Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-22

The old theory of scratching the
surface OF the land with a bull tongue
Or with light and shallow riding type
OF turning pillow has received some rude
shocks OF late Many farmers now re-
alize that this method OF practice has
been responsible in large measure for
the erosion of their lands. This con-
Oition became so aggravated in some
cases that the surface OF the ground
was practically washed away, and the
land Of necessity had TO be reclaimed
on else q new piece cleared. For awhile
;he theory held that il was more profit
able TO clear new ground rather than
through the concentration OF effort re-
claim and improve what was once a
good piece OF land. but now sadly de-
pleted in fertility by reason OF care
less managemeut and shallow cultiva-
ton. Recently il has occurred to many
farmers that the old and abandoned
lands could be reclaimed. built up and
made profitable easier than the forest
growth could be cut down and the
stunIps eliminated from the new ground
Since tins idea began 10 develop the
question Of accomplishing the regerera-
ton Of the OLD land brought home TO
the owners attention in the most en-
nhatic manner the necessity OF having
bigger and beaver types of implements,
and then there was naturally a demand
for q bigger and heavier type OF mule
In order that there might be sufficient
power in the collar TO operate the i'm
plements with success and economy.
II costs a lot % money 10 buy pair
or good mules. anywhere from $500 to
$500. and At the end OF a few years
the investment must be marked of the
credit side OF the ledger. for these ami
mails having completed limited period
of service must now be consigned to the
boneyard. without having left any
progeny TO take their place 1t was not
surptising under such conditions as
these that the progressive farmer Of the
south and the man with an inherent love
81 live stock should begin to cast about
tor a means OF replacing his mules with
some regularity and degree OF eftici sncy
and without the tremendous monetary
outlay which has been necessary i'm the
past.
For long time the opinion prevailed
that draft animals could not be success
fully raised in the south. This was
due probably 20 some OF the sad expert
ences which farmers had in purchas-
ING either singly or in groups sires at
a fancy price which did not possess
the qualities cldimed for them and
whose use in the stud proved a delUsion
and a snare Moreover. when sires OF
this kind were brought in, there were
as a rule few mares OF satisfactory
type with which TO mate them, and
hence a rather .mongrel type Of progeny
was obtained. lacking often in bone. size
and quality. There has long been a be-
lief that the summer temperatures were
such as to make the working of draft
animals impracticable- Those who ex-
perimented with them often turned them
over to careless farm hands and they
were not fed and managed properly. and
this coupled with the rather strong
prejudice existing against the draft
types kept them from being as widely
owned and disseminated as was desir-
able.
Recently. q change has come about in
public sentiment. due in large measure
20 the activities OF the agricultural press,
progressive citizens and farmers. and the
young men who have graduated from the
AGRICULTURAL colleges. The result has
been a comparatively wide distribution
in the last your or five years Of draft