Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27

period OF five years, and as the area
embraced i'm the test farms for the year
1916 totaled 992 acres. the results OBJ
tanned are of more than passing interest
because the work was conducted on
sufficiently large scale to demonstrate
the value Of what many of our farmers
have been pleased to term in the past
scientific theories The object of these
test farms. briefly stated is to show
that the application of scientific prinCi-
pies TO the cultivation of the land in
Georgia and Alabama would Increase
the yields ordinarily obtained by the
average farmer. and that il is possible
through a rotation of crops 10 increase
the fertility Of these lands, secure 4
larger return per acre. reduce me
amount OF man labor and increase the
horse labor. and while emphasizing pro-
duction of many crops still produce an
abundance Of food with which to m
crease the number of farm animals
well above the number maintained on
the average farm. All of these are
commendable. desirable and essential
things TO demonstrate. and hence the
results obtained on the twenty-eight
test farms i'm these two states during
1915 should be carefully considered and
studied by every progressive farmer for
they will convey to him information con-
corning the possibilities of southern
lands and the cost of various items in
crop growing Of the greatest Importance
TO him financially. Moreover the data
obtained illustrate the Importance OF.
using well-balanced fertilizers. practic-
ing a crop rotation and handling the
operations of the farm i'm an intelli-
gent, skilful and -up-to-date manner.
The figures certainly show that the
methods advocated by the college in
question and which it has been possible
to pug into practice so successfully
through the aid and cooperation of the
railroad are of very practical and es-
sential nature Emphasis is laid on this
report for the reason that the farmers
who might be skeptical of the results
obtained on the test plats conducted by
colleges or on farms conducted by these
institutions have nothing left to stand
on when brought face to face with the
results secured on these test. farms
which are each operated by practical
farmer who either own or supervise the
work carried forward on the areas under
discussion. The trouble with our agri-
culture at the present time is not alto
gether due 10 the deficiency Of our
knowledge concerning fundamental
things. but TO the difficulty of overcom-
ing the prejudice and indifference eXhib-
tied BY the land owner to newer and
better methods. To force man out cf
the channel in which he has been sail
ing so pleasantly and make him Invade
new fields or activity is very difficult
undertaking. but any farmer who is pos
sessed of the progressive spirit and Wh"
will take the trouble TO read and study
the report in question will soon realize
that there is much for him to learn and
that il is possible for him 10 put into
practice a scheme of crop production
which will add to his profits without re-
curing a heavy financial outlay on his
part. I can not urge too strongly upon
farmers. therefore. the advisability of
securing a copy of this report and stud
wing in detail the operations carried for
ward on the various farms i'm question,
believing that in so doing that / am
placing in their reach fundamental facts
of vital Importance to their welfare
Ii appears that net profit of $3.50
per acre was made on the area under
cultivation last year. The total value
OF the CROP was $3S,7SS.97. To produce
this crop cost S3.6S0.1O for man LABOR
and S2.42S.I2 for horse labor. The fer
tilizers used cost S2.6S2.l5; the harvest
ing. S3,Ol5.29: the seed, Sl,253.Oi. and
marketing the crop. S933.53. The total
cost of the crop on the 992 acres was
therefore SI3.992.23. An allowance Of
Ss.5-7.T7 was made for rent. leaving a
profit of $21,2lS.97. In preparing this
statement l. cents an hour was charged
against the crop and the land for man
labor. and rs cents for horse labor. An
average rental of s3.51 was allowed for
each acre. The average value Of the
Ind was S37.9f per acre; hence the profit
obtained amounted TO 81 per cent of the
actual cost of the land.
A study of the figures obtained in cor
nection with the test farms during the
last i've years indicates that the aver
age net profit per acre varied from $9.S2
up TO S2l SO; the average rent from 1898
to S3.65; the average income from Sl2,-
- TO $500; and the average cost of the
crop from S22.2O 10 S14.l1 per acre. II
* noteworthy that the longer these
farms have been operated the greater
has become the average income and the
less the average cost of the crop per
acre. showing that 10y the system of
farming followed the lands have been
built up. The average value OF the crop
per acre varied from S31.07 TO sam. The
per cent of income on the value Of the
land has varied from 40 to so; the per-
centage of net profit on the value Of the
land. from 81 TO %. and the average
value of the land from $3.50 to $40.2T.
Surely these figures should convince
the most skeptical that by applying
modern. up-to-date methods in the OPP
erations OF farms,a fine addition may be
made 10 THEN income and a desirable in
crement on the land obtained at tie
same time. Some of the test farms in
1916 show loss, but everyone is famil-
lar with the conditions which peTtained
during that season. The excessive rains
were responsible. When we consider
that this work has been i'm progress for
FIVE years on an an ever-increasing num-
her Of areas and that losses have only
been met with on two Of the test farms.
90 is indeed a remarkable record. and
indicates that agriculture after all is
q comparatively safe industry and as GER
tain Of assuring a man a good living
and q fairly decent income IL his land
is properly operated and managed as any
other industry.
In 1916 the largest net profit per acre
was made at Monticello. Ca. or SS1 .5S:
IL fell to S59.O6 at Tennille: at Griffin II
was SASH: at Madison. S34.lO: at Mil
uer. S3O.l6: and at Bishop. S25.Sl. Credit
FOR the large profit obtained this year Is
d,-a i'm part TO the abnormal price Of cot
ton which sold on an average for Ia
cents per pound, and the seed for $500
per ton. While, of course. the average
WELD OF cotton per acre was not phenom-
email on account Of seasonal conditions, It
fy,b 80.