Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-01
EDUCATING FOR CITIZENSHIP
PART I.

PART i.
For many years the least valued as
set OF America was the land Where
were literally millions upon millions or
acres OF virgin soil, so il matteF5d lit
tie whether IL was well farmed or not,
for there was always the untamed west
to move to and garner bumper crops
from the soil with little effort for at
least one generation The possession
OF land did not indicate wealth as was
true in the older and more populous
countries OF Europe, and land poor
was a common expression IL was a
shock. therefore, TO the sensioiltties or
our people TO wake up one fine day
and find that the public domain was all
gone, and that Uncle Sam had no more
free farms TO offer to every person.
whether native or foreign born. who
aspired to cultivate the soil. The re-
suit OF this information has made it
self felt in a variety OF ways. First
OF ell, II caused farm lands to double
and treble, and in some instances quad
ruple in value m much less than
decade. The vagrant system OF agri-
culture practiced had exhausted the
superabundance Of rertinty stored in
the soil through the patient effort or
nature in the centruies elapsing since
creation. Naturally, the yield OF farm
crops decreased, but America being the
land of the free and OF unparalleled
opportunity continued TO receive a
host of people through immigration,
and this. added TO the natural increase
OF population, quickly resulted in
throwing supply and demand out or
equilibrium and increasing the cost or
living 10 the breaking point. A few
far-seeing men had forecasted these re-
q
alsrmists and cranks. and hence but
little consideration was given by the
farmer, statesman or merchant 10 the
necessity OF conserving the wealth or
the soil. and OF organizing agencies by
which better systems or farming
mixht be inaugurated and maintained
against the day which they foresaw was
coming when America must undergo
violent economic reorganization and ad-
tustment OF its affairs on account OF
the bad management OF its farming
lands.
II is not surprising. therefore. that
only in the last few years have the
agricultural colleges come 10 be recog-
nized as potent factors in the welfare
OF the country and the agencies through
which the rejuyenation OF our agricul-
turaI practice may be assured. There
II a marked disposition now, however,
70 literally endow these institutions
and 10 exact of them the largest meas
ure OF service. and 20 this end means
are now being devised by which the
college may be brought directly In con-
tact with the adult farmer in every
part OF the commonwealth by what is
known as the extension movement.
This is one OF the most significant
methods which has ever been devised
for disseminating information through
out the state, and though the work Is
comparatively OF recent origin. the in
terest in II is well-nigh universal. and
there Is a reverish anxiety on the part
OF those who engage in farming and
industry as well to multiply and in
crease the efficiency OF extension
agencies
When we realize that we are now pro-
ducing about 90 pounds OF lint cotton
per acre. and ten TO eleven bushels OF
corn. the need for increasing agricul-
tural efficiency Is not difiicult 10 appre-
ciate- As a matter Of fact. the average
cotton farmer Is only receiving about
t15.oo return per acre. or anywhere from
: TO 10 per cent clear profit on land cost
ing 400 per acre. II has been shown.
however, that by better methods OF cul-
tivation, the use Of selected seed and the
proper combination Of plant food, the
yleld may DC Increased 10 Two OF moio
bales per acre, and in one instance
which the writer has in mind the prof
II per acre amounted TO $50. or 10 per
cent on land costing q, 500. Similarly. IL
has been shown that a soil properly pre-
pared and fertilized one year and where
the field OF corn was not over IL bushels
per acre. that the next year Is bushels
might be raised Ct a corresponding In
crease in profit There Is no need for
the farmer continuing 10 exc out a mis-
cradle existence from an impoverished
soil II he but has the information