Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-17

PART l.
A change in economic conditions
brings new responsibilities and prob
lens upon a community. II progress is
to be made these must be met and over
come All who have studied southern
agricultural development in the past few
years realize that great changes have
taken place recently. and that equally
great transformations must follow in
the immediate futurs IL the south is TO
continue prosperous and 10 maintain the
place she has made for herself in our
agricultural economy. II appears from
an examination OF the existing situation
that our crop yields have been station
airy for many years yet the use OF com
mercial fertilizers has greatly increased.
Moreover. the farmer has held tenac-
iously 20 the idea OF producing one crop,
namely cotton This has prevented the
establishment OF systems OF rotation or
the growth OF an adequate supply OF
corn or other cereals for human con-
sumption and the efficient maintenance
OF live stock. In view OF these condi-
tons IL is not surprising that the mere
use OF fertilizer alone should not have
raised the average yield higher than the
best available statistics Indicate Surely
this situation looks somewhat depress-
ing, and one might suppose that Il was
tinged with q degree OF pessimism.
such. however, is not the case,
hence the problem Of the present day
and generation is TO get the farmer out
OF the rut into which he has fallen be-
cause OF the obsession which has pos
sessed him relative TO the cultivation OF
cotton. The situation is not hopeless'
no situation ever is, but sometimes IL
takes drastic action to arouse people,
and this is the very thing which must
now be done throughout the south so
that our agriculture may be reorganizeo
along progressive lines and adjusted 70
meet in the most satisfactory manner
the new economic situation Wnicn
transference from the era OF pioneer
farming 10 that OF constructive scientific
farming has brought about How shall
this be done?
An old proverb says that teaching
old dogs new tricks" IS a difficult and
generally unsatisfactory undertaking
All OF us tend TO get into little niche
and 10 live our little lives within this
circle. Only a few are able 10 so ad-
lust themselves as TO keep In harmoni-
Gus step with the march OF progress
VIII II be possible, therefore, 10 take
the old farmer and readjust his point
OF View In some instances IL Will' put
tn-s win be an extremely slow ana oiI-
is a more effective way 10 reacn hinh'
and il is OF this that desire now 10
speak more particularly
Youth IS full OF hope and courage
and is not afraid on this account OF at
lacking problems which may prove dis-
basrtenina 10 older and more sedate per-
sons The boys and the girls may there
fore b. properly assigned the task OF
instftuting a new type OF pracuee Whicn
win not only AFFECT their own hves ana
point OF view materially but VIII ells.OIs :
.athers and. mothers to be reached
in the most effective manner and IN the
shortest suace Of time That this can
~ accomplished successfully is evil
danced by the recital OF facts in this
article. and that no plan has yet oeen
devised which is likely to prove more
efTectfve than the organization OF boys
~ iris Industrial clubs must be ad-
rnitted by all who have famiharizeo
themselves with the results OF the WorA
accomplished
These clubs have been organized in
Georgia for the most part through tne
agency OF the State College OF Agri-
culture in cooperation with the coun-
~ suuerintendents OF public instruction
and the teachers Of the rural schools
An attempt to secure adequate instruc-
ton in the principles or agriculture IN
ths rural schools has been an admitted
failure for many years paste and II was
In response to an effort TO promote
work OF this character that the boys
ana girls clubs were first organized
In order that the work may De effective
there must be a director or superln-
tendent Ordinarily he should be as
ISOLATED with the work OF the College
Of Agriculture and suppifsc with one
Z
assistants houId be a lady who has a
thorough knowledge OF home economies
and All the persons employed in this
work should be experienced teachers,
and preferably have seen service in con-
nection with the rural schools OF the
state. In addition they should have
had training along agricultural ana IN
dustrial lines SO that they may be thor
oughly familiar with the principles
they are attempting 70 instl into the
minds Of the boys and girls Otherwise
their efforts are not likely 70 prove sr-
fectfve. AS the work becomes better
organized in a state IL viii be well TO
divide il into districts. as as been done
in Georgia where there are six local
agents residing in the center OF a we'll
defined territory and acting as supervi-
sors Of the work in that district
This is a great economy with reference
10 both time and money. Moreover. IL
enables the district agent 10 become
better acquainted with the locality and
10 meet with the boys and girls more
often than IL his headquarters were at
the college even though that insutu-
ton be located in the center OF the
state The men and women chosen for
this work should possess the mission
airy spirit in a large degree for their
tax is a difficult one and calls for an
unusual amount OF sslf-sacrifice and de-
votion TO the cause they have espouseo-
NEED OF MINERAL MATTER IN
RATION
l. T. C.. Decatur. Ca. writes: Would