTON FIELDS
in such condition as to keep down the weeds and grass and preserve
a pulverized surface to the depth of one or two inches is the main
object in cultivation at this season Cotton will stand a much
greater degree of bad treatment than corn and under favorable
conditions recover from the check and go on to a moderately satis
factory maturity because it has a longer season in which to repair
such backsets But it is an expensive crop at best and when to
the usual bills for fertilizers and labor in making and gathering is
added the loss from neglect to cultivate properly and at the right
time it is no wonder that this crop from which we should receive
a certain revenue in many cases will scarcely pay the cost of pro
duction In
HARVESTING
the grain crops attention should be given to the careful forming of
the shocks in order that they may be able to resist injury from the
heavy rains which sometimes set in at this season A compact
well made shock will resist even protracted rains while heaps
loosely thrown together seem to invite and are certain to meet
with immense loss in case of bad weather Another mistake to
be guarded against is allowing the crop to stand too long before
harvesting in which case much is lost by the shattering of the
grain Clover and grass after being cut should not be allowed to
remain on the ground exposed to the sun after it is well wilted
At this stage the heaps should be made up and the curing com
pleted in that shape This will secure good hay of full feeding
value without the loss of either leaves or blooms
R T Nesbitt Commissioner92
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
COTTON STARTS OFF FAIRLY WELLCORN SMALL FOR THE
SEASONOATS AND WHEAT
COTTON
Planting has been finished about two weeks in the upper part of
the State and this late planted cotton is just coming up ger
mination having been retarded by dry and cool weather Most of
the crop has been put to a stand and the fields are clear of grass
and weeds The stand as a rule is good but on sandy lands the
plants have died out to some extent on account of the cool weather
of May On the whole the crop starts off fairly well the dry
weather of the past month enabling the farmers to catch up with
their work and get in good shape to meet the grassgrowing month
of June I have estimated the increased acreage at from 5 to 10
per cent The Washington Department places it at 3 per cent
and I hope their estimate is more nearly correct
CORN
is small for the season and has had a pcor color but the stand is
generally reported good and needed rains will soon bring it out
both in growth and color The delay in preparing corn land
caused by continued rains in February and March induced many
farmers to plant their corn in ground not properly broken This
has been remedied however during May and now in most cases
the middles of the corn rows have been well plowed out I wish
I could report the acreage in this crop at least 10 per cent greater
than last year but I regret to say that it is only about the same
Many of our farmers are now buying corn much of it no doubt
damaged and I fear their stock will suffer in consequence
Our correspondents report more fertilizers have been used on
ooru this year than usual and with good seasons and work the
State should make a sufficient supply
OATS
Fall oats are unusually fine all over the State but unfortunately
the area planted to this most valuable food crop was not as largeANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
95
as it should have been Spring oats as usual are reported light and
poor in most counties It is my opinion that this will be the usual
report four years out of five as loug as we plant oats after January
Let us all return to the good old way of planting them in the early
fall and take the chance of winter killing I am sure that by this
plan we would do much better than we are now doing with this the
best of all feed crops for mules and horses
WHEAT
This crop was very promising up to the early part of May when
rust appeared in many fields It this disease confines itself to the
blades the damage will not be serious but should it attack the
stalks the crop will be a very poor one At present the prospect
is for a fair crop
SUGAR CANE SORGHUM GROUND PEAS ETC
The acreage of these valuable crops is a little larger than last
year As a rule the stands are fair and the prospects for crops
promising
FRUIT
Peaches of the early varieties are now being shipped from South
Georgia The crop will not be a large one and the fortunate
growers who have made any peaches should realize excellent prices
The dry May injured the strawberries Grapes blackberries and
apples promise a fine yield Acreage in melons at least 25 per
cent less than last year and crop backward
STOCK
Stock reported in good condition except that in a number of
localities cholera is killing the hogs Much less complaint of
glanders among horses and murrain among cattle than there was a
year ago Sheep doing well except for the miserable curs that
abound in every county and prevent the growth of an industry
that but for them would be very profitable94
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
KAFFIR CORN A DROUTH RESISTER
QUESTION 1
I would like to know more of this crop which is said to be such
a fine resister of drouth Is it too late to plant it now and what
kind of land suits it best Is it a good feed for stock and what is
the best time to cut it also the best variety to sow
ANSWER 1
Kaffir corn is classed with the nonsaccharine sorghums and like
all plants of its class it endures drouth with much less injury than
corn When corn has once been stunted it never recovers but in
the hot and regions of the west when the corn crop has been
destroyed by the drying winds Kaffir corn although checked in
its growth and curled up for days and even weeks will if the
rans are not delayed too late in the season revive and produce a
crop of grain The feeding value of the grain has not been fully
tested Ihe experiments so far do not justify the statement that
it is equal to corn as a stock food The grain being small and
liable to be swallowed by the animals before being properly masti
cated it should always be ground Otherwise the unchewed grains
will swell after being taken into the stomach and produce un
pleasant and even dangerous symptoms To horses and cattle it
is fed dry To hogs it is mixed with the slops
It is not too late to plant it as it matures in about four months
It is not particular as to the quality of the land on which it is
planted and while it responds best to rich soils it will yield a crop
on and too poor for corn It will grow on clay or sandy land
bottoms or uplands and all things considered is a splendid supple
mentary crop in case the corn and other food crops are cut off
The Blackhulled White variety African millet seems to com
bine all the best qualities of the other varieties The grain being
white is like al the white varieties nonastringent and better
relished by stock Besides this advantage it has in part the earlierANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
95
maturity and superior yield of the red varieties and the seed does
not shatter when ripe Prepare the soil as for corn and bring to a
fine tilth by harrowing During the first few weeks the plants do
not grow rapidly and care should be taken that they do not become
choked by weeds or grass Under favorable conditions the plants
attain a height of from 4 to 6J feet and as the roots lie very near
the surface cultivation should be shallow and should altogether
cease when the heads begin to form As a hay crop it is not as
desirable as some of the sweet varieties of sorghum For grain the
crop should be cut and shocked as soon as the grain is ripe
If allowed to stand too long the grains are apt to fallout and waste
The fodder remains green after the grain matures and is therefore
in excellent condition to be cured For hay the crop should be
cut when the heads begin to form but to get the best feeding value
of the crop it should be allowed to mature seedsthese are cured
with the stalks and afterwards the heads are cut off threshed and
ground and the fodder fed separately
TICK THEORY
QUESTION 2
I have seen several references in agricultural journals to the
Tick Theory Can you tell me whait this theory is and how
cattle are involved in it I know it has some connection with the
diseases of cattle but would like to have full explanation from
your department
ANSWER 2
The Tick Theory as it is called asserts that Texas Fever
or acclimation fever which kills so many cattle when brought
south of a certain latitude and which also kills a great many cattle
at the north when exposed to cattle shipped from the South is
caused by the cattle tick Boophilus Bovis so common in our
southern fields and woods In a special report on Texas Fever
issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry at Washington in 1893
the following assertions are made First that the cause of Texas
Fever is a blood corpuscle destroying microorganism the pres96
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ence of which in the blood of affected animals can be demon
strated Second that the transmission of this microorganism from
southern cattle to native northern cattle is effected by the southern
cattle tick and by this moans alone This in brief is the Tick
Theory and careful experiments carried on at the Kansas Ar
kansas and Missouri Experiment Stations have gone far towards
demonstrating its truth as you will admit by noting the following
experimenter 1 Native cattle were exposed for several weeks to
southern cattle the latter being infected with ticks Result The
natives contracted Texas Fever Young ticks were found upon
them and the microparasite mentioned was found in the blood
2 Native cattle were exposed to southern cattle from which the
ticks had been removed by handpicking Result Native cattle
showed no signs of fever 3 A pasture was infected with ticks
taken from southern cattleno southern cattle were admitted to
the pasture native cattle were then turned into this pasture Re
sult Texas Fever and death 4 Young ticks hatched arti
ficially from the eggs laid by ticks picked from southern cattle
were placed upon native cattle Result Texas fever and death
microorganism of Texas fever in the blood These and other
experiments on the same line render it almost certain that the
cause of the dreaded Texas or acclimation fever has been discov
ered
Now if a remedy or a preventive can be found then the
greatest bar to the improvement of the southern breeds of cattle
will have been removed and the fear of losing cattle brought from
the north will no longer deter our enterprising breeders from pur
chasing and introducing among our native herds the high priced
thoroughbred cattle from that section At present the nit prom
ising preventive of acclimation fever is inoculation of the sus
ceptible animal with serum from the blood of an animal that has
acquired immumty from the disease This method will be JZ
a thorough test this season by several of our southwestern fals
Ire S t07 TfUllj teSted e few that W
St T tMs t7 suits z
obtained It only remains now to determine whether otherANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
97
and more extensive experiments will verify the results obtained last
summer The tick spoken of here will thrive quite well on the
horse but apparently with no bad effect Indeed the cow is the
only animal that seems susceptible to its poisonous effects
WINES
QUESTION 3
Why are imported wines so much higher priced than our do
mestic wines Please give me a plain practical method of making
wine and also vinegar
ANSWER 3
The making of the high priced imported wines is an art which
is only acquired after long years of practice and experience And
again the soil suitable for growing the particular grapes from which
certain wines are made is very limited in area thus compelling a
limited yield of such wine and consequently a high price Of
course this condition of things tempts to adulteration and it is
said that the United States alone imports more socalled cham
pagne than is made in the whole of Trance To make a plain
good wholesome domestic wine the following directions will suf
fice Gather the grapes when fully ripe discarding all that are
green or defective and the stems also Then squeeze out the
juice by any available means There are many patterns of wine
presses andeven an ordinary cider press will answer very well for
the purpose The juice thus expressed is called must and the re
fuse composed of hulls seeds etc is called pomace Now to
every gallon of must add a half gallon of water and 1 pounds of
best white sugar which gives you a pound of sugar to each gallon
of the mixture There are two processes of fermentation called
over and under fermentation In the first process the cask
is filled and each day a sufficient quantity of must kept in a
iug for that purpose should be poured into the barrel to replace
the scum and solid matter thrown off by the process of fermenta
10In under fermentation which is considered the best the cask98
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
or barrel is not entirely filled a space of 4 or 5 inches being left
at he top Place a small bag of sand over the bung and fermenta
tion will proceed with the result that the scum and solid matte
will settle at the bottom of the cask leaving the wine clear la
either case after fermentation has ceasedwhich is usually in from
four to six weeksclose the bung tightly The following spring
draw off the wine witfh a rubber tube or siphon into clear bottles
or demijohns or into new kegs or banels that have been well
scalded taking care not to disturb the sediment at the bottom of
the cask Your wine will then be ready for use though it will
improve with age
After the juice has been pressed from the grapes a fair wine
can be made by adding Onehalf gallon of water to every one and
oneJhalf gallons of pomace putting one pound of sugar to each
half gallon of water used Let this stand from fortyeight to
seventytwo hours then press out and treat the same as first press
ing except that you add no more sugar
In making vinegar the must and pomace together should
be placed in open tubs or barrels with the addition of one pint in
three of rain water The fermentation will be hastened if several
hrge strips of brown paper soaked in molasses should be placed
in each barrel or better still use tubs or barrels that have pre
viously held vinegar When the vinegar is made it can be ren
dered almost colorless if preferred by filtering it through animal
charcoal or boneblack
THE STRIPED POTATO BUG
QUESTION 4
I notice many striped bugs on my Irish potatoes and they are
eating the leaves Will they seriously injure the crop and if so
what shall I do to get rid of them
ANSWER 4
The bugs on your potatoes will not only injure but will en
tirely destroy your crop unless you can get rid of them quickly
The best remedy both as regards cheapness and efficacy is ParisANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
99
green London purple another arsenite is equally deadly to the
bugs but is more liable to scald and injure the foliage Various
amounts of Paris green are recommended but for general pur
poses 1 pound to 150 gallons of water is sufficient Apply with
sprayer watering pot or by any means most handy A second
and even a third application may he necessary to save your crop
From 2 to 4 pounds of the Paris green should answer for an acre
Stir the mixture frequently while using as the arsenites do not
readily dissolve in water Should you use London purple you
had best add to the water 1 pound of quick lime for each pound
of the poison to prevent any injury to the foliage Another
method of applying these arsenites is by mixing 1 pound of either
with 50 to 60 pounds of fine ashes or plaster or slaked lime or
flour and dusting over the plants while wet with dew or just after
a shower
Kemember that both Paris green and London purple are deadly
poisons and should be handled as such In dusting the plants be
careful that the wind is from you or you may suffer from the
poison entering the eyes or mouth Be careful also to keep poul
try and stock of all kinds away from the premises where used
There is now on the market a material called gray mineral ash
which is said to be deadly to all insect life but harmless to man or
beast This will be thoroughly tested this season The cost is
very much higher than Paris green or London purple and where
large quantities are necessary this would be a serious objection to
its use Where only a small quantity is to be used its safety as
is claimed would make it preferable to the arsenites if it is equally
efficacious
TO FIX THE NITROGEN AFTER A PEA CROP
QUESTION 5
I expect to plant very extensively in peas and while I will har
vest the main crop I may leave a part on the land to turn under
for manure How shall I prevent the loss of any part of the ni
trogen which the peas have accumulated100 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ANSWER 5
To prevent the leaching of the nitrogen from the fall and win
ter rains turn under the vines and apply a light dressing of lime or
potash This will fix the nitrogen and prevent its loss by being
dissolved into the drainage waters and thus carried off
THE COST OF FERTILIZERS
QUFSTION 6
How much of the cotton crop would be used if all fertilizers
were put up in cotton bags Would it increase the cost of fertil
izers to the farmers if this should be done
ANSWER n
A good strong cotton sack to hold 200 pounds of fertilizer
would weigh about one pound Georgia has bought during the
past season nearly 4000000 sacks of fertilizers Had these
sacks all been made of cotton 8000 bales of 500 pounds tr
the bale would have been required Assuming that Georgia
uses onefifth of the fertilizers made in the United Srat s
then 40000 bales of cotton would be used in sacking the
entire output of the country Forty thousand bales of cotton
though but a small fraction of the crop would be well worth
diverting into a new channel and I hope it can be effected
It is an open question whether or not the use of cotton ba would
add to the cost of fertilizers The present price of burlap bags is
about 61 cents each The abominable tariff bill which will soon
pass congress will add 33 per cent to this which will bring the cost
of the burlap sacks to about 9 cents each A good cotton sack will
cost at present prices of cotton about 12 cents or 3 more than the
burlap sack This is such a small amount that in the competition
between the fertilizer manufacturers it is doubtful whether or
not it would be added to the price of the goods and if not of
course the farmers would not have to pay it The farmers and
manufacturers should both give this matter their careful attention
and try to bring about satisfactory results to both parties Cotton
sacks were used during the past season by some of the fertilizerANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
manufacturers with entire satisfaction to themselves and
tamers and it would be well if all of the manufacturers
them Should their use however add 30 cents a ton to the cost
of fertilizers then we dont want them for that would mean over
100000 annually for the farmers of Georgia alone for which the
new outlet of 8000 hales of cotton would in no wise compensate
them The entire matter resolves itself into this The farmers
would like to buy their guano put up in cotton sacks now let the
manufacturers examine into the question carefully and see if it
is possible to gratify them
SPRAYING DOES IT PAY
QUESTION 7
AH things considered do you think that it pays in the ordinary
family garden and orchard to go to the trouble and expense of
spraying to destroy insect and fungus pests Dont they return
each year and does not the farmer have to repeat the operations
each year
ANSWER 7
Undoubtedly the alarming increase of the countless varieties
of insect and fungus pests with which the orchardist and gardener
is troubled of late years is largely indeed almost entirely due to
the lack of such precautionary measures as spraying and other
methods of preventing their ravages on our fruit trees and
vegetables If we had been careful in past years to watch for
and industriously check the advance of this army of depredators we
would not now see the decay of orchards which ought to be in their
prime nor would we so often hear the complaint of a failure of
the fruit crop It is true that to be effective and profitable spray
ing must be thorough and continuous It requires more than one
season to get the full benefit of such care but it will in the long
run pay for the labor and expense The spores of fungi which
are so injurious to plants usually pass the winter either on the
trees or in the ground near by AVhere vegetables have been
planted these pests usually go into winter quarters near where the10
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
plants were grown ready to come out in the spring with renewed
vigor Thus it will be seen that if not checked they will in time
indeed have already become a serious drawback to successful fruit
growing and gardening It has been shown by experiment that if
sprayings are not repeated each season there is a sufficient number
of germs left over to restock the ground for each succeeding year
FEEDING VALUE OF SWEET POTATOES AND CORN
QUESTION S
What is the difference in the feeding value of sweet potatoes and
corn
ANSWER 8
As the sweet potato is over twothirds water it takes about 3
pounds of potatoes to make one of cornthat is of dry matter
and the dry matter of the potato the weight being the same con
tains about half as much protein or muscle food as the dry matter
of corn Corn is therefore the more valuable food but the po
tato gives the variety so necessary for healthy feeding and as po
tatoes on sandy land will generally turn out a far better yield than
corn we would advise every farmer to cultivate every acre possible
in potatoes
BUYING DAMAGED CORN
QUESTION 9
I have an opportunity of buying a large lot of damaged corn at
a reduced price Is it safe feed for cattle and hogs I know that
it is dangerous to feed to horses and mules
ANSWER 9
I would advise against the feeding of damaged corn to stock of
every description While a little of it fed to cattle and hogs along
with other food might not produce serious results it could not if
much damaged benefit them materially If cattle or hogs should
be confined and fed exclusively on damaged corn for a considerable
length of time I have no doubt that serious sickness and death
would result to many of the animals In addition to this I amANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
103
sure the meat from animals so fed would neither be as palatable
nor as wholesome as that produced by feeding sound grain It is
a well known fact that the flesh of animals is flavored by the food
they eat and an exclusive diet of damaged corn must in my
opinion result in badly flavored and possibly unwholesome meat
Of course the results I have suggested would depend a good deal
on the extent to which the corn might be damaged and this is not
stated in your question but as a general proposition I should advise
against buying damaged corn for feeding purposes
Just here I will take occasion to notify you and the other farm
ers of the state that much damaged corn has been shipped into
Georgia from the west and those of you who are unfortunately
forced to buy western corn should examine it carefully before pur
chasing and reject all that is not absolutely sound otherwise you
endanger the lives of your horses and mules
SOUTHERN BLIGHT IN TOMATOES
QUESTION 10
Last year some of my tomato plants were affected very strangely
and for fear of the same trouble I want to ask your advice as to
prevention before the disease or blight appears again I noticed
that on the affected vines there were at first watery looking spots
and then the whole plant would wilt as if scalded Can you give
me directions for protecting the plants against the inroads of this
destructive agent whatever it is
ANSWER 10
If you had cut open the blisters of which you speak and exam
ined them with a microscope you would have found them filled
with bacteria The disease is called Southern blight and pota
toes and watermelons as well as tomatoes are liable to it The best
remedy yet discovered is Bordeaux mixture applied from the early
stages of growth until the plants are in full bloom say about three
times The Bordeaux mixture should be weak Keep a careful
watch and the minute a plant shows signs of the disease pull it up
and burn it Dont set out plants on land which bore an infected
crop last year104
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
SMALL STRIPED BEETLE ON MELON VINES
QUESTION 11
What shall I use to kill the small striped beetles which are be
ginning to injure my young canteloupe vines
ANSWER 11
Spray with Bordeaux mixture in which has been dissolved Lon
don purple in the proportion of three ounces of London purple to
25 gallons of the Bordeaux
RAISING TURKEYS
QUESTION 12
I have poor success in raising turkeys most of thein dying before
thry are a month old I think I feedthem improperly and would
like some information on the subject
ANSWER 12
Confine the hen after hatching for at least three weeks in a per
fectlydry coop with openings for the little ones to run in and out
By that time they will be strong enough to follow the mother who
should be turned out daily after the dew has disappeared
Feed the little ones four times a day for several weeks with
well cooked corn bread mixed up with either buttermilk or clabber
and with chopped onion tops liberally added to the mixture After
they are as large as half grown chickens a feed morning and night
will answer and by that time the food may be any of the grains
and uncooked By feeding as suggested carefully keeping off all
vermin and protecting the little turkeys from hard rains you should
raise at least threefourths of those hatched
CHICKEN LICE ON CATTLE
QUESTION 13
Will chicken lice live and breed on cattle and horses
ANSWER 13
Poultry lice will get on horses and cattle and cause them a good
deal of annoyance but they will not breed there The littleANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
105
Sicken mite hardly visible to tlie naked eye are very troublesome
on horses or cattle and therefore chickens should never be allowed
to roost in the stables where these animals are kept
GERMAN MILLET
QUESTION 14
How late can I sow German millet and is it injurious to the
land
ANSWER 14
German millet may be sown as late as July or August and with
ood seasons will he ready to cut in October It should be cut
when in bloom before the seeds form If this is done there will
be no complaint of injury to stock by feeding the hay or of exhaus
tion to the land This crop requires rich land but will fully repay
the time and labor and manure invested There is no better feed
excepting oats for farm animalsJOG
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
JULY
COTTON SACKS FOR FERTILIZERS
FARMERS OF GEORGIA DEMAND THAT A CHANGE BE MADE
PRESENT PLAN UNSATISFACTORYCOMMISSIONER OF AGRI
CULTURE NESBITT NOW INT CORRESPONDENCE WITH DEALERS
AS TO THE FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTING BAGS OF 167 POUNDS
CAPACITY INSTEAD OF THOSE NOW IN USEWORK FOR JULY
fall crops
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga July 1 1897
Referring to several communications recently received we no
tice a growing demand on the part of farmers for cotton bags of
107 pounds capacity instead of those at present used for sacking
fertilizers The cotton bag besides adding another item to the
long list of demands on our annual cotton crop would have several
advantages over that now used It is more durable shows and
retains the brand more perfectly is easier to handle If fertilizer
dealers act consistently and use the cotton sacks it will be a help to
farmers and we are now in conference with fertilizer men as to the
feasibility and desirability of the change from their standpoint
Another matter to which we would call attention is
AN ERROR IN ANNUAL OF 1896
On page 105 the proportion of Paris green is stated as 1 pound
to 2 of road dust or ashes and 5 pounds of flour or lime It should
read 1 pound of Paris green to 60 pounds of dust or ashes and 5
pounds of flour or air slaked lime The last ingredients are used
to cause the mixture to stick to the plants This is the season
when the advantage of using insecticides and fungicides becomes
powerfully apparent The owners of orchards vineyards and gar
dens which have been judiciously sprayed are now enjoying a
comparative immunity from the attacks of myriads of insect and
fungus enemies which are preying upon their neighbors less care
fully protected fields It is a fact however that one neglectedANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
10T
orchard in a neighborhood of fruit growers becomes a rock of
stumbling and offense because of the extra diligence required to
bar the pests from the more carefully kept orchards Among up
todate fruit growers and gardeners spraying is in universal use
and is one of the regularly calculated expenses The man who al
lows his fruit trees and vegetables to take care of themselves with
the exception of an occasional hurried working is not only losing
the best returns for his labor but his carelessness is a menace to
his more successful neighbor Farmers are reading more and
studying more on this and kindred subjects and we trust to see the
day when these precautions will be considered as much a part of
the fruit and garden industry as the planting of the trees or the
sowing of the seeds Spraying calendars with full directions may
be obtained at almost any experiment station One from the
Ohio Experiment Station is arranged on a large sheet which may
be tacked to the wall at any convenient place and is then always
ready for reference
WORK FOR THIS MONTH
is considered to have a powerful deciding influence on the yield
of the crops A carefully planned and executed spring and early
summer campaign may be almost entirely marred by one inju
dicious plowing at this season If we keep in mind that the object
of plowing now is not so much to break the land as to check in
cipient weeds and grass and to spread a thin mulch over the sur
face which will conserve moisture and also promote the free access
of air to the shallow lying plant roots we will not be apt to put the
plow in too deep An inch is sufficient and if the wide cutting
scrape or expanding cultivator is used the work may be done very
effectively and very rapidly One thing to be remembered is that
different varieties of the same crop require different treatment For
instance the late maturing large growing varieties of cotton are
not benefited by late work The plowing in such fields should
cease at the earliest practicable moment because plowing promotes
the very conditions which we wish to check namely a develop
ment of foliage at the expense of fruit On the other hand as the108
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
tendency of the smaller quickly maturing kinds is to cease leaf
growth and begin to take on fruit very early therefore in such
varieties a shallow center furrow even in August is known to be
of benefit
PEAS
for forage may be sown all during this month The prolonged
drouth of last summer just at the season when this crop was ma
turing has caused seed to be scarce and high But the fact that
large quantities are being sold and sown shows that at last farmers
are beginning to appreciate their value as a forage and as a reno
vating crop If their luxuriant growth is encouraged by an appli
cation of acid phosphate and potash the extra expense will be re
turned in the increased yield of a most nutritious and convenient
food crop and in the stored up nitrogen which they have gathered
from the air and deposited in the ground
POTATOES
planted now make smoother and better keeping tubers than those
put out earlier Many experienced farmers prefer cuttings taken
from the vines to slips taken from the bed Dont commit the mis
take of making these cuttings too long three eyes is considered
sufficient to insure rooting If cut longer there will be more po
tatoes to each vine but they will be smaller and not of as good
quality If however these late plantings are to be used for fat
tening hogs it matters little whether the cuttings be long or short
For this purpose that is for fattening hogs sorghum is a most val
uable crop but it should be fed to the hogs before it becomes too
hard that is before the seeds become perfectly ripe The plant
ings of this crop may continue through this month Other farm
animals besides hogs are very fond of it but care should be exer
cised in regulating the feed and the ration should contain some kind
of dry matter as corn hay oats etc Any green crop will prove
injurious if hungry animals after being previously confined to dry
food are allowed to gorge themselves on the more tempting and
succulent growthANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
109
HOGS
are sometimes neglected in the natural anxiety to push the other
important work of the month but they should not be allowed to
take their chances of getting food in sufficient amount and variety
Time used in seeing that they are abundantly supplied with a
healthful variety of food and plenty of clean fresh water is well
bestowed Keep their quarters and feeding places clean and dis
infected as far as possible and give an occasional dose of copperas
about a small teaspoonful to the hogthis will prevent worms
Kerosene mixed with melted lard or oil and applied through a
watering pot while the hogs are being fed and are crowded close
together will keep down vermin As a disinfectant lime wash
in which a little carbolic acid is dissolved is a powerful agent IE
these simple precautions are observed there will be far less com
plaint of loss from the fatal diseases which have heretofore carried
off so many thousands from our annual hog supply These and
other means used for pushing the spring pigs to early and healthy
maturity enable us to obtain pork of fine quality and at a fair
profit
PLNNING FOR FALL CROPS
After the summer crops are laid by we will have time to take
a calm survey of our surroundings and plan for our fall crops and
also for the general rotation which we propose for another year
One of the most important laws in any system of rotation is that
plants of like habits and growth and abstracting the same elements
from the soil in the same proportion should not succeed each
other All plants demand more or less the same elements but ab
sorb them under such different conditions and in such different
proportions that plans as to equalizing the draught upon the soil
are worth the most careful study At the south under present
conditions the three year rotation has been found the most profi
table First oats followed the same year by peas then corn then
cotton Of course this may be varied or extended to suit individ
ual cases always keeping in mind the rule that no two crops of
like growth and habits should follow each other110
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FALL GRAIN
September is the usual month to sow the fall grain crops but
July is none too early to plan for them A pea stubble furnishes
an excellent foundation for wheat oats or rye and to be put in
firstclass condition the stubble should be plowed under and the land
then harrowed and reharrowed until the surface is fine and smooth
Of course if this work is delayed until the last moment it cannot
be satisfactorily done After crops are laid by the interval
between the making and gathering of the crops cannot be better
employed than by making this thorough preparation for fall grains
and grasses In some sections it has been shown that crimson
clover sown in the cornfields at the last plowing is a most profitable
and convenient crop Not only will the little plants spread and
cover the soil with a dense growth and thus prevent washing but
they will furnish our stock with a most acceptable and nutritious
green food in the late winter and early spring months the time
when it is most needed and also they will industriously gather up
and deposit in the soil the fine nitrogen of the air the most ex
pensive and most generally needed element of plant growth The
humus formed from the stems and roots after the clover is cut
performs the important office of binding together sandy soils which
are too porous or of loosening the stiffer days which have too
great tenacity Eye in a smaller degree performs somewhat the
same work Those who have tried vetch consider it better than
either rye or crimson clover Of it the United States Department
of Agriculture says as a forage plant it has no superior Now is
the time to study these different fall crops decide which are most
suited to our circumstances and lose no time in getting ready for
them
K T NESBITT
CommissionerANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
Ill
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
FLEECY STAPLE LOOKING WELLWHEAT HARVESTED
SPRING OATS DISAPPOINTING
COTTON
The very dry May permitted the farmers to clean their fields
thoroughly of grass and weeds and through June where rains
have fallen the plants have made a good growth and are now look
ing well As a rule the stand is fair and there have been but
few complaints of lice and other insect enemies The rainfall has
been deficient in some portions of the state but in most localities
there has been enough for cotton which requires but little ram
until fruiting commences Taking into consideration all the ques
tions affecting this crop and the verdict must be that at this date
it is in good condition and growing off well but from ten days to
two weeks later than an average crop
CORN
In many counties the rainfall has not been sufficient for the
best development of this crop though in but few places has this
deficiency been sufficient to cause serious injury The crop how
ever is just now at its critical stage particularly in the lower half
of the State and frequent and abundant rains during July will tie
needed to insure an abundant yield If our farmers would take
more pains in preparing their corn land by deeper plowing etc
a good crop would be raised with much less rain than is now re
quired Shallow breaking up of land forces the corn roots to feed
near the surface and then a very moderate drouth produces serious
results
WHEAT
This crop has been harvested and much of it threshed with very
satisfactory results many fields in North Georgia turning out from
20 to 30 bushels per acre The rust which appeared in nearly every
field during May was confined as a rule to the blades and did no
harm to the grain112
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
OATS ETC
Fall planted oats turned out well in every portion of the State
while spring oats were very disappointing The acreage of fall
was not large and the spring oats failing the crop in total is a
short one
The minor crops are doing fairly well and there has been a
large acreage of sweet potatoes planted The stand of sugar cane is
poor but condition good
FRUITS
Watermelons are being shipped now in large quantities but the
crop is inferior both in quantity and in size of melons I made
the acreage 25 per cent short of an average crop in my last report
but I am satisfied it is even greater and now estimate it to be at
least 40 per cent less than usual The diminished acreage should
cause good melons to bring high prices The peach crop is short
throughout the state particularly at the large centers of this indus
try The fortunate growers who have made partial crops should
get high prices The grape crop is large and hastening to matu
rity with no reports as yet of injury from any disease Apples
promise a fair crop while blackberries are abundant on every farm
in the state
STOCK
Many reports of cholera among hogs in every section ot the state
With this exception stock of all kinds are reported as healthy and in
good condition I have noticed that hog cholera is always more
commou in those years when a good deal of western corn is sold in
the State and I infer from this fact that much of the so called
cholera is simply the result of neglect and starvationANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
113
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
INFORMATION FOR FARMERSINQUIRIES ANSWERED BY
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTREPLIES TO
ALL SORTS OF QUERIESWEALTH OF DIXIE
QUESTION 1
Please give me in detail some of the principal sources of wealth
of the south as at present utilized and why is it if there is so much
wealth as we are led to believe that the country is not more pros
perous
ANSWER 1
The greatest income of the south is derived from cotton and its
products grain and its products rice sugar tobacco fruit
vegetables and the products of the pine tree The south has also
its stock farms its manufacturing mining merchandising build
ing transportation and other interestsbringing into the country
about 1300000000 annually One principal reason that the
south receives so little benefit from the vast wealth is that she
spends it with almost absolute unrestraint on other sections of our
own country and to fill the coffers of foreign nations With per
haps a few unimportant exceptions the south is absolutely depen
dent on the outside world for all of the following articles in which
she invests each year with lavish prodigality Paints oils drugs
buggies harness clocks watches china glass cutlery carpets
curtains stoves woolen and cotton goods buttons needles thread
soaps perfumes and other toilet articles gloves dress goods all
kinds of agricultural implements chains nails clothing furniture
for our houses building material for our railroads and transp rtatiou
lines for our waterworks for our engines boilers electric appli
ances for the equipment of our schools and colleges and for even
the very commonest sheds that are on our farms We pay millions
of dollars to outsiders for the books which we read and tor those
which our children study Life and fire insurance companies take
millions of dollars out of the south each year Saddest of all the
farmers pay out many additional millions for supplies which they
8a114
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
could just as well raise at home Thus the south which is the
most highly favored section of the Union in natural resources and
in opportunities for acquiring wealth pays tribute to the north
and west and to every foreign country Her cotton crop has built
up colossal fortunes at the north Her lumber trade has established
foreign companies on a firm basis the earnings from her immense
deposits ofjrou and her marble and minerals have gone to swell
the profits of aliens Of all these immense interests which act as
a continual drain on our hard earned income scarcely one per
cent is located within our own border Nearly all are outside and
are flourishing and fattening on the life blood which is drawn
from our arteries of trade and commerce The auswer to the
latter clause of your question stated fsucciuctly is this As long as
the south pays out each year for needed articles more than she re
ceives for her products she will be prostrate under the feet of
money lenders and sharpers She must learn to handle her own
crops run her own banks and manufacture everything needed
within her borders Shejmust workjat home and board there
This is a very simple lessonin domestic economy but it has taken
us over a century to master even its rudiments These have now
been learned and the south is being gradually emancipated The
day of her full deliverence is not very far off She has every
requisite for independence climate and soil for beautiful crops
raw materials for manufactures of every description Each year
the facilities for transportation have increased and are increasino
Manufactures and plants for variousMndustries are constantly being
added to the list Whenjthe muzh understands the value of the
immense traffic which her shortsightedness has allowed to fall into
other hands she will assert her right to control it and no power
on earth can wrest it from her
RUST ON ROSES
QUESTION 2
My hybrid perpetual roses have been attacked by some enemy
causing yellow spots upon the leaves which have gradually ex
tended until the whole plant seems affected The young branchesANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
115
are drawn up aud the geueral appearance of the bushes is sickly
and deformed The tea roses do not seem to have contracted the
disease whatever it is but my hollyhocks are infected with what
appears to be the same disease The plants seem to have dried up
and what was once a promise of lovely flowers is now only a disap
pointment What shall I do for them
ANSWER 2
The disease which has attacked your roses is easily recognized
as rose rust to which the hardy hybrid perpetuals are peculiarly
subject and unless checked will develop winter spores which will
live through the winter and start again on their work of destruc
tion when the pleasant weather of spring begins The best plan is
to watch the rose bushes and as soon as the lemon colored spots
are discovered that portion of the plant should be removed and
burned Also in the autumn all fallen leaves underneath the
affected bushes should be removed and burned During the fall and
winter spray the bushes and the ground about them with a solu
tion of copper sulphate or other fungicide and in the spring after
the leaves are open spray with ammoniacal copper carbonate
The diseased condition of your hollyhocks is owing to the at
tacks of a fungus called hollyhock rust not the same which attacks
the roses but the treatment is very much the same Pull up all
infected plants and burn them also any fallen leaves then try a
thorough spraying with ammoniacal copper carbonate solution
WHEN TO SOW ONION SEED
QUESTION 3
When should I sow onion seed say in the latitude of Macon to
make early onions for market the following spring
ANSWER 3
Sow in a well prepared seed bed from the middle to the last
of September When the plants are 2 to 3 inches high set them
out in rows 18 inches wide and 4 inches apart in the row If
your land is well prepared and highly cultivated your onions
should be ready for market early enough to command a good price116 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Should the weather be exceedingly cold in the winter a light
mulching would be of benefit
EGYPTIAN COTTON
QUESTION 4
Is there any need for uneasiness as to Egyptian cotton Is not
all this agitation about its interfering with our long staple cotton
gotten up for political effect
ANSWER 4
The cotton trade of Egypt is increasing vory rapidly The num
ber of pounds has nearly doubled since 1879the first year in
which we had official reports In 1879 Egypt exported 270060
813 pounds The official report for 1895 is the latest and give
the amount as 521427463 pounds The price has fallen steadily
tram 1495 cents in 1879 to 897 cents in 1895 Our first direct
importation of Egyptian cotton was in 1884 and its use here has
increased very rapidly In 1896 we imported directlv from
Egypt 43574760 pounds This amount added to that which
TZZf thrUgl1 Engli8h Channel3 increased the 1 to about
50000000 pounds or about 100000 bales American cotton In
view of these facts our growers of Sea Island cotton have felt
much uneasiness The president of the New York Cotton Ex
change Hon Gustavus C Hopkins says that Egyptian cotton cer
tainly does compete with our Sea Island or long staple cotton
Georgia raises twothirds of this latter crop and we are of course
directly interested in any movement which tends either to increase
or depress the price
CORN SMUT
QUESTION 5
Is there any remedy to prevent the corn smut which it seems
to me is increasing in the last few years
ANSWER 5
The remedies for com smut must necessarily be of a preven
tive nature because from the fact that the disease enters the plant
when young Spraying with Bordeaux mixture and other fungiANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
117
cides will do little good Experiments on this line have been made
and the results have confirmed this opinion On investigation it
will be found that when the diseased corn is left in the field or on
the ground it will infect succeeding crops and also that while
smutted corn fed to horses may not be very injurious to the ani
mals the spores will be distributed in the manure and will work
a great amount of damage To arrest the disease it will pay to
practice rotation of crops and also to destroy as much of the smut
as possible before it comes to maturity Cut off the smut balls and
bury or burn them before they burst and scatter the spores broad
cast Bissey says Where domestic animals are allowed to eat
smut in the field they become the carriers of the spores and their
droppings filled with the still living spores become the centers of
infection No animal should be permitted to eat smutted corn
even though the owner be convinced of its harmlessness to the
animal itself The harm lies in the distribution of the spores
which are little if at all injured by passing through the alimentary
canals of animals
DLSEASED QUINCES
QUESTION 6
Why is it that we so rarely see a perfect quince these days I
remember that in my youth this was considered one of our most
certain fruits and the rows of quince trees in my mothers garden
laden with the heavy yellow fruit is still a pleasant memory
ANSWER 6
Quinces like many other of our fruit trees have been sadly
neglected and the insidious advances of diseases have been scarcely
noticed until they have obtained such a firm foothold as to be
very difficult of eradication There are four diseases to which the
quince is liable The leaf blight and fruit spot the quince rust
the black rot and the twig blight The first attacks the fruit as
well as foliage and young quince trees in the nursery are pecu
liarly liable to it The remedy is spraying with Bordeaux mix
ture118
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
The rust attacks the fruit and unless the disease is checked the
young qumees will be distorted and misshapen long befor hey 1
apples and cedar balls so often seen on cedar trees and if these
ees grow near a qU1nce orchard they shonld be destroyed SpraT
rt glCld3 may alS be USed With adntage
fW I mre Safdy PreVented b Clean culture than by
fungnndes because the disease usually appears when the fruit is
eaehmg mat ty and tke applcaton of t
destroyed and after the crop is gathered late sprayings of am
momacal solutmn of copper carbonate will be beneficial
The tmg blight very much resembles the pear blight The
branches turn black and should be cut off and burned at once
RUST IN WHEAT
QUESTION 7
tJVhT TJ Waj t0 rast wheat There seems to be
to kinds of rust one attacks the blades the other the stalks and
the latter does much the most damage
ANSWER 7
whir a miStaken t0 tiere be o kinds of rust that attack
f A T 7 attaCkS 6 MadS Md stalks indiscrimi
nately As a rule the blades are first attacked either from their
greater susceptxbdity or because the stalks have not made their ap
LTSed ttor seeds of the fiuigusthat P
first settled upon the plant Hot wet weather is most conducive
to the development of this fungus and some varieties of wheat are
more eaS1ly affected than others Weak plants are more liable to at
To tl l Tig0rUS gKfW henCe the Portance of plant
ing the best seed There has been no remedy discovered for thi
dseae when once it makes its appearance on the wheat We can
however use preventive means by a careful selection of seed and
so treatmg lt before planting as in some measure to guard agWANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
119
this disease The simplest treatment and one that gives as good
results as any is to soak the seed wheat for two or three hours in
a solution made of four ounces of sulphate of copper bluestone
to a gallon of water Stir the wheat occasionally and skim off all
the light and defective seed that rise to the top It is claimed by
some that a free use of salt as a fertilizer will prevent rust hut this
has not been demonstrated The rust of course does most dam
age when it attacks the stalks for then the grain is directly injured
If you will select your seed from wheat that fully matured and
ripened in the field entirely free from rust and will then treat as
described you will stand a fair chance of escaping rust though it
frequently appears after every pains has been taken to prevent it
SORGHUM BLIGHT
QUESTION 8
This year my young sorghum crop has grown very slowlythe
development has been so unusually delayed as to attract my atten
tion and I notice now that the lower leaves are dying and that lit
tle red spots in clusters are appearing on the plants On examina
tion I find that the roots seem diseasedin some cases seem to
have rotted and even the larger plants may be pulled up without
difficulty As sorghum roots after the first few weeks are usually
tough and tenacious I must think that the trouble lies in the roots
and not in the leaves although the leaves indicate a diseased condi
tion of the plant
ANSWER 8
You are correct in supposing that the seat of the disease is in the
roots and the distinct species of bacteria causing the blight can
only be seen with the aid of high microscopic power So far as is
known rotation of crops is the best means yet found for prevent
ing this disease and also to burn up all stalks stubble and refuse
from the infected sorghum crop
THE RICE WEEVIL
QUESTION 9
In answer to a question a month or two since you said that wee
vils were wingless ISTow I send you some specimens that you will120
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
find are lively flyere and they seem to fce e
1Z glW pw tel1 me why you said they we
ANSWER 9
The weevil that was mentioned in a previous answer was called
tLTZZ7 ryou wn observe bthe artic
agam They are wingless but at the same time they are very in
jurious to stored grain
The winged insects tfmt you sent are called the rice weevil fcal
andra oryza They resemble the granary weevil very much in
appearance are very destructive to all stored grain and in this
slate do an immense amount of damage
Another pest the Angoumois grain moth commonly called
weevil does great damage particularly to corn before it is
housed frequently ruining whole ears and rendering it unfit for
food for man or beast But for these weevil pests our corn could
be kept from year to year as is now the case in more northern lati
tudes The use of bisulphide of carbon will destroy all these insects
as I have frequently mentioned in answers to questions and every
farmer who raises corn particularly in the southern portion of the
state should use it It is a moderate estimate to claim that its use
would add 15 per cent to the value of the corn in every crib south
of Griffin and save many farmers from buying who are now
driven to that necessity on account of the losses caused by weevils
and rats
SPRAYING OUTFITS
QUESTION 10
What firm makes the best spraying outfit
ANSWER 10
I am not prepared to say which is the best of the many spraying
outfits now offered for sale You must examine and judge for
yourself The desirable points are force in throwing the liquid
used and minute subdivision of the liquid in spraying The object
aimed at is to cover every portion of the tree with a fine drizzle asANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
121
it were of the insecticide used dropped on tihe leaves and stems
in a light spray that will remain and dry there for the future de
struction of the insects
If the liquid is thrown in large drops it simply runs off the
leaves and results in little or no good being accomplished Guided
by the points I have given you should have no trouble in buying a
firstclass sprayer
CUTTING WHEAT AND OATS
QUESTION 11
Should wheat and oats be cut before full maturity or not
ANSWER II
Unless intended for seed both wheat and oats should be cut be
fore becoming fully ripe By this plan you save more of the
grain as there is no loss from shattering The straw is more nu
tritious and therefore more valuable for feeding and it is even
claimed that the grain so saved contains more nutritive qualities
than when exposed longer to the sun When however the wheat
or oats is to be used for seed let it get fully ripe before harvesting
even at the expense of losing some of the grain by shattering and
all of the straw for feeding purposes
SOLUBLE PHOSPHORIC ACID
QUESTION 12
In the analysis of fertilizers phosphoric acid is spoken of as solu
ble reverted and insoluble Please give me a short explanation
of these terms
ANSWER 12
The soluble phosphoric acid in a fertilizer is that part that is
perfectly soluble in water and at once ready for plant food The
reverted phosphoric acid is that portion that becomes soluble by
the action of water and the soil combined and it is therefore esti
mated as available to the growing crop The insoluble is so dif
ficult of solution that it is regarded as of no benefit to a quick
growing crop and is therefore considered as having no value m a
122
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
tertihzer In an analysis of a fertilizer the soluble and the re
tried are added togefcW and caled Wabk orc n
simply because the crops can speedily appropriate them
COLORADO POTATO BEETLE
QUESTION 13
of TeT 7 fullde3criPtion of appearance habits etc
of the Colorado potato beetle There is an insect on my farm
which very closely resembles it but it did not seem to care for the
rfS3 e J saw were on nettles Are S
ANSWER 13
The are two beetles very closely resembling each other Only
an experienced eve can detect the difference The bogus beetle
never attack potatoe3 but are
while he real beetle attacks both and also other plant Jon
them fte tomato If you will write to
Station yon can obtain their bulletin No 41 which will
you all the particulars you ask for Address Howard Evlrte
Aveed Agricultural College Mississippi
BRONCHITIS IN SHOATS
QUESTION 14
I have several shoate in good order which seem to have some
m t ZthT g00d 7
seem to digest their food and they cough and sneeze particularly
when eating What must I do for them
ANSWER 4
Your shoats are suffering with bronchitis an irritation or inflam
mation of the air passage of the lungs This is caused by colds just
m the human being and is not difficult to cure if treated prompt
ly aT Tme teasPonful of spirits of turpentine in their
hmett7 iT dayS and bating
lament If this does not effect a cure mix equal parts of salt
sn Phur and powder of juniper berries and place in a t ouo
bo where they can have free access to it At the same tim d n
let them sleep m a dusty bedANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
125
AUGUST
CROP OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT
THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS HAVE DONE GREAT GOODCAME
JUST IN TIME TO SAVE CORNRARELY HAS THERE BEEN
FINER PROSPECTS FOR A BOUNTIFUL YIELD THAN IS PROM
ISED THIS YEARFARM WORK FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE NESBITTS MONTHLY LETTER
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Ga August 1 1897
The heavy rains during the latter part of July have in some
sections of the State worked injury to the bottom land corn and
in some cases have broken over terraces and ditches but they came
in time to save the upland corn which was beginning to suffer se
verely from protracted drouth and also to greatly benefit every
growing thing We have just returned from a rather extended
tour through the State and there has rarely been a finer prospect
for bountiful crops than is promised the present year Almost
without exception where a man has given his personal attention
to his business and has farmed rationally he is now about to reap
the harvest to his skill and intelligence It is only where the
ruinous tenant system prevails where the owner has trusted his
interest to unreliable and indifferent renters that we mark evidence
of neglect and haphazard farm methods It is in such localities
that the results of careless preparation of injudicious manuring
of hasty planting and slipshod cultivation are apparent in the stun
ted corn stalks which have not had sufficient depth of well
broken soil in which to send down their roots in search of food
and where meagre supply of surface fertilizer has been long sinco
exhausted The cotton fields too give evidence of mistaken
methods and crop starvation in the puny plants which cover acres
and acres of the hard run land It is also on such rented and
neglected farms that no preparation is being made for another year
The wheat and oats stubble fields if such crops have beert121
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
harvested are standing as when the grain wag taken
having been made to plow in a crop of peas that great renovator
rMU Jf ds th Ids the weeds and busles now
hold full sway taking up the fertility of the land perfecting seed
which wall soon be sent broadcast on their mission of mischief and
orminga mass of roots stems and brush which will grZTy hlnTr
the subsequent preparation of the land for other crops It is too
often the case even on otherwise well conducted farms that this
habit of turmog over the stubble fields to the dominion of weeds
toI t6f the SPring arations Win has been allowed
to go on from year to year No one neglect gives the farmer
ZTmT m rest rindicated aWin
of fertility Where thls has been allowed and the land is now
covered with a rank growth of weeds and bushes a good plan is to
run the mower over the fields before the seed mature but afto
i sfwher iTf 7 ieaving the of deca
ust where it falls when cut It will act as a beneficial mulch to
he land during the blazing hot days of late summer andZ add
someth ng of humusmaking material when turned under inTrepa
Tt uSint I and ne bW nW is a dozen
thistrk SPring UgUSt J the month for doing
AUGUST MEETINGS FOR FARMERS
farmTork Th0 f the heavier
farm work Ihe gram crops have been harvested the corn laid
hy and the cotton should be in condition to complete its erow h
without much more work TW c ipieue its growth
himself a Kttio TT nW afford to allo
iTtLuT T t0 other dutieseciiia11as po
exa 7 Sea30n f the W heM in abnce by the
tiva g dAmandSanSiDg fTOm bhe Paration planting and eul
tivation of his various crops He now has an opportunity of m
g with his neighbors and while enjoying th social into coue
whichthis opportunity affords he has also a chance of Undying
u ighbors perhaps more progressive methods or of learn nANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
125
the reason for such failures as have overtaken him The farmers
institutes the farmers clubs the various agricultural meetings being
held at this season bring about an interchange of plans and opin
ions which is of inestimable value to the individual farmer and
to the country at large Here should be discussed not only how
to produce the greatest yield of crops at the least cost but the
market and the market requirements should also come up for a
share of attention It is important to know how to make the crops
but it is equally important to learn how best to dispose of them
A mistake here often marks the profit or loss for the years work
Among the oldest and most successful agricultural countries on
the globe
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS
have always been considered as among the most powerful agents
for promoting agricultural good and welfare Here we see illus
trated much of the beauty and comfort as well as the utility of
farm life To check the tide of emigration which of late year
has turned so strongly towards the cities we need these
striking object lessons Farm life should not be all dull drudgery
Along with the hard work there should be opportunities for
broader culture for progress for uplifting to a higher plane
These agricultural meetings offer the impetus for such forward
and upward movements We see the progress made by others
we are stimulated to renewed effortswe realize the dignity ana
magnitude of our callingand so the machinery is put in motion
which lifts our work from the mere dull routine of daily toil and
invests it with some of the attractiveness which God intended and
which is so necessary to make our homes and the work pleasant
If we could only realize how much this means in so many ways
in keeping our boys on the farm in counteracting the influences
which are year by year drawing our children to the questionable
success of city and town life in fostering that love of home whicn
becomes the strongest governing principle of our being we would
deem no effort too great for its attainment126
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
These facts have been impressed upon me with peculiar force in
the last few weeks when by the courtesy of various organizations
throughout the State I have been invited to address gatherings of
farmers and have been studying agricultural and industrial condi
tions as seen among the people and as shown in the held orchard
and garden exhibits of different sections
In the inquiry columns will he found many questions bearin
on fall crops preparation fertilization etc
R T NESBITT Commissioner
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
COTTON PROSPECT IS EXCELLENTCORN IMPROVING
POTATOES FRUIT ETC
COTTON
The prospect at this time for a good cotton crop is most excelleut
throughout 4e State While a few small areas have been injured
by drouth and others by wind and hailstorms and others still by
excessive washing rains the general prospect is firstrate The
plant though a bttle late are growing finely and fruiting rapidlv
and wath seasonable rains through August the critical month tne
crop will be a good one There has been some appearance of roo
rot and rust or yellow leaf blight but as yet these are Z
senous and probably will not materially lessen tne crop n 2
experience the stand never was better and the crop never Z
cleaner and better worked than it is at this time and I sincerely
hope that the farmers will this year reap a fair reward for To1
t with r supply of the is ne
even with a large crop cotton should command a good orice I
sZdipthe frere of the state s jz ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897 127
CORN
In consequence of the frequent and general rains in July tWa
crop has improved wonderfully and with seasonable weather for
two or three weeks more Georgia will raise sufficient corn for her
own use In the lower part of the State the crop is practically
made and in some places fodder pulling has commenced In
upper Georgia the crop is in full silk and tassel the stalks green
and vigorous and the prospect very fine for an abundant crop
On some of the river and creek bottoms high water has done much
damage but this has been confined to small areas and will not ma
teriallv diminish the yield The latter part of June the corn crop
was seriously endangered by excessive heat and drouth and there
was much uneasiness felt as to the outcome but timely rams have
averted the threatened disaster and we can rejoice in the prospect
of plenty of hog and hominy for another year
PEAS POTATOES SUGAR CANE ETC
The high price of seed peas has to some extent curtailed the acre
age sowed this vear This the best of all soil renovators for our
climate should be sowed on every acre of stubble land and at lay
in by on every acre of corn land in the State AVhen this is done
we will hear less of worn out and exhausted soils Where sowed
the crop is good growing finely under the influence of the abun
dant rains which we are now having The yield promises well
The acreage in potatoes is not up to the average the dry weather
of May and June interfering with the planting Enough slips
however have been set out to supply the wants of the State and
there will be no scarcity of this product
The stand of sugar cane is generally reported poor and the
growth backward The yield of syrup and sugar may still be fair
however as the cane continues to grow and mature until frost
Pastures which had almost dried up in June are again green and
flourishing much to the delight of the dairymen and all who have
stock to feed12S
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FRUIT
The growers of most all fruits have been disappointed this year
Watermelons from the shipping section have been small in size and
few in number compared with former years and prices have not
proved remunerative
The peach crop has proved a failure save in a few favored local
ities and the total shipments from the State will not exceed one
fifth of the usual quantity
Plums yielded well all over the country and the grape crop now
being harvested is a good one
Apples are doing well and the crop will be an average one
STOCK
The condition of stock is fairly good considering how much
Western corn much of it damaged has been usedin the State
this year There have been a few cases of glanders reported to the
department some cholera among hogs and red water among cattle
but these reports are fewer than usual this year Sheep are hold
ing their own about as they have in the past receiving little or no
care and a constant prey for the many worthless dogs which roam
the country The progress and development of the country de
mands greater care and attention given to this valuable animal
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MUCH INFORTION POR FABMERSWINTEB LEGUMES AN
THE BEST WAY OF RAISING THEM
QUESTION 1
I am a great believer in cow peas as a renovator of our worn
lands I know from experience how valuable this crop is to the
Sou hern fanner but as these cannot be grown in the winter I
z eto kn7omtliing f the winter iemes a
manner of raising themANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897 129
ANSWER 1
Of the winter legumes clover in its many varieties is perhaps
the most important but at the outset it must be understood that
clover will not succeed on poor land nor even on good land with
out careful preparation On heavy soils the red and white and
alsike clover succeed best The latter is a cross between the other
two There is also the Japan clover or lespedeza which is not so
exacting in its demands on the land and which is called the poor
mans clover because it seems to nourish with treatment and
under conditions which the other varieties will not tolerate These
varieties when once planted if properly treated will furnish pas
turage and hay for several years and cover the land summer as
well as winter A closer analysis of your question however leads
me to suppose that you wish to know of such legumes as grow in
the winter and die down in summer thus leaving the land free for
other crops Of these crimson and burr clover also vetch and
hairy vetch have been found most successful The land should
be broken deeply during this month and then harrowed and rehar
rowed until fine and smooth If an incipient crop of weeds ap
pears before time for planting in September harrow again
Apply from 300 to 500 pounds per acre of cottonseed meal
acid phosphate and kainitand sow the seed at the rate of 15 pounds
to the acre harrow or brush ihe seeds in lightly and roll smooth
this last is most important These latter crops will cover the land
during the winter and furnish green food through the early
spring If the grazing or cutting is stopped in the spring before
the seeds mature these will perfect in sufficient quantities to reseed
the land and after the crop dies down the land can then be planted
in late corn or peas When these are taken off the dormant clover
seed will again spring into life The crimson clover is highly satis
factory in many sections It is best suited to light lands The
vech also has many enthusiastic advocates among those who have
tried it
9a130
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FALL IRISH POTATOES
QUESTION 2
Have the results of experiments with the fall crop of Irish pota
toes been fully confirmed Is it a certain crop and is there ready
sale for it
ANSWER 2
Like all other crops the fall Irish potato crop is liable to disas
ter but if the directions for managing it which have been so often
published are carefully followed we may calculate with moderate
certainty on a good yield As in all other marketable crops the
skill which commands success is as much in knowing how to sell
the crop as in knowing how to make it These fall grown seed
for spring planting at the South are so far superior to the North
ern grown seed that there is a good demand among our truckers for
this fall crop The spring crop grown from these seed is usually
superior to that grown from Northern seed The keeping qualities
of the fall potatoes also make them very desirable They do not
sprout in winter We have kept them all winter in hills precisely
as sweet potatoes are kept and with greater certainty Also when
planted at the same time they mature earlier than the Northern
grown seed Another point in their favor is that the superior vi
tality of the Southern grown seed enables the plains to survive re
verses in the spring A frost which will ruin a crop from North
ern seed will only partially injure the others The stems are
stouter and stronger It is important if the fall crop is intended
for seed that they should be green when the frost kills the tops
If allowed to mature before frost they will sprout too early as the
Northern grown potatoes do and thus lose much of their vitality
FLIES ON CATTLE
QUESTION 3
Can you give me a reliable recipe for protecting my cows against
flies They are on my cattle in such numbers as amounts to a
plague and among the milch cows to such a degree as to materi
ally decrease the flow of milkANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1S97
131
ANSWER 3
Take of coal tar two parts coal oil one part and any kind of
grease one part mix them with a small amount of carbolic acid
One thorough application of this using a cloth to moisten the hair
horns feet and legs of the animal will last if the weather be dry
for ten days or more and will entirely protect the animal troiu
flies If the mixture becomes too thick use a little more coal oil
if too thin to adhere well use a little more coal tar Carbolic acid
may be bought in crystals for 50 or 60 cents a pound and is a most
useful disinfecting agent Care should be exercised in handling
it as its action is very powerful properly diluted it is harmless
A little mixed with the whitewash for stables pig pens chicken
coops etc will materially aid in preventing disease and in check
ing the propagation of insect and fungus pests It is also a reme
dial agent in treating sores and injuries on farm animals but great
care should be exercised lest the wash be made too strong
CASE OF TOO MUCH COTTON
QUESTION 4
I live in one of the best counties of Middle Georgiaa county
that has been noted for producing cotton Now the yield of cotton
per acre is falling off much of the land seems dead and lifeless
the ground when plowed has a tendency to clod and a very moder
ate drouth produces serious results What is the matter
ANSWER 4
The trouble arises from the allcotton planting in which too
many of our farmers still persist This results in the entire exhaus
tion of the humius or vegetable matter in the soil an element
that is absolutely essential in keeping up the fertility of our lands
and one that cannot be replaced by any amount of commercial fer
tilizers Most soils have the mineral elements of plant food in more
or less abundance but in the absence of humus these elements
cannot be made available for plant food The vegetable matter
decomposing generates carbonic acid which then dissolves the
mineral elements of plant food rendering them available for plant132 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
growth Humus also loosens up stiff clay soils rendering them
more friable and increasing their capacity to absorb moisture and
thereby enabling them the better to withstand drouth Loose
sandy soils are rendered more compact by humus and are thus ren
dered more capable of retaining moisture as well as available plants
food Humus serves several other good purposes in natures lab
oratory It has been proved to be a source of nitrogen It if
known to be in a measure destructive to insect life because of the
carbonic acid gas which is generated by its presence and by dark
ening the soil it adds to its heat absorbing power Xow that you
understand the value of humus you readily see why such serious re
sults follow its disappearance from the soil A remedy can only be
had in a proper rotation of crops sowing peas etc Whenever our
people will abandon the allcotton style of farming and they are
fast doing it then you will cease to hear about exhausted and
worn out land On the contrary our landswill then be gradually
brought up to a state of fertility surpassing that that they possessed
when first cleared by our forefathers
ROOT ROT
QUESTION 5
notice cotton stalks wilting and dying in my field without any
apparent cause On examination I find the roots rotten and some
with a white mould on them What causes this and is there any
remedy
ANSWER 5
The disease is the root rot and is caused by a fungus This disease
has been carefully investigated by the Texas Experiment Station it
being very prevalent in the central black prairie lands of that State
Their report demonstrates that all soils are more or less subject to it
though it is of most common occurrence in lands that are retentive
of moisture and do not drain off as they should The commonly
entertained opinion that only certain soils develop this disease has
been entirely refuted and it can and does occur on almost every
variety of soil The fungus has been found on plants only a fewANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
133
inches in height but generally does not spread until the middle of
June or even later when the plants are blooming and fruiting It
is thought by many planters that dry weather checks this disease
and close observation partially confirms this The fungus is nour
ished by the living substances of the roots which after a time die
and the plants thus deprived of their means of support wilt and
die also Experiments at the Texas Station have demonstrated
that this disease cannot be remedied or checked by the application
of any known substance to the soil The only thing to do is to re
sort to a rotation of crops planting the land that is infected with
the fungus in such crops as corn wheat millet or other members
of the grass family and putting it in cotton not oftener than once
in three or four years Some weeds such as the ragweed and
cocklebur are subject to the attack of this fungus but apparently
only after they have been injured mechanically Alfalfa or Lu
cerne is also subject to injury from this fungus Among trees
the ehinaberry and paper mulberry are most subject to this disease
though apple trees elm silver maple and others are sometimes at
tacked
GREEN MANURING
QUESTION 6
On a field which is sandy and deficient in vegetable matter I
have a fine stand of field peas which promise to make a luxuriant
growth of vines Would you advise me to turn them under green
or not
ANSWER C
On sandy land in our climate the best results are not attained
by turning under a green crop of any kind This green manur
ing as it is called can be done with advantage in more northern
latitudes but should be avoided in our climate and particularly on
sandy lands By turning under a heavy growtli of pea vines in Au
gust you would no doubt do your land more harm than good The
active fermentation of the green vines would produce a sourness of
the ground which would be injurious to the succeeding crop and134
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
the upturned soil would certainly not be improved by the hot sun
shine of August and September to which it would then be ex
posed Leave your pea vines to shade the land while the roots
continue to gather nitrogen and after frost when they are all
killed turn them under and you will have all the vegetable matter
dhat the leaves and stalks furnish as well as the nitrogen accumu
lated by the roots Should you wish to sow the field in oate say
in October before a killing frost you need not hesitate to do so
as the vines by that time will have reached maturity and would
not injure the land by being turned under Where you have a
choice however leave them alone until a later date if only for the
reason that the plowing will be easier after a killing frost than be
fore
FALL OATS
QUESTION 7
Is August too early to put in fall oats Please give me some di
rections for managing this crop Is its feeding value equal to
corn ami would you advise sowing largely of oats or would you
depend on the corn crop for stock feed
ANSWER 7
There is no good reason for the opinion so generally entertained
that corn is better than oats as a stock food Oats pound for
pound is actually superior as a feed for both horses and cattle
August is too early to sow the crop but it is none too early to pre
pare for it The mistake so often made in managing an oat crop
is that we attempt to grow this crop on land too poor to produce a
profitable crop of anything else It will pay to give thorough
preparation and heavy manure Plow deep and concentrate the
seed the labor and the fertilizer on a limited area rather than
weaken the chances of success on extended fields If the land is
deficient in humus cotton seed or cottonseed meal will help to sup
ply the deficiency and if during the winter even a light top dress
ing of farmyard manure can be used the yield will be wonderfully
increased For fall oats it is important to plant winter grown
seed Sow from H to 2 bushels to the acre and cover them 2 toANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
135
3 inches deep They should be sown as early in September as the
land can be gotten ready The object is to give them a good start
before the early frosts If the planting is delayed the crop is
often severely injured by the first freezes
YELLOWS IN PEACH TREES
QUESTION 8
Is there any remedy known for the yellows in peach trees
ANSWER 8
Very many efforts have been made to cure this apparently mys
terious and most destructive disease but all without avail Even
the cause of the disease has not been determined with certainty
We do know that it is highly contagious and liable to attack the
most vigorous tree of any age especially when in bloom It is
also known to be hereditary The only plan so far used success
fully for fighting this disease is to cut down and burn the tree root
and branch By this heroic treatment the disease may at least be
held in check Good care and thorough cultivation appear to ren
der the trees less liable to attack though they by no means secure
immunity from it This disease is very common in the orchards of
the East and North but as yet has done but little harm in Georgia
AVant of proper cultivation and the work of the borer will fre
quently cause peach trees to appear as though they had the yel
lows but the disease is as yet rare with us and it should not be
permitted by any carelessness to obtain a firm foothold
BLACK AND RED RUST
QUESTION 9
Will you give me some information about the diseases our farm
ers call black rust and red rust Can they be prevented in any
way
ANSWER 9
Both of these diseases are due to physiological causes and not to
the attacks of any fungus The black rust should be called the
yellow leaf blight as in the first stages of the disease the leaves136
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
assume a decidedly yellow spotted or mottled appearance In this
unhealthy condition they arc attacked by various fungus growths
which gives the leavesa black appearance thus giving rise to the
term black rust The causes of the disease are not well under
stood but it has been demonstrated that these fungus organisms
do not originate the disease and that they only hasten the destruc
tion of the already diseased plant Trials of various fungicides
have shown that the disease cannot be prevented by their appli
cation Experiments at the Alabama Station showed a reduction
of the disease where kainit was used as a fertilizer This effect
is more pronounced in seasons of drouth followed by copious
rains than when rains are frequent enough to keep the soil con
tinually moist and is doubtless due to the action of the kainit in
binding more firmly together the soil particles so that it is
more retentive of moisture or more able to draw it up from be
low Wood ashes and salt are known to produce much the
same results in the soil The redrust or red leaf blight
which is so common on the uplands and so rare on rich or alluvial
soils is the result simply of impoverished soil showing particularly a
lack of nitrogen and probably of potash and phosphoric acid also
The remedy for this is by proper rotation of crops to fill your land
with humus or vegetable matter and then with proper fertilizing
ami cultivation you will no longer be troubled with the red rust
Much of our land by continuous planting in cotton is exhausted
of all humus and only by its restoration first of all can proper fer
tilizing and cultivation be carried on
WINTER GRASS FOR HAY
QUESTION 10
Please give me some information in regard to the best winter
grass to sow for hay Something that will not injure the land
How to prepare and plant My land is fresh Should I take out
the stumps and grubs
ANSWER 10
There are several grasses which might be sown for hay but
taking everything into consideration I should prefer to sow oneANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
137
of the leguminous plants such as crimson clover You not only
get from it a good crop of hay but yon enrich your soil at the
same time and the clover is ready for cutting in time to make a
crop of corn or cotton on the same land It is somewhat difficult
to cure as it matures in April but that is the only objection
Break your land as deep as possible and harrow until it is thor
oughly pulverized Apply and plow in 200 pounds cottonseed
meal 100 pounds muriate of potash and 100 pounds acid phos
phate Sow 15 to 20 pounds of seed about the middle of Septem
ber in your county Carroll and harrow it lightly By all means
take out the stumps and grubs before attempting to prepare the
land By following directions you should take off a good crop
of clover in Aprilleaving the ground in excellent condition to
make a fine crop of cotton
FEEDING UNSOUND PEA VINE HAY
QUESTION 11
Is there any great risk in feeding unsound pea vine hay I
have known cases where it has been fed without any apparent in
jury
ANSWER 11
As a rule it is dangerous to use stock food of any kind which is
not perfectly sound particularly in the case of horses and mules
In the case of pea vine hay it has been demonstrated that where
it has fermented or become moist after being stored saltpetre is
formed in sufficient quantities to produce violent irritation of the
kidneys and if the feeding is persisted in death often results
Mouldy hay is also regarded by experienced feeders as extremely
dangerous
TOPPING COTTON
QUESTION 12
Does it pay to top cotton If so at what time should it be
done
ANSWER 12
This question has been discussed pro and con for years and no
satisfactory conclusions have yet been reached In some experi138
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ments made at the Georgia Experiment station the results left the
question as unsettled as it has always been In other words some
rows that were topped showed a slight loss in yield while others
showed a slight gain over the untopped rows The generally ac
cepted theory is that it does not pay to top cotton though under
certain conditions it might prove profitable It is thought by
many that it hastens the maturing of the bolls already set which
would be an advantage with an early frost Others think that it
tends to check the shedding of the forms and young bolls but this
claim I think unfounded Topping cotton when considered ad
visable is usually done when the plant is well fruited and at the
same time growing rapidly This condition is usually iound
about the first of August when the seasons have been propitious
As a general rule I would advise against the practice
DISINFECTING STABLES
QUESTION 13
Please give me directions for disinfection of stables where ani
mals with contagious disease have been kept
ANSWER 13
Remove all litter and rubbish of every kind and burn Haul
out all manure to the field scatter and plow under
Dissolve two ounces of carbolic acid in a gallon of water heat
And with it wash thoroughly all feed troughs watering troughs
fodder racks and other woodwork
Whitewash everywhere inside and out adding to the wash one
pound of chloride of lime to every four gallons of water
Remove and burn all rotten woodwork about the stable In
oases of glanders all harness poles and shafts should be carefully
washed with hot water and soap and then rubbed with oil in
which put one part of carbolic acid to ten of oil If you have
plank fence around lot in which the animal has run at large white
wash the same as stable If you have rail fence replace with new
rails burning the old ones In cases of glanders only the utmost
are will prevent contagion and where stables are inexoensive
the safest plan is to build anew in a different place burning up the
old premisesANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
139
NITROGEN IN MANURES
QUESTION 14
Please give me in pounds the amount of nitrogen potash and
phosphoric acid in a ton of chicken manure and also a ton of sta
ble manure
ANSWER 14
In a ton of chicken manure there are 67 pounds of nitrogen 41
pounds of potash and 4860 pounds of phosphoric acid A ton
of well rotted stable manure contains 11 pounds of nitrogen 10
pounds of potash and 6 pounds phosphoric acid Thus you see
that the chicken manure containssix times as much nitrogen four
times as much potash anl eight times as much phosphoric acid as
does well rotted horse manure Chicken manure being so valuable
more care should be taken to save it140
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
SEPTEMBER
HARVEST TIME NEAR AT HAND
CROPS NOW RAPIDLY ADVANCING TOWARDS MATURITYFALI
cmw rfRSUNIS m G00D CONDITION TO RE
TH SrrVElf RYE WHEAT 0ATS ETCSAVING
1HL CORNSTALKSCOMMISSIONER OF AORICULTURF NFS
BITTS MONTHLY LETTER TO TILLERS OF THESeSSSjmS
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Sept 1 1897
TdE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING IN FALL CROPS EARLY
During the early part of August the weather as a rule was
most favorable and the bountiful crops reported from almost
very section of the South are now rapidly aavancing towards
maturity
These favorable seasons also put the lauds in fine conditon
for the preparatory work of plowing harrowing etc in order
to be ready for the sowing of fall crops of grass clover rye
wheat oats etc The furrows will turn easily and be just at
the most favorable angle for proper harrowing and the seed
bed when harrowed and made fine will be in just the proper
condition to promote the rapid germination and favorable
growth of the little plants In exceptional cases farmers have
already laid the foundation for successful fall crops by a deep and
thorough plowing of the land and with them at least it now
only remains to get the surface in fine smooth condition and
then put in the seed The sooner this is done in the present
month the betterthe tender plants will thus have a chance to
get a farm roothold before the early frosts come to check their
growth Of course if this work has not already been done it
may still be undertaken but each days delay diminishes the
chances of success In previous numbers we have dealt very
fully with the questions of preparation fertilization seeding etcANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
141
SAVING THE CORN CROP
We cannot believe that farmers will persist in wasting such
a large part of their corn crop as has been the universal prac
tice in the past when once the are convinced that the alleged
value of cornstalks is no fake or fanciful picture of imprac
tical book farmers but a simple clear fact which has been
abundantly proven Seeing is believing however and each
man can prove for himself whether it be true or false Even
at the far South where the climate would seem a serious draw
back the plan of cutting down and curing the whole stalk has
been tried most successfully Let each man at the South but
experiment in this matter with a few rows of his corn crop and
the dreaded and laborious job of fodder pulling will be for
ever banished from our fields Chemical analysis has demon
strated that even in the bare cornstalks usually left standing
in our fields is contained a very large part of the nutritive and
fertilizing values of the crop Does it not seem a strange agri
cultural paradox that we deliberately throw away that which
it has cost us so much to produce and which is known to be
highly valuable for stock food A few additional hints on the
process of cutting and curing the whole stalk may not be amiss
for although much has been said and written on this subject the
directions as a rule apply to our Northern and Western neigh
bors rather than to our own locality where peculiarities of
climate and seasons render certain variations and precautions
in the usual process imperative When the corn in the ear is
well ghized it is an infallible sign that the stalk has finished its
work and has taken up from the soil all the nutriment which it
is capable of doing When this stage is reached the corn tops
will wither and the crop is said to be fully ripe It is at this
stage that the stalks should be cut off quite close to the ground
A man with a sharp hoe can soon learn to cut four or five acres
in the morning The stalks should not be allowed to lie on
the ground over night as the heavy dews usual at this season
will prove injurious What is cut in the morning should be
gathered up and shocked in the afternoon It the stalks are142
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
very large and heavy fewer should be put in a shock than
where the growth is smaller About 150to200or even 300 stalks
according to size may be safely put in each shock The shocks
should be allowed to stand in the held until perfectly cured
anywhere from three to six weeks As soon as thoroughly
cured they should be hauled to the barn and stored for
future use leaving the ear on if desired Or if preferred the
shredder may be called into service at once and as the crop is
hauled from the field it may by this machine be converted into
a finely shredded and valuable forage The machine will shuck
and throw the ears to one side and the remainder of the plant
stalk leaves shucks and top is utilized without the loss of a
single part If the crop is to be stored without shredding care
should be taken to place each stalk in an upright position if
laid flat one on the other there is danger of injury If the
shredder is not available a good feed cutter which will pay for
itself in a short while as they are not costly will cut up the
cured stalks as they are needed into half inch lengths and if
this is sprinkled with a little salt or salt water it makes a
splendid stock food Analysis has shown it to be far superior
to cottonseed hulls in feeding value A Southern farmer who
has had much experience in shocking and saving his corn crop
says it will facilitate the work if the following plan is adopted
Take a piece of scantling 1x5 inches and six feet long Sharpen
at one end so that it can be driven into the ground About
four feet from the ground nail on two pieces about two feet
long These should be nailed on at right angles to the upright
and to each other In making the shocks lay a dozen or so
cornstalks at a time in the alternate crotches formed by the
nailed on boards and when the shock is sufficiently large pull
out the stake and tie the tops firmly together with a piece of
strong twine By this plan the shocking is much easier to
manage and the curing more certain
SAVING OF SEED CORX
Another feature of saving our corn crop about which we
are proverbially careless is the saving of seed corn The best
time to attend to this is while the corn is still standing in theANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
143
fields Single out the finest ears on the best developed and
most productive stalks Mark these and when they have come
to full maturity store away in a well ventilated place where
they will be safe from rats and damp and ready for use when
needed If this plan was generally followed not only would
the yield of our corn crop gradually and materially increase
but the quality also would be much improved
COTTON PICKING
It is the earliest pickings that are usually the cleanest and
which bring the best price It is a mistake to wait until the
fields are white to begin An unexpected storm or an extended
period of wet weather may work incalculable injury The
point to be aimed at is to get our cotton to the markets in the
best possible condition The classification is becoming more
strict each year and our careless methods of handling and bal
ing this our main dependence as a money crop have given rise
to a heavy tare which must come out of the pockets of the
farmers
PEA SEED
At every favorable opportunity gather peas for seed The
high price this year owing to last years short crop shows the
importance of sowing enough at least for your own use Every
farmer who has tried this crop knows its value to his land and
to his stock and while the gathering of the seed comes at an
inconvenient time as it often conflicts with other important
work no effort should be spared to house plenty of seed and to
do this work as soon after they are ripe as possible
HOGS
The crops of potatoes ground peas sorghumpeas etc now
coming in are of great assistance in pushing the hogs to a
more satisfactory and rapid as well as less costly maturity
Those intended for pork should be ready for the first cold spell
in Xovember or December Each day after that is much added
expense without any compensating profit144
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
The effects of the steady rains during the last of August prove
what has been so often asserted before that any predictions at
this season as to the final yield of the cotton crop are exceed
ingly uncertain and may be misleading While the beginning
of August found the general prospects most promising the close
of the month witnessed a falling off over the entire South
The heavy and long continued rains have not only caused rust
but have produced a sappy growth of the cotton plants and a
short spell of dry hot weather by causing the fruit to shed
would now reduce the average still lower
R T Nesbitt Commissioner
THE CONDITION OF CROPS
COTTOX
The outlook for an extraordinary cotton crop in this State was
most excellent up to the middle of August the plantsas a rule
growing well and fruiting finely Since that date there has
been a decided change for the worse continued rains and cloudy
weather causing serious injury In South Georgia where there
was much open cotton it has been splashed with dirt and
stained and where the open cotton has been beaten to the
ground by the rain the seed have sprouted to the great injury
of the lint In addition rust has developed on much of the
gray land and the plant has ceased to grow and fruit In
Middle and North Georgia the damage from these sources has
not been so great but the continued wet weather has caused
excessive growth and in consequence the plants have shed a
great many forms and young bolls A careful examination will
convince every farmer of this fact Picking is going on in South
ern and Middle Georgia but has been much retarded until the
last few days by frequent showers The crop is quite two
weeks late as compared with last year but unless we have early
frosts this will not materially affect the final yield There are
some reports of caterpillars but as yet not in sufficient numANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
145
bers to threaten any serious injury If the farmers would de
stroy the first caterpillars that appear by using Paris green
there would be no second or third crops to devour the cotton
but unfortuntely they are usually unnoticed until vast num
bers are hatched out and of course they are then more difficult
to deal with On the whole the cotton crop of the State prom
ises to be only a fair one
CORN
I have traveled over much of the State in the past month
and from observation and reports my impression is that this
crop is as good as the land can make in North Georgia first
rate in Middle Georgia and good in the southern portion of the
State In the latter section the crop being more advanced suf
fered to a considerable extent from the dry weather in June
but still a sufficiency has been made there The present crop
will be far in excess of that of last year and if not wasted will
be ample to supply the wants of the State Fodder pulling is
about finished in lower Georgia and will very soon be com
pleted all over the State
SORGHUM SUGAR CANE GROUND PEAS AND POTATOES
These minor though very valuable crops are all doing well
throughout the state the rains of July and August having
brought them out wonderfully Peas also are growing finely
and promise a good yield Pastures are excellent
FRUIT
Apples some grapes and a few quinces are all the fruits yet
ungathered and these have all been injured by the late wet
weather The crops of both peaches and watermelons have
been small this year but the growers have realized some money
from them and appear to be well satisfied with the results The
damage from various insect pests has become so great and so
general that every farmer who raises fruit if only for family
use should interest himself in getting the legislature to ap
point a state entomologist through whose efforts the loss from146 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
this source may be stopped or at least diminished If some step
iu this direction is not taken and that very soon the fruit in
dustry in this state must rapidly decline
STOCK
With the exception of a few reports of cholera among hogs
and some red water among cattle the condition of stock is good
throughout the state
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ALL SORTS OF INFORMATIONCOMMISSIONER NESBITTS IN
QUIRY BOX FOR THE MONTHHOW TO HARVEST GROUND
PEAS
QUESTION 1
Please give me a quick and effective method of harvesting
groundpeas so as to save the vines as well as the nuts The
gathering of this crop comes at such a busy season that I am
always more or less perplexed as to how I shall manage to get
everything properly attended to By the usual method of dig
ging and drying by hand the hay is not saved in good condi
tion and much of it is often lost This plan is also slow and
wearisome when so much other work is pressing
ANSWER 1
The Spanish groundpeas form their nuts very close to the
crown of the plant and therefore if they are barred off with an
ordinary plow they may be pulled up by hand and all or uearly
all of the nuts will cling to the vines These must then be
piled in wind rows roots up nuts on top Allow them to stand
until next day and then stack around a pole taking care to
have a layer of rails on the ground to protect the lower part of
the stack from dampness and also to leave air space around
the pole sufficient for ventilation In making the stack the
order of placing should be reversed nuts within vines without
When the stack is finished cap carefully to prevent injury from
rain In about three weeks the nuts will be ready for picking
off by hand and the hay cured sufficiently to be stored Ground
peas belong to the family of legumes and like all of their kind
the tops are good for forageANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
147
For other varieties than the Spanish it will be necessary to
use a plow made especially to run under the vines and cut the
tap root when it will be found comparatively easy to pull the
vines up without loosening the nuts But if the soil is very
heavy even this will not answer In such a case run a turn
ing plow near the vines first and in this furrow run a sweep
which has had one wing turned up to act as a bar or landslide
and the other flattened and made sharp to run under the vines
The gathering curing and stacking can then be managed as
above
FIRSTCLASS COMPOST HEAPS
QUESTION 2
In the intervals of leisure from more pressing work I am
anxious to put up some firstclass compost heaps for use when
my spring crops are planted I have tried mixing kainit and
superphosphate with the manure with success What I want to
know is will caustic lime be equally effective in helping to
preserve the manure from wasting until such time as I may
wish to use it
ANSWER 2
One objection to using caustic lime in a manure or compost
heap is that after fermentation begins the lime has a tendency
to cause the escape of ammonia This might be in a measure
prevented by covering the heap closely with earth and packing
down Lime also tends to convert the available nitrogen of
manure into less desirable forms and although after the lime
is applied to the soil this loss is in a measure made up for by
the power of the lime to promote nitrification in the soil we
do not think it fully compensates for the first loss Lime
should never be used in connection with a superphosphate be
cause it will convert its phosphoric acid into insoluble form
Therefore we would advise the continued use of the superphos
phate and kainit rather than the lime The kainit will arrest
the formation of ammonia and the superphosphate will prevent
its escape They also supply potash and phosphoric acid in
which the manure is somewhat deficient It is much more im
portant however that the manure heap be properly constructed
than that we invest in expensive materials to prevent the es
cape of its valuable plant food elements In building the ma
nure heap if we are careful to exclude the air as far as possi148
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
ble and to keep the moisture uniform that is not having the
heap too wet at one time and too dry at another we will con
serve the valuable fertilizing constituents of the mass and en
able the manure to go through a uniform fermentation which
will not only increase its own value but prevent it from acting
injuriously to the soil The question of properly managing
farm yard manure is one that has received the most careful
study and it is found that the most effective methods are the
simplest those which involve the smallest intelligent expendi
ture of time money and labor Any unnecessary handling is
expensive and we should plan so as to secure a maximum re
turn at a minimum cost in all the items
JOHNSON GRASS
QUESTION 3
With all the lights before you would you advise a farmer to
plant Johnson grass for hay
ANSWER 3
There is probably no hay crop more certain than Johnson
grass and some farmers who have tried it pronounce it un
surpassed for abundance of yield and quality But there are
many things to be taken into consideration and other farmers
are equally pronounced in their opposition to it In view of
such conflicting opinions it is only fair to state both sides of
the question and leave each individual to choose whether it
suits his special needs or whether it is better to leave its culti
vation to some one else
In the first place then its advantages are as follows It is
perennial that is it will last for a number of years It is un
like many other grasses in its dependence on moisture at a
certain period of its growth All through the early sprino the
summer and late fall it responds to rains If these are abund
ant three or four cuttings are possible and even under adverse
circumstances one cutting is always certain Once set there
fore it may be depended on for an almost certain yield for man v
successive years J
On the other hand among the disadvantages of having a per
manent field of Johnson grass are Its certainty to spread both
by underground stems and by its millions of seeds which if al
lowed to mature are scattered in every direction The last may
be entirely prevented by mowing clean as often as the plants showANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
149
A disposition to perfect seed three or four times during its season
of growth If the field in which this grass is grown is in a meas
ure isolated from the rest of the farm and if no plow is put into
it whereby a careless farm hand may transport the roots from one
part of the farm to another there is little danger of propagating
it in this way Another disadvantage is that while Johnson grass
if cut at the proper stage that is just after it has bloomed and is
ready to form heads will make splendid hay if the cutting is de
layed beyond this period the hay becomes tough and woody and
stock will not eat it Still another objection is that it is very
difficult to eradicate it Once it has taken possession of a field it
must be given over to it without question While under some
conditions this might constitute a very serious objection under
others it might be regarded as a positive advantage The hay
when cut at the proper time and properly cured is fine the
yield is certain and generally abundant In view of these facts
if one has a field suited for its cultivation why not let it take
possession and thus secure at little cost and trouble a nutritious
hay the demand for which is never fully supplied We know
some intelligent farmers who are enthusiastic supporters of John
sou grass when planted under the above restrictions
GERMAN CRIMSON AND JAPAN CLOVER
QUESTION 4
Does German or crimson clover improve the land as much as
the red or white clover Is the gathering of nitrogen the
only benefit which the clovers render the land Please tell me
something about Japan clover I have heard that it will
improve the land furnish good pasturage and that it does not re
quire as much manure or the same care as the other varieties
ANSWER 4
The crimson clover sends its roots down deep in the earth
but being an annual it probably does not improve the land
as much as the biennial red clover White clover though a le
gume does not benefit the land as much as either the scarlet or
the red clover the roots not penetrating the earth to the same
depth as the others Where a green crop is needed for turning
under in the early spring the scarlet clover is the best of the
three as it makes a very heavy growth in the late winter and
early spring The clovers and other legumes not only gather
nitrogen for future crops but their strong long roots penetrate the150
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
subsoil and loosen it up thus rendering the succeeding crop less
liable to suffer either from excessive rains or from drouth In ad
dition their decaying roots furnish humus to the soil Japan
clover Lespedeza striata belongs to the family of legumes and is
annual On poor land its growth is low and spreading but on
good land it will grow from fifteen to twenty inches tall and yield
a fine crop of excellent hay It seems to prefer dry clay soils
and will grow on lands of this character that are too poor for the
other clovers It is a good renovator sending its roots deep into
the ground and holding its own against all other plants As far
as tested it does not succeed well on sandy lands I advise its
planting on thin hillsides where it can be pastured during the
summer all stock being fond of it Sow in the spring broadcast
ing from fifteen to eighteen pounds of seed to the acre
USE RYE
QUESTION 5
Is there any cheap crop that I can cover my lands with
during the winter I know it is a mistake to leave them bare
but clover and vetch are expensive crops and unless the land
is rich and all conditions suitable they often fail I want something
within the reach of an ordinary farmer and which I can take off in
the spring in time for other crops
ANSWER 5
For your purpose I think you could use nothing better than
rye It is of course an injury to the land to remain bare for
several months subject to the leaching and washing of our
heavy winter rains This is the chief reason why cotton culture
is so injurious to land The crop takes from the soil less plant
food than any of the staple crops of the country but the cotton fields
being left bare of vegetation and subjected for the entire winter
to the washing and leaching of heavy rains are rapidly deprived
of some elements of plant food particularly of nitrogen By sow
ing from three to four pecks of rye to the acre from September 1
o lo you will protect your land largely from washing you will
have a good pasture through the late fall and winter for all your
stock and you will have the green stubble to turn under in the
spring You can plant rye without injury to the growing crop by
running a shallow sweep furrow through the middles of the rows
having first sowed the seed ahead of the plow This plan can also
be practiced successfully with oats pasturing them in the winterANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
151
loam and for
It is not a
and turning them under in the spring Of the two however I
prefer the rye as better able to withstand the cold and as being of
more rapid growth and earlier maturity Should you prefer to
make hay of the rye cease to pasture it after Christmas and cut
when starting to run up and then turn under the stubble Where
you expect to cut the rye you must of course knock down the
cotton stalks in good time so that they will not interfere with the
reaper or cradle
SUGAR CANE CULTIVATION
QUESTION 6
Give me some information about planting manuring and culti
vating sugar cane also yield of syrup
ANSWER 6
Sugar cane does best on a rich deep sandy
its best success requires plenty of moisture
profitable crop north of latitude 32 degrees though it is planted
to some extent much higher up the country It requires a long
summer for its full development and consequently does best in
South Georgia Belonging as it does to the family of grasses
it requires an abundance of nitrogen and will not make much
growth without it It is very customary in the wiregrass section
of the State to plant cane on land that has beeucowpenned the
previous year and very fine crops are made in this way Stable
manure should not be used for though it will produce a fine
growth of canes the syrup made from them will neither taste as
well nor be as light in color as where other fertilizers are applied
Break your land deep and thoroughly open deep furrows four feet
apart apply in these furrows 500 pounds of a fertilizer carrying
8 per cent phosphoric acid 4 per cent nitrogen and 2 to 3 per
cent potash Run a scooter in bottom of furrow to mix the fer
tilizer with the soil Then plaut your cane cutting the stalks
into lengths of about two feet and letting them lap each other in
the planting furrow Cover with turning plow running on each
side of the planting furrow Then apply 200 pounds of the fer
tilizer above mentioned in each listing furrow run through this
with scooter to mix the fertilizer with the soil then bed out the
land Nine hundred pounds of fertilizer may seem a heavy ap
plication but you will be amply repaid by the increased crop
Cultivate as you would com keeping down all weeds and grass
With a good stand and necessary rains a crop planted as di
rected should make not less than 400 gallons of syrup to the
acre
xCx352 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
OLIVE TREES IN GEORGIA
QUESTION 7
hnnlw i erow South Borgia Where can trees be
bought and at what price How old will the trees be before
beginning to bear
ANSWER 7
The olive tree requires for its best development a deep cal
careous welldrained soil and will not grow on wet land As far
as climate and soil are concerned there are doubtless places in
feouth Georgia particularly near the sea coast where the olive
would grow and bear fruit but I do not thinkthey would prove
profitable There are thousands of acres in the coast valleys of
Cahfornia planted in olive trees which promise an abundant yield
and indeed some orchards are bearing well now but even there
with so and climate peculiarly suited to them they do not prove
a profitable as some other crops Trees for setting out should
lL than ir d T hey are then t0lSher aDd mpre to
live than the one and two year old trees You would probably
have to obtain them from California or import them fromVurope
bonlhtTf at the East r South where they can be
ZS nd on fCalf0nmI th7 beSin to bear at five to six years of
age and continue in bearing for a long term of years They
lol d be I 7t6d n0t leSS l thhty f6et eadl and gt e
should be taken to preserve the roots from injury Even if vou
have the proper soil and climate Iwould advise against your plant
ing more than an experimental plot yuurpiant
WIRE FENCING
QUESTION S
I want to put up considerable wire fence this foil and I want
your advice as to posts I have a choice between pine popkr
magnolia sweetgumand oak which is best for the purpose PWlS
is the best treatment to give the posts in order to preserve the
from decay Will smaH trees cut J ZlTlotZ
large trees sawed or split for the purpose R
ANSWER S
Among the woods you mention good heart pine is a long ways
It T CUldi PfMy C6dar they wouldgb the
best but aside from cedar there is in South Georgia no better woodANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
153
for posts than the heart of a sound yellow pine A good and
economical treatment to make the posts more durable is to apply to
them a heavy coat of tar covering every portion of the post that
goes in the ground and for six or eight inches above the ground
Better still if you could boil in tar for the space of half an hour the
ground end of the posts they would be rendered practically proof
against rot The large trees split or sawed would last longer than
the trees only large enough for posts You will readily see the reason
of this from the fact that the small tree would be entirely sapwood
which rots very quickly when exposed to the weather while the posts
from the large tree being all heart would be much more durable
Never use for posts anything but heart wood
LAND STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
QUESTION 9
What will restore land that has been struck by lightning and
how long will it take
ANSWER 9
There is a prevalent belief that where the ground is struck by
lightning it is rendered sterile and unproductive for years This
is an error which any one by close observation can detect When a
portion of a growing crop such as cotton is struck by lightning all
the plants which receive a share of the electric current are of
course killed and it is possible and even probable that chemical
changes take place in the ground receiving the current that render
it barren and unproductive for a short time This condition has
been noticed by every farmer I suppose but continued observation
would also have shown that the stricken spot gave no evidence ot
sterility the following year By that time whatever harm had been
done to the land by the lightning will have been remedied by the
forces of nature which are constantly at work and the ground will
be restored to its original fertility
STANDARD WEIGHTS OF FARM PRODUCTS
QUESTION 10
Will you please publish for the benefit of myself and other farm
ers the standard weights for Georgia of the various farm products
ANSWER 10
The following are the established legal weights per bushel as
given by the Code Wheat 60 pounds shelled corn 56 pounds154
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
corn in the ear 70 pounds peas 60 pounds rye 56 pounds oats
32 pounds barley 47 pounds Irish potatoes 60 pounds sweet
potatoes 55 pounds white beans 60 pounds clover seed 60
pounds timothy seed 45 pounds flax seed 56 pounds hemp
seed 44 pounds bluegrass seed 14 pounds buckwheat 52
pounds dried peaches unpeeled 33 pounds dried peaches
peeled 38 pounds dried apples 24 pounds onions 57 pounds
turnips 55 pounds corn meal 48 pounds wheat bran 20 pounds
cotton seed 30 pounds and of ground peas 25 pounds
BUFFALO BUR
QUESTION 11
I enclose a plant for identification It came up in my garden
where I planted a paper of lettuce seed It is something like the
horse nettle as you see Is it good for anything
ANSWER 11
The weed is what is known as the Buffalo Bur solanum rostra
tum Its native home is the Western plains north of Mexico
whence it has traveled slowly towards the East until now it is
found in every State in the Union though still quite rare in
Georgia This plaut differs from the horse nettle in having yel
low flowers instead of white and bears thorny burs instead of
smooth yellow berries like the nettle It is an annual and
propagated only by the seed which are not as numerous as in most
troublesome weeds It is absolutely good for nothing and you
should destroy every plant you see before the seeds mature and
are carried to other places by sticking to any animal that may brush
against them
RINGING PIGS
QUESTION 12
Please give me some information regarding the ringing of pigs
What should be the size of the ring and of what material should
it be made How long can the ring remain in the nose without
injury
ANSWER 12
Rings are put in the noses of pigs or hogs to prevent their root
ing The ring should be placed in the tough cartilage at the top
or the nose through which a hole must be punched to receive it
The ring should be made from 1 to H inches in diameter andANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
155
should be made of either steel or copper It can remain in the
nose of the hog during its life without injury Should you turn
the animal on a field of potatoes or groundpeas where you want
him to root the ring must be removed Where hogs are kept on
grass or clover through the summer they should always be ringed
as otherwise they do much damage rooting for worms or grassroots
QUESTION 13
WARTS ON MULES EARS
I have two mules with warts on their ears Please tell the best
method of removing them
ANSWER 13
There are various methods recommended for removing warts
The best plan however is to cut them off with a sharp knife and
either burn the place where cut with a hot iron or wash it for several
days with acetic acid The warts are simply attached to the skin
and will not return if treated as directed
BUGS ON SQUASHES AND CUCUMBERS
QUESTION 14
My late squashes and cucumbers are always injured more or less
by bugs Can you give me some remedy which will check the
ravages of these little pests
ANSWER 14
Saltpetre is said to be a neverfailing remedy The plan is to
dissolve in water a sufficient quantity of saltpetre to apply to all the
hills While the plants are still young and before the bugs begin
work make a little ditch around each hill and pour in the saltpetre
water156
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
OCTOBER
SHORT CROP IS NOW SURE
COMMISSIONER NESBITT TALKS OF COTTON CONDITIONSPRICES
ARE UNUSUALLY POORDEPITE THE PROBABILITY OF A
STRONG DEMAND THE STAPLE IS BRINGING A CENT LESS
THAN AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEARIMPORTANCE OF SAV
ING FIRST PICKINGS BEFORE EQUINOCTIAL STORMS SET IN
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Octoberl 1897
COTTON
The cotton crop which a few weeks ago promised to be the
largest ever grown has suffered a severe backset Notwithstand
ing this indisputable condition as well as the fact that the worlds
surplus from the past season is very small both indicating the prob
ability of a strong demand prices have opened very low ruling at
least a cent less than at the same period last year The large surs
plus of manufactured goods on hand will partly but not entirely
account for this anomalous condition of the cotton market It i
certain that a large supply of cotton will be necessary to meet cur
rent demands It is also certain that the crop will fall short of our
August expectations but it is always a risky business for a farmer
to speculate on his cotton crop In an experience of over 30 years
we have found that generally speaking it pays better to sell the
crop as it is gathered Loss of weight and if stored insurance
storage etc run up the expense account very rapidly and often
as was the case last year though there may be every reasonable
probability of higher prices the farmer is in the end disappointed
The truth is no advice can be given which will suit all cases A
mans own judgment his obligations his peculiar environment and
financial condition must all exercise a deciding influence as to
when and at what price he can afford to sell A matter of far
greater importance just now and one which he has almost under
his entire control is to save the first pickings in nice clean condi
tion before the equinoctial storms damage it beyond remedy The
earliest picked cotton usually sells the best and it is folly to leave
it in the field to waste from the bolls or to become stained and
spoiled by rain and wind If handled carefully and neatly from theANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
157
time it is picked from the bolls until it is safely landed at the nearest
shipping station we will hear less complaint of the wretched con
dition in which American cotton reaches the markets ot the world
CORN
The general corn crop will also be undoubtedly shorter than that of
last year which it will be remembered was the largest ever grown
Corn is now advancing and prices will in all probability be steady
which is a strong additional reason for seeding a full area of fall
oats and also for saving every part of the corn crop It has been
often stated in these columns and many older agricultural publica
tions that a very large part of the corn crop is actually thrown
away by our usual method of allowing the stalks to remain in the
fields We have been gratified by the number of letters of inquiry
on this subject which have been received by the Department All
over Georgia attention is concentrating more or less on this im
portant matter In my own county I know of two shredding ma
chines recently purchased one by an individual and the other by a
combination of farmers Their reports can but be favorable and
another year we hope to see the entire product of our Georgia corn
fields successfully housed for winter feed It is probable that corn
will maintain a higher price the coming year than has ruled the
past season and this may induce some of our farmers to plan for a
larger area of corn A better policy however would be to put in
a heavy crop of
FALL OATS
In the more northern sections of the State progressive farmers
have already seeded down the area intended for this crop but in
southern Georgia there is still sufficent time to add to the number
of acres originally intended for oats There is no better stock food
than clean welldeveloped oats and the fall sowing has this ad
vantage that the crop may be taken off in the spring and a crop of
peas or late corn planted and matured on the same land thus real
izing two crops instead of one from the same area To get the best
returns from an oat crop the land should be thoroughly prepared
and fertilized and a liberal early seeding secured that the plants
may be well set before cold weather checks their rapid growth A
better plan than increasing the area will be to increase the produc
tive capacity of the land by thorough preparation and high fertili
zation
WHEAT
October is usually the great wheatsowing month except in the
far south where most of the wheat is sowu in November If we158
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
could regulate this matter accurately we should prefer to sow just
long enough before frost to get the wheat well started otherwise
there is danger that the dreaded fly may destroy the stand The
high price of wheat may tempt some farmers to plant more largely
than usual but we think this a mistaken policy because our lands
are not especially suited to wheat and almost without exception will
produce a better paying crop of oats even at the highest prospective
price of wheat It is delayed and then hurried and consequently
careless preparation and seeding which so often causes both
these crops to be disappointing Although this years crops are not
yet all gathered we may now regard our farming operations for
another year as well started Wheat oats and other fall grains and
grasses though seeded now belong essentially to another year and
must be included in our plans and estimates for 1898
REPAIRS BEFORE COLD WEATHER
Before cold weather sets in examine stable and barns and put in
all neededrepairs A small leak unheeded now may become a damag
ing even a destructive agent after the crop is stored In our mild
climate the need for very close stables is not so important as in
higher latitudes where the rigors of a northern winter make it im
perative that all farm animals be carefully protected from the cold
weather But even here we have some cold days in every winter
and the careful farmer will see that his auimals are not exposed to
cold draughts or biting winds Nail on all loose boards and get
everything about the farm in neat and convenient order for the
winter months Tbe living house outbuildings fences ditches
terraces all usually need a few touches It is particularly import
ant on all land sown in grain that arrangements are made for car
rying off all surplus water Nothing is more injurious to a grain
crop than to allow water to stand on the land
FILLING SILOS AND SAVING SHREDDED FODDER
In packing the green crops in the silo do not be in too great
haste to complete the work The whole mass will be in better con
dition if the filling is done every alternate day If one is careful
in filling and packing the corners and if after the silo is filled and
tramped the contents are covered with a layer 12 or 15 inches in
depth of cottonseed hulls chaff straw or other similar substance
and this well sprinkled with water there need be no fear that the
whole will not consolidate and seal up the silage effectually pre
serving it from injury
In saving the shredded fodder that is either the bare stalksANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
159
shredded or stalks leaves and tops all shredded together great
care must be exercised to have the fodder free from dampness that
is from rain or dew No matter how dry the stalks may appear
outwardly there is always more or less natural moisture inside but
this will not prove at all injurious if the shredded fodder is care
fully packed and the air thus excluded The natural moisture will
cause the mass to heat but this will improve rather than injure it
provided it is left undisturbed until the fermentation ceases If
disturbed before the heating is over it will cause the mass to mould
We are yet novices in this new method of shredding or curing fod
der but each year will add to our experience and skill until the
process becomes finally entirely perfected A general adoption of
this plan will work a revolution in southern farming The ques
tion of abundant forage will be forever settled and more stock and
better stock will be a comparatively easy achievement
DEMAND FOR SEED IRISH POTATOES
Conditions indicate that there will be a good demand next spring
for southern fall grown Irish potatoes for seed The drouth and
potato bugs in some sections and long continued wet weather in
others have greatly injured the general crop Be careful in sav
ing the crop to take out all diseased or damaged potatoes and put
up in banks just as sweet potatoes are protected Let them mature
as far as possible before digging but dont allow them to beinjured
by severe cold A slight frost will not hurt them
R T Nesbitt Commissioner
THE CONDITION OF CROPS
COTTON
Since my last report of Sept 1 disaster has overtaken this crop
all over the state Rust aud shedding and drouth have done their
work aided in some counties by caterpillars and I think it a fair
statement to say that the prospective yield is 25 per cent off from
what it promised to be a month ago I have been in all sections
of the state during September I have observed the crop closely my
self and I have talked with experienced farmers from many coun
ties and I venture the assertion that Georgia will make no more
cotton than she did last year In addition to this disaster the
price has declined more than a cent a pound in the same time and160
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
our farmers are now face to face with a small crop and the price in
most cases below the cost of production The crop is being rapidly
gathered and on many farms where rust appeared early picking is
practically over Should good weather coutinue for a lew weeks
longer the crop will all be gathered as there is very little top crop
anywhere iu the state
CORN
Fortunately this crop is good generally though a few counties
report short on account of local drouth It is fortunate that our
farmers will have but little corn to buy for there will be little or
no money left in their hands from the sale of their cotton I ad
vise every farmer to save his corn carefully and allow none of it to
be wasted for corn promises to be higher in price next year than
it has been for a year or two past
OTHER CROPS
Rice is reported good from the coast counties where the bulk of
the crop is raised and no severe storm having occurred in Septem
ber most of it is now safely harvested Sorghum and sugar cane
have made fair crops though the latter has been retarded in growth
by dry weather in the early summer The crop of peas is goodand
they should be gathered in spite of the pressing demands of the
open cotton Peas sold this year in Atlanta from 1 to 125 a
bushel and every farmer that has them should at least save his
seed if no more A great deal of fine fodder and hay has been
cured and housed and this good work should still go on wherever
rains have kept the grass green and nutritious
Groundpeas and sweet potatoes are an average crop and will go
a long ways towards fattening the killing hogs particularly in
South Georgia where groundpeas are largely planted for this pur
pose
STOCK
are generally reported healthy and iu good condition and with
plenty of corn and fodder are likely to continue so Some reports
of cholera but less than usual
ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
161
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
WORKINGS OF THIS BRANCH OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
HOW IT HAS GROWN SINCE 1890CHANGES THAT HAVE
BEEN MDE BY THE PRESENT COMMISSIONERNEARLY
A MILLION DOLLARS TURNED INTO THE TREASURY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE SCHOOL FUNDSOME INTEREST
ING FACTS AND FIGURES
QuestionI am a farmer and like thousands of others feel in
terested in the work of the Department ot Agriculture In your
monthly answers to questions give me some information on this
subject Is the department an expense or a source of revenue to
the state This is not strictly an agricultural question but it is
strictly business and the farmers want information on it
Answer 1Answering your specific question first the State
Agricultural Department so far from being an expense to the State
has paid into the treasury for the benefit of the school fund some
thing like 750000 At first the inspection fee was 50 cents a
ton The fertilizer business had not reached its present magnitude
and it was thought that 50 cents a ton would about pay the ex
penses of running the department The idea of a revenue from this
source was not then thought of But the sale of fertilizers in
creased very rapidly and the inspection fee was consequently re
duced to 10 cents an amount so small that the seller cannot claim
any additional price for the fertilizers and yet it protects the con
sumer and in the aggregate the department puts into the treasury
a clear annual profit That is after every expense inspectors sal
aries inspectors expenses tags bottles express charges publica
tions salaries of commissioner his clerks state chemist and two
assistants have all been paid the state is a gainer by between 20
000 and 30000 each year This result has been accomplished by
the exercise of the utmost care and economy in the management of
the affairs of the department The business of the office has in
creased tremendously since 1890 when the present commissioner
took charge
2 The work of the chemical department has more than doubled
In 188990 there were 538 analyses in 189697 1058 analyses
and the number of brands increased from 410 to 1178 One of
the first changes made by the present commissioner was to bring
the chemical department to Atlanta The laboratory is now in the
capitol and all the analyses are conducted there
lla102
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
3 Inspecting is no longer done iu bulk at the factories The
system of inspecting inaugurated by the preseut commissioner is the
best of any State in the Union although the inspection fee of 10
cents is the smallest of any State Inspectors are forbidden to take
samples until after the fertilizers leave the factories They get then
samples Irom farmers wagons on the cars in the merchants ware
houses etc but always after the goods have left the hands of the
manufacturers and are on sale By this method the entire State is
carefully covered and it is an extremely difficult matter to sell
spurious goods in Georgia But for this careful and thorough in
spection the State would be flooded with worthless fertilizers and
the farmers suffer in consequence
4 Another reform inaugurated by the present commissioner was
the reduction of the annual pay of fertilizer inspectors from 1500
to 1000 each and instead of keeping a large force on duty all the
time only four are appointed for the full time the others are em
ployed during the busy season and when the pressure is removed
they are discharged Thus though the sale of fertilizers and the
consequent work of the inspectors have both increased tremendously
the cost is about the same and until the unprecedented sales of
fertilizers the past season the cost of inspecting was actually less
than formerly
5 Under the present administration of the department the pay
of the oil inspectors has been so reduced that whereas formerly the
State did not receive one cent from this source the preseut com
missioner has been able to put 85000 into the treasury after all
expenses have been paid
6 Although the office work of the department has doubled and
trebled since the preseut commissioner took charge the office ex
penses are several hundred dollars less each year now than then
The increased work is done by the same number of clerks three
and their combined salaries have been reduced from 4500 to
3720 an annual reduction of 780 in clerk hire Until last year
the saving in clerk hire was over 1000 each year but owing to
increased work and responsibility the salaries of two of the clerks
were raised
7 Besides the Monthly Talks and Answers to Questions
which are published by the weekly press throughout the State the
commissioner has prepared and issued thousands of pamphlets and
books giving information as to the resources of Georgia These
books and pamphlets have been sent throughout the north and
west but so great has been the demand for them that it has been
impossible to fully meet itANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
163
8 In the matter of buying tags the commissioner has been
hampered by the fact that the State printer claimed this as one of
his perquisites and in this he was sustained by the printing com
mittee Notwithstanding this iact the commissioner demanded a
reduction in the price and succeeded in reducing it from 200 to
160 per 1000 Finally he appealed to the attorney general and
was advised that he could make the purchase wherever he pleased
Proceeding on this authority he entered into negotiations for ob
taining the tags cheaper and then advertised for sealed bids The
first firm which received the contract failed to comply with the
terms so also the second and after a third advertising for bids the
contract was finally awarded to the Denison Manufacturing Com
pany at 45 cents per 1000
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
OP INTEREST TO FARMERSMUCH INFORMATION FUR
NISHEDWEEVILS IN CORN
QUESTION 1
Please give me a remedy if there be any for preventing weevils
from destroying corn unshucked
ANSWER 1
There is but one efficient agent by the use of which you can pro
tect your corn and that is the bisulphide of carbon I have urged
the farmers for two years to try this and some of them have done
so with great success Georgia will house a fair crop of corn in a
short time much of which will be lost or rendered worthless by
the depredation of weevils When your corn is housed place on
top of the pile in shallow vessels or poured on cotton waste bi
sulphide of carbon at the rate of 1J pounds of the bisulphide to
every 100 bushels of corn if the crib is very open or one pound to
the 100 bushels if the crib is tight The bisulphide quickly vap
orizes aud the vapor being heavier than the air descends through
the mass of corn permeating every nook and corner and killing
all insects that it reaches as well as rats and mice The bisulphide
is a colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor and is a powerful
poison and can be bought at almost any drug store for 20 to 30
cents a pound There is a much cheaper grade called fuma bi
sulphide which is said by those who have tried it to be quite as164
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
effective as any Bear in mind that the vapor of this liquid is very
inflammable and that no fire not even a lighted pipe or cigar must
be taken anywhere near it This danger exists as long as there is
any odor of the bisulphide and may continue for two or three
days The grain will not be injured either for eatiug or for plant
ing purposes by this treatment Some of the weevils being pro
tected by the shucks from contact with the vapor will escape the
first application but a second use of the remedy in three or four
weeks will kill these Shelled corn or wheat or peas may be saved
from weevils by placing in a hogshead or barrel and applying a
proportionate amount of the bisulphide as above described I
will be glad to hear the result should any farmer try the remedy
There is no danger in its use it you will bear in mind that the ma
terial is very poisonous and very iuflammable and that if you use
a larger quantity than recommended you will be likely to injure
the grain for planting purposes
APPLES FOR MARKET
QUESTION 2
I live in Gilmer county and have some good land both valleys
and hill land Would it pay me to plant an apple orchard for
market If yes will the valley or the hillside be best for the
purpose Give the names of some good varieties of apples for this
section
ANSWER 2
I have no doubt that an apple orchard of properly selected vari
eties cared for as it should be will pay handsomely in your county
and in any other county in Northeast and Northwest Georgia The
foothills of the Ozark mountains iu southern Missouri and north
ern Arkansas produce splendid crops of superior apples which are
shipped to all parts of the United States and I see no reason why
your section should not do the same thing Apple trees require a
good soil and if your valley land is well drained it will be most
suitable for them At the same time if your hillsides are not very
steep and are fertile as I know many of them are they will an
swer very well for the purpose They must be terraced however
so that the soil will not wash away The following are some vari
eties that will do well in your section Wine Sap Yates Terry
Shockley Ben Davis Southern Greening Fall Pippin Etowa
Kinard Mrs Bryan Grimes Golden Pippin Remember that
apple trees require cultivation and attention and without these
they will not prove profitable They draw their sustenance fromANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
165
the earth and if you rob them of their food by planting other crops
on the land you will get a poor return from them Of course
when the trees are young you might plant peas or clover or some
similar crop among them but in no case put a grain crop on the
land I have often seen this done to the great detriment of the
orchard the corn or wheat or oats robbing the trees of the very
elements that they needed for their development If you will
plant an apple orchard as I have suggested and give it the same
care that the peach grower of South Georgia or the orange grower
of Florida bestows upon his trees I have no doubt that in the long
run the apple orchard will prove as profitable as the others By
all means try it if you only plant one or two acres
HOG CHOLERA
QUESTION 3
Is there any cure for hog cholera I see some advertised in the
papers but will they do what they claim
ANSWER 3
Various remedies for this very fatal disease have from time to
time been published to the world Many of them were no doubt
worthless while a few of them possibly possessed some merit Not
one of them however up to this time has proved a sure cure and
many million dollars continue to be lost annually by hogs dying
of cholera It is not the custom ot this department to advertise
the merits of any medicine but I deem the matter of so much im
portance to our farmers that I will now depart from the custom
and say to you and other farmers that I believe hog cholera can be
cured by a medicine put up by Mr R P Dodge of 74 Frazer street
Atlanta Ga His testimonials as to the wonderful results of the
use of his cholera remedy are many of them from as good meu as
we have in Georgia some of whom I know personally They as
sert most positively that their sick hogs were at once cured and
the spread of the disease stopped by the use of this medicine I have
not tried it on my farm simply because I have had no cholera
among my hogs but I cannot doubt the testimony of men whom I
knowhave tried it and I take this means of advising any who are
losing hogs from cholera to write to the above address for the rem
edy I hope I am not mistaken as to the efficacy of this medicine
which as I view it promises to be a boon not only to the farmers
of Georgia but of the entire country Mr Dodge is now in the
northwest but will soon be in Atlanta and he offers to go to any
part of the state where cholera exists and demonstrate that he can
cure it and this he proposes to do at his own expense166 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
FALL PLOWING FOR LIGHT LANDS
QUESTION 4
the fall and let L m 1 7l w LeT Woaft Ur in
if let alone Q the vvash wore than
ANSWER 4
rsSiSlrESi
FERTILIZER FOR WHEAT
QUESTION 5
i7wir
ANSWER 5
Some farmers contend that a pea crop will furnish enough nitn
gen for a wheat crop but my experience differs rom th f T
would advise you to use a fertilizer containing 8 per cent o
phone acid 3 per cent ammonia and 3 per cent no ash 1 H
spring when the wheat begins to grow of ou WH1 get 1 t
oda yBge7lglttatPdreSSiDg f 5 t0 10 Pod nftrate of
soda Be sure to prepare a good seed bed for the wheat byANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
167
thorough breaking and harrowing of the soil before planting
Much of our small grain crop is planted in a careless slipshod
manner resulting in unsatisfactory crops We may as well expect
to gather figs from thistles as to hope for a bountiful crop of
wheat from poorly prepared laud Even if the soil is rich the
yield will not be what it should be unless the ground is properly
prepared before planting the seed
SUBSOILING LAND
QUESTION 6
Will you please answer the following questions
1 Have you ever tested subsoiling land What was the result
2 Would you advise subsoiling laud with a fine sandy soil about
10 inches deep runs together and gets hard in a dry time Sub
soil is solid red clay
3 Would you advise subsoiling dark gray and red clay lands
solid red clay subsoils 12 to 16 inches deep
4 When is the best time to subsoil and how often
5 Are you sure that it pays to use acid phosphate and kaiuit on
light sandy lands for corn cotton bats and peas
6 Do you advise the use of acid phosphate aud kainit with cot
tonseed on such land for oats to be sowed in October There is a
fair crop of pea vines on the land
7 When acid phosphate and kainit are applied broadcast at the
time peas are planted and all covered at once is the fertilizer im
mediately available
8 Where peas follow oats would a liberal application of phos
phate and kaiuit to the oat crop pay as well as to divide applica
tion between oats and peas
9 Where cotton is planted after peas would a liberal application
of phosphate and kainit to peas furnish phosphoric acid and potash
enough for cotton
ANSWER 6
1 I have tested subsoiling land in Southwest Georgia for corn and
doubled the yield I have a friend in Jefferson county who this
past winter turned his land with a large 4horse plow and followed
in the same furrow with a subsoiler pulled by five horses breaking
the stiff subsoil to a depth of 18 to 20 inches He writes that he
is well pleased with the result the cotton plauted on that land be
ing ahead of everything in that section
2 Yes
3 Yes168
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
4 Now is a good time to subsoil Oct 1 and any time will do
through the fall and winter when the ground is not wet When
thoroughly done the effects will be visible for three or four years
and frequently longer according to the character of the subsoil
5 I am sure that it pays to fertilize all crops if done judiciously
and nitrogen is usually needed as well as phosphoric acid and pot
ash
6 While the pea vines will furnish some nitrogen for the oat
crop I would advise the use of a complete fertilizer for them par
ticularly as you are desirous of building up your land while you
are making crops
7 Most of the fertilizer is immediately available and the rest
becomes so gradually The potash in the kainit is all available
of course in the presence of moisture at once and so of what is
termed the available phosphoric acid in a fertilizer There is
usually some phosphoric acid termed unavailable which gradually
becomes available by the action of certain properties in the soil
8 If you wish to bring up your laud rapidly you should fertil
ize each crop well
9 Of course a portion of the phosphoric acid and kainit would
remain in the soil to be taken up by the cotton crop but as I have
said before if you wish to bring your land to a high state of fer
tility each crop that you plant should be well fertilized
PLAN FOR KEEPING SWEET POTATOES
QUESTION 7
Please publish in your monthly answers to questions a good
cheap practical plan for keeping sweet potatoes
ANSWER 7
The following plan is cheap and practical and if followed you
will have no trouble to keep your potatoes through the winter
Dig your potatoes the first bright sunny day after the vines have
been touched by frost Handle them carefully rejectiug all that
are cut or bruised Dont throw them in piles while digging as is
customary for by this plan many are bruised but simply place
them by the side of the furrow as they are plowed up in the
evening gather them up placing carefully in baskets holding from
one to two bushels and haul to the point where you wish to bank
them Make a bed of dry pine straw 10 or 12 inches thick and
on this place from 20 to 25 bushels of potatoes in as steep a pile
as possible Then cover the pile 5 or 6 inches deep with pineANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
169
straw and do no more to tbem until the weather gets colder Build
a low shed over the banks sufficient to keep the rains entirely off
Before cold weathercoverthe entire bank with 7 or 8 inches of earth
and your potatoes will keep until spring The important points
are these Bank no bruised or cut potatoes keep the banks per
fectly dry put on enough earth to prevent the cold penetrating
but not until the potatoes have gone through a sweat and dried off
CANADA PEAS
QUESTION 8
Can you tell me something of the cultivation and habits of the
Canada pea I have heard that they will grow through the win
ter and be ready to cut for hay by the middle of spring Are they
considered good feed for stock
ANSWER 8
We have as yet had at the south very few experiments with the
Cauada pea The hay is known to be a very fine feed for cows
and sheep as it is rich in protein It has been suggested that the
crop be sown in October on land of average fertility Plow and
work fine then sow the peas at the rate of two bushels to the acre
They should be covered deep at least 4 or 5 inches If the peas
are killed down by severe cold they will come up again and be
ready for cutting about May A good plan is to sow these peas
and oats on the same land First plow in the peas to the depth of
4 or 5 inches about a bushel to the acre then harrow in the oats
about the same quantity of seed The crops will mature together
and the hay be much finer than oats alone the protein in the peas
making a well balanced ration and a good substitnte for cottonseed
meal or bran170
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
NOVEMBER
COMMISSIONER XESBTTTS TALK TO FARMERS
Sff18 ADVICE T RAISE DEEDED SUPPLIES AT
HOMEVALUABLE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHRat nur
TUBE AND FARM MANAGEMENT WHEAT CUL
Departmejjt of Agriculture
Atlanta Nov 1st 1897
for owrfi11 C0UtiUed drouth lastig in some sections of the State
wih I e s edS ofhSnterlerej more esPey in those sections
ddle sections of kSE Ztl
adapted to wheat growing it may be advisable to sow more than
enough for home consumption but we would not advis Geud
wheat TrPt 1U PTlkrly faVred l0lities t0 Plant argeigin
w en ereaiother crol which even at the high price of
anddolla ainaroafefr T t0 the M both in
auu dollars In oats for instance we can scarcely plant too lame
an area It is a firstclass stock food and from the mountains o
the seacoast this crop with ordinary attention will Z well and
here is scarcely a crop that pays better in yield or price is a
stock food it stands unrivalled and any surplus the a nier may
ers we repeat these facts here because during the present month
many farmers may be tempted by the high price of wheat to pTanta
larger area than they intended This has already been the case in
SoXyCest0ntSheatn heycrop Lelled ft
V i wheat Sowing section of the Unionwhere
Natare and man combine to bring together every advantage for the
successful production of a large wheat yield With th codina
Tssssrsafford to risk o
in wneat it there are other more certain and more profitable ernns
which we can grow On the principle or raising aTl nleded SUP
phe at home it is perhaps advisable for each farmer wSre he
has lands suited to wheat to raise enough for home conlumptionANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
171
or even a surplus for market but dont be led into the error of
abandoning the safe bird in the hand for the chimerical two in
the bush The Southern farmer if he is wise will adhere to a
certain time honored and often verified principle of agricultural
policy which is to make all needed supplies at home and then
plant as much cotton as his circumstances will allow
In this much discussed and too often mismanaged crop we have
a monopoly which preeminently distinguishes us from every other
farming community of the globe and we become either its slave or
its master as we elect With no home supplies only low priced
cotton to meet our every want we are most abject slaves With
the cattle on a thousand hills and barns and storehouses over
flowing with plenty we can defy the world and no combination of
money or power can force us to sell our cotton at a ruinously low
price We are absolute masters of the situation
PLANS AND WORK FOR ANOTHER YEAR
It is true that our main crops for another year are not usually
decided on until after the Christmas holidays but the area and the
success or failure of our fall crops as well as the fall plowing of
our lands exercise a strong influence in allotting the area for our
standard crops of corn and cotton for the ensuing year and
therefore farm work for 1898 has practically begun now in the
fall of 1897 In view of this fact I may be pardoned for reiter
ating the statement so often made that if we would farm success
fully we must begin in time to intelligently prepare for the crops
we wish to raise Land deeply plowed now will not only be easier
to manage later on but will lay up a supply of moisture which as
an important factor in the successful production or crops is beyond
computation Not only do all healthy growing plants contain
about threefourths their weight of water but this water must be
and is the only vehicle which can carry the elements of plant food
contained in the soil to every part of the plant To control and
maintain the water supply therefore becomes a matter of prime
importance and this may be regulated in large degree by judicious
fall plowing and seeding of fall crops Absence of needed moisture
in the hot summer months is one of the greatest drawbacks with
which the Southern farmer has to contend but our beautiful fall
weather often continuing until the Christmas holidays furnishes
us with the opportunity of counteracting this disadvantage If we
neglect this deep and thorough fall plowing we not only throw
away one of the greatest advantages which we possess but the
rains which usually fall in abundance during the winter season172
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
are allowed to waste by flowing into the nearest stream when they
could be conserved and held subject to the demand which is sure
to come the following summer at the time when our main crops
are in their most critical stage of development Let me urge upon
farmers who have not tried it those who have do not need further
argument to break their lauds now if possible following in each
furrow with a subsoil plow The value of this plowing to the
coming crop will be found to be beyond calculation Where there
is an abundant growth of vegetation dont allow continued freezes
to destroy its most valuable constituents but turn it under
Treated thus it will help to prevent washing by keeping the soil
open and porous and when the process of decomposition begins
many valuable materials contained in the soil and which would
otherwise remain locked up are by this means liberated and put in
condition to be used by the plants By this plowing under of
decaying vegetation we obtain a supplyof much needed humus
which js itself a conservator of moisture The tankage in the sub
soil will largely return towards the surface in dry weather The
presence of humus will not only in a great measure prevent the
escape of this moisture but a porous soil well filled with humus
has the power of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere Such
lands rarely bake or crust even in protracted drouths In plow
ing lands in the fall the beds should be laid out across the fall of
the land so that the water deposited by winter rains will not run
in the line of the plow and thus tend to wash away the soil It
the vegetable growth to be plowed under is very heavy an appli
cation of lime will be of advantage It will hasten the decay of
the vegetable matter It will also help to liberate the otherwise
unavailable plant food elements which may be and are present in
nearly all soils
BEDDING IN STABLES AND COMPOSTING
The stables should be kept supplied with bedding which should
be removed as often as necessary and stored undershelter or in
wellbuilt compost heaps lacking these it is well to haul out and
spread on the land at once Lands in permanent grass or clover
Mill be much improved by a top dressing of stable manure From
tins time until the spring work begins one can scarcely employ
his spare time to better advantage than by gathering up the vari
ous fertilizing materials which accumulate on every farm and thus
prepare to return to his land some part of the fertility which he has
been removing year after year Much of this work may be done
when the weather will not permit of active work in the fieldsANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
i7v
The average farmer depends too much on commercial fertilizers
They are so much easier to handle and their stimulating effects on
our growing crops are so soon apparent that he considers it almost
a waste of time to attempt to manage the more bulky and appar
ently slower acting stable manures and composts But the man
who would build up his lands who would reap permanent benefit
from and economize every resource of his farm must learn to
utilize these too often wasted materials Commercial fertilizers do
benefit our crops and where judiciously used our lands also but
the farmer who depends entirely on these goods will sooner or
later be forced to the conclusion that the fertility of his lands can
not be economically maintained by the use of these artificial means
alone The soil will become hard and compact and although its
lost fertility may be restored it is a slow and laborious task
OATS BARLEY EYE
All may still be sown Land covered with any of these crops is
saved from washing and rye possesses the additional value that
after two or even three cuttiugs the residue may be turned under
and will furnish large stores of plant food for other crops
R T Nesbitt Commissioner
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
COMMISSIONER NESBITTS QUESTION BOXPRACTICAL INFOR
MATION ON VARIOUS TIMELY SUBJECTS
JACKSON LIMBLESS COTTON
QUESTION 1
Please give me your candid opinion as to the merits of the much
talked of Jackson Limbless Cotton Is it as wonderful as we
are led to believe by the flaming newspaper advertisements
ANSWER 1
Your letter is one of several which have been received at this
office On a recent visit to the Georgia Experiment Station I saw
the Jackson cotton growing alongside the twenty other varieties
being tested there all subjected to the same treatment and on the
same quality of land In yield it ranked tenth in the list The
following in regard to the claims made for the Jackson Limbless
are taken from Director Reddings report and are entirely justified174
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
by the condition of this cotton grown at the Experiment Station
this year The four acres referred to in No 5 are the four acres
near Atlanta grown by Jackson and which have become famous
by recent extensive advertising Director Redding says
Now for the specific claims made for the Jackson Limbless by
its promoters before enumerated
1 It is not entirely limbless but is inclined to produce several
often five or six long branches from near the ground When
very closely crowded in the drill however many stalks will be
without these limbs and their normal tendency as with cluster
cottons generally to grow tall is much increased
2 The stalks grow from 15 to 20 per cent taller than most
ordinary varieties on the same soil On exceedingly rich soil such
as a rich alluvial or a very highly manured spot They may at ain a
height of ten twelve or even fourteen feet
3 The fibre lint is fairly good but nothing extraordinary It
Allen s Long Staple in the above list and would not command a
higher price than the ordinary upland Short Staples
4 lhe fibre is not remarkably strong and is not one and a half
inches long Its length is from onehalf to threequarters of an
inch long averaging about fiveeighths of an inch
o lhe Director visited and examined the four acres referred
to early in Septemer and estimated that a yield of one and onehalf
bales per acre might possibly be secured with favorable future con
ditions The land on which the four acre patch was growing has
been under very high culture for years and was heavily fertiH ed
with cow droppings and commercial fertilizers the present year
and in the opinion of the Director is capable of producing sSy
bushels of corn per acre J g
6 The Station tests of 1890 and 1892 of Welborns Pet and
of Jacksons Limbless the present year prove that s not the
most prolific cotton in the world
In conclusion the Director desires to say that this cotton is a
fairly good variety on rich anils or under high culture MTWei
born says it is not suited to poor land and poor culture For years
past he has been carefully developing its peculiarities wi haview
iiliz1 be betteradapted to 4
Especial attention has herein been called to this socalled
limbless because of the extraordinary claims that have been made
for it and the unprecedented high price asked for the seed These
claims are so apparently plausible that the uususpect ng and onANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
175
fiding farmer is liable to be induced to pay at the rate of over 200
a bushel for the seed when the ideutical same variety of seed may
be had for probably less than 200 per bushel
To all inquiries on this subject received at this department we
have replied that the Jackson cotton is a good variety and on very
rich land will yield well Like all other varieties of short limbed
cotton having a short tap root it is more seriously affected by
drouth than the longer limbed varieties As to the extravagant
claims made for it we do not believe they will be borne out by
actual tests
SAN JOSE SCALE
QUESTION 2
What is the San Jose Scale and is there any cause for alarm on
account of its introduction into our State Has it made much
headway since its presence was first detected among the fruit trees
in certain localities Is there not some way of checking its
advances
ANSWER 2
Below we give a full description of the San Jose Scale taken
from a recent press bulletin of the Georgia Experiment Station
written by Horticulturist Starnes who has been giving the sub
ject close study and who has definitely located the dreaded scourge
in over twenty counties in our State Not only are our fruit trees
subject to the ravages of this enemy but every deciduous tree in
our forests and many evergreens are liable to its attacks only the
pines and cedars are exempt Should it become generally dis
tributed which is highly probable unless prompt measures are
used to check its advances there is very grave danger not only
to our orchards but also to our forests Here is what Horticul
turist Starnes says
From a South Georgia nursery it has been generally dissemi
nated through many of the counties of Southern Georgia and
through a few in Middle Georgia and the process of distribution
will continue unless the people wake up to the full gravity of the
situation and insist on the necessary legislation for its suppression
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCALE
The San Jose Scale to the naked eye appears like a gray
scurfy incrustation on the twigs limbs and branches of the trees
sometimes on the trunks when the bark is not too old and also
dots the leaves and fruit in season It looks as if ashes had been176
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
sifted over the surface when wet and there stuck When scraped
with a knife or the finger nail a viscous yellow exudation is
noticed due to the crushing of the living insects below the scales
This exudation causes the twig to feel greasy and soapy
A hand lens resolves this ashy looking scurf into an infinite
number of gray disks with a small raised nipple in the center
dark colored and surrounded by a ring These disks or scales
are the protecting shield of the living insect below which with
its sucking tube sunk into the soft tissue of the limb drains the
life giving sap of the tree and causes its death in from two to three
years
ITS LIFE HISTORY
The mature insectan oval yellowish gelatinous pulpy look
ing very minute object remains under its scale through the winter
and in the spring gives birth to a swarm of young insects larvae
which scatter and soon insert their beaks into the woody tissue
and there remain for life secreting a waxy matter which soon
forms the scale which protects them There are no eggs as with
most other scale insects but the females as stated bring forth
their young alive in rapid succession from 200 to 500 in a season
and as the larva require only about 30 days to reach maturity and
begin propagating there may be five or six successive broods dur
ing the season and it has been calculated that the offspring of a
single female may reach by fall if undisturbed the astounding
number of 3000000000 This enormously rapid multiplication
is why they are so dangerous to vegetation and why they are so to
be dreaded
NATURAL ENEMIES
There are few in this state and only two insects the Twice
Stabbed Lady Bird Chilocorus bividnerus and a minute black
Lady Bird known as the Pentilia miselia seems to do much towards
reducing their numbers A fungus Sphaerostilbe coccophila has
been found by Rolfs of Florida attacking the scale in that State
and it is possible it may extend in time to this State or be ar
tificially introduced
REMEDIES
1 The most effective remedy is Fire Burn every affected
tree That is surest Especially should this be done by a nur
seryman who knows his place is infested
2 Whale oil soap next to fire is the simplest remedy andANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
177
reasonably sure Two pounds soap to a gallon of water is not too
strong Apply with either a brush or by sprayingpreferably
the latter and in this latitude in the fall as soon as the leaves
drop since fruit buds are endangered if the process is continued
after Christmas Better lose a crop of fruit however by con
tinued application than the trees themselves
3 Hydrocyanic acid gas This treatment is not simple and
involves considerable outlay and requires a certain amount of care
and skill but is very effective either in the field where tents are
used to iumigate under or with nursery stock in a regularly con
structed fumigatory All nurserymen having the scale on their
grounds should invariably fumigate every shipment sent out by
them Details as to this process may be obtained by writing to Mr
A F Hoffman of Tifton Ga a most intelligent and progressive
fruit grower and one who has met with great success in employ
ing the gas treatment178
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
DECEMBER
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR
SUGGESTS REMEDIES AND LINES OF ACTION TO SECURE A DF
GREE OF PROSPERITY
Department of Agriculture
Atlanta Dec 1 1897
The year 1897 is closing in clouds and darkness for the farmers
Even those who have made their provisions at home find it a hard
matter to realize any profit on cotton at five cents as that price
barely covers the cost of production While the man who has
only cotton with which to buy needed supplies for another year
and to pay for those already consumed is apppoaching dangerously
near to the line where success ends and ruin begins Those far
mers who have managed to so shape their business affairs as to en
able them to hold their cotton free from entangling obligations are
independent but there are thousands of others who have been
compelled by the pressure of obligations contracted during this
and past years to give up their cotton at a ruinously low price It
is to this unfortunate class we would offer a few words of advice
and sympathy
Their hope for 7 or 7cent cotton this fall seemed practical
and was based on sound reasoning The worlds stock of cotton
had run very low there was a much smaller surplus on hand than
usual consumption was increasing and everything pointed to good
prices But their fatal mistake was in calculating on this hope as
it it were a certainty and upon such a frail basis overloading
themselves with a heavy cotton crop to the neglect of meat and
bread and other home supplies Most of the year they have been
buying at credit prices flour lard meat corn oats hay and the
numberless smaller articles of farm necessity besides running
family accounts lor needed shoes clothes etc Is it any wonder
that when these things have to be paid for in cotton wrung from a
suffering soil at 5 cents a pound the farmer loses hope Even a
large crop will not stretch far enough to cover these accumulated
obligations and he is either left hopelessly in debt or is compelled
to trench on the next years short supplies of corn oats peas etc
and perhaps to sell cows hogs or mules to eke out the required
amount It takes no calculation to see that this plan will reduce himANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
179
to bankruptcy and if generally followed a pall black as midnight
will settle over our Godfavored landnot on the farmer only but
over the entire South for what checks the prosperity of the far
mers touches the nerve center of the entire business world When
agriculture languishes nations suffer
MUST LEARN ECONOMIC VALUES
This is a difficult subject to deal with and under existing con
ditions to apply the necessary remedies involves careful study and
thought and in many cases radical change in methods which have
grown with our growth and strengthened with our strength
Because we know how to plant and cultivate and market corn and
cotton we keep on in the same old groove and shrink from mak
ing any change even after we know we are working at a loss It
is so much easier to follow the old plan than to take up and fol
low out new and as far as our experience goes untried plans and
ideas But the time has come when it is of vital importance that
we adopt methods more suited to our changed conditions We
must study the economic values of the various crops which we can
produce from our different soils and not confine our attention to
corn and cotton alone We must learn to utilize the heretofore
dormant resources of our hard run though not fully appropriated
fields In other words we must get out of the wellworn ruts and
direct our intelligence and our energies into more profitable chan
nels We must study the resources of our farms as we have never
done before and not only learu to grow our crops more cheaply
but to save much that has been lost under the old wasteful regime
And this applies not only to the products to the crops produced
from the land but to the land itself much of which has been
washed away by our methods of clean culture and lack of rotation
We have an example of what can be done with a waste pro
duct in the cotton seed which was once estimated of little value
and which now furnishes numberless articles of commerce and is
the foundation of mammoth industries In the shredded fodder
from cornstalks there is a vast saving of a once unappreciated and
unappropriated forage which will almost work a revolution in
southern agriculture Even the despised crab grass which every
force of the farm has for years been industriously seeking to destroy
occupies its place among the valuable crops which will help us to
maintain cotton as king
RELY NOT ALONE ON COTTON
It is just impossible for cotton to hold its position of supremacy
if wc continue to burden it with all the debts of the farm as has180
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
been our practice for so many years Stop the leak of too much
purchased fertilizer rely more upon a change of crops upon
manure saved from wellkept stock and upon legumes to restore
fertility to our lands Go deeper into the soil and bring up some
of the reserve forces which nature holds in bounteous store
Conventions and meetings do good in calling out ideas and sug
gestions from men who have studied these questions and are well
qualified to advise They also concentrate attention on these im
portant and sorely needed reforms but all successful agricultural
reforms must be deeper seated and their great progressive power
is founded on the aggregation of the individual efforts of a com
munity of farmers
Conventions may enunciate these needs of the agricultural South
which are so apparent to all thoughtful men but it is not until
individual workers take hold and carry them to their legitimate
conclusions that we may expect the greatest and most farreaching
results It is therefore to each individual farmer that I would
appeal to pause take stock as it were and having thoroughly
studied the situation and gained a clear understanding of his obli
gations to himself to his family to the needs of his soil and to the
great body of his fellow farmers work on to success Let him re
member that our tremendous cotton crops have been mostly on
credit and by crowding in every available acre to the manifest
crowding out of a part at least of our provision crops Let
him also take note of the fact that the bulk of these heavy crops
has usually been rushed to market in the last three months of each
year often depressing prices to a ruinous extent besides causing
false estimates as to the whole number of bales produced But the
cotton has to be sold to meet pressing obligations What is more
natural than that the buyers seeing this condition should run the
price down to the lowest possible point And farmers are com
pelled to accept what is offered It is the most startling agricul
tural paradox of the nineteenth century that the farmers of the
South who control by an undisputed monopoly the cotton produc
tion of the world are yet so hampered by the misuse of this gigan
tic power as to be absolutely at the mercy of the buyer Suppli
cants where they should be dictators bound hand and foot by their
own folly powerless to prevent the sacrifice of the crop which
has cost them so much of time and labor and money
THE REMEDY
To sum up then First we own a monopoly which is proven
by the fact that in the last quarter of a century we have increased
our cotton production two hundred and ten per cent while otherANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
181
cotton growing countries with every effort that they could bring
to workhave only been able to increase their output ten per cent
Second we are using this monopoly to the injury of our lands to
the sufferL and privation of our families and to the loss in he
atregate of millions of dollars The inexorable pay day for the
Advances made bv merchants and others usually comes before
the cropTs wdl gathered It is known in New York and Liver
poolThat fanneil must part with their cotton to meet great obbga
dons that they are forced to take whatever buyers offer and prices
ruk accord ugly We can get only an approximate idea of the im
m use os the southern farmers from these forced sales but
iT mounts into the millions The remedy It is not new it has
berreiterated again and again but it is as potent now as ever and
I would urge upon farmers with all the force which an earnest con
viction carries that they adopt it without further delay Be ore
lr g out on the work of another year let them resolve to plant
Welv of all provision crops let them cut their fertilizer bills and
Sencl more on the natural resources of the farm on stable manure
and other elements of fertility which accumulate from year to year
on rotating crops and on peas and other legumes for still further
aSd ng to fh stores of plan food Let them put the plow111 deep
aS appropriate each year a part of the immense store which nature
holds in eadness tor those who seek it and lastly let them not
Sen themselves with a cotton crop which can but prove a diSap
pointment Let them put in only so much cottoa they can
horouehly manage without neglecting other crops and let the cot
ton b Treypared for and cultivated to the end of a large yield on a
mall area rather than an uncertain yield on a large area The
huaioir quires heroic measures We need to exercise the strict
onom not only in our expenditures but in everypera on
tAe Ted S iun fttsful 1 ThriU notbngSr
thing needed to run it suocessiuuy x
easy task for those who have never tried it but the planonce
Sted will never be relinquished The successful farmers of to
day are Jose who have adhered strictly to these plain selfevident
day are those wno Nesbitt Commissioner
truths
Atlanta Ga November 24 1897182
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
TJTrC8 considered and light turned upon
JS VALUE F CR0PS AND OTHER SUBJECTS DIS
MONEY VALUE OF THE COTTON CROP
QUESTION 1
Is it true the exports of cotton from this country are more
valuable than any other crop raised in the United States What
is the export value of our cotton How much of the crop is kept
at home r
ANSWER 1
For the last twenty years the average value of our cotton crop
has been over 1300000000 three hundred millions each year
9o7rL K eXPrted duriug that time has been
14616290704 four billions three hundred and thirteen millions
two hundred and ninety thousands seven hundred and lour dollars
Resides this we kept for home consumption 1966109953 one
billion nine hundred and sixtysix millions one hundred and nine
thousands nine hundred and sixtythree dollars Adeline these
together we have a total of over six and a quarter billion dollars
representing the value of our lint cotton for twenty years In
this immense sum we do not include the value of the cotton seed
which has grown from an unimportant item to a product of vast
proportions and almost marvelous value It is thus evident that
our cotton crop is not more valuable than any other crop raised in
the United States but represents more actual cash more labor
more transportation more manufactures than all the other crops
put together Our annual export of cotton is also worth more than
the output of all the gold mines in the world Of the exports of
cotton from the United States Latham Alexander Co one of
the highest known authorities speak as follows
The exports of cotton from the United States far exceed in
value those of any other product In the settlement of balances
due by our country abroad our exports of cotton are indis
pensable FOR WE CAN ONLY RELY UPON THE MONEY FROM OUR
EXPORTS OF COTTON EVERY YEAR WHILE NO OTHER PRODUCT OP
THE SOIL CAN BE DEPENDED UPON WITH THE SAME CERTAINTY
Mere is the situation summed up in a nutshell Our cotton is
an absolute necessity to the business world and it takes no elaborateANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
183
argument to demonstrate that Southern farmers hold the key to
independence That they have heretofore failed to use it is due to
a combination of unfavorable and uncontrolled influences First
and foremost is the load of debt under which they have been strug
gling and the necessity thus forced upon them of planting ruin
ously large crops of cotton because it is the only crop which always
commands the ready cash and therefore the only one which the
creditors care to handle Their failure to raise home supples is a
second reason why they have not been able to work out their
independence But this great question is being more intelligently
discussed and more widely understood each day and the disastrous
outcome of the present years cotton crop though causing much
hardship now may prove a salutary lesson in the end
SHREDDED CORN STALKS
QUESTION 2
Has the shredded fodder proven as satisfactory as was predicted
and have many farmers utilized their corn stalks in this way
ANSWER 2
Wherever the shredded fodder has been tried it has proven
entirely satisfactory Many farmers have expressed their favorable
opinion of it as a stock food and there is but one verdict as to its
economy It is not yet adopted but we doubt not that another
year will see thousands of tons used in Georgia
CORN CROP FOR 1897
QUESTION 3
Is the corn crop for the present year short any considerable
amount and how do the wheat and oat crops compare with last
years
ANSWER 3
The returns have not all come in and we cannot give an absolutely
accurate answer but fr3m the information at hand it appears that
the corn crop is at least 400000000 four hundred millions
bushels short There has been a very large wheat and oat crop
produced the present year The wheat crop is 65000000 sixty
five millions bushels and the oat crop is 15000000 fifteen
millions bushels larger than the same crops last year Notwith
standing this increase there is a shortage in the grain crops as a
whole due to the partial failue of the corn crop184 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
HEN MANURE
QUESTION 4
I have some hen manure which has been kept under shelter and
is in very good condition How shall I use it to the best advant
age on my garden or crops
ANSWER 4
To get the full benefit of hen manure the proper plan is to
thoroughly incorporate it with eight or ten times its bulk of leaf
mould loam muck or other absorbent For fermenting muck
poultry manure has a higher value than any other manure produced
on the farm its nitrogen being obtained from richer and more
digestible food and in a much more active and available condition
than the nitrogen in horse or cow manure Its composition is
more like guano though less concentrated and less valuable To
get the best value from poultry manure a thin layer of some
absorbent with a little land plaster should be kept spread on the
floors under the roosts of the poultry house We suppose yours is
just the ordinary scrapings from the poultry house We would
advise that this be composted with eight or ten times its bulk of
leaf mould or loam and applied to field crops For the garden
pulverize without composting and apply in the drill as with com
mercial fertilizers using of course a larger quantity
VALUE OP THE PEA CROP
QUESTION 5
What is the value of the pea crop besides its power to absorb
the free nitrogen of the air I know it is valuable as stock food
but I mean what additional value has it if any to help our worn
soils
ANSWER 5
Besides being a nitrogen gatherer and a valuable food crop the
pea crop performs the following valuable offices for our worn fields
It shades the soil in summer and aids the process of nitrification It
goes deeply into the soil and brings up water and mineral matter
needed by the plant If sown thickly it will by its rapid growth
and shade effectually smother all weeds and thus serve as a cleans
ing crop Besides these advantages it is the best preparatory crop
known to the Southern farmer every kind of crop grows well af
ter it It is adapted to all kinds of soils the stiffest clays theANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
185
most porous sands fertile alluvial bottoms barren uplands It
stands the heat and sunshine of Southern summers Its rapid
growth enables us to grow two or eveu three crops on the same
soil If sown thickly it will by its rapid growth and shade
smother all weeds thus serve as a cleansing crop It has been de
monstrated at the Georgia Experiment Station that pea vines fur
nish the most reliable and by far the cheapest means of restoring
our worn soils and of advancing them to a much higher degree of
production than they possessed when in the virgin condition
But pea vines will not grow profitably on very poor unfertilized
soil Such soil should be fertilized with phosphates and potash
the peas will themselves furnish the more expensive nitrogennot
for their own growth onlybut will leave a residuum in the soil
after the crop is taken off
RELATIVE VALUES OF MANURES FROM DIFFERENT FOODS
QUESTION 6
I have been recently studying something of the values of our
different food crops as regards the manure produced on our farms
Can you tell me what is considered the best and most profitable
food to produce first class manure Please also give me an idea of
the relative value of the different foods in the order of their im
portance
ANSWER 6
The real chemical value of manure depends on the nitrogen
phosphoric acid and potash it contains As the quantity of these
elements in the manure is determined by the character of the food
given the animal it follows that foods richest in the elements
other things being equal will produce the most valuable manure
Of all the foods used for producing rich manure cotton seed meal
heads the list It is now an established fact that cotton seed meal
and hulls once considered almost worthless if judiciously fed
produce the finest beef and the most valuable manure Next on
the list comes tape cake and then linseed cake neither of which are
much used at the South next the legumes peas beans etc wheat
bran whole cotton seed next clover hay next the grains corn
oats wheat barley next good well cured hay next wheat oats
and barley straw and latterly root crops potatoes turnips etc
Where pea vine hay is well cured with the peas on the vines and
the peas not allowed to become too ripe it is a most valuable crop
to feed for rich manure In feeding cotton seed meal care should186 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
be taken to properly regulate the ration If fed too bountifully
being a very rich food the animal digestion will become deranged
appetite disturbed and the result in flesh and manure unsatisfactory
Ihe proportion should be never less than two and onehalf pounds
of hul s to one pound of meal At the relative prices of meal and
hulls the usual proportion is one of meal to five or six of hulls
this may be varied according to circumstances
ELEMENTS IN A TON OF COTTON SEED
QUESTION 7
How much meal oil hulls are contained in a ton of cotton seed
and what is the proportion of nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash
in the meal What is the annual value of the cotton seed in the
Southern btates
ANSWER 7
A ton of cotton seed contains about a thousand pounds of hulls
and the same amount of decorticated that is hulled seed or ker
nels From this amount of kernels we get about three hundred
pounds of oil and seven hundred pounds of pressed cake The
pressed cake is then dried and ground into cotton seed meal which
is not only a valuable animal food but is a complete fertilizer with
an excess of nitrogen When fed to cattle nearly all the fertil
izing value is retained in the manure The meal contains from
thirteen to fourteen per cent of nitrogen six per cent of phos
rnnX V f 0t P0ta Xt decomposes
lapidly in the sol and s an excellent form of plant food It
Ibouronnnnnn SS Edao frm the cott011 8eedildd
about 00000000 fifty million dollars annually to the re
sources of the South J
MANURE FOR SANDY OR STIFF LANDS
QUESTION 8
In composting manure should I make any difference in that
intended for light soils and that for heavy soils I have a
quantity of stable manure and I want to compost it to the best
advantage
ANSWER 8
Light soils usually require a good deal of potash and for such
soils it is desirable that the decomposition should be slow there
fore manure mixed with crude potash salts is particularly valuableANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
187
an such cases The salts will also prevent the loss of ammonia
when the manure is exposed to the weather for any length of time
For heavy clay soils which usually abound in potash mix super
phosphate with tbe stable manure Not only will your stable
manure be better suited to your lands but by this plan its actual
fertilizing value will be greatly increased If the animals have
been fed on leguminous crops the manure will be very rich in
nitrogen and either of the above plans will greatly aid in conserv
ing this nitrogen and preventing its escape
LIME
QUESTION 9
Is it the proper time now to apply lime to lands which stand in
need of it
ANSWER 9
A soil which needs lime will be greatly benefited by an appli
cation of lime applied during the fall and winter months It is
uot only a direct source of plant food but its action upon the soil
places it in better physical condition It decomposes the organic
and mineral constituents of soils and converts them into cop
pounds that can be assimilated by plants On heavy clay soils
containing a good deal of organic matter quicklime is best on
light sandy soils deficient in organic matter carbonate of lime is
most beneficial
It is gratifying to note that more attention is being paid to this
subject A certain percentage of lime is essential to successful
cropping and where this is lacking it should by all means be sup
plied Lime enters into the composition of all plants but the
object in applying lime to laud is not so much to supply any
deficiency in the soil as to improve its physical condition If
sour the lime will correct it It will bind together light loose
soils and loosen up those which are too compact From thirty to
forty bushels per acre of airslaked lime broadcast over the
freshly plowed field will be sufficient and an application once
every five or six years is ample Leave it on the surface undis
turbed and it will soon work its way into the soil and become the
agent for liberating otherwise insoluble elements of plant food
For instance most clay soils abound in potash but in such condi
tion that plants cannot appropriate it The lime overcomes this
difficulty and renders it at once available But it would be a
mistake to make repeated applications of lime alone without sup
plying nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash because the lime
would tend by liberating these elements to entirely exhaust the
soil and render it barren188 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
IMPROVING LIGHT LAND
QUESTION 10
I have a piece of light land which is conveniently situated and
lies well How can I best bring it up to produce good crops
ANSWER 10
The only way to permanently improve the land which you
describe is to fill it with vegetable matter This may be done by
applying and turning under composts turning under green crops
or spreading over it muck or rich mud from the swamps
EXCHANGING COTTON SEED FOR COTTON SEED MEAL
QUESTION 11
In exchanging cotton seed for cotton seed meal what should a
farmer receive for each one hundred pounds of seed
ANSWER 11
In each one hundred pounds of whole seed there are fertilizing
properties equivalent to about fortyfour pounds of cotton seed
meal but as the farmer has to do the handling both ways a fair
exchange would be about fifty pounds of meal for one hundred
pounds of cotton seed As a fertilizer and as a food for stock
cotton seed meal is unrivalled
DESTROYING PINE STUMPS
QUESTION 12
I have a field on which are several large pine stumps which I
am anxious to get rid of Please give me some plaus by which I
can quickly and effectually dispose of them
ANSWER 12
An effectual way is to blow up with dynamite cartridges but
we prefer the following which though slower is less dangerous
and is thoroughly effective In the fall or early winter bore a
hole one or two inches in diameter vertically in the center of the
stump about eighteen inches deep Put in the hole two ounces of
saltpetre fill with water and plug tight In the spring following
take out the plug fill the hole with kerosene aud fire it The
stump will be apt to burn away to the ends of the rootsANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
LUCERNE
189
QUESTION 13
I planted an acre in Lucerne last spring and I bave been very
much disappointed in it I have had no experience with this crop
and write to ask your advice as to how I shall manage it
ANSWER 13
A Lucerne crop does not reach perfection until the third year
and unless your land is exceedingly rich and well prepared you will
be disappointed even then The plants are very delicate at first
and arable to be injured by weeds and grass which will soon
overcrowd and choke them out If your land has been deeply
plowed and is naturally very rich or has been made so and you
havTa good stand you need not despair The tap roots will pene
trate very deeply and take up whatever suitable food is furnished
and by hese the plants are rendered comparatively insensible to
drouth Land planted in Lucerne should have a top dressing every
third year of a fertilizer containing a small moanUfm trogen
and a We per cent of phosphate and potash The process ot
securing I successful growth of Lucerne is expensive but when we
consder that it will yield abundant cuttings for ten or fifteen year
and is also peculiarly suited to the South we cannot be too carefu
S laving a good foundation for it Once well set we have a never
failing greengcrop which will yield repeated and abundant cutting
The soil must be dry and rich it will not flourish on damp soil
and it should never be grazedalways cut
FEEDING FOR MILK
QUESTION 14
Please give me some definite guide on feeding a milch cow to
produce the best flow of milk and at the same time keep the cow
n healthy condition From the following materials which won d
you select Oats in straw pea vine hay ensilage from corn milo
Lize and sorghum peas in hull ground corn ground up with cob
cottonseed meal cottonseed hulls and crab grass hay
ANSWER 14
According to the best feeding standards a cow weighing a thou
sand7oundsg calls for 25 pounds protein 125 pounds earbohy
SL and 04 pounds fat Protein in food makes flesh blood
skint tendons Serves hair horns and the casein and albumen of190
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
milk Carbohydrates make fat heat and energy aud the fat in
foods goes to make animal fat or forms a reserve supply of heat
alTooTuounr view ZLZ
each 1000 pounds ot live weight select the following Twelve
pounds pea vine hay ten to fifteen pounds silage six pounds corn
ground on cob four pounds wheat bran to which mi Jb added
Care 717 Ut the necessaT amount of protein
Sd i liatfe to T Ir feeding the Pea Iea1 as to aa
leeclis liable to produce disorder of the svsipm a i 1 i
ration is Bermuda hay twenty pound gZj
four pounds corn ground four pounds The following is tlieTed
h 1V 900 Dound8POUnftl CttseeViea1 112 PUnds cott
nuns 900 pounds Cottonseed meal and hulls are rapidly coming
to the front as feeding materials of incalculable value not onlvfof
milch cows but for fattening beef cattle for market In apportion
U 1 er but the Srain nation both for economy and
health should be carefully weighed or measured
BEST CROP FOR BOTTOM LAND SUBJECT TO OVERFLOW
QUESTION 15
I have some very rich bottom land on creek which on account
of occasional overflows is not safe for corn and the nature f the
ground s such that it would be very expensive to ditch or dyke it
It s however very fertile and I write to ask if you can suggest
any plan by which I can utilize it or any crop wS wHuffbe
permanently mjured by the overflow Theseo no come every
year but I have lost several corn and one or two oateand pea
crops 1D my effort to get some return from the rich sot Thve
made some magnificent corn crops from the land but on he whole
the experiment is too uncertain
ANSWER 15
experimenting lor severl years with a very ridcreek bottom IT
Bermuda and exp a rlgnt ffi proleTi ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
1M
DIRECT AND INDIRECT FERTILIZATION
QUESTION 16
I would like to understand clearly the meaning of direct and
indirect fertilization I see the terms used very often but do not
know exactly how they are to be interpreted Please kindly fur
nish the desired information
ANSWER 16
In regard to the terms direct and indirect fertilization I can
not give a clearer explanation than the following from the Pro
gressive South
By direct fertilization is meant the application of certain fertili
zer materials which in themselves furnish needed nourishment to
the growing crop The plant foods in which most soils are de
ficient and which it is customary to apply in the form of commer
cial fertilizers are phosphoric acid potash and nitrogen Every
farmer ought to get familiar with these terms and to learn from
what sources they are derived and how they should be applied to
the best advantage It is true that the average soil will contain a
certain amount of phosphoric acid nitrogen and potash respec
tively but it frequently happens that these ingredients are not in a
condition to be taken up at once by the growing crops and hence
it pays to put them on in the form of fertilizers
By indirect fertilization is meant the application of certain mate
rials to the soil like salt lime or plaster which in themselves do
not furnish any of the three essential ingredients mentioned butr
by their stimulating action on the soil render available some of the
natural supply of plant food existing there It will be readily seen
of course that their action is indirect hence the term indirect
fertilizing
Probably on no crop has this indirect fertilizing been more ex
tensively practiced than on clover Many have noticed the effect
of a dose of plaster upon clover The truth of the matter is that
the plaster in itself did not serve as plant food in the clover but
released some plant food in the soil notably potash which the
clover at once assimilated to good advantage
It was also experienced by many of the same farmers that in
time it became difficult to get a catch of clover on these lands
The cause of this was that the natural supply of plant food in the
soil had been exhausted and since the plaster in itself as already
stated did not furnish any of the three essential plant food ingre
dients they had to be restored from some other source before the clover192
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
would grow as before The shrewd farmer at once sees that it is
far more economical to keep up the natural supply of plant food in
his soil rather than to allow it to become exhausted by continuous
cropping without any renewal
SEASONING STRENGTH OF WOOD AND LUMBER
QUESTION 17
Please give me any information that you can that will be of
value to a farmer concerning the seasoning and strength of wood
and lumber
ANSWER 17
The following statements are published by the Department of
Agriculture at Washington and are of interest to farmers as well as
to those engaged in other pursuits
A cord of green wood weighs 50 per cent more than when air
dry
A cord of welldried wood still contains 600 pounds of water
In burning green wood nearly onehalf the heat is lost in
evaporating the water contained in it Onehalf the weight of
fresh sappy pine is due to water The kilndrying of lumber at
a small expense saves 1000 to 1500 pounds of freight per 1000
feet board measure
Seasoniug increases stiffness and strength by about 50 per cent
Split wood shrinks more evenly sheds water and wears better
than if sawed
Good hard pine shrinks about 6 inches per 100 inches width of
flooring when laid green good red oak about 9 inches
Doubling the length of a board or timber reduces the stiffness
eightfold and the strength onehalf
Doubling the width of a board doubles the stiffness and strength
Doubling the width of a board or the depth of a timber in
creases the stiffness about eightfold and the strength fourfold
If therefore it is desired to double the length and retain the
same stiffness it is necessary to double the thickness or depth
Weight for weight a stick of pine is stronger and stiffer than a
solid iron or steel of the same shape and length A joist 2 by 6
inches is eight times as stiff as one 2 by 4 A joist 2 by 8 inches
is eight times and one 2 by 12 is twentyseven times as stiff
A good hard pine joist 2 by 4 inches and 10 feet long may sup
port 2000 pounds in the middle but it can safely be trusted only
to the extent of 400 pounds A timber projecting from the wall
and weighted at the end supports only as much as a timber twice
the length resting on both ends and weighted in the middleANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
193
SMUT IN WHEAT AND OATS
Is there any way to
QUESTION 18
I wish to sow wheat aud oats this mouth
treat the seed to prevent smut
ANSWER 18
Oat smut cau be entirely prevented by what is called the potas
sium sulphide treatment The potassium sulphide should be of
the fused form known as liver of sulphur It should be kept in
a light glass vessel protected from the air until ready for use
Dissolve 11 pounds in 25 gallons of water in a wooden vessel
such as a light barrel After stirring until the potassium sul
phide is thoroughly dissolved put in about three bushels of oats
and agitate well to insure wetting every grain The solution
should completely cover the grain Leave the oats in this solution
for twentyfour hours stirring several times during the day to be
sure every kernel is wetted Then spread out to dry The solu
tion should not be used more than three times when it should be
renewed In no case should any metal be allowed to come in con
tact with the liquid To prevent stinking smut in wheat the
hot water treatment of the seed is very simple cheapand efficacious
Provide two large vessels of any kind holding at least 20 gallons
each One of the vessels should contain warm water say at 110 to
120 F and the other scalding water at 132 to 133 F The first
is for thepurpose of warming the seed preparatory to dippingit into
the second Unless this precaution is taken it will be difficult to keep
the water in the second vessel at the proper temperature
The seed to be treated should be placed half a bushel or more
at a time in a closed vessel that will allow free entrance and exit
of water on all sides For this purpose a basket or a coarsely
woven gunny sack may be used
Dip the basket of seed in the first vessel containing water at
110 to 120 F after a moment lift it and when the water has
for the most part escaped plunge it into the water again repeating
the operation several times Less than a minute is required for
this preparatory treatment after which plunge the basket of seed
into the second vessel containing water at 132 to 133 F The
basket of seed should very shortly after its immersion be lifted aud
drained and then be plunged again into the water This opera
tion should be repeated six or eight times during the immersion
which should be continued ten minutes194 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
After removing the grain from the scalding water spread on a
clean floor to dry not letting the layer of grain be over three
inches thick and it should be shoveled over two or three times a
day until dry The particular points in the treatment are as fol
lows Keep the temperature of the water at 132 to 133 in no
case permitting it to rise higher than 135 or to fall below 130
Never fill the basket containing the seed entirely full but always
leave room for the seed to move about freely Continue dipping
the seed in the second vessel of water fully ten minutes This hot
water treatment can also be used for smut on oats
Another method of preventing stinking smut in wheat consists
in immersing the seed twelve hours in a solution made by dissolv
ing one pound of copper sulphate in 24 gallons of water and then
putting the seed five or ten minutes into lime water made by slak
ing 1 pound of good lime in 10 gallons of water This treatment
is very cheap and quite effective It should never be used for oat
smut
SOUTHERN BLIGHT IN TOMATOES
QUESTION 19
For several years I have had trouble in raising tomatoes
The plants grow oft well and commence bearing when suddenly
without any apparent cause they wilt and die Is there any
remedy for it and what causes it
ANSWER 19
Your tomato plants are killed by a disease known as South
ern Blight the disease being more common in this section
than in more northern latitudes It is a bacterial disease fre
quently injuring Irish potatoes and sometimes watermelon
vines also
It is not well understood and no cure for it has yet been
found This disease appears to be very contagious and as soon
as a plant shows the characteristic wilting it should be pulled
up and buried iSome have recommended spraying with Bor
deaux mixture as a preventive but the results have not been
very encouraging Change your ground for tomato raising
getting entirely away from the spot where the disease has here
tofore shown itself By doing this and destroying with fire
every plant that shows the disease you will be doing all in your
power and will doubtless check the destruction to some extentANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
195
BENEFIT OF ROTATIONS OF CROPS
QUESTION 20
To keep up the fertility of my farm is it absolutely necessary
to plant a rotation of crops What good is accomplished by
rotation
ANSWER 20
By the use of special manures and fertilizers a particular
crop can be raised for many years on the same land but in a
general way the fertility of the soil can only be maintained
and hence farming can only be made profitable by a diversity
and rotation of crops This has been demonstrated by the con
tinuous cultivation of tobacco in Virginia by the planting of
wheat year after year on the same land in the fertile valleys of
western New York and on the still richer rolling lands of
Ohio And coming nearer home we have a demonstration of
the same thing in our own farms mauy of which have been
planted continuously for many years in cotton In each case
nature has given warning by the annually diminishing crop
that her laws were being violated and that change was neces
sary if the farmers hoped to make their business profitable A
rotation of crops in addition to keeping up the fertility of the
land is of great advantage in diminishing the fungus enemies
of certain plants that exist in the soil and that increase and
multiply indefinitely where the crop on which they feed is
planted year after year on the same ground Thus the root rot
of cotton caused by a fungus in the soil rapidly gets worse and
worse as long as cotton continues to be planted in the field
where it Las once made its appearance but by planting corn
oats peas etc on the land for two or tbree years the fungus
practically disappears having been starved out for want of the
cotton roots on which it subsisted And so of many other crops
each of which has its underground enemies which can only be
avoided by a rotation of crops
The benefits of a rotation of crops have been well summed
up by Prof Flagg as follows
1 It economizes the natural and artificial supplies of plant
food in the soil and helps to enrich the surface soil
2 A regular succession of crops including hoed crops is of
great assistance in keeping the soil free from weeds insects and
fungoid diseases
3 It economizes the labor of the farm and is necessary
for the satisfactory and profitable feeding of live stock196
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
4 By the frequent plowing in of turf pea vines and stub
ble the mechanical condition of the soil is improved while ac
tivity of chemical and bacteriological forces is greatly increased
resulting in a greater development of plant food
CANE SYRUP CRYSTALLIZING INTO SUGAR
QUESTION 21
Why does Georgia made cane syrup so frequently turn to
sugar Can it be prevented
ANSWER 21
There is no peculiarity in Georgia raised cane that causes the
syrup made from it to crystallize into sugar The result is
caused by boiling the syrup a little too long When the syrup
point is reached in boiling the juice it should be quickly re
moved from the kettle as a very few moments of additional
boiling will render it sugary On the other hand if the syrup
is taken off too soon it will be certain to ferment and turn sour
with the first warm weather Experience therefore is required
in making good syrup and this can be easily acquired by a lit
tle practice and observation There is no other way of guard
ing against the trouble you ask about
THE FUTURE OF COTTON CULTURE
QUESTION 22
How are the farmers of Georgia and the south to live with
cotton at 5 cents a pound Does the future hold out any pros
pect of better prices
ANSWER 22
The decliue in cotton from seven to five cents a pound
means a loss to the farmers of Georgia alone of more than
twelve million dollars on the present crop a loss which they
cannot afford to sustain and which will bear with greatest force
on the unfortunate farmers who have planted all or nearly all
their land incotton flow these are to meet the future I do not
know for with guano billsbills for supplies wages etc to pay
there can be nothing left after selling cotton at live cents a
pound and they face the winter with empty cribs poor stock
bare smoke houses and doubtless with unpaid debts incurred
in making the present crop For the farmer on the contraryANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
197
whose cribs are full of corn and fodder and pea vines whose
stock of all kinds are healthy and fat who has a goodly num
ber of hogs to kill who has plenty of potatoes banked up and
a barrel or two of syrup in the store room the outlook is not
without hope If he has cleared little or no money on his cot
ton he has at least paid his debts and has a years supply of
food for man and beast on hand He needs only to buy flour
sugar and coffee to complete a bill of fare such as the city man
of the same means can seldom indulge in The farmer thus
situated can live even with cotton five cents a pound He can
make no money but he can hold his own and live in comfort
until the time comes when his products will bring a better
price than at present That time must come sooner or later
our people are patient and conservative they are waiting
calmly to feel the prosperity promised by high tariff and the
single gold standard But that prosperity and better prices
will come under these conditions I do not believe Money
must be more plentiful and more evenly distributed before our
products will advance in price We are now trying the remedy
advocated by the Republican party for restoring prosperity to the
country It will soon be demonstrated that their remedy is a fail
ure total and complete and then the people will rise in their might
and place in power a party less devoted to the interests of trusts
and combines a party that will enact laws for the benefit of the
masses instead of the classes Then and not before do I look ior
prosperous times and good prices for all of our products Mean
time every farmer in Georgia should make it a point to make his
farm selfsustaining Raise everything necessary for man
and beast there is no necessity to go out of the State
for a pound of meat or a bushel of corn Georgia can raise
all that she consumes of agricultural products and should do so
without further delay It is folly utter folly for any farmer to
expect to make cotton a profitable crop at five six or even seven
cents a pound unless he raises at the same time all the food crop3
4hat will be needed on his farm My advice has always been to
first provide for plenty of home made bread and meat and after
ihat make all the cotton you can I see no reason to change that
advice It holds good whether cotton is five or ten cents a pound
I make the assertion boldly that our farmers cannot prosper un
less they make their own supplies Let the price of cotton be even
double what it is at present and ruin must eventually overtake
that farmer who neglects to plant provision crops And not only
will he suffer but his children after him for he will leave them198
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
lands run down worn out and impoverished by continuous plant
ing in cotton There is no doubt that eight million bales would
bring as much money to the producers as would ten million which
is a strong argument in favor of raising our own food supplies
as the amount of money land and labor used in making all over
eight million bales would doubtless make us an abundance of pro
visions of every kind
SMALL POTATOES FOR SEED
QUESTION 23
Will the use of small potatoes for seed cause a falling off in the
crop i
ANSWER 23
If the potatoes are small because of the close of the season of
growth they must certainly be immature and unripe and therefore
not good for seed The use of such potatoes whether Irish or
sweet for planting purposes would result in my opinion in a
smaller crop than would be obtained from seed that had reached a
larger growth and were fully ripe If on the other hand the
potatoes weresmall only because of drouth or poor land but at
the same time were fully matured and ripe then I think that they
would do just as well for seed as those of larger growth In other
words small potatoes if ripe are good for planting if unripe and
immature they are unfit for that purpose
FLAX CULTURE
QUESTION 24
Please give me some information about the planting cultivating
and harvesting of flax
ANSWER 24
m Flax must be planted either for the seed or for the fibre and in
this country it is almost always planted for the seed the fibre
being imported cheaper as a rule than it can be raised in this
country
Flax requires a good well drained loamy soil and is such an
exhaustive crop especially where cut for the fibre that it should
not occupy the same land oftener than every third or fourth vear
It should be planted also on land that has been for a year or two
under clean culture as weeds are the greatest enemy to contend
with The ground should be deeply broken and well pulverizedANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
199
and as soon as the danger of frost is over viz from the 1st to the
loth of April the seed should be sowed and lightly harrowed in
When planting for fibre the seed should be sown at the rate of
1J to 2 bushels to the acre This thick sowing will cause the
stalks to be tall and slender and the fibre will then be long and
fine but there will be few seed made When the crop is grown
for seed a sowing of from 2 to 3 pecks per acre will be sufficient
as then the plants will have room to branch out and bear a great
number of seed pods but the fibre from this coarse growth will be
much less valuable than when a thick sowing is made In either
case only the best quality of seed should be planted and care
should be used to eliminate all weed seeds from the flax seed
When the young plants are three to five inches high all weeds
that have made their appearance should be carefully pulled by
hand This can best be done by barefooted boys as the plants
are very tender and easily injured at that stage of growth and
when mashed into the ground by a heavy weight they never
recover from it All the cultivation required is this one weeding
and it should be carefully done and at the proper time
If grown for fibre the flax should be harvested when the lower
half of the stalks have turned yellow and the seeds have begun to
turn brown When grown for seed the crop should not be harv
ested until the seeds are quite brown and ripe as the unripe seed
will not properly mature after cutting In either case the crop
can be cut with a mower or with a common grain cradle When
planted for the fibre the stalks should be cut as close to the
ground as possible when only the seed are wanted cut so as to
leave a high stubble to be plowed under
After cutting tie in small bundles and either stack in the field
or if you have plenty of room throw loosely under shelter to dry
When the seed are thoroughly dry thresh them from the bolls
and winnow by running through a seed cleaning machine A fair
crop would be from ten to twelve bushels of seed or from three to
six hundred pounds of fibre200
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
DOMESTIC FERTILIZERS
THE INTELLIGENT MIXING OF FIRSTCLASS FERTILIZERS UPON
THE FARM
BASED ON VALUATION OF 18941895
The use of formulae 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 re
sults upon the crops Good fertilizers cheaply obtained though apparently
iiigher in price per ton secure given results far more economically In
this article we will not discuss the subject of leguminous crops and mucks
and the valuable results to be obtained by their conservation and intelli
gent handling m connection with stable yard manure and composts but
will confine ourselves to formulae composed of the commercial plant foods
In these formulae we will give the approximate retail values of the ma
terials These values vary of course with the markets and location Any
farmer can secure actual selling price for his location and figure the exact
cost on his own farm At wholesale cash prices the materials can be se
cured 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 available 1 200 lbs
840 per cent available phosphoric acid
Cotton seed meal nitrogen equal to 8 per cent am 500 lbs
212 per cent ammonia
Kainit 12 per cent potash 300 lbs
180 per cent potash
2000 lbs
Or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate 1200 lbs at 1300 a ton 7 SO
Cotton seed meal 500 lbs at 1600 a ton 4 00
Kainit 300 lbs at 1200 a ton 180
Cost not including onethird day labor in mixing1360 per ton
Wholesale cost value as calculated by department 1496 per ton
Usual selling value of such goods 2000 per ton
FORMULA NO 2FOR COTTON AND CORN
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available1300 lbs
910 per cent available phosphoric acid
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per cent ammonia 300 lbs
240 per cent ammonia
Kainit 12 per cent of potash tU iDS
240 per cent potash
2000 lbs
Or one tonANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
201
COST OP MATERIALS
Acid phosphate 1300 lbs at 1300 a ton845
Blood 300 lbs at 3200 a ton 4 80
Kadnit 400 lbs at 1200 a ton z 40
Cost not including onethird day labor for mixing1565 per ton
Wholesale cost value Department valuation 1660 per ton
Usual selling price 2200 per ton
FORMULA NO 3FOR COTTON AND CORN
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available1300 lbs
910 per cent available phosphoric acid
Blood nitrogen equivalent to 16 per cent ammonia 200 lbs
160 per cent I 250 per
Nitrate of soda nitrogen equivalent to 18 percent am100 lbs cent am
90 per cent
Muriate of potash 50 per cent potash 100 lbs
250 per cent
Muck woods earth or rich soil 300 lbs
0 per cent
2000 lbs
Or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate 1300 lbs at 1300 a ton845
Blood 200 lbs at 3200 a ton 320
Nitrate of soda 100 lbs at 3800 a ton 190
Muriate potash 100 lbs at 4200 a ton 210
Muck woods earth or rich soil 300 lbs at 0 a ton 00
Cost not including onethird day labor in mixing1565
Wholesale cost value Department valuation 1696
Usual selling price 2200
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 in
gredients are thus increased 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
490 per cent available phosphoric acid
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per cent ammonia 300 lbs
240 per cent ammonia
Double manure salt sulphate of potash and magnesia with 27 per
cent potash 360 lbs
486 per cent potash
Muck woods earth or rich soil 640 lbs
0 per cent
2000 lbs
Or one ton202 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
COST OP MATERIALS
Acid phosphate 700 lbs at 1300 a ton u KS
Blood 300 lbs at 3200 a ton 40
Double manure salt 360 lbs at 2400 a ton432
Muck woods earth or rich soil at 00 a ton on
Cost not including onethird day labor in mixing 13 67
Wholesale cost value Department valuation 1521
This formula can be made much higher grade bv simply leaving out the
muck woods earth or rich soil
FORMULA NO 5FOR PEACHES PLUMS AND PEARS
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available 700 lbs
490 per cent available phosphoric acid
Blood nitrogen equal to 16 per cent ammonia 300 lb
240 per cent ammonia
Muriate of potash 40 per cent potash 196 lbs
490 per cent potash
Muck woods earth or rich soil oM ia
0 per cent S04 lbs
2000 lbs
COST OF MATERIALS 116 t0n
Acid phosphate 700 lbs at 1300 a ton 4
Blood 300 lbs at 3200 a ton 7J
Muriate of potash 196 lbs at 4200 a ton 4 19
Muck etc 4L
Cost not including onethird day labor in mixing1347
FORMULA No 6FOR PEACHES PLUMS AND PEAKS
Acid phosphate 14 per cent available 675 lbs
47a per cent available phosphoric acid
Cottonseed Meal nitrogen equal to 81 per cent ammonia 525 lbs
228 percent ammonia
Kainit 12 per cent potash 800 lbs
480 per cent potash
2000 lbs
Or one ton
COST OF MATERIALS
Acid phosphate 675 lbs at 1300 a ton 4 39
Cotton seed meal 525 lbs at 1600 a ton 420
Kainit 800 lbs at 1200 a ton 480
Cost not including onethird day labor in mixing1339
Ts formula has no muck or other flller as tne crude materials are such
that the correct proportion can 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 commercial fertilizers This formula contains a total of
1176 per cent of plant food All of these fruit formulas meet the State
requirement of 10 per cent of available plant food yet tihey do not force a
fruit grower 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 amounts proportionate of phosphoric acid but the peach
pear and plum require a greater use of potash for the best resultsANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
203
MIXING
The mixing is best done by spreading out the materials in layers on the
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 en
ables one to make a better mixture
COMPOSTS
AND THE UTILIZATION OP MATERIALS FOUND UPON THE FARM
IN COMBINATION WITH COMMERCIAL CHEMICALS FOR
FERTILIZING PURPOSES
Extracts from LHters Written by Dr G F Payne the State Chemist in Reply
to Inquiries in Regard to the Mixing of 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 moisture Sandy lands hold moisture much better when
the spongelike humus is present and heavy clav soils are made lighter
and more porous by its presence Its dark color also makes a lightercol
ored soil warmer by its coloring power This is easily illustrated by lay
ing down a piece of white cloth and a piece of black cloth upon snow in
winter or powdered ice in the summer and noting how much quicker
melting takes place under the piece of black cloth
ATLANTA Ga January 16 1897
II 0 M
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 sim
plest plans is to treat the material with manure Put one load of manure
to every three 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 materials ferment as the
fermentation brings inert materials into available forms and improves the
mechanical condition of the mass
Avoid hauling the material as much as possible as hauling is expensive
So locate your compost heaps that the hauling of the materials from the
first until their final distribution over the fields will cost as little as pos
sible
If you wish a stronger fertilizer than this and desire to use chemicals in
addition the following would be suitable
Acid phosphate 500 lbs
Muriate of potash 50 lbs
Compost or manure1450 lbs
Cost 400
Cost 100
Cost
2000 lbs or one ton
If you desire more nitrogenous material you can use the following
Acid phosphate 340 lbsCost 275
Cotton seed meal 165 lbsCost 142
Muriate or potash 30 lbsCost 60
Compost or manure1465 lbsCost
2000 lbs
77204
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
January 30 1897
Jt H M
Yours of the 21st to 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 percentage of
available 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 al
most 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 pot
ash and nitrogen Manure contains about 310 per cent of nitrogen about
210 per cent of potash and about 210 per cent of phosphoric acid
Cotton seed contains ahouit 3 per cent of 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 one and onehalf per cent of potash
To each ton of manure of 2000 pounds add
Cotton seed200 lbs
Ashes unleached150 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
The mixture will weigh about 2750 lbs and will contain from these in
gredients
2000 lbs of Manure Nitrogen
200 lbs of cotton seed
150 lbs of ashes
400 lbs of acid phos
6 lbs
6
Potash 4 lbs
2
Phos acid 4 lbs
2
56
12 lbs lH lbs
This is equivalent to about
Nitrogen44 per cemi
Potash 48 per cent
Phosphoric acid 233 per cent
64J lbs
C M D
January 24 1897
Yours of the 19th to 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 for me to advise you how to
make them into fertilizers
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 of
muck pine straw etc 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
preserving the liquid excrement at the same time This can be done by
means of pine straw liberally used as an absorbent or by means of a
drainANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
205
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 of muck mix well and
cover with earth
To use the pine straw use three loads of it to one of manure cover with
earth and let stand until fermented
January 30 1897
J W R
Yours of the 25th at hand I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine writ
ten 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 fertilizer material
It should be ripe or well rotted before using if possible so the earlier
started the better it will be
You ask if it will pay to sell whole cotton seed at 12 to 15 cents per
bushels and buy cottonseed meal in place of it for fertilizing purposes By re
ferring to page 14 of Bulletin 29 you will see the comparative fertilizing
values of the whole seed and the meal
I inclose Bulletin 29 in regard to comparative value of whole cotton
seed and cotton seed meal
One ton of whole seed contains fertilizing material which is equivalent
to 880 lbs of meal
One ton of whole seed at 12 cents per bushel and 67 bushels to the ton
will be worth 837
One ton of whole seed at 15 cents per bushel will be worth at 67 bushels
to the ton 1005
Cotton seed meal now sells at 1500 a ton and 880 lbs of it are equiva
lent 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 will
be worth 660 Hence at these figures there would be a difference in your
favor if you got either 12 or 15 cents a bushel The difference is nor
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 1897
S C H
Yours of the 30th of December to hand Kainit contains about 12 per
cent of potash Muriate of potash contains about 50 per cent or potasn
or about four times as strong as kaiinit If you wish cheap hauling you
should buy concentrated fertilizing chemicals You can buy muriate of
potash at about 4000 per ton probably a little higher in less lots than a
ton
As a fivedollar combination of fertilizers I suggest the following
Muriate of potash containing 50 per cent of potash 37 lbs at
4000 a ton 74
High grade acid phosphate containing 18 per cent of phosphoric
acid 280 lbs at 1500 a ton 210
Nitrate of soda sometimes called Chili saltpetre containing nitro
gen equivalent to 19 per cent of ammonia 95 Pbs at 4500 a tonj 214
Muck or woods earth or marl 1588 lbs 00
2000 lbs498
If you wish an ammoniate not quite so quick as nitrate of soda and less
likely to fire on shallow soils you might use the following206
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
NO 2
Muriate of potash 37 lbs
74
High grade acid phosphate 280 lbs
Dried blood sixteen per cent 112 lbs 2 15
Muck woods earth or marl 1 571 lbs 00
2000 lbs 499
If you desire to use sulphate ammonia as an ammoniate the following
formula 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 0
2000 lbs 500
No 1 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potfhu 92 per cent
Available phosphoric acid 2 52 per cent
Ammonia 90 per cent
No 2 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potash 92 per cent
Available phosphoric acid252 per cent
Ammonia89J per cent
No 3 will give you from the chemicals alone
Potash 92 per cent
Available phosphoric acid252 percent
Ammonia 67 per cent
The filler which you use whether of muck woods earth or marl will add
something to this if well selected
The sulphate ammonia is a more expensive ammonia 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 chem
icals higher than prices given above use about 75 cents worth of your
potash compound about 210 worth of your acid phosphate and
about 215 worth of your ammioniate and then use your muck
woods earth or marl to make the balance of the ton and you will strike
about the proiper proportion for your 500 a ton fertilizer
January 28 1897
Yours of the 28th received in which you inquire what would be ad
visable to mix with two tons of cowlot manure and 50 to 75 bushels of
cotton seed to make a good fertilizer for corn sweet and Irish potatoes
Cow manure 2 tons
Whole cotton seed 1 ton or 50 to 75 bushels
Muriate of potash 100 pounds
Acid phosphate 1500 pounds
If you have any muck leaves woodlitter or rich woods earth you
tan mix about an equal quantity with the above cover with earth to keep
out rain and let it go through a heat or ferment
T n July 20 1897
J Li 11
Yours of the 17th at hand Both ground raw hone and dissolved bone
would be good yet both are lacking in probably the most important ingreANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
207
dient in the culture of grapes Ground raw bone usually contains from 3 to
4 per cent of nitrogen and 20 odd per cent of phosphoric acid Of this
phosphoric acid only about onehalf is an immediately available form In
the dissolved bone if really dissolved bone there would be a good per
centage of nitrogen and of available phosphorie acid but the dissolved
bone of the market is usually simple acid phosphate so it is quite im
portant to know which you are using As a matter of economy in fertiliz
ing it will of course depend upon the price of material Cotton seed hull
ashes and ground bone mixed together in equal parts would make an ad
mirable fertilizer for the vines If you wish to use acid phosphate or so
called dissolved bone I would suggest the following
Acid phosphate 800 lbs
Blood 500 lbs
Sulphate of potash 700 lbs
This would make one ton and will give available phosphoric acid 51
per cent nitrogen 4 per cent and potash 11 per cent Grapes require
considerable more potash than they do of either phosphoric acid or nitro
gen This formula can be varied if you desire to use other forms of pot
ash 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 percentage
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 pur
pose Such a fertilizer is also suited to peaches or pears
January 26 1897
S C D
Yours of the 25th to hand in which you request a fertilizer formula to
enable you to compost your cotton seed ashes canebrake soil and manure
Mix in the following proportions
Canebrake soil 2 tons
Manure 1 ton
Cotton seed 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 1897
W E H
Yours of the 14th to hand If you desire a fullstrength goods the fol
lowing formula will prove satisfactory being made of the materials you
wish to use
Acid phosphate 1200 lbs cost about 780 840 per cent available phos
phoric acid
Nitrate of soda 250 lbs cost about 500 237 per cent ammonia
Kainit 300 lbs cost about 180 180 per cent potash
Muck marl or rotten leaves 250 lbs
2000 lbs1460
If 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 concentrated form of potash than kainit and costs less for freight
and for the actual potash in it Kainit contains about 12per cent of pot
ash and muriate about 50 per cent
Farmers can save money by clubbing together and buying acid phos
phate 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 the closest figures
possible208 DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Acid phosphate can now be bought in bulk for cash at 850 a ton Cot
ton seed 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 4200 a ton At these
figures the materials for an average fertilizer of the market will be
1400 lbs acid phosphate containing 14 per cent available phospmoric
acid at 850 a too 595
520 lbs cotton seed meal containing nitrogen equivalent to 8 per cent
ammonia at 1500 a ton 390
80 lbs of muriate of potash containing 51 per cent potash at 42 a
ton 168
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
Ammonia 221 per cent
Potash 205 per centTHE LAW GOVERNING THE INSPECTION OF FERTI
LIZERS AND FERTILIZER MATERIAL
On the 9th of October 1891 an act the full text of which is hereby 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 cr 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
That 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 acidper cent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash Ka 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 salu
Ha210
DEPARTMENT OP 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 partiaHailure 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 7J 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 game is
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 prima 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
missioners judgment may be necessary who shall hold their offices for such
terms as said Commissioner of Agriculture shall in his judgment think best
for 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 FOR 1897
211
dollars per month and his actual expenses while in the discharge of his duty
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
ehall see that all fertilizers chemicals or cotton seed meal are properly tagged
Sec VIlfBeit 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
spector of fertilizers to draw a sample of all fertilizers chemicals and cotton
eeed 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
Sue 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
out the requirements thereof
Sec IX Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner
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
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 conviction212
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
thereor 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
While the law itself is sufficiently explicit to be thoroughly understood to
facilitate its operations the following form is prescribed
REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION
To R T Jisbitt Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Gai
You are hereby requested to register for sale and distribution in the State
of Georgiamanufactured by
at
THE FOLLOWING IS THE GUARANTEED ANALYSIS OF THE
BRAND
Moisture at 212 Fahper cent
Insoluble phosphoric acidper cent
Available phosphoric acidper cent
Ammonia actual and potentialper cent
Potash Ks Oper 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 a
sufficientANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
213
NOTICE OF SALES AND CONSIGNMENTS AND REQUEST FOR
INSPECTION
189
ITo R T Ncsbitt Commissioner of Agriculture Atlanta Qa
You are hereby notified thathave this day made the follow
jng sales and consignments and request that the same he inspec
ted
In consideration of being allowed to sell and distribute the above before the
official analysis thereof is made agree and bind
to cancel all sales thereof and forfeit all claim for
purchasemoney thewofj falter 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 word implying that the same is an ammoniated superphosphate the214
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA

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 i
oUhisY tTf thX f hrity f the 8ame That fr0m afte he pas g
of this act it shal not be lawful for any person or persons to offer for sale m
nvhyr Ti meaI UDtil the 8ame Sha11 have been duly analyzed
by the State Chemist and inspected as now required by law in the matter of
all fertilizers and chemcals for manufacturing or composting purposes nor
shall t be lawful to offer such cottonseed meal for sale in this State tl it be
shown by the official analysis that he same contains less than 7 p entum
of ammomasprowdrf that the provisions of this act as to the per centum
mentioned m 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 whfch shalUon
trolastothecoltonseedmeal referred to in this proviso provided furZ
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 ana ys19 be made known to the purchaser and stamped on the sack
Jr a 6r enated by the auhrity aforesaid That there shall
be branded upon or attached to each sack barrel or package of cottonseed
Chi iS H n 8al6 thlS fate the trUe anaySis aS determid the State
Chemst and the number of pounds net in each sack barrel or package
th H f n enaCted by the aUth0rity aforeeaid Tht shall be
make e mmi8Sner f iclture 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 guiUy of a
fTerof 1882nViCtin 6La11 PUni8h6d Pcribeinseyctiona
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 hereby repealed
Approved July 22 1891 lepeaieaANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
215
ELLINGTON BILL
No KiS
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 of sale 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
Skc 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
ecVII Beit 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 upon216
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
his crop which proof shall be sufficient to authorize the jury to sustain de
fendants plea within whole or in part whether said suit is brought by an
innocent holder or not
Sec IX Be it further enacted That all laws aDd parts of laws in conflict
with this act be and the same are hereby repealed
Approved December 27 1890
Special attention is called to
Sec IRequiring seller to take the sample
Sec IIRequiring purchaser and seller to deliver package to Ordinary
Sec IirRequiring Ordinary to keep package allowing neither party access to the same
Sec IVRequiring the forwarding of samples after seeing yield of crop otherwise the
sample is not a legal one
Sec VRequiring cost of sending being prepaid by purchaser
Ordinaries are requested to state what ingredients they wish determined in the samples
sent as in this way the chemitt can be often saved considerable time and expense consumed
in looking for ingredienls not even claimed to be present
REMARKS ON THE ELLINGTON BILL
Unless the law is complied with and samples are taken in the presence of
purchaser and seller and kept in charge of the Ordinary the State Chemist will
not make the analyses If the sample is not taken in the presence of the seller
and kept in charge by the Ordinary until sent to the Chemist a dishonest
purchaser by taking his own sample during the absence of the seller and mix
ing it with dirt could cause the ruin of an honest man and vice versa a ras
cally dealer by adding rich ingredients or substituting another sample could
swindle an honest farmer
It is impossible under the law for the Chemist to have any knowledge
whatever of the names of the parties or of the names of the fertilizers or of
their guarantees This is eminently proper as it is equally so that neither
purchaser nor seller should have private access to the sample
The farmers desire protection against lowgrade goods and dishonest dealers
proper care and attention to this law will certainly secure it
The State Chemist earnestly requests the sealing with wax of all samples
in the presence of buyer and seller Although the law does not require it it
s advsabe that it should be done A record should be kept by the Ordinary
of the names of the two parties the name of the brand and the guarantee and
the samples should be numbered as taken and a corresponding number shouM
be pu upon the bottles When the sample is sent to the Chemist evervthTng
should be scraped off the bottle but the number or the sampled should be
placed m ano her bottle and numbered to correspond with his record book to
prevent samples getting mixed The Ordinary should write the name of Ihe
county on the package when shipping that the Chemist may know to what
county the package belongs It is impossible sometimes to identify samples
hhSiuesfrtothis office by the eender faiiingt tANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
217
VALUATIONS
For Available Phosphoric Acid Ammonia and Potash for Season of 18961897
Available phosphoric acid3 cents a pound
Ammonia or its equivalent in nitrogen10 cents a pound
Potash4 eents a Pund
If calculated by units
Available phosphoric acid65 cents per unit
Ammonia or its equivalent in nitrogen2 00 per unit
Potash85 cents Per unit
The relative commercial value which is given each fertilizer is calculated
from the above figures with an addition to each of 1260 per ton to cover in
snection sacks mixing and handling
To calculate the commercial value of a ton of a given fertilizer bear in mind
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 lor each per cent contained in a ton or sixtyfive cents per unit as
it is generally designated Ammonia being ten cents a pound each one per
cent or twenty pounds in a ton will be worth 200 Potash being four and
one quarter cents per pound each one per cent or twenty in a ton will be
worth eightyfive cens
To illustrate this take a sample containing
Available phosphoric acid1000 multiply by 05
Ammonia 260 multiply by 210
Potash 200 multiply by S5
Inspection sacks mixing and handling 2 60
Relative commercial valuelo 00
These values represent approximately the comparative original wholesale
cost of the goods and not their retail prices To estimate the approximate
retail 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 inter
est 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
lute
0 50
5 20
1 70218
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
WHOLESALE CASH PRICES OF FERTILIZER MATERIALS
January 1897
These are the Substances from which Ordinary Commercial Fertilizers are Manu
factured mixing handling freight sacking etc increasing the cost of the finished
product
Phosphate Rock free on board Charleston S C per ton 2 75 to 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 Acid in bulk50Bper ton 6 50 to 7 50
Acid Phosphate per ton 6 50 to 8 40
Acid Phosphate sold by the unit of available Phosphoric
rAodper unit 50 to 65
Jo 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 34 cents a
pound
Blood dried red high grade with nitrogen equivalent to 16
per cent ammoniaper ton 30 00 to 35 00
Tankage 16 00 to 1700
Fish Guano or Fish Scrap dried free on board at the
factory per ton 2Q
JMSh Guano or Fish Scrap acidulated free on board at
the factoryper ton 0Q to Q
Bones roughper ton 16 00 to 17 00
groundper ton 21 50 to 22 00
Bone Meal steamedper ton 19 00 to 20 00
Bone Black Refuseper ton 18 00 to 18 50
Sulphate of Ammonia containing about 24 to 25 per cent
Kll Iper ton 44 00 to 47 00
JMitrate ot Soda containing nitrogen equivalent to about 19
n rT ammoniaper ton 38 00 to 39 00
Cotton Seed Mealby car loadcontaining nitrogen equiva
lent to about 8J per cent ammoniaperton 17 00
Kainit containing 1200 per cent potash K0 at Savan
nah Ga in lots of 400 tons per ton 9 15
Muriate of potash containing about 5100 per cent potash
K0 at Savannah Ga in lots of 50 tons per ton 36 30
These prices give a fair idea of the value of fertilizers in large wholesale
lots The phosphate rock is quoted F O B at the mines the freight to any
given point will have to be 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 ammonia and nitrate of
soda are quoted at New York prices But as most of the blood tankage andANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
219
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
160 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 obtained cbnts cents
from phosphate rock per lb 2J to 3 per unit 50 to 60
Ammonia or its nitrogen equivalent in
the form of blood per fi 7i to 8f per unit 1 50 to 1 75
Ammonia or its nitrogen equivalent in
the form of Sulphate of Ammonia per fi 9i to 10 per unit 1 85 to 2 00
Ammonia or its nitrogen equivalent in
the form of Nitrate of Sodaper 9 to 90per unit 1 84 to 1 92
Ammonia or its nitrogen equivalent in
the form of Cottonseed Meal per So 10 per unit 2 00
Potash K20 in the form of Kainit per fi 4 per unit 80
Potash K20 in the form of Muriate per ffi 3 per unit 75
As tankage bones fish scrap and bone black refuse contain phosphates as
well as nitrogenous matter they would not be treated fairly if valued on their
nitrogen alone220
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREOEORGIA
The Percentage in Ordinary Fertilizing Materials of the Three Plant Food
Most Easily Exhausted from the Soil is as follows
a o
3
o
Acid Phosphates
Soft Phosphates
Blood
Tankage
Fish dried
Bone Meal
Sulphate of Am
Nitrate of Soda
CottonSeed Meal
Sea Island Cotton
Seed Meal
Kainit
Muriate of Potash
Cotton Seed Hull
Ashes
Ashes Anthracite
coal
AshesBitumous
coal
Ashes limekiln
Ashes wood
leached
Ashes wood un
leached
Ashes city cre
matory
Muck
Cattle Excrement
Horse Excrement
Human Excment
Swine Excrement
Sheep Excrement
Cattle Urine
Horse Urine
Human Urine
Swine Urine
Sheep Urine
Stable M a nure
mixed
Barnyard Manure
average
3 tn o
8oSf
oto SM
CgflSS
o oft 8 ft
Od
C co E o ft
0 o 5
sgs33g
1200 to 2000
1986
190
1200
825
2274
1000 to 1900
207
280
250
885
10
40
114
151
170
70
10
17
17
109
41
31
17
07
01
30
32
540
315
800
775
2a
as a
f
So
o a
6
ofl P
Oz
al
4
1200 to 1700
800 to 1400
880
4 63
24 80
1900
800 to 900
450 to 650
Trace
180
150
1100 to 1300
5150
2275
10
40
120
1 27
525
68
130 15
35 10
53 35
121 25
72 13
67 15
70 49
188 150
72 20
52 83
237 226
60 60
59 43
ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
221
GEORGIAS COMMANDING POSITION IN THE FERTIL
IZER BUSINESS
THE CONSUMPTION OP COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS IN
UNITED STATES DURING 1896 FIGURES OBTAINED
FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES IN EACH
INSTANCE
THE
Southeastern Group of States
Georgia 335617 Tons
South Carolina 199497
North Carolina 185000
Virginia 171704
Alabama 100000
West Virginia 39350
Mississippi 32000
Florida 26588
Kentucky 19550
Tennessee 19445
Louisiana 10051
1138802 Tons
Northeastern Group of States
New York 150000 Tons
Pennsylvania 150000
Connecticut 20000
Vermont 13000
Maine No record kept
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
New Jersey
Delaware
Maryland
333000 Tons222
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
Northwestern Group of States
0hi0 46000 Tons
Indiana 50000
Mlchigan Noreplies
Ulinois No record kept
Minnesota No replies
Wisconsin 200 Tons
Iowa
No record kept
Southwestern Group of States
Missouri
Arkansas
Indian Territory
Oklahoma
Texas
Western Group of States
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas
Montana
Wyoming
Colorado
New Mexico
Arizona
Washington
Oregon
Nevada
California
96200 Tons
2000 Tons
No replies
Not used
No record kept
2000 Tons
Not used
Almost unknown
Not used
ah 110621 estimated at 5 5
530 Tons
5j
Not used
60 Tons
Not used
No records kept
Grand total
5663 Tons
1575632 Tons
These figures have been obtained by correspondence with the various
ZstZTT Peliable N rePli6S W6re btained fl ven o
the States but these could alter the figures but little as they were notANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
223
large consumers Where the consumption is at all considerable full records
are easily accessible The records of the various States of the United States
as given above show a consumption of 1575632 tons of commercial fer
tilizers for 1896 Of this grand total the eleven Southeastern States
grouped with Georgia consumed 7221 per cent of the whole amount and
the five largest fertilizerconsuming Southeastern States including Georgia
consumed over a million tons out of a total for the whole country of not
quite one and sixtenths millions
Georgia alone consumed in 1896 more than onefifth of the amount re
corded for the whole United States Her consumption for 1897 is 401979
tons This shows a steady increase Georgia is said to secure a larger
money crop per acre than any other State in the Union with possibly one
or two exceptions Commercial fertilizers enable her to do this for her
farmers fully appreciate their great value in modern agriculture
GEORGE P PAYNE224
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
PLANT FOOD
Food is anything used for the nourishment or formation of tissue hence
plant food is any substance which affords nourishment to the plan The
chief punt food might be designated as water and air as they urnish
material which constitutes from 60 to 90 per cent of the total material con
tamed in the various plant We do not ordinarily refer to these two sub
stances however when we use the word food but to those materUfc w Ih
are taken from the soil There are ten of these substances which S
ordinarily take up from the earth Most of them however exist in uffl
cien quantities in our ordinary soils to not be readily exhau ted f om them
by the demands of plant life There are three of these substances howeve
which are very quickly exhausted from ordinary soils by heavy
These are phosphoric acid nitrogen and potash The crude material fut
nishmg these substances mixed in various combinations are placed un
the market as commercial fertilizers they might also be designated as com
mercial plant foods It would be unwise to regard a commerciafertiZr
as simply a stimulant While the term stimulant is somewhat loose y m
fsfrelei US61115 fUnCUnS f th6 7m
is frequently used to express an unnatural stimulus given to plants at an
unfair demand upon the soil The use of the term stimulant does not ex
press the action of a fertilizer upon the crop as stimulants are supposed
to excite activity without any decided gain in tissue Commercial fertilizers
when apphed to land do produce increased growth of the plant or no one
would be sc unwise as to use them The application for instance of nitrate
of soda is the application of the plant food nitrogen In some cases it might
produce undue growth of the plant without an adequate production of u
ye this would not show that the nitrate of soda was not afood but simply
that it was an excessive amount of one kind of food the soil not conSm
fenf TUntf ther f0dS t0 PTOPerly baIance rlZ in
feeding plants and n feeding animals a proper proportion must be main
tamed between the different kinds of foods for the best results at thest
cost Ignorant feeding of plants or of animals has always a tendency
wards unnecessary expense as results are not commensurate with the n
ZrTdTIn imProperly Portioned materials Animals need in
nt gen for th bUilding UP their and brain
nitrogen for their nerves and muscles and carbohydrates which are
elaborated by plants from air and water for the production of L Plants
require phosphoric acid lime nitrogen and potash not only for buM
mg up their framework but to be able to produce their seed They a so
StLTSeHneel the ingredients the soil to complete their 2
stance and water and air from which to elaborate their organic tissue
All of these substances are truly plant foods and not mere sUmulante ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
225
they are as necessary for the plant growth and development as are foods
for the animal economy Disastrous results usually follow the use of one
food only either to animals or plants as the proper balance and develop
ment cannot be kept up The reason stable manure is usually rated so
high as a plant food is on account of its containing a diversity of various
foods needed by plants and it in this way approximates a perfect food If
a very concentrated fertilizer is used quite near the surface of the ground it
is only natural that the roots of plants on such soil should develop them
selves in close propinquity to the accessible amount of plant food Such
plants will develop rapidly but without proper root development either in
breadth or depth They readily suffer from drouth or other causes This
however is not the case of a fertilizer acting as a stimulant but a case
where plant food has been used by a person ignorant of the proper manner
of handling such concentrated materials
GEORGE F PAYNE226
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
IS IT PROFITABLE TO USE COMMERCIAL FERTILI
ZERS
This is a question that is now seldom asked by intelligent persons as the
profitable use of commercial fertilizers is fully acknowledged where proper
judgment is exercised in their application It is advantageous however to
investigate what are the actual profits under usual conditions of manage
ment Parties with whom we are acquainted and who stand high give us
the following figures as illustrating the advantage of an increased applica
tion of 100 pounds per acre over what was used the preceding year
TENANT NO 1 HANDLING 23 ACRES
Usual crop in good seasons 13 to 12 bale of cotton per acre using 200
pounds commercial fertilizer per acre Crop last season using 300
pounds commercial fertilizer per acre 15 bales of cotton and 150 bushels of
corn If even 12 bale per acre is accorded to the 200 pounds of fertilizer
per acre the yield would be only 11 12 bales The additional 100 pounds
per acre or 2300 pounds on the whole crop gave an increase of 3 12 bales
of cotton and 150 bushels of corn With cotton at 7 cents a pound this is
an increase of 12250 on the cotton and with corn at 40 cents a bushel
there is an increase of 6000 or a total of 18250 As the 2300 pounds of
fertilizer cost about 2300 the profit is very apparent
TENANT NO 2 HANDLING 24 ACRES
Usual crop in good seasons 13 to 12 bale per acre using 200 pounds of
commercial fertilizer per acre The crop last season using 300 pounds of
commercial fertilizer per acre was 13 12 bales of cotton and no corn In
this case if we are liberal and allow 12 bale to the acre for the 200 pounds
application the crop would be 12 bales The excess of 1 12 bales in this
case would be worth at 7 cents a pound 5250 which after deducting
2300 for the fertilizer used leaves a difference of 2950 resulting from the
use of the commercial fertilizer Tenant No 1 was a more pushing thrifty
worker than tenant No 2 and the results show it both having pretty much
the same character of soil and weather
GEORGE F PAYNEANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
T
GRAY MINERAL ASH FOR DESTROYING INSECTS
This is a material which is now on the market for destroying insects on
trees and plants It is claimed to be far superior to Paris green does not
injure plants harmless to man and beast Upon analysis we find it to be
composed of
Barium sulphides 5924 per cent
Barium sulphate 1090
Barium hydrate 911
Carbon
Water
Silicia
Undetermined
1616
73
248
138
10000
This material then depends for its efficacy upon the poisonous effects of
sulphuretted hydrogen and barium and upon the alkalinity of the solu
tion The directions order the gray mineral ash to be treated with
boiling water This decomposes the material to a great extent sets free
much of tne sulphuretted hydrogen and leaves the solution decidedly alka
line It forms a very effective insecticide but should not be designated as
harmless to man and beast It is not as dangerous a material however to
use as Paris green as the poisonous sulphuretted hydrogen is rapidly dis
sipated and the soluble barium salts are much less poisonous than arsenical
preparations like Paris green etc Potassium sulphide or liver of sulphur
is now largely used as an insecticide and can be applied in place of the
gray mineral ash when desired
GEORGE F PAYNE228
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
COTTON SEED MEAL AND TANKAGE
Atlanta Ga January 22
1896
Mr J C P Hawkinsville Ga
abouTSSlir7Y0UrS 0fTary 14th at hand Cotton seed meal usually runs
about 8 12 per cent of ammonia and at 240 per unit this wnll
worth 2040 Tankage with 9 per cent available ammonia at 24per
unit would be worth 2160 and 7 per cent available phosphoric acatS
27 2S0PeThnt T 56 S W0UW make a t0tal J the tankag o
2720 This would appear to be an advantage in favor of the tankage
greater than really exists as the cotton seed meal contains about 3 peTSnT
fteS T and abUt 34 P6r C6nt f POtash on the ier hand
Tf W am a consideraWe at of unavailable phosphoric
acid which will eventually be worth something in the soil
Tankage of the character you describe is very excellent goods if you are
sure that you are getting what is guaranteed Cotton seed meal of course
is an artic e that is far less likely to deceive one and put3 you to less risk
in regard to coming up to the recognized standard
maT V1 th6re WUld be really very much difference in the
cost of either goods quality considered at price named They also should
be equally as good fertilizers If your cotton seed meal however is fed
to cattle you get the feeding value almost for nothing as the cotton seed
meal only loses about 5 per cent of its manuring value in passing through
the digestive apparatus Your questions however were from a fertiliztng
standpoint and we infer that you wish to use the meal direct
Yours truly
GEORGE F PAYNEANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
229
SOUTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA PHOSPHATES
Atlanta Ga January 22 1896
0 F C Esq Perry Ga
Dear SirYours of January 20th just at hand You can buy higher grade
rock in Florida than in South Carolina This does not mean however that
all of the Florida phosphate rock is higher grade than that of South Caro
lina for there are grades sold there which are even lower than what are
offered in South Carolina The range of Florida rock is very wide there
are large quantities there of what might be grouped into three different
kinds First a very hard highgrade rock running 75 to 80 odd per cent
bone phosphate The Peace River District rock or pebble phosphate which
runs from 60 to 70 per cent Then there are the soft phosphates many of
which only run about 40 odd per cent bone phosphate A good Charleston
rock will run about 55 to 60 per cent The Peace river phosphate is a good
all round phosphate and is not difficult to manage presenting no special
problems
Wishing you a satisfactory selection and a prosperous year I remain
Yours sincerely
GEORGE F PAYNE230
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
CRITICISMS ON AN UNDESIRABLE FERTILIZER
RECIPE OFFERED FOR SALE BY UNAUTHORIZED
PARTIES
Atlanta Ga July 10 1896
J M C Esq Pelham Ga
Dear SirYour letter to Hon R T Nesbitt Commissioner of Agriculture
in regard to fertilizer formula has been referred to me
The formula seems to have been gotten up by some one who does not
know the proper terms for the chemicals he wishes to use The names
muriate sulphate of ammonia muriat sulphate of potash and muriate sul
phate of sodaare incorrect There is a muriate of ammonia a muriate of
potash and a muriate of soda There is also a sulphate of ammonia a sul
phate of potash and a sulphate of soda one or the other was doubtless in
tended in each case There is no such thing as sulphate of salt Common
salt is sodium chloride and not a sulphate In calling for commercial
saltpetre in the fertilizer it would be much more satisfactory to mention
whether you mean nitrate of potash or nitrate of soda Nitrate of potash
is an excellent fertilizer but is quite expensive Nitrate of soda is what
is commonly used in fertilizers as the source of nitrates The former Is
usually called simply saltpetre the nitrate of soda is usually known as
Chili saltpetre or cubic nitre
You call for various percentages of different things and do not state what
the total will be or make the whole amount come up to some convenient
unit If you use 124 pounds of common salt 20 pounds of sal soda 20
pounds sulphate of soda 100 pounds of sulphate of lime 100 pounds sul
phuric acid 12 pounds muriate of potash 12 pounds sulphate of ammonia
12 pounds nitrate of soda you will have a total of 400 pounds We do not
know what you intend by your formula as part of it is written in percent
ages and part in pounds If we assume you wish your whole compound to
weigh 500 pounds 60 pounds of saltpetre nitrate of potash 60 pounds or
sulphate of ammonia and 60 pounds of muriate of potash will each consti
tute 12 per cent of the whole 500 pounds You make a mistake to use com
mon salt and sulphuric acid in the same mixture
You ask What we think of the formula It too uncertain and indefinite
in its expressions for us to criticise it favorably
Very respectfully
GEORGE F PAYNEANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
231
TANKAGE
Atlanta Ga July 20 1896
Messrs M W Macon Ga
Dear SirsYours of July 15th at hand You ask what is bone phosphate
Boe ph sphate is usually considered chemically as being tricalcum phos
phate or phosphoric acid combined with lime In the list you inclosed are
he percentages contained in the substance The phosphoric acd given
as from 13 to 13 12 per cent and the bone phosphate as from 29 to 30 per
nt TMs bone phosphate is the material TloTTaZe
acid and it is simply given in two waysone as phosphoric acid and the
oSr as bone phosphate The phosphate of lime or tricalcium phosphate
present in bone goods is to some extent available
The chief value in your goods Is in the nitrogen Present which in you
descriptive slip is also put down as ammonia This goods is what w all
a tankage and while valuable for many purposes it is not a complete ter
uTXi lacks potash and has not enough available phospho c d in
proportion to the nitrogen present for some crops Jeruly yo232
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
BONE MEAL AND ITS USE W THE MANTJEACTUKE OE
EEKTILIZEKS
Atlanta Ga September 30 1896
F 8 G Macon Ga
GentlemenYours of the 28th to Hon R T Nhitt n
Agriculture has been referred to me for a rep J CmmSsioner f
report all of the PX
have animal bone treated In alP T the materIal as
safe way for you to oe urereg r ZT The a
Phosphoric acid determined AnTstat m ent 7 t0 the aVailabIe
an analysis would be simply a mDe D regard to witht
ysis does not appear o b true 7 mat6ria1 M yU giVe the anaI
nitrogen eauivalent o about 4 2 p eVor T UnSUay has
ered safe to count upon the availabHity of nb T DOt C0DSid
it has not been treated with a minal acid boM
thersrguLfaTlL6 nP r
that said guarantee isrehed TyTTtZ
in a condition to be most easilv S y0U put yurself
the parties who seuTou as 2your t WithUt My daDger to
to prove anything in gard h miX6d U WOuld be d
several parties tget ZnL
of the materials before mixing them As thellZ V Ugation
any available phosphoric acid inTheir h i DOt guarantee you
steamed bone from the smal amount 7 T SmmiSe iS
probable that there is not Ton k nUrgen present U is very
formula of 1 900 po ds o uch bonTad ZZ BW YU
according to your figures wm 7 P f mUriate of Ptash
If you have 2 12 r It al h f f ammnia and pta
ru condUI T 1 w7 ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
233
plant food of which 2 per cent is ammonia You can sell the goods if it
contains 10 per cent of available plant food but if it is sold as a complete
fertilizer 2 per cent of the 10 per cent must be ammonia or its nitrogen
equivalent
Pray do not attempt to make up any goods without an analysis of your
materials This plan always saves money in the end
Very respectfully GEORGE F PAYNE
Atlanta Ga October 6 1896
Mr A C F Macon Ga
Dear SirYours of October 2d received It gives us pleasure to learn that
our letter gave you the information desired You state that the farmers
these days are governed almost entirely and solely by the price The cheapest
price secures the business in nine out of ten cases without any regard to
grade There is one point that probably you did not estimate at its full
value in speaking of the farmers buying the cheapest goods and it is this
The farmers are relying more and more upon the Department of Agriculture
to guarantee them at least to obtain standard goods As a rule they are
not inclined to think the manufacturer will give them any more than he
is required to do by law While it is true there are a number of high
grade goods in the market it is also true that the great bulk of the goods
offered to the farmers are largely of a similar guarantee This naturally
leads them to regard most goods as being of the same class There are
many farmers however who fully appreciate extra highgrade goods but
they are those who have studied the subject more deeply and have the capi
tal to carry out their preferences in the matter It might be possible to
show the farmer more thoroughly the true commercial value of the various
brands by the manufacturer giving a guarantee as to the commercial
valuation based upon the valuations of plant food by the Department for
that year
We appear to be in the infancy of the fertilizer business and a great fu
ture seems to be spreading out before us The more thoroughly the farmer
understands the subject the less dissatisfaction there will be with honest
manufacturers While the farmer needs education as you suggest it is
also a fact that there are many manufacturers who also need it badly some
of them conducting their business in such a way in regard to the chemical
features of it that we are often surprised that failures are so few and are
naturally led to believe that the profits must be considerable to stand the
losses which must occur from the business not being managed with scien
tific accuracy So mechanical a process as mixing is often not thoroughly
done If you will refer to the bulletin sent by even mail you will notice
how considerably many brands vary in their analyses when the goods are
claimed to be identical in character We do not think that either the farm
ers or the manufacturers have yet reached that familiarity with the subject
which should obtain but both of them are making rapid advances in greater
familiarity with the subject With many kind regards Yours truy
GEORGE F PAYNE234
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTUREGEORGIA
REVERTED PHOSPHORIC ACID WHAT IS MEANT BY
THE TERM
Atlanta Ga December 10 1896
Mr J W W Shellman Ga
Dear SirYours of December 8th at hand inquiring the meaning of the
word reverted when used in connection with phosphoric acid The
word reverted means changed or gone back phosphoric acid In
ordinary phosphatic manure we have three forms of phosphoric acid First
that which is soluble in water Second that which is soluble in a neutral
solution of ammonium citrate and third that which is only soluble in
strong acids The first is called soluble or water soluble phosphoric acid
The second is called reverted or gone back phosphoric acid and the
third is called insoluble phosphoric acid The first is available to plants
the second is also available to plants as it is soluble in the soil waters
these two added together make what is called the total available phosphoric
acid The third form or insoluble phosphoric acid is not available to plants
in this form The first or soluble phosphoric acid is composed either of
uncombined phosphoric acid or phosphoric acid combined with one mole
cule of lime or a mixture of the two Either of these forms is soluble in
ordinary water
In reverted phosphoric acid the phosphoric acid is combined with two
molecules of lime and is not soluble in ordinary water but is soluble in
soil waters containing carbonic acid and organic acids It is called re
verted or gone back because in many cases it is formed from phosphoric
acid combined with one molecule of lime securing another molecule of
lime either from the mixture in which it exists or from the soil to which
it is applied In fact it is true that most soluble phosphoric acid when put
upon the soil soon secures lime enough to go back into the reverted form
When so precipitated in the soil however it is in a minute form of subdi
vision and being readly dissolved by the soil waters it is promptly avail
able as plant food
The phosphoric acid which is only soluble in strong acids is combined
with three molecules of lime and is not immediately available as plant
food although by the slow processes of time it does beconK gradually disin
tegrated and then finally available but so slowly that only a very small
percentage can become available as plant food during a season and then
only when it is very finely pulverised When not finely pulvized it prob
ably does little more good than any othr undisintegrated ock
Very respectfully
OnORCJE F PAYNEANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR 1897
235
LEACHING OF FERTILIZERS