The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-06-20
BARRETT'S ADVICE TO THE FARMERS
SAYS THE FARMERS OF GEOR-
GA NEGLECT THE APPEAR
ANCE OF THEIR FARMS.

president of the Farmers Union,
who has just returned to Georgia
from a trip to The Central and far
Western states, offers the following
suggestions to Georgia farmers:
Il was in the region Of Paradise.
in the Santa Clara valley, a region
which, by the way. must give us a
new conception Of the Paradise lost
by our first parents, if it could have
equaled it's California namesake.
Everything that could attract the
eye and crafty the sense for beauty
in nature in the heart was there.
There was every evidence Of good
taste. elegance and luxury in the
surroundings. The houses of the
farmers were empowered with flow
ers, their yards were carefully kept
and orchards and vineyards were in
perfect order. There was everything
to charm the sight-seer and make
him go away exclaiming over the
marvellous beauty of the country,
But what stores of human labor
have gone into the production OF
this California paradise! do not
know where have encountered
more industrious farmers. Every
detail Of house and garden received
painstaking and constant attention.
There was nothing neglected.
True it is. the farmer received a
reward for all his labor. Farming
land in the Santa Clara valley is
held at $4,000 an acre, and the
cheapest land l could find anywhere
in the region was priced at 5000.
But | found that all of this beauty
and productiveness was obtained at
a greater cost of both toll and mon
e4 than would be required in Geor-
gia. In many localities il was nee
esgary TO irrigate, or things would
dry up. To keep up the fertility OF
the land great deal more fertilizer
was required than our Georgia farm
ers use. I was convinced that we in
Georgia have a great many advant-
ages which are lacking in Califor-
mia.
CAS- came back to this state again
I became impressed with the idea
that If our farmers would only take
half the pride in the appearance OF
their houses and gardens and farms
as they do in California Georgia
would shine and glow in the eyes OF
the world as even the Pacific slope
has never done.
"Our farmers should wake up TO
the fact not only in Georgia but gen
orally throughout the South, that the
eyes of the world are upon us. The
tide of immigration is coming our
wav-I mean of immigration from
the Northern and Western states OF
our union. the md we want-and
it will not be lo1g before there are
plenty of workers in our section for
our requirements. When was IN
tine Northwest on this last trip
received numerous inquiries from
homeseekers who had heard some
thing about our state, and who were
anxious to hear more. They are ca
ger to make a change, and are look
ing for a place to locate in that Of
fers more opportunities than they
now have,
II know that our farmers are do
ing much and that rapid progress is
being made, but there is just one
thing that they should give their
attention to that is now generally
neglected. They should think more
Of the appearance of their farms and
houses. Travellers through our state
Judge by what they see. Let our
farmers clean out the ragged places
on their farms. Let them do more
toward identifying their homes. Let
them plant flowers in their yards and
keep their gardens in neat order.
All this they can do with less labor
than is necessary for the farmer
and fruit grower of the Pacific
states.
when they wake up to the inn
portance of this we will be able to
show the tourist a paradise in Geor-
gia unequaled by the renowned San
ia Clara valley in California. And
what is more for the farmer, his
acres will be worth thousands of dol
lars where they are now worth hun
dreds.'