Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-31

women 10 XIII
SMALLER FARMS MORE FARMS
The agricultural tendency of the South is unmis
takably toward smaller farms; at the time it is
evident that the total area of cultivated lands in this
section is steadily increasing. The federal depart
nent OF Commerce and Labor has issued statement
showing that in Georgia Alabama, Mississippi, the
CaroIinas Virginia Tennessee and Kentucky, the
size Of the average farm today is eightyfour acres
whereas in 1860 the average size three hundred
and twenty-one acres. The amount of improved land
in these states only htyfour million acres
in 1850; in 1912 it exceeds eighty-one million
Either Of these facts alone would be significant
but when they are found side by side they become
doubly important and heartening; for, they show
that while the South is developing accurate and
more scientific methods of farming it is also deve
oping more power and energy in its conquest of the
soil.
The decrease in the size of farms indicate the
former and the increase in the aggregate acreage
der cultivation, the latter truth. Years ago the
Southern planter began to realize that garden plot
s well tended meant more than plantation carelessy
titled and managed The socalled intensive methods
have taken truly remarkable hold upon the section.
As a natural consequence the average area of farms
has been cut down. To what extent this is true ap
pears in the report of the department of Commerce
and Labor which states that in 1860 there were
sxty-three farms to every thousand of popu-
Iation. while in 1910 there were hundred and
sixteen, or nearly twice as many. The report shows
further that Just before the there were i've
hundred four thousand farms, while today there
are nearly million farms in the eight states
viewed 1t is thus evident that the plantations
once given over almost exclusively to the production
OF cotton have been broken up into smaller and trim
tracts where variety Of staples including food
stuffs are grown and where brains and energy are
concentrated with view To making each acre count
for the utmost.
These changed conditions signify great deal for
the SOuths progress and independence. Their sig
nifcance would be greater there fewer ten
ants and more owners Of the smaller farms. Even
in this particular, however. there happy omens.
for we learn that between 1850 and 1910 the number
OF farm owners increased two hundred and eighty
nine thousand fOrty-three per cent. The import.
fact that the farm decreases in SIZE
ship becomes easier for more and more men. The
who could only dream of plantation can, by
foresight and fragality. enough from his
ings to buy ten-acre tract. 1t is this makes for
thrift that enarges the individual opportunity that
renders economic conditions more truly democratic
and places greater number Of people at the produc
tive end OF the sections affairs.
When is noted in addition to this that the total
OF southern farms has increased from hfty-four
20 elgntE-ome million acres, the growth or our 5grl
cultural interests appears particularly impressive
At the outbreak Of the war the farms Of the South
comprised ffty-four million hundred and thirty
five thousand In 1870, this had decreased to
some fortyseEen million acres a loss of twelve and
threetenths per cent. But by 1880 the amount of
improved land had moved up to hfty-eight million,
one hundred fOrty-nine thousand acres, By 1890 to
sixtyseven and half million and by 1900 seventy
five million and in 1910 TO eighty-one million.
The tendency has thus been at once toward con-
centraon OF individual energy and toward expansion
the part of agricultural enterprise whole. 1t
is this twOfod condition that augurs hopefully
the Southern states, showing it does, that they
are -c=slODing their natural treasure with frmer
grasp and also with wider reach.
If man gives you square deal in horse trade
you can trust him anywhere.
Another thing that deters US from ocean travel
is the ordeal Of the customs house.
One-half the world doesn't know how the other
half lives-and what's more, it doesn't care.
But man never keeps on being crazy over wom-
an very long after she begins to act crazy him.
And we don't want to go away on our vacation
just yet because we don't want to miss the Georgia
barbecue.