Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
A Larger Area
in Corn


must have more and better corn. This is
az true at the south as it is in the west,
where so much thought has been given
and attention paid to seed selection, GER
mination tests, etc, of that great cereal
At the south, where very naturally cot
ton has been for years the dominant ele-
ment in agricultural undertakings, there
is manifest a broader and deeper interest
in corn production than in many years.
| There can be no question that the kingly
qualities of cotton have operated adverse
| " to corn production, but not to corn
growing.
II is not our purpose to split hairs on
| words or phrases, but it is a fact that
there is a wide difference between corn
production and corn growing. In the one
case. a reasonably large average yield
per acre is contemplated and Industrious
| iy sought; on the other hand, the area
planted to the cereal, seems to have been
satisfying.
The record points to the latter fact as
| self-explanatory. There is no answer
to the question: What about the low
average yield per acre?" other than that
contained in the preceding sentence, I'M
less some rash person should assert that
! the average farmer never takes the
trouble to ascertain definitely just what
quantity of corn he makes in a year,
much Tess the average bushels harvested
per acre.
we are disposed to regard that as an
economic view Of the subject which we
| do not care to discuss at this time.
1t is an interesting fact that there is
| not now, nor has there been in years, any
necessity for a demand for a large in
crease in the corn acreage of the. cotton
states along with a reduction in the cot
| ton acreage We have had all along an
abundant acreage in corn in each of the
states referred to.
Is II suggested that the declaration last
made is a bold one? The reply is, that
the declaration is based on the official
record. We must content ourselves with
the statement; because for the purposes
of this article, II is not necessary to go
into the facts and figures which stand
back of Il.
| II each farmer who may. chance to read
this article will in good faith determine
to make more and better corn in 1910, on
the exact acreage he planted to the ce-
real in 1909, and will go about the I'M
dertaling early and in downright earn
est, new and inspiring departure will
have been inaugurateo.
! What will be the first thought of each
such wideawake farmer? 1t will be to
double the yield of every acre as COM
pared with the yield of 1909 Aim high!
| That must be the motto up to which
each SUCH farmer must live while prose-
| cutting this special piece of work. 1t is
a good motto. anyway.
Too great stress can not be laid on the
Importance OF large increase in the
average yield per acre. Acreage goes for
naught IL that factor be lost sight of.
An average yield of 10 to 10 bushels Of
corn per acre is worst than swapping
dollars" 1t is unprof1tahae, absolutely
| wasteful. It Is a serious reflection on
the good sense and the energy of the
southern rarmer. 1t is glaring defect
in our farming policy, but it can be and
must be remedied, and that without un-
necessary delay.
Acreage and yield per acre. in the re-
cent past, may we'll be considered in this
connection. That will enable US to get
our bearings: ..-t
In 1908, the eight cotton states had a.
1922 900 acres in corn. The corn amounted
to 5l3, sos 900 bushels. 80
In 1903, they had, 22s41, 600 acres in corn.
The crop aggregated 4O1, ISL 900 bushels.
The increase. in production-19OS over
1sOs-was T.S per cent. The increase in
acreage was 1876 per cent
In 1908. the average yield per acre was
1853 bushels; in 1903. ii was 1879 bushels.
The farm value Of corn per acre in 1913
was 1919, general average for the eight
states in hand: in 1903 the value was
1917 per acre. Take the highest valuation
pray what is there in 1919 worth of
corn per acre to the toiling farmer?
| We might for the sake of argument
suppose a case in the matter of possible
yield per acre. but we are dealing with
facts which should win and hold the at
tention of southern farmers.
| The facts cited present a condition
which confronts every cotton-growing
farmer much more strongly than is pos
sible to words. They bring the situation
face to face with every farmer. They
point out, in the most unmistakable man.
ner, Just what course must be pursued
in the present and in the future as to
the corn crop II II is to be made to
contribute its fair share toward the bet
terment of the men who produce 1t.
BY some strange concentration OF events
| farming is not regarded as a business.
1t Is dealt with as though 1t were a
haphazard. an accident. In point of prac-
tice and record, that is exactly the view
taken of one of the greatest. one of the
most important business undertakings in
which men are engaged.
Farming Is business Of the highest
order. Let us get that declaration in the
record so that we may refer to It when,
ever a question of doubt is created by
slip-shod methods .."t.
So much. in advocacy OF a better prep
aration OF the soil for all cultivable
crops, has been said in the past ten
years. especially. IT is accepted as an un-
questionable fact. but, as in other vital
matters which should concern us deeply
the majority prefer to hew to their old
| line
But the gospel Of more and better corn
must be preached in the interest Of the
few who will practice the doctrine which
they have accepted.
| II Is mighty trite, but II is true that
none OF the plants which men must Gull
tivate can do themselves justice unless
they are given a seed-bed in which to
work. Like the seed dropped in stony
places where there Is not much earth,
seed will terminate II there be the barest
modicum OF earth and moisture. They
will do their best under the circum-
stances, and then die. So, too: to a large
extent, in soil that has been scratched a
few inches deep. In the broken SOIL the
seed will terminate. and the plants will
! joyfuly lift their heads heavenward-
ready to yield a rich harvest. but the
hard pan cripples them at the outset,
and they struggle faithfully but in vain
to honor the draft made on them.
This is a case in which neither fertili-
ger nor cultivation can make amend for
/ the neglect in the first instance-that of
ploughing deeply, breaking the soil thor
oughly OF course, the time of very deep
ploughing is in the fall and winter but