Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-29


1s1. Is everywhere apparent One Of he
largest cotton crops In the history OF
the south was raised In 1911. AS q result
there has been great depression n
prices more so probably than the CIR
cumstances warrant The present Il .u;.-
ton could easily have been obyiated lad
more attention been given 70 the Guilt
walton Of a variety OF crops and not so
much attention conferred en- the produc-
ton OF one This sounds Ike pa 4
tude. am Is such an old. old story that
It seems almost useless , mention Il.
but circumstances justify again calling
II 70 public attention with special en-
phasis. for until the farmers of the
south realize that their salvation. eco
nomically. depends on crop diversified
ton. the greatest measure Of prosperity
and success viii not attend their efror-s.
Crop diversification IL needed In every
direction The writer Ii informed that
several million dollars worth OF canned
goods are brought into Georgia each
year. among which are such staple ,Jro-
ducts as corn and tomatoes The boys
corn cluv members have shown thai
corn may be grown IN Georgia as cheap
Iy and successfully as anywhere. a nj
that II offers q fair return per acre for
the farmer who cultivates IL with sAill-
The girls have shown that tomatoes
may be grown at q good profit per acre
and successfully canned II proper at
tention were given to trucking and %
the canning OF fruits and vegetables
supply sufficient FOR the needs OF Geor-
gta and surplus for shipment to 9TH
er states could easily be grown in 1872
Our farmers would be Infinitely better
OF IL they had turned part of thsir
effort and attention In this direction in
1s11 rather than to now be endeavor'ng
to buy .nese products produced in 9TH
er sections with low-priced cotton AS
q matter OF fact. the home garden and
orchard have been grievously negls;tsd
and so the able has not been supplied
with many OF the Injuries which nature
win furnish so lavtshly - given a lit
tie encouragement 1t is not necessary
for the farmer 10 be dependent on the
city for his food supply; only a few
of the necessities should come there
from and only a few can come IL he Is to
become financially independent and q
prosperous and successful farmer. Out
side of sugar. coffee. spices and few
other articles which cannot be grown
I'm the state. there is nothing which ne
should find 1t necessary TO buy. At the
present writing on most OF the city mar
kets In. Georgia there Ia a derth of WIN
ACA HC6cN28ACc u ever 4Co~4 pAAoAs @A>SE
can all be produced with very little e.
fort either IN the open ground or IN
cold, frames. They viii occupy the at
tention Of the farmer and his family
during the fall and winter season. and
may be made means Of adding to the
weekly revenue OF the Rme.
Most OF our farmers are not paying
much attention to live stock production;
yet this is form Of diversification
which viii pay large dividends on any
farm where cotton has been the chief
crop raised. Beef is In good demand and
the prsce- ruling strong. Pork and pork
products are relatively high. Poultry
and eggs command good prices all the
year around Butter and milk are not
made In sufficient quantity to supply the
local market OF our smaller towns. Why
neglect these opportunities when an
abundance OF pasture for both winter
and summer may be had by diversifying
the crops raised on the farm Outside
OF hauling cotton TO town and exchang-
ing IL for the great variety of what we
now regard as the necessities OF life the
average farmer has little to sell AS a
matter OF fact. he should have load
OF produce quite valuable and re-
munerative TO himself and family to dis
pose Of each week To do this success
fully only requires a changed point Of
view. II does not call for an elaborate
investment In many implements and fer
tiIizers. A modest beginning in live
stock can be made by thousands of our
farmers. and the natural increase Of the
herds and flocks win soon overpopulate
the land he may be able TO devote to
pasture and the growth OF grazing crops
Ii has been shown over and over again
that milk and dairy products may be
produced very cheaply In Georgia: that
York may be raised almost exclusively on
frazing crops. that corn and hay may
De had in abundance: and that fruit and
Vegetables are easily raised in great va
siety and profusion- Why, therefore. de-
vote so much time and effort TO the
cultivation OF a single crop. and thus
place every farmer in the south at the
mercy Of the comparatively few ndi-
vfduals who control and manipulate the
cotton market Moreover. where DIVERSE
fication rs practiced. crop rotation be-
comes essential. and through this medium
the farming lands of the south may be
built up more rapidly than In any other
manner yet devised. one crop in ro-
fation system acts as q supplement to the
other. and they may be so arranged
as TO provide a succession and afford
some surplus material TO market and
bring in a ready supply OF money and
build up the land and develop q perma-
nent agriculture at the same time Stock
husbandry can never be developed where