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

Georgia Jumped from tenth TO fourth
place IN the production Of farm crops
during the last decade. In 1910 the av-
erage Weld Of corn per acre was lA5
bushels. in 1911 in the face OF an I'M
precedented drought II became les bush
els This represents an average increase
per acre OF two bushels. OF over l0,ooO,Ooo
bushels for the entire state, represent
ing a monetary value Of between sS.ooO,-
600 and 100000. Georgia was the only
southern state TO make an increase in
the average yield Of corn per acre;
many OF her sister states showed
decrease. Georgia raised a phenomenal
crop of cotton in 1911. and IL now seems
evident that at least so. 600 more bales
viii be gathered this year than ever be-
fore In the history OF the state Are
these remarkable increases In yields OF
two OF the states principal crops &C
cfdental or are there underlying causes
some win assert that seasonal and soil
conditions are responsible for the in
creased yields noted above; some viii
assign the result entirely TO the use OF
commercial fertilizer: others viii argue
that deep filling, the thorough cultiva-
ton Of the crop or the selection OF the
seed we're the principal causes As
matter Of fact, no one agency can Justt-
IN claim the whole credit. but all taken
together have effected an increase In
yield which is indeed surprising and
even gratifying. and indicates that there
are latent personalities in our SOILS
which have hitherto not been brought
into play. but which show clearly that
Georgia is capable OF an amazing devel-
opment along agricultural lines In the
immediate future
Il viii not be possible in this msr
to diseHss-in detail thE=7etAfTSer
ence which all the conditions affecting
maximum crop yields may exert, and
in view OF the very large investment
which Georgia farmers make annually
in commercial plant food, il is deemed
hest TO coufine this bulletin to a dis
cussion OF some phase OF The fertilizer
problem. because IL is one Of the most
Important questions requiring consider
alton at the hands OF the farmer. and
Il is now generally admitted that I'M
less an available supply OF the essential
plant food elements be contained in the
soil large corps cannot be gathered
therefrom. From this IL should not be
concluded that IL a sufficient amount Of
plant food be added to a soil showing
a deficiency in some respect that large
crops viii OF necessity be harvested
Crop production is q cooperative propo-
sition. and the farmer who does not cor
a harmonious whole will not succeed
That Georgia farmers have faith in
commercial plant food is shown by the
fact that the business was an Infant
industry about 50 years ago. In 1sll
something like 10000 tons OF fertilizer,
representing an expenditure Of many
millions Of dollars. were used BY our
farmers. There was a time when most
people regarded the use OF commercial
fertilizers with indifference. but the sue
cess attained by practical farmers in
their own fields and the strong indorse-
ment received at the hands OF our ex-
pertinent stations and by leading scien-
lists show that commercial plant food
has not only played. but viii continue
20 play a very important part in crop
production in the southeastern states
The easons for this are not hard q
understand. because our soils are natur-
ally not so rich as many OF those found
in other sec ions OF the United States
and there has been failure to rotate
crops. plOw under green manures and
to cultivate the soil with deep-tillins
implements. which together with the
clean cultivation which has been prac-