Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-12
A MEAT FAMINE IMMINENT

The cost OF meat in the United States
has been rising steadily for some years
past This is due TO the great increase
IN the consuming as compared with the
producing population. The great ranches
OF the west have been broken I'D and
brought under intensive or semi-inten-
sfve cultivation Hence the natural range
has been steadily disappearing while the
smaller farmer OF the east. south and
middle west has failed 10 increase the
number OF live stock maintained on his
farm II Is not surprising that there
should be a steady rise In the price OF
meat Moreover, this condition Is likely
TO continue for some time to come, for
Il a quite appareiit that consumption In
this direction IL outdistancing production
and as Il takes some months or even
years 70 bring meat-prOducfng animals
10 that stage OF maturity where their
sale Is profitable and their utility for
food satisfactory. Il is q difficult matter
10 re-estabIish equilibrium between pro-
duction and consumption II is possible.
for instance. to increase the acreage OF
corn or wheat and with a favorble sea-
son produce a surplus over the ordinary
requirements II viii take a series Of
years however, TO accomplish this In
the production OF meat This being true,
the raising OF animals for meat offers a
most remunerative opportunity TO the
southern farmer
The time has long since<past when the
west can supply cheap meats TO the
south Beef Is now as costly in the
average southern town as in Chicago.
Moreover, We frequently do NOT secure
on the local market as choice meat as
could easily be produced at home. Our
farmers have not given the attention 70
this question which IL deserves and hence
IL viii take them some time 70 enter up
on the business Of conducting II with
the highest degree Of proficiency and
success. There are those who will claim
that the initial capital required debars
them from. undertaking this kind OF
farming; but n this they are mistaken,
for I'm a comparatively short time herds
and nocks viii increase though a very
small investment be made in breeding
animals to commence with. This Is espe-
: cfaIIy true OF hogs and sheep. On the
college farm. starting five years ago
with a small number OF animals, a SUI
ficient surplus has now been produced
10 permit OF the sale of from . to 4
animals each year. Quite number OF
these, Il IS true, are hogs. but still a
number Of beef and dairy cattle have
been dispensed OF from year to year, and
twenty-eight cattle ready for sale These
figures are quoted to inform the layman
as to what may be accomplished from
a very small initial outlay. and to i'm
press upon him the rapidity with which
herds and flocks increase IL given even
moderate care and attention. II is inn
portant to remember that the beef cat
tie sold from the college farm have been
produced on natural pastures with a
minimum Of winter feed and care OF
course. the dairy COWS and heifers have
been given more care and attention Nat
urally this is necessary il they are 10
Re properly developed and continue to
WELD a large flow OF milk.
The hog business in Georgia has not
been developed as IL should because
cholera has destroyed 50 many animals.
This difficulty can now be overcome
by the use OF immuning serum. 1t is
hardly worth while for a man TO develop
a herd OF forty hogs and then lose
most Of them through the invasion OF
the herd By cholera which might have
been prevented for an outlay Of $4,000
OF 5000. The chances are he will lose
ali the hogs IL he decides not treat them,
whereas, IL he does the loss will be
virtually nothing. Contrast. therefore,
theivalue Of forty hogs at $4,000 apiece