Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20
ANoRIHEN MANS VIEW.

II Is not a had idea 10 occasionally have
presented for our consideration the crit
icisms Of people living in other sections
OF our country. IL may do us good 70
know what other people have 10 say ABOUT
our system OF farming in the south whetn-
er the criticisms be favorable or not We
All know that nothing bad can be SAID
about our climate. soils and the natural
superiority OF the south for agriculture
over all other sections OF the united
States. Strangers who have read OF the
many natural advantages possessed by
southern farmers over those OF the east,
north and west. are struck with deep sur
prise when they come south and investi-
gate the methods and. system OF farming
pursued BY our people. A man from the
north would naturally suppose that every
imaginable food crop would be lavishly
grown on southern farms. because OF our
Iona. seasons, and because OF the peculiar
adaptabiIity OF our southern country to
the development Of the widest system OF
diversified agriculture When they come
among US. however. and see but little else
than endless acres OF cotton growing
along the lines OF southern railways, they
are surprised and filled with wonder.
An Interesting Conversation.
A few days since. while travelling be-
tween Atlanta and Macon on that elegant
Chicago vestfbuled train operated by the
Central or Georgia railroad. was drawn
into conversation with a gentleman from
the north. who seemed interested in get
ting information about southern agrfcul-
tl1re. and who naturally presumed was a
Georgia farmer BY the size and shape OF
my hat He first wanted 20 know IL the
red looking lands through middle and
north Georgia were fertile. as they pre-
scented the appearance OF having quite
light upper soils. soon assured him
that these red lands when cultivated prop
eriy and rightly handled under a correct
system OF crop rotation were as prOduc-
tive as any lands IN the United States.
His next statement. however. was that.
according TO his observation. there
seemed to be no system OF rotation. The
fields as FAR as the eye could reach were
planted in comparatively nothing but cot
ton and he had rather conceived the idea
that the lands down here, not only in
Georgia but in other southern states
through which he had travelled. wouid
produce nothing else but cotton AS an
evidence Of that fact he stated that while
in Memphis two weeks ago he saw a
farmer sell two bales OF cotton TO a mer-
chant and out OF the proceeds OF the sale
purchased from the merchant a basket OF
eggs. some -four. meal, meat and a lot OF
canned goods TO take back 10 his farm.
He said that naturally he was deeply
surprised at the transaction. IL appearing
singular that any farmer should be pur-
chasing such necessaries, when his idea
had been that farmers should not only be
raising their food products at home but
selling a surplus to the merchants. This
gentleman said that In the north and west
farmers raised their food products, and
could not understand why southern farm
ers could not or did not do the same thing.
when they possessed superior advantages.
After explaining as fully as 1 could the
- he
southern farmers. caused by their extern
sive production OF cotton. he still contend
ed that no farmer I'm this country could
present a reasonable excuse for living in
merchants stores IL his land would pro-
duce the food crops needed on his farm.
He said further that the southern farmer
would never become independent so long
as he depended entirely upon the cotton
crop to sustain him. and then sold that
crop within a period Of two or three
months His idea was, until his mind had
been disabused OF fits error. that our lands
would not produce anything but cotton.
and because the subsOil was so close TO
the surface that the fertility OF the land
was limited TO the depth OF the top soil.
Should Change System.
This Observers idea was that southern
land owners should come 10 the rescue of
the tenants. and instead OF renting their
lands for cotton. charge so much wheat.
oats. corn. potatoes. etc That the mer-
chants who are now engaged in furnishing
supplies TO farmers ought TO agree to take
IN payment for their accounts any OF the
above food products which could be grown
~ their customers. and II cash markets
were not already established here. that
such products being staple. the merchants
ought 10 cooperate and provide a market
Such a plan, " carried out, would give an
impetus TO the immediate production of
food crops. live stock. etc. which would
soon enable the southern cotton grower to
get out OF the rut they were in. 1t would
also restrict the production OF cotton 10
the actual demand OF the spinner and en-
able the producers 10 sell their money
crops slowly 70 meet such demands. These
are good. sound suggestions. They are
IN line with what all the progressive.
prosperous farmers OF the sOuth are not
only preaching but practicing. The change
from the bad 70 the better is gradually
taking place upon a broader area every
year and the time is not so far distant
when travellers from the north coming
through our section will be treated TO a
ferent idea OF southern farmers from
that which now prevails.