Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-06
PART l.


suiturauy in a period OF thirty years
Those who dou0t the authenticity Of thi:
statement need only turn 10 the recently
published statistics OF agricultural pro-
duction and be convinced With the close
OF the great war the plantation system
passed into history. and there were few
who believed the south could recover
from the destruction wrought BY the
great conflict IN 2 hundred years New
srtheless. agricultural industries have
made such great strides In the past quar-
ter OF a century as 20 make IL evident
that the south win presently Outstrip all
other sections in the value Of her farm
crops and take high rank among the
states In many other lines OF agricul-
tural industry as well In this cOnnec-
ton. bear in mind that the results al
ready attained have been achieved In
the face OF the gravest difficulties. First
II all. there was an exhausted credit and
an impoverished people TO feed and
clothe. neither suitable implements on
animals were available 10 work the land
the labor system was completely disor-
CANNED. fences and buildings had disap-
peared: the weIIkept terraces were
broken down and fields once fertile were
weiluiEh washed away. The pioneering
age OF the grandSire had returned again
20 the south. and IL devolved upon her
native sons 10 reclaim a great empire
through their own individual effort. for
Immigration 70 this section OF the coun-
try has never taken on the gas0t- GRO
portions OF the north and -sSest- This
phase Of the SITUATION hagr been present.
ed 50 that ~ rea,ier nay bear IN MIND
something 4 the -s-fitions which con-
fronted sfthsrrs-6grf culture in the re-
Get - ne 2giu L hen be in position
10 - arFate - ore clearly what has
a Kcomplishes air ady and 10 under
- that the ST lteme MS made with ref
H. ~ future .devep YDment are If any
ultra-cCns ervatsye, and certainly
exaggerated
- rot SURPRISING 20 one familiar
q t&a natural resources and the splen-
~ possihilitief OF IN e south that 50
Euch should have beel accomplished In
~ ~bort a tire. To- this section nature
- been unusually iSir.d in providing soil
49, climatic conditions which enable the
g-Ultf,atIon or a wide range OF crops. in
cIus5fDs- not only those having the great
L. ready money value. but which are
Iararded as the standard food crops for
~ and beast throughout the civilized
w0sd The topography Of the country
varks fpom the mist-enshrOuded noun
tain 10. 10 the level sands of the sea
shore There is great range OF sol
types which enable the husbandman tc
harvest truck crops in their greatest per
lection on the one hand. and the peach
and apple OF northern ATTITUDES on the
other While the corn. wheat and hay Of
the temperate zone are grown success
fully, the feecy staple thrives as no.
where else in the world. Conditions have
been greatly helped by the remunerative
prices which cotton and other farm crops
have brought IN the st five years
Striking evidence OF this increased wealth
II shown on every hand. but Is, especially
evidenced by the widespread interest In
road Improvement. the extension of rural
mal routes and telephone sustems, and
the construction OF superior types Of
scnooIhouses. farm homes, barns and
fences.
some may imagine that these condi-
lions have been brought about by the
expenditure OF an undue proportion OF
the energies OF the people or at the
expense OF the natural resources of the
country. such is not the case. The
south is just now ready through the
splendid service Of a new generation
20 make the greatest forward move
ment in the history Of her agriculture,
and she represents a golden empire OF
natural resources the fringes OF which
have scarcely been touched. To say
south will double. treble or even quad
ripple within the lapse Of another half
century is not stating the case extrav-
Agantly, IL one study the past history
OF this territory and reflect especially
on the progress made in the last dec
ade. This period is mentioned as ii
covers the time since sufficient surplus
wealth has been accumulated 10 per-
init OF the organization OF agrieultu-
raj industries along more aggressive
and constructive lines. II so much has
been achieved in the past I'm the face
OF great difficulties. what may be an
ticfpated under vastly more favorable
condiuons7 This is a question OF con-
Germ. not only 10 every citizen OF the
south. but OF the United States as
well. and viii have a reflex action on
the welfare OF nations across the seas
IL IS wei worth while. therefore TO
consider seriously the factors which
have brought about the present degree
Of development and to anticipate what
may be expected in the near future
-Four agencies have materially affect
Cd the prosperity OF the south in ths
past and these win influence her de-
velopment with multiplied intensity in
the immediate future These agencies
may be summarized under the heads
OF ID agricultural education: ca bet.
ter farming and crop diversificatiOn;
90 expansion OF home markets and a
relative decline OF competition in ag-
rfcultural production from the west;
CD a rapid widening OF markets abroad
which viii be greatly enhanced by the
completion OF the Panama canal
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
Educat ton f. the greatest construc.
tive agency in the growth OF a nation
For years much prejudice existed
against the sO-called scientific agricuI-
ture. and Il is only recently that farm
ers have come 10 realize that success
depends upon a fundamental under
standing OF the laws OF nature as re-
lated 70 soils. plants and animals. For
a quarter OF a century after their es.
adjustment the agricultural colleges OF
the south made comparatively little
progress and did not accomplish in the
advancement Of farm practice what
they could and should have done had
the farmers attitude toward them beer
one OF less Indifference. Consequently
agricultural progress and production
stood still for some years. or even
sunk below the level OF former gen.
eratiOns- Naturally. when the farmei
failed 10 secure adequate returns from
fertilizer or from the methods of cul-
sfsrn ton which had hear, -