Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-13
"A POLICY FOR GEORGIA FARMERS

srhfrh can he made against our farm
ers. at the present time is the lack
OF a definite business policy II a st
OF men shouldd attempt 10 organize a
hank. they would first determine upon
some plan OF action, ascertain tuf
amount OF capital necessary, find out
whether they could secure subscribers
TO their stock. and then meet and
elect Officers and adopt constitution
and bylaws for the government OF the
business. The organization would lie
based on the mature judgment or ex-
perienced men. while the rules govern
ing the business would be so safe
guarded as TO eliminate loss as much
as possible, and assure the prosperity
ana uniform success OF the undertaking.
from the beginning. All will agree 20
the wisdom OF this plan.
Contrast for a moment the action Of
this group OF men with the policy
pursued BY an individual farmer or q
group OF farmers. Not on one farm in
a thousandd is there business policy
a vell-defined system OF organization
and a definite plan OF action II ousl-
ness men find IL so essential 10 or
gauize their industries along conserva-
tive lines and to plan their efforts TOT
a series OF years in advance, Is IL pos
sible that the farmer whose business
II
u-ranize and administer. on account CT
the variation in soil and climatic con-
,iftions. from year to year, can hope
TO prosper in the absence OF a ousl-
mass poIfcvg should one inquire ineo
the success attending the effort OF the
average farmer. he would find chaos m
stead o. order. and frequently a deficit
rather than an accumulation OF dlVi-
dends az the end OF the years bust
ness. Many have concluded on mis-
account that agriculture is not a
profitable business, and that one can
hone 70 make only a nving from the
soil The exceptions TO the rule. however
are sufficiently numerous TO disprove
this contention, and IL is equally Ger
tain that wherever farming has been
orranfzed on business lines that SUD
stantiaI profits are made therefrom-
There are now thousands VINO VIII
agree that a bale OF cotton may De
raised per acre. This can be done
on land purchased at 500 or less per
acre. II certainly need not cost over
SIS TO produce a bale OF cotton ou i,
suppose IL costs $40. There Is stu
left a profit OF $40 per acre exclusive
OF the value OF the seed which would
make the returns about twenty per
cent. on a 800 investment. There are
not uuauv Industries which will make
a twenty. Der cent dividend: yet II Is
quite possible for many farmers o
make this much on land which will not
bring over 500 per acre on the market
today. Some farmers are actually
doing as well as this. but these men
are operating under a definite policy
and il is this particular phase Of the
subject which we desire TO discuss
briefly for the edificstion and guld-
ance- OF the farmers during 1919.
4 business policy is essential to sue
cess This calls for a definite plan OF or
safIizatfou. What must this include from
Tire successful farmers point Of viewz
FIRST OF all. he must have some educa-
ton relative 10 his business He Is con-
fronted with the problem OF buying fer
tiIizers at the outset The materials 70
he used for this purpose may be derived
from twenty or more different substan~
.ez Since all these vary in composition
and their action in the soil. which should
~ bought for a given purpose2- Here at
once Is a problem Of great magnitude
and OF vast economic importance, and
one which Is 20 Determine 20 a consider
able extent the returns which the farmer
viii secure from his land and his crop
a thousand flustra tions might be cited
20 show the essential nature Of agTicul-
turaI education in developing business
policy for southern farmers. but this
must suffice for the present
The next problem requiring solution
is that OF the soil What is its character,
tts natural deficiencies in plant food,
and how are these TO be supplied? Is It
IN good o. bad physical condition, and
how may its objectionable qualities be
1vercome2 IL Is quite certain that the
farmer who handles mis- soil with skill,
and therefore. with some certainty OF a
profitable return for his effort must un-
derstand its latent qualities, its good
and had points, and how 10 manipulate
these 50 as 10 make the soil respond best
TO cultivation. The time has come when
there must be a differentiation in the
MANAGEMENT OF vsrious soil types. The
heavy clay lands OF the northern part
or the state will not respond 10 the same
treatment which should be accorded the
sandy soils OF the southeastern part A
soil which contains only 800 pounds OF
available potash per acre foot must not
be fertiIized the same as one which con-
tafns 1866 20 $500. II land contains
500 TO 1905 pounds OF lime per acre
foot. IL certainly should not be accord
Ell the same mana cement as that given
10 q truck soil which may not contain
ever 100 pounds. The time has come
when a FUNDAMENTAL knowledge or soil
types. the methods OF ascertaining the
primary defects and overcoming these in
an economic and systematic manner can
10 longer be delayed a hardly seems
necessary to argue a matter OF this
Kind because IL S so apparent 10 all who
give to Il even a few moments Of con-
sideTation. and yet there Is probably
less definite knowledge concerning the