Quitman County GaArchives History .....Farming in Quitman County 
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Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com July 2, 2004, 3:22 pm

                                               FARMING

     The early settlers only grew enough corn to feed their live-stock and for 
food.  As the demand for cotton increased some farmers put all of their land in 
cotton and bought corn to feed their livestock.  It was not until the 
introduction of hybrid corn that production reached the point of surplus corn 
for sale in the county.

     The greatest commercial crop from the earliest settlers until about 1917 
was cotton.  It occupied 50% or better of all crop land until the boll weevil 
made it necessary for farmers to turn to other crops for their livelihood.

     By the time the county was organized the production of cotton had 
increased to over 5,000 bales.  One of the influencing factors was the nearness 
of the river which gave a means of cheap transportation to markets.

     The blockade during the Civil War temporarily ruined the cotton industry 
and the price of cotton rose to an all time high (70 cents per pound).  In 1865 
the South was again free to return to a high degree of specialization in 
cotton.  The recovery was slow due to the large slave holders having to adjust 
to other means of production.  There was less than 1/4 as much cotton raised in 
1865 as there was in 1859.  It was not until about 1879 that production reached 
the prewar level.  Larger plantations began to break down into smaller farms 
along about this period and the introduction of peanuts in this area had some 
effect on the cotton production.

     It was not until about 1890 that the sawmills started cutting timber for 
export from this area.  There were three major lumber producing areas in the 
county.  They were Georgetown, Hatcher and Morris.  These locations were near 
the railroad and the lumber could be shipped.

"The Quitman Echo - Quitman County, Georgia" - Jacquelyn Shepard, (page 17) 

Additional Comments:
Published by Jacquelyn Shephard, Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge
with permission from Jacquelyn Shephard

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/history/other/nms25farmingi.txt

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