Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-13

The year 1919 will long be remember
ed i'm the annals Of Georgia agriculture.
For several years previous TO this date
the state has produced unusually fine
crops. and our farmers probably con-
cluded that this era OF uninterrupted
prosperity would continue indefinitely.
such condition could hardly be expect
cd. however. for no state or country
escapes the impOsts which nature lays
upon il from time to time by sudden,
and from the human point OF view, I'M
accountable changes from the normal
climatic conditions. After all in view
OF the wide variations from normal in
temperature and rainfall experienced
Georgia has produced an unusually good
crop.
It is well at this season to take
stock OF Affairs and to determine how
the conditions met with might have
heen more successfully overcome The
reason for this statement rs based on
the fact that the crops Of the state
are what may be termed spotted. BY
this is meant that on one side Of the
roadway an excellent crop OF cotton
was raised. for example. whereas. on
the other side the yield was extremely
disappointing. The same illustration ap-
plies to corn and other farm crops with
equal forcefulness. The remarkable crop
produced in 1911 was not altogether
an accident IL IS probable that the
preparatfOn OF the land and its fertiliza-
ton during that year were much above
the average. II is equally certain that
soil preparation and fertilization in 1912
were not so well performed as in the
previous year However, IL one farmer
raised an exceptionally good crop there
is some reason why his neighbOr should
49, a# q
satisfactory result
In the production of crops there are
some things extremely important, and
first OF all is the thorough preparation
OF the ground no matter what its physi-
cal condition or natural degree Of fer
tility may be- As a matter OF fact,
the farm lands OF Georgia were made
quateIy prepared in many instances the
past year. The excuse given for this
neglect was the very wet season which
delayed farming operations. IL is true
that the farmer had a great deal TO
contend with in this respect, and in
many Instances he probably could not
overcome the difficulties which he faced
on the other hand. there are many
farmers who do not yet realize the re-
latfon between soil preparation and crop
yield Therefore. they were inclined to
be indifferent about this matter. and
some OF them imagined that because
they had produced fine yield the pre-
vious year .hey could do the same thing
in 1919 without making any special ef-
fort In this they were mistaken. The
man who gains the topmost rung Of the
ladder and keeps his place must work
consistently from day to day and from
year to year.
Our farmers should take courage and
resolve. with increased determination to
prepare the lands in 1913 better than
they have ever been prepared before. BY
all means. therefore. the utmost energy
should be devoted TO fall blowing. Let
the lands be broken. deeply. Tear them
Up with two-horse plows as effectively
as possible Some of the clay lands
may even be SUBSIDIZED TO advantage
The freezes OF winter not only nelp to
reduce the injury from insects and fun
gus diseases. but they pulverize the
land and set free plant food. Moreover.
the rainfall Of the winter should all be
gathered and safely stored I'm the soil
as completely as possible to meet the
drouth period OF the ensuing year. II
comes with almost unfailing regularity
and naturally the soil which has the
greatest store OF water in reserve and
r. the best supplied with vegetable mat
ter can better resist it's destructive in
auence. The effect OF a failure TO pillow
deeply and prepare the soil thoroughly