Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-29
PART l.

The high prices prevailing Tor i've
stock and the relative scarcity Of meat
producing animals is attracting the at
tention OF the farmer more and more
forcibly to the possible profits to be de-
rived from beef production throughout
the southern states. It is said that ia
some OF the cotton producing states that
nearly seventy per cent of the total
value OF the crop is sent TO other sec
tons for the purchase OF live stock.
meat, dairy products, corn and other
foodstuffs which can be produced in
abundance az home under rational sys-
tenn OF farm practice. 1t is said, for
instance, that the meat bill OF Georgia
amounts 10 about $4,000 a week, or
close on 10 s3s.000.0O0 a year. What a
vast expenditure of treasure. and what
wealth and comfort il would bring to
the farm homes OF Georgia could this
needless expenditure Of money for meat
products be saved TO the state. In view
of the serious economic situation which
confronts US ct the present time ana
which is likely to be aggravated by the
advent OF the boil weevil, IL is well
worth while TO pause and consider the
possible profits of beef raising under
existing conditions.
The public is frequently inclined to
consider that the college man has nc
problems. and that he is impractical be-
cause he Is thought of necessity TO be
a sheorist In view OF this mistaken
notion. colleges and the men who are
for the moment in charge Of their work
do have as practical problems TO meet
and deal with as the ordinary farmer.
As an instance let me refer 10 spe-
cihc proposition Three years ago when
call of A ffrTp
was recrganized, a farm Of T3o acres
was turned over TO the institution by the
alumni OF the university. This farm
had been tenanted for a considerable pc
riod OF time II contained small area
OF land in fairly good state OF fer
tiIity. though much OF il had been wash
ed and eroded and would not be regard
ed as good agricultural land A pol
ton OF this farm was rough and broken,
the rock outcropping frequently, while
il was naturally so steep as 20 prevent
its cultivation TO advantage IL other
conditions had been more propiuous.
Every one who has had the experience
OF bringing up a poor farm realizes that
the task imposed upon the institution
was not an easy one. Those in charge OF
the work quickly realized that to ac-
complish the task before them IL would
he necessary 10 institute crop rotations
end emphasize animal industries as COM
pletely as possible. To this end GARY
herd was established and proved
profitable investment almost from the
herinnInp- Through the use OF barnyard
and green manures the land has been
improved until very considerably area
OF II Is in a good state OF fertility, ana
producing profitable crops AS an IN
stance OF what has been accomplished.
IL is proper TO state that three years
aro Il took about thirty acres OF land
10 produce enough corn and sorghum 70
m a 12O-ton silo. The present year ten
acres OF this same area OF land nlleo
the silo 10 overflowing. In the winter
time the COWS are fed silage and cotton
see5 meal In the summer time they
craze on Bermuda pastures which nave
been established on areas OF land NOT
well adapted TO cultivation
The foregoing is somewhat Of a digres-
sion and is only cited TO show that the
arabic part Of the farm has been ouht
IN largely through the organization OF
= dairy herd. There has been much
complaint that college farms were not
: having proposition. but there Is al
least one exception 70 the rule, since
a balance has been found on the right
side Of the ledger for the past three
wears II has naturally been the amoi-
balance and make every acre OF land on
re- farm earn a revenue. What TO do,
therefore. with some 175 acres OF TINS
worn land not well adapted TO cultiya-
sion and which is not SO situated as 10
he used advantageously Tor the malnte-
nance of dairy cattle was the problem
~ he solved. After careful considera-
ton il was believed that herd OF beef
cattle could be grazed on this area OF
land 20 good advantage. and IN view OF
the necessity Of demonstrating this fact
"a the farmers OF Georgia and the young
men who attend the college. steps were
taken TO fence the property. Invesu-
aation revealed that some good grade
Hereford cattle originally brought IN .
south Georgia from Texas could be pur-
chased at a reasonable figure AS these
cattle we're supposedly immune from
tick fever, some II cows and sire were
purchased and laid down at Athens at
= cost OF S4775O. Practically all the cows
were with calf and the herd now num-
hers some 30 animals They were pur-
chased In the early spring and turned
out TO pasture. II was predicted by
those who were familiar with the under
taking that the animals would starve TO
death since the ground was too poor
and broken 10 produce enough grass TO
maintain them. Strange 10 say, they
did wen from the beginning and -four
months after their purchase were so fat
as 70 be fit 70 kill and estimated tofbe
worth by all who saw them at least ST.
coo The calves were as pretty a picture
As one could hope to see and have done
splendidly from the day they were drop
ped up to the present time 1ney are
now ready TO go into winter quarters
in as fine condition as one could de-
sire. and yet together with their dams
they have gathered their own living on
land which could not be prOfitably cul-
tivated at that time. though IL allowed
70 sod over and accumulate vegetable