Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-10
GEORGIA NO LONGER
IS A ONE CROP STATE
Work of Boys Corn Clubs I'm
paraIleIed for ReSuItS-Goy-
ernor Praises Movement

The corn show at the state capitol
last week showed forth to the world
the Boys Corn club movement for
what it really is-the greatest eco
nomical and agricultural project that
Georgians have undertaken in this
generation. Figures show that the
value of Georgia's corn crop has in
creased $SO,O0O,0O0 in five years, and
the Boys corn club movement has
been admittedly the foremost factor
in bringing about this result.
The exhibition at the capitol, while
1t visualized in a wonderful way the
goal toward which the boys are work
ing, did not begin to tell the whole
story of what their work means. They
are planting something more potent
than the most fruitful grains of corn
that ever yielded abundant harvest;
. they are planting the seeds of good
example; they are planting ideas that
will fructify not only in their own
minds but in the minds of their eld-
ers in this generation, and in the
whole agricultural population in the
next. The seeds of corn. they have
sown and fertilized have brought in
thousands of bushels, but the seeds OF
will terminate millions.
The ideas given general publicity
through the aims and activities of thu
corn clubs have already reacted upon
farming generally in Georgia, and the
boys. through their notable success in
getting record yields from a compar-
atieeIy few acres, have shown their
fathers the general principles not only
Of diversified crops, but of scientific
and intensivs cultivation,
2 g Practically every county in Georgia
has already felt this influence to some
degree. In less than five years the
Boys corn clubs in Georgia have
sgained a membership of 10000. In
the, past year alone, the membership
has doubled. 1t is estimbated that 1T
will reach $4,000 by the end of anoth-
err year. At the corn show this year
over ninety counties were represented;
it is expected that fully 125 will take
part next year. Hundreds of boys in
every part of the state have already
announced their intention Of going out
TO beat the state record of PA BUSH
els made in 1911 by Ben Leath, OF
Walker county. The corn club boys
have increased Georgia's corn average
from sixteen to forty bushels an acre,
or more than. $50 per cent. Among the
boys themselves the contests have
awakened the spirit Of emulation and
ambition. They are building charac-
ter and strength. The foundations for
splendid development and manhood are
laid at the time when habits are most
easily formed and when new ideas
most easily take root.
Governor Brown says of the corn
show movement:
ct regard this as the greatest eco
nomical and agricultural movement
Georgia has ever known. The day is
coming, and that too very soon, as
direct result of what the corn club
boys have DONE, when the farmer who
makes less than forty Bushels OF corn
to the acre will be considered a very
poor farmer"
The corn crop statistics already
show that Georgia has passed the point
when it can be said of her as a re-
proach that she is among the lone
crop" states. Corn has become a
giant factor in Georgia's agricultural
life.