Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-30


in a general ways what the future nOlds
in store. The early settlers never be-
lieved that the forest could be cut down
or exhausted. For years and years farm
ers thought that the time would never
come when they would need 10 use COM
mercial fertilizers. There is a blind
faith in those sections OF the country
newly infested by the boil weevil that
the farmers there will he able TO Srow
cotton successfully without changing
their practice. Therefore. man learns
little in the absence OF a struggle for
existence. and hence the general neglect
of economic problems in the open cOun-
try. If field becomes exhausted in one
locality il has only been necessary IN
the PAST 10 move over on new area
OF land. reclaim. abuse and destroy il.
Waste has also been permitted an ag-
gressive career because we have not I'M
dertaken through our schools cam
paign against IL. The fact is that mos
of our teachers have not been so trained
as TO understand the meaning OF waste
and how it may be held in check. Hence.
we have gone on from year to year de-
stroying our forests and our soils. I'LL
ing our rivers with useless debris. de-.
stroyfnE our bottom lands by overflow.
driving the ish from their natural hab-
fiat and killing out the game which was
once so abundant. Nor have we stopped
for recently We have attacked with the
utmost vfzor our resources of coal. iron
and other materials IN a wild effort to
use them up aS fast as possible, forget
ting that in so doing we are wasting
more OF these resources than we are
utilizing. and are remaining altogether
Indifferent as 10 what is in store for the
race when the end OF these resources
has been reached
But this story Is not 20 be one of pes
simtsm. but IS intended TO convey some
useful and forcefUl lessons in the hope
that some thought for the morrow VIII
. be exercised before IL Is too late Tor
nature is insxOrable in her laws and pen
ftentfaI tears will not make up for mis-
rharaRement and useless destruction. As
well try TO recall tomorrow as 70 recall
the virgin forests which were once the
pride and the glory OF America But ~
the same time. Il is possible in the next
fifty to one hundred years. to restore our
woodlands in some measure commensuE-
ate with our needs.
That the extent OF waste is not ap-
preciated is a seIf-evident fact There
fore. an attempt has been made 10 est-
mate the losses occurring annually with
in the borders OF a single state Wnat
is going on. for instance, in Georgia is
being duplicated in practically every oth-
er state. The extent and degree OF
waste will OF course. vary. but II is go
ing on nevertheless at a truly alarming
rate. for in spite OF the largeness OF
rhe figures which nave been adduced,
they are iur most instances One-Iourth
of what they really should be.
OF the 10000, 900 acres Of cultivated
land in Georgia, the annual loss from
erosion has been set down az htty cents
per acre. 100000 annually. This
loss would be counteracted by the re-
placement OF % pounds OF nitrogen at
the prevailing figures for available plant
food OF this character. The oenclency
in the equipment OF farm implements
has been placed at $40 per farm and as
there are 2s1.OOO farms. this loss
amounts 10 S5,S2O,0OO. As a matter Of
fact there are sT2 worth Of implements
on every farm Since there are ninety
four acres in the average farm, of which
only forty are in cultivation, IL is clearly
evident that a satisfactory agricultural
practice can not be organized and main
tanned until a larger investment in i'm
pIements is made The fertilizer losses
annually amount TO at least 20.OO0.OOO
pounds OF nitrogen at twenty cents a
pound, or 100000 This is probably
half OF the nitrogen bill of Georgia
trainers. Certainly the nitrogen needed
on the average farm should be largely
obtained from the air through the use
Of leguminous crops or through the es-
tablishment Of crop rotations and the
maintenance OF a sufficient number OF
live stock TO provide the necessary yard
manuTes capable OF supplying the nitro
gen needs Of the soil Naturally much
fertilizer OF a formula not suited to the
type Of land 20 which il is applied IS
used This loss has been estimated very
cOnservativeIy at S2.5OO.OOO. Many nos
trums are also used by farmers. Some
of these have no possible value and must
be regarded in the light of frauds. The
loss in this direction is certainly low
when placed at 100000. The loss of
nitrogen from failure to grow cover
crops on our cotton lands has been
placed at ten pounds per acre, equiva-
lent TO SI0,O00,00O annually. The growth |
OF crops on the cotton land on the farm |
Of the Georgia State College Of Agri- |
culture has shown that il would be quite |
conservative 10 make this figure four or
1--WE times as great In other words, /
probably not over sixty per cent OF the |
nitrogen applied TO cotton land is util- l
lied BY the crop. Since no cover crops |
are grown on most OF the land devoted
10 cotton, a considerable part OF the
residual nitrogen Is lost BY teaching |
and erosion.
Thousands Of bushels Of defective and |
INFESTED seed corn are planted every /
year. OF many varieties tested at the
college farm for a number OF years |
difference in yield OF four bushels per
acre as a result Of a seven years test. |
At 20 cents per bushel this amounts /
TO a loss Of sl1.20O,000 annually. Any /
one can test seed corn without money i
and without price Large quantities Of
cotton seed are planted which produce /
d=5.etive or short lint The loss in this 1
direction has been placed at S25O per
= equivalent 20 S5.T5O.000- The loss
from insect pests in Georgia has been /
placed at about $4,000. 900. Certainly, |
one-half Of. this loss can be prevented i
The figure OF S9.f55.OO0 has thus been /
used. One-half Of the damage Of 10 per 4
cent 10 the cotton crop by plant diseases
is preventable through the use OF Sc
Iected strains Of seed which are re- i
sistant TO anthracnose and wilt This 4
loss has been placed at SI0.I25.O00. Ex- 4
periments in cotton breeding conducted Il
on the college farm show a wide differ 4
ence in the yield OF sO-called standard 4
varieties OF cotton The difference in
yield between the two best strains grown /
last year was % pounds. which at 10
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