Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-11
F0URSTATEo:
A STUDY
BY Hon. Martin v. Calvin.

- FOUND ON MY DESK TODAY
four census bulletins. At first glance
they looked as dry as dust. closer
examination convinced me they were
well worthy an hours careful study.
These bulletins refer to Alabama. Ar
kansas, Georgia and North Carolina. The
summary in each was written in dollars
and cents, so to speak. Live stock, farm
ing implements, farm products and fertl~
izers were the leading subjects treated. !
In the increase in the amount invested
in live stock Arkansas led with us per-
cent; North Carolina next with us per-
cent; Alabama next with 17.3 per cent?
Georgia next showing an increase OF lis
per cent.
A steadily increasing interest attaches
to new and improved farm implements
and machinery; because these are rae
tors of the highest Importance. They not
only give promise of a more systematic
and thorough preparation of the soil, but
they are the farmers saving clause IN the
matter of unreliable and insufficient labor.
The fact is rapidly asserting itself tnahs
with improved farm implements and ma
chinery in hand, and close personal super
vision of the work In lot and field, the
farmer will be enabled satisfactorily TO
solve the labor problem.
Alabama, gradually increasing the
amount of commercial fertilizer used, has
been, seemingly, reckoning confidently on
the cultivation of the soil, and her IN
crease in amount Of farm implements and
, machinery during the decade was 92.S per
cent
Georgia, first to use and appreciate tina
value of fertilizers, registers an increase
of 7O.2 per cent in amount of farm imple-
ments.
ArtyaDsag oo1,eS ravt With an Increase,
of 54.2 per cent; North Caroline brings up
the rear with an increase of 263 per cent.
Georgia assidiously followed the policy
of buying commercial fertilizers. year
by year, freely. so the value Of her farm
products has been at a high notch straight
along-far ahead of that of her three Sis
ters Her average increase for the decade
is los per cent in the value Of her farm
produ' Is. ~
Arkansas has scarcely begun the use of
fertilizers, not having bought so much
as $4,000 worth. This is. however, an in =
crease of $50 per cent during the decade.
In the value of her farm products. there
is an increase of 24.3 per cent.
Alabama shows an increase of only 7.S
per cent in amount of guano purchaseds
10 years ago she used something over ST. 4.
420, 900 worth. Her increase in the value
Of farm products is marked by FL per
cent.
North Carolina used ten years ago about
Si6G, 900 worth Of fertilizers more than
Alabama. BY 1900 she increased her pur-
chases until the increase in amount is
represented by 55.4 per cent. Meanwhile
the value of her farm products increased
5S1 per cent. This is a very striking ex-
ample. 1t strongly emphasizes the profit
ableness Of high grade commercial fertil- +
izers when used with an open hand Al i
together, the condition of the four states
named, as indicated by the figures given.
is encouraging. The four have averaged
an increase in live stock, Ill per cent;
farm implements, COZ per cent; farm
products, 2S.9 per cent.
These. averages tell US of a body OF
farmers who toll early and late. They
have made praiseworthy progress IN the
face of the most untoward events-in the
presence Of a condition which, so far as
the south is concerned. seems to be un-
changeable and almos timmovable.
1 may refer to this peculiar condition
at an early date. Time and space forbid
taking 1t up now.
Augusta, Ga -