Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-11
Saving q Part of What We Waste

only three things that can be done.
First, is the education of the masses
with reference TO the fundamental prin-
ciples Of agriculture. This means that
We must teach agriculture in the public
schools, and not make a joke Of 1t as
at the present time. We must also
greatly enlarge the service work Of our
secondary schools in this direction. and
OF our colleges as well We must GER
tainly promote research on a basis
worthy of it's Importance, so that a
solution Of the problems which bar the
path Of progress may be reached in
ample time and the facts thus attained
made a part Of the common knowledge
OF the people. To this end the distri-
button OF denite agricultural informa-
tfon through extension teaching should
he enlarged by every possible means
OF course, some provision has been
made for this under the terms and pro-
visions of the Smith-Lever act, and
yet when we think of the amount Of
work to be done, IL is difficult to see
how one county agent for the men and
one for the women's work can be ex-
pected TO cover the field and accomplish
the end sought in any brief period Of
time
We can do much to aid in the solution
of the problems discussed in this article
by teaching our boys and girls the
fundamental principles of thrift. We
should instruct them to be orderly and
10 be systematic and economical in both
the homes and the school We should
make needless waste a crime TO be pun
ished with as much severity as many
others which now are Justly regarded
with great disfavor. We should incul-
cate in the minds Of adults and youths
the duty Of conservation. This, in fact,
should be regarded as a solemn obliga-
ton. The schools can aid materially in
this essential work If the teachers will
give some Of their time and effort to a
discussion OF the suggestions enumer-
ated. The church can also exercise a
wholesome influence in the proper d.
rection IL the minister will familiarize
himself with the situation and discuss IL
occasionally from the pulpit. The press
has been a powerful aid In the past and
may be counted on TO do its duty in the
future, provided, Of course, a sufficient
number OF experts are available to fur
nish the necessary information in an &C
ceptable form. At the present time
there are too many would-be scientists
and experts who are attempting to write
and give information to the public which
IL Is supposed to follow. but which as
a matter OF fact is more frequently based
on imagination than on the results of
careful investigation. The colleges
should train experts and leaders, and
this they are now beginning to do with
ever increasing success. They can, Of
course, only work with the material fur
nished them, and the number of leaders
turned out annually will not be adquate
to the task imposed upon them until the
constructive nature of college educa-
tion is more generally appreciated.
The nation can do much to aid in
this matter by recognizing the virtue of
economy. Is II not possible to devise
some system of reward for individuals
or organizations which accomplish some
thing of merit in this direction? We
have been inclined to look with too much
favor on the individual who has ac-
Quired money by means OF exploitation
and destroyed our natural resources. We
should turn the proposition around and
now give the laurel wreath to the man
who aids In the campaign of making
economy a national virtue. II would
also be good practice to tax bloated in
comes so that rich people can not mis-
lead the public. They are the puppets of
chance who by schemes not always
worthy OF communication have accumu-
lated large sums of money at the ex-
pense Of the people. Their habit of
thought and living tends to foster ex-
travagance and place a premium on
waste and self-indulgence. Naturally,
the multitude falls into the error Of try
ing to ape the practices of such people
in their manner Of living, speech and
dress with deplorable results. Who is
not familiar, for instance, with the eff
fort Of the laboring mans wife to wear
the same kind of clothes and to do the
same things on an income of IS to 500
a month that the wife of the man who
receives from five to twenty times as
much. II the rich spent their money
with more circumspection and set
better example. their lives might not
be in vain, as they so often are at pres
ent and II the excessive amounts of
money which the few spend and waste
so lavishly were turned into construc-
tive channels through the aid OF the gov
eminent, many OF the most pressing ma
tional problems could be solved, for then
the funds would be made available for
the education Of the people along those
lines which will make them the most
valuable citizens and bring the greatest
degree OF pleasure and profit into their
lives.
NOTES ON THE SEEDING OF WHEAT.
II. z. C., warwick. Ga. writes: 1 wish
some Information in regard to the seeding OF
wheat. What varieties are bestl win an
ordinary grain drili put i ini I am going
TO plant lot Of rye this fall. Could
save crimson clover seed herei
The Blue Stem has proven to be a val
liable variety of wheat according to the
tests conducted in our experimental field.
IL has been grown under similar condl-
tons for period OF six years and has
made an average yield Of 1850 bushels
per acre. Its lowest yield in 1912 was
1888 bushels and its highest yield in
1910, 32.44 bushels. A variety OF wheat
which will do so we'll under as long
a series OF tests should be well adapted
for growth in Georgia and constitutes in
our Judgment one Of the best varieties
for general cultivation. We may say in
this connection, however. that Georgia
Red and Fulcaster have both done about
as we'll We would prefer to secure
Georgia seed for planting as IL Is more
likely to be adapted to our local soil
and climatic conditions than that secur-
ed from distant points.
Wheat should be sown on land pre-
pared just as for oats. and IL should be
" Il.