Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-10

A correspondent writes for informa-
dion concerning the dairy sndustry in
Georgia. and for his benefitsProf.s j. w
Hart, in charge OF thef dairy extension
work OF the State College Of. .Agricul-
ture. and the dairy division OF the bur
reau OF. animal industry. has taken con-
siderable pains and time 20. prepare the
following data which win no doubt be
OF interest TO farmers and dairy men
throughout the state.
Available statistics throwing any
IfEht on the dairy business IN Georgia
are very meagre at the present time.
but we shall soon have some apthorita-
tive figures in regard 10 this matter
when the results OF the census Of 1910
are published. The United States crop
reports for February states that on
Jan. 1. 1912. there were in Georgia 4O6,-
600 mich cows. worth SIS per head, rep
resenting an aggregate value Of S11.26s.-
600. The population OF Georgia, &C
ccrding TO the last census was 2.60s.l2l,
and Reckoning the same percentage in
crease as that prevailing over the
decade Immediately preceding. we would
have on Jan 1. 1912 a population OF
2ssS.110 within the state. From these
factors we calculate that in Georgia
there are 10 miIch cows for every SIS
persons. Next let US see where Geor-
Eia stands IN the dairy business as COM
pared with the whole country. On Jan.
j. 1912 the population OF the United
States. may be estimated at .1Q4,Is1,43S,
and the same authority as quoted above
states that there were at this same date
IN the United States 20. s99. 900 cows, or
IA. cows 10 every so people. From these
ngures we may gather that there should
be added to our COW population in Geor-
gia 5000 more animals in order that
Ne should have as many COWS D., per
ca pita as are owned in the United States
as a whole. Our real inferiority in
dairy stock will be more strikingly
shown In the valuation basis. for while
the average milk COW in the United
States is valued at sss.3s. the average
Georgia COW is credited with a value Of
SOS Applying these figures 70 Georgia
we find our per capita investment in
mich COWS is S4.25. while that of the
entire United States is s7.2S.
You asked especially for information
IN regard to the growth Of the dairy
business within this state during the
last ten years. Going back ten years
the United States year boog states
that the COW. population Of -Georgia in
1902 was 2T4.6O4. valued at s2i "a per
this same time was 2.2s3.4s6. we find
that ten COWS supplied dairy products
for IS persons. this, OF course supple
mented by a large amount OF butter
cheese. and condensed milk which were
and are still being brought into the
state. Compare this with our position
today and II appears we are making
progress. The per capital value OF our
milch COW investment on January, 1912.
vas only So "a as compared with s4.23
in 1912, which further. bears out the
idea that we are slowly making head
way in the direction of more and better
cows.
Your question asking what has caused
the growth Of the dairy business is
more dificult TO. answer satisfactorily.
/ believe there are "a. number Of factors
concerned in this growth. the principal
OF which are as follows: rs- q
First The adoption Of better farm
ing methods by many OF our farmers.
involving rotation OF crops and higher
yields.
Second. The placing of large areas
under fence, whereas formerly stock ran
at large. ,rtc
Third. In connection with this we
have the diminution and in some To-
-caIities. the extinction of the cattle
tick from many premises formerly
infected Along this line we find
that many OF our more Intelligent and
careful COW owners all over the state
are getting rid OF ticks owing TO the
campaign that is being waged against
this parasite under the direction of
federal and state authorities.
Fourth. A desire on the part OF
cur farmers TO raise ~ larger portion
or their food supplies at home, along
with a better appreciation OF the high
food value OF milk and milk products
3 Fifth. The adoption of better
methods in the. dairy such as raising
calves by hand and the use OF the
cream separator. AL over the state,
however, a discouragingly large num-