Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-27


rides through in a Pullman palace car
car window. He is not familiar with
the characteristic red clay land of the
Piedmont section or OF the sandy areas
Of the coastal plains. To him the soil
looks poor and unpromising. He sees
comparatively liisle live stock and that
which meets his view does not impress
MIN because il represents for the most
part the native animal left to shift for
itself. In many instances a sort OF nat
ural selection is the only thing which
has prevented the extinction OF the DO
vine race. The south having essentially
devoted all OF its energies 10 cotton
growing has been engaged since Ogle-
thorpe's time in lighting grass as the
chief enemy Of cotton. Naturally, grass
is not in evidence and the conclusion is
enormously drawn that IL will not grow.
The whole energy OF the southern peO-
pie having been conferred in cotton rails
ing there is not that evidence OF growth
Of forage crops Of various kinds which
would lead the average man TO believe
the soil capable OF maturing the mar
veIOus variety OF food crops which can
be grown with success and proht and
which the invasion OF the boil weevil is
now beginning to accelerate to sur
prising degree
Under diversification the south will
blossom like the rose and the whole APP
pearance Of the countryside will eventu-
ally be changed. for live stock produc-
ton requires the clothing Of the earth.
the cultivation of grasses and forage
plants and the minimizing OF the areas
devoted to heed crops. The boil, weevil
- "a To dfr-erGfTV and
TO depend in the future on obtaining a
part OF his money from the sale OF ami
mails. Hence. the conditions which seem
so unfriendly and unfavorable to the
average man unfamiliar with the south
can and will be remedied- In fact. mar
velous progress is being made in this
direction As an example, / might say
that Georgia stands fourth in agricul-
tural production OF all the states in the
union One-haIf OF the products of her
soil in spite OF the fact that she is the
second largest cotton growing state in
the union would be classed as diversified
crops. When you realize. for instance.
that over a million head OF cattle and
nearly two and a half million hogs have
been maintained in Georgia during that
period when the energy OF her farmers
was concentrated on the raising OF cot
ton and when the cattle tick infested
practically every square mile Of ner
territory. you can imagine the posi-
bilitfes which lie ahead for development
now that the general use of preventive
hog cholera serum through the activities
OF the extension division OF the state
college OF agriculture and its county
agents has been accomplished. and the
cattle tick eradicated from over nifty
counties i'm a period of five years: Every
race and breed Of improved live stock
worthy OF consideration at the hands of
Georgia farmers may now be imported
and maintained without fear OF loss or
injury in so far as this abOminable
and pernicioUs pest is concerned Surely
this represents a marvellous transforma-
ton in public sentiment which speaks
volumes for the future
There is an impression that southern
cattle are small due solely to the un-
favorable climatic and soil conditions
There Is a belief that the soils of the
south are essentially deficient in lime
and other mineral matters. whereas. the
presence OF these elements in the soil
as for instance I'm the state Of Kentucky
enables the raising OF animals Of su.
perior merit. This conclusion is entire
erroneous and utterly without founda
ton Twenty-Five years OF service in
the south should enable me 10 speal
Win ui THIS punt Inc
size of our animals is not due to a de.
hciency Of mineral matter in the sol
nor TO the inability OF the country u
raise a satisfactory variety Of roughagS
and concentrates. but 10 the fact tina
live stock farming had been a neglected
industry. a side issue, IL you please. cot
ton occupying the forefront and centel
OF the stage The southern farmer hai
never believed IL worth while until re
Gently TO feed and care for live stock
II Is a new industry, and hence IL il
necessary TO educate the citizens of thaI
section with reference to the whole sub
tect. This is being accomplished, how
ever. with astonishing rapidity. and
can say without fear OF successful con
tradiction that whenever live stock II
properly fed and handled in the sOutl
animals equal I'm size. character an,
quality those TO be found elsewhere. anS
texture and ample strength can be raiset
in large numbers There is no troubl
about growing the feed necessary q
bring them 10 full maturity at a cos
which makes competition with any othe
section of the country a practical prop
Osition.
SOLVING THE PROBLEM
The solution Of. the problem is chief!
one Of education. and this will appl!
TO the man who already owns land in tn
south and desires 20 specialize in ANNA