Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-23

ent time for several reasons First of
all there viii OF necessity be a read
iustmant OF our methods OF farm prac-
tlce when the boil weevil invades the
state Second. il has been shown that
our soils may be made much more pro-
ductive where animal industries are de-
velOped and a sufficient quantity OF yard
manure obtained to supply the needed
humus and bacterial life TO our soils
Third. the rapid increase in population
throughout the United States is daily
making il more difficult for towns and
cities to secure anything like an ade-
Quate supply OF dairy products As
matter OF fact. the prices OF milk and
butter have steadily increased Tor
number OF years past, and the end is not
yet in sight II this be true. II would
appear that the dairy field offers an op-
pertunitv 20 many men In Georgia VINO
are avaiIing themselves OF this opening
al the present time
II viii be interesting. therefore. 70
recite 5ust what has been done on the
college farm in the past few years In
building Up q dairy herd 10 where IL now
make a substantial profit 20 the owner.
The question OF climate and soil and
OF our ability 70 produce a variety OF
crops needed for the proper maintenance
OF dairy cattle need not be discussed
These points are conceded by all who
have examined into the situation. Can
the farmer Of small means and limited
credit establish a dairy is a much moot
ed question IN view OF what has been
accomplished At the college, this would
appear quite feasible for the herd now
owned has been built UP chiefly through
the purchase and selection OF graded
animals which we're originally bought at
from SIS to $40 apiece in the vicinity Of
the college or in the counties adjacent 10
Clarke That this same practice may be
followed successfully in developing
herd in most parts OF Georgia is admit
TED BY men familiar with the live stock
industry. Il is said that "the proof Of
the pudding Il in the eating" As q
matter OF fact. quite a large number
OF dairymen with whom the college Is
cooperating in the organization and de-
velopment OF their herds have followed
the identical practice indicated herein
with success. Some OF these men have
herds which have turned in gross
revenue or from $1,000 TO $4,000 year
and Melted them a substantial profit
The feasibility OF starting a herd
from grade cows obtained in the locality
where the work is 20 be undertaken
is thus established beyond the question
OF CONTROVERSY. OF course. IL is impor-
tant that a pure bred sire Of strong pre-
NQNED-G anu AN F--~AAN-~@
and placed at the head OF the herd.
This Is the only item Of considerable
expense which the herd owner OF ne
cessity would have 70 meet. Suitable
dairy barns may be erected at a reason
able cost in Georgia where lumber is,
relatively speaking. cheap. Plans and
specifications may be secured from sew
erai sources for the erection OF barns
well suited to our climate. and the
- - "a re- "a
hands under the direction Of a compe-
tent foreman or superintendent A very
modest barn will answer in the begin
ming. though IL is essential that IL be
sanitary and provided with concrete
floors. There must also be an adequate
water supply. but the large number Of
spring found II many localities, or the
location OF dairy farms In relation 10
the water supply OF towns and cities is
such that this can generally be secured
without great difficulty or expense
The college endeavors to maintain a
herd OF thirty milking cows at all times.
Shis herd is kept as an object lesson
TO students and visitors 10 the college.
and for the purpose OF demonstrating to
the people Of Georgia what can be ac-
cofplfshed IN this special line under good
mana cement or course. the herd has
been maintained and improved in the
la1L lev NEaAA- OF Al1A6lIcr INT 1AaAE-
ment from June !. 1911, TO June l, 1872
shows that the herd produced Ss2.u more
milk per month than ever before. This
was due 70 the elimination OF the unde-
sirabIe foundation stock and it's replace
ment by heifers OF superior merit This
IS one OF the best illustrations Of how
quickly a herd may be improved In char
acter BY careful breeding. feeding and
selection Yet no processes have been
followed with ease and success by the
average dairyman- The fact that some
men under the direction OF the college
have accomplished results OF equal mer-
Il shows the practicability OF the under
taking where the business is organized
and conducted with the degree OF intelli-
gence necessary 10 insure success
The statement OF the dairy herd for
the past year shows that S5.Oss. "A was
received from the sale OF milk and but
ter. The business is conducted on a cash
basis. and therefore. there Is no loss OF
money. The milk and butter are sold
BY tickets. q careful check on the sales
being kept IN the college farm ONCE.
During the year the COWS consumed 80
tons or siiage which at $50 per ton,
cost KS: four tons OF corn slower at
"a per ton. SIS: Eve tons OF straw az 81
q ton. SO: three tons OF peavine hay at
SIS. rs: = tons OF cotton seed meal at
50. SIS: six months pasturage for %
cows az sf-50. 500: expenses OF the de-
livery wagon. $50: incldentals. including
ice. bottles. baskets. etc. f447.S The
cost OF the feed totals sl.S3L Some may
consider the prices given too low, but
they are certainly fair farm prices. ana
when the cost Of marketing is added
thereto will Approximate about the fun
value OF the feed. II Will thus be seen
that the cost OF feed per COW was a
little more than 81 a year. This spleadid
record could not have been made in view
OF the large quantity OF milk and but
ter produced but for the fact that cot
ton seed meal was used as the sole con-
centrate and furnished protein IN SO
great abundance and at so low a cost
Note that the expenses for the milk
wagon and incidentals amount 70 S6s7.s4:
the expenditure for labor 81 260 The
profits exclusive Of the value OF the
calves or the manure were 81. S17.60. Sure
~ this is a creditabls showing. amount
ing as IL does 70 more than S50.5S per in
dividual COW The milk was sold at re-
tail at ~ cents a gallon and the but
ter at g cents a pound. OF course, COM
parativeIy little butter was sold.
These figures demonstrate very clearly
the profits which may be made out OF
the dairy business II nationally managed
when cotton seed meal and siiage are
vv-afa the basis ~ tfou