Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-06
The Future of Southern Agriculture

been unusually we'll patronized, insur-
ing a new point of view and broad
ened vision for the ADULT. The num-
/ her OF farmers institutes and the 1T
| tendance on the same has greatly In
creased. In several agricultural col
Tsges in the southern states extension
deuartments have been organibzed FOR
CARRYING into rural communities a more
definite lnowleGge of the principles Ia
VOWED in an improved agrlcultniai
rractice. BOYS" and girls clubs nave
been established in association with the
schools. the boys giving their atteh-
ton 10 the growing of corn and the
management of live stock. and the girls
TO canning and domestic science work
What is being accomplished in Geor-
efa through the cooperative eHofN q
various agencies will illustrate in some
measure the great transforma ton
which education In agriculture -
bringing to pass throughout the south
During the past three years the Georgia
state COLLEGE of Agriculture has operat-
81 two educational trains and held 100
farmers meetings attended by otb'6SS
uersons. The distance travelled by the
extension workers aggregated lte,olt
,,llas and involved more than 1,522 days
OF travel for n single man Ii viii
thus be seen that One-third OF the white
population Of the state was reached
through the department Of agricultural
extension in a remarkably short time.
The demand for meetings has increas-
ed to such an extent that in spite of
liberal appropriations on the part Or
tire state all the requests received can
not be complied with. Letters seeking
information about farm topics have in
creased from few hundred TO many
thousands annually. and still the farm
ers thirst for information TO replace
the superstitious and frequently alb
surd practices OF the past remains UNI
slaked. Everywhere the leaven is at
work and the agricultural revolution
so long predicted has become a realty
in many communities The following
Of extension teaching in agriculture as
a factor I'm determining our future rate
OF progress is well illustrated by the
following citation.
An educational tra.n was operated
in the state Of Georgia during the WIN.
ter Of 1911. 1t travelled throughout
the length and breadth OF the state for
~ days. and during that time was met
by $780, 900 people. AT every stop soils,
seed selection. the cultivation and fer
tilizatlon Of the land were discussed in
detail. The farmers were inspired AMI
told how they might better their con-
dition and increase their crop yields
Statistics indicate that SEQ, 600 tons
more of high-grade fertilizer were ap-
piled to farm crops in 1911 than in the
previous year, and up 70 the time OF
writing much more cotton has been
harvested and ginned than in 1910, ano
il is stated by conservatives men that
the cotton crop of 1911 Will exceed in
amount that ever produced IN the state
by more than 100000 bales. This cot
ton even at $50 a bale represents mon.
-ey value of S25.000O00, and illustrates
the powerful relation Of extension
teaching 10 the rural betterment prob.
lem No one agency should attempt to
claim all the credit for the results Sc
cured as many factors entered into
the situation. but the power OF concrete
I Information adequately dissemina tea
must never be lost sight of, and illus
trates very clearly that progress can
be made in agricultural production and
development in the south as the ext
gencies Of the situation demand
Boys and girls work has been carried
on in Georgia IN more than 96 counties
during the past year. Girls have made
more than 5000 from the fruit canned
from quarter of an acre of ground de-
voted to tomatoes. and they have learn
ed something of the possibilities of truck
gardening. the Importance OF supplying
the home with the luxury of fresh veg
etables at all seasons oft he year. and
the desirability Of adding to their midi
vidual earning power. More than thirty
boys last year raised over 100 bushels of
corn per acre in Georgia. One boy grew
"a bushels. This corn was grown at a
cost Of from y to 30 cents a bushel.
These boys have shown their fathers
IL is possible to increase the average
yield Of corn per acre five or six times
at a surprisingly low cost. The need of
an abundance OF food for the mainte-
nance of our live stock has been a
stumbling block in the way OF southern
progress for many years. This difficulty
is now TO be removed through educa-
tionaI processes which are TO relate the
rural school 20 the life Of the home in
the most efficient and constructive man
ner which has ever yet been devised
II these results have been obtained in
a period OF three years with an insult
hcient number Of workers and with in
adequate financial support, II Is certain
" not oveTstating the case to say that
with new generation Of boys and girls
whose vision has been broadened and
directed along right lines that the ag-
ricultural progress Of the south will be
quadrupled within the next 40 or 30
years. While these citations refer es-
pecially TO the changing conditions wit
messed in Georgia, il should not be for
gotten that many other southern states
are making the same relative advance
ment
DESTROYING WEEVILS IN CORN.
V. f. p, Genoa, Fla, writes: 1 would
Ike TO have a remedy for keeping Vice.
wills out Of corn.
Is hut Ia I'D
all stord gerain insect pests. and that Is
scruDulOus cleanliness slIDDIenentad nv