Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-02

The progress which Georgia has made
along agricultural lines in the past few
years may be at least in some measure
attributed TO agricultural education. On
" this morning a young man wrote 10
the editor and said that he had raised
s. bushels Of corn per acre on his
breeding plat where he is carrying on
work under the direction OF the college
Many will say that this Is very mod
est Yield, but the gentleman in ques-
ton reports that the best yield made IN
his community was not over q bushels TO
the acre, so Il would appear that his
method Of practice and the attention he
has paid to selection OF his seed was
GOOD investment for him for II resulted
in his raising 20 bushels more corn per
acre than his neighbors under similar
soil and seasonal conditions
What did this young man do that was
in striking contrast 70 his friends? First
Of all. he used the physical forces OF
nature by which he was surrounded with
skill and intelligence. In other words,
he made nature work for him and where
nature was weak. he tried 10 supplement
the missing link by the more thorough
cultivation and fertilization Of his land
His success is the best evidence OF the
practicabiiity OF the plan he employed
This inspiration and knowledge came 10
short course at the State College Of Ag-
ricuIture last winter. These courses are
made as intensely practical as possible
and they are provided free or cost TO
ali farmers OF Georgia who viii avail
themselves OF the opportunity which the
state is affording them in this direction
The course opens on January ? and con-
tinues for a period OF ten days Iney
are arranged SO one may specialize along
the lines OF cotton production. cereal
growing and general farming, live stock
husbandry and horticulture More than
a speciaI topics have been arranged tor
systematic study, the lectures being CIV
en- BY a staff OF experts which the col
IeEe employs for the instruction Of its
students and the adult farmers resident
throughout the state. The enumeration
OF these subjects shows how important
IL IS for farmers TO avail themselves OF
this free instruction. For instance. there
is q thorough discussion of tiIe 1ertlllzer
question fr all its phases Without Ter
tiIfzers many Georgia soils would not
produce profitable crops How snali
fertilizers be bought and what formu-
las will best meet the needs OF various
soils are questions OF vital concern 70
every Georgia farmer. Here Is an OPP
portunity 10 acquire the latest and best
information concerning a subject which
Affects TIC welfare %
There is also E discussion OF our soils,
their origin. composition. primary de
fects and how these may be remedied-
Every farmer Is now interested in the
use Of farm machinery, for II means 70
cue down his labor bills and TO do me-
chanlcally what he has been forced 70 40
largely in the past through the agency
OF unskiIIed labor which he frequently
cannot control Every man living on
of the dis
eases of. animals, and how to treat the
same Insects and fungi attack his fruit
y9ra. zrafn.. Tha--control Of these pests
is made uolsTble largely through spray
ing. but how are the spray mixtures 10
he urepared and when should they be ap-
piled? II the farmer has this knOWi-
edge he may protect his crop from m
Jury An economic farm practice re-
oufres that crops be rotated and that live
stock be maintained on the farm IN
larger numbers than has been followed in
the pasf Which breed Of live stock Is
hest adapted 70 Georgia conditions, how
should they be fed and nourished.. and
how should they be treated IL they be-
come siek2
Are these not all vital questions? OF
course they are and they mean much In
dollars and cents to every farmer On
this account the College Of Agriculture
has arranged Tor these Tree SASAt NoNA7~S
for busy farmers who can not be away
from home for any considerable length
OF time. yet who must have inforna-
tion Of the character suggested in or
der that they may manage their live
stock successfully and operate their
farms at-a profit. The cost of these
courses is represented in railroad fare
and board while in Athens. and one
dollar registration fee. so they are with
in the reach OF every one, and as no
entrance examinations are required. any
white farmer in Georgia may attend
them. As a matter Of fact, men rang
ing in years from IS TO 50 have been
present in former years. and some of
the most enthusiastic ex-students are
those who have had years Of expert
ence but were unable to understand
how 20 grasp many problems fully until
they heard the lectures offered in the
short course.
In this connection Il should not be for
gotten that every afternoon is devoted
to a demonstration in which those at
tending have an opportunity TO ac-
duire dexterity and experience through
the actual grading Of cotton, assisting
I'm clinics. judging live stock or cereals.
or spraying and pruning in an orchard.
The farmer has been 10 conservative in
the past: too much inclined to depend
on his own initiative and knowledge.
This has tended TO make him move
around in a circle. knowledge is gained
from the acquired experience OF many
persons Progress generally comes from
the outside Men must therefore come in
contact with other people and imbibe