Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-27

, democracy mas IfOl 4CAA Ah@A II NOuAA
repress our national desire TO foregather
| in great centers and so nothing has been
J done or is being done to check the
cityward movement until now we are
| threatened with an actual depopulation
| Of the country in many localities. to-
/ gether with all the ills which flow from
such a disrupting policy.
Starting IN 1875 as an essentially ru-
| raj nation. il never seemed likely that
we would at so early a stage In our
u history be metamorphosed into people
composed so largely OF city jewellers.
/ We have up 10 the present time been
dominated by strong and virile rural
! population. II Is from that source that
we have drawn our constructive leaders
I in practically all walks OF life. Our
/ large rural population has seemed to
! constitute a sort of balance wheel and
provided an apparently inexhaustible
source OF reserve energy for the use OF
l the nation. Most unprejudiced observ-
ers state that our rural population has
been chiefly responsible for molding
public opinion along constructive lines
and preserving those national Ideals
handed down to us by our forefathers
and in which we take such just pride.
Anything which tends to lessen our ru-
raj population. TO minimize its vigor or
body and it's independence of mind. its
clarity OF vision. its whole-sou!ed pa
/ triatIsm and it's unremitting devotion 20
toll strikes at the very foundation OF our
existence. Is il not time for pause that
we may consider ways and means by
which country life may be sustained and
nourished in the United states In the
highest degree of efficiency? Surely
something can ne done to check the
present movement and II so, the issues
! involved are of sufficient magnitude to
encourage our active sympathy and con-
/ sideration at this moment of national
crisis.
! No doubt you are familiar with the
/ fact that many German savants attribute
/ the strength of their nation to the
wholesome peasantry upon which tue
| German government has spent It's best
thought and energy for so many years
You recall the propaganda of these same
men spread abroad to the effect that Ger
MANY must take and hold enough of the
rich alluvial lands OF central Europe 20
enable her to expand her peasantry 20
the point where at least half of her
population. which is to finally be 2Oo,-
OOO.O 900 people. will be engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. According TO these
German leaders. the strength, the moral
itv. the hardihood, the will to achieve
and overcome the difficulties and OBJ
stacles which beset the pathway to sue
cess. are more strongly entrenched IN
the souls and hearts of her peasantry
than any other part of her population.
Ii seems to me that they have reached
the nroper conclusion with reference to
this matter as revealed both by history
and a study of the economic principles
involved in establishing and maintain
ing the commercial and INDUSTRIAL SUI
premacy OF a state and nation.
fAnrafnra TO De th9f
Of keeping i'm the country the greater
portion of our people. IL We succeed
we will possess a virile. aggressive,
lcIear-eyed, stout-hearted. strong-limbed
rural population upon which We can lean
in anv emergency. Frem this source
we can then draw from time 10 time
as the exigencies OF the situation re-
duire. clear-headed men OF Keen VISION
and invincibility of purpose to formu-
late new plans and policies calculated
to properly safeguard the destinies or
lShe nation If we are to accomplish
this end, We must transfer in large
measure the facilities of the town TO
the open country. What do these IN
lclude? They includem odern homes, not
expensive but built with the idea OF
lpermanency, convenience and sanitation
Such homes must be provided with hshl'
water and sewage systems. The soil Is
who cultivate IL are entitled TO the
hest the city affords. They are amply
able TO have it il they manage the land
with a proper degree of skill and care.
They are certainly entitled to something
better than the shacks and cabins In
which many of our farmers now exist
rather than live. 1t is self-evident that
the great majority of our country
ibomes. churches and other public build
liugs must soon be replaced by some
thing more nearly suited to the needs
lof our present-day life than the struc-
lures now in use. We are fast emerg-
ing from the pioneer stage of agricul-
iture in America. The type of home we
construct i'm the country in the next Few
years will exert a far-reaching influ-
ence on the general character OF our
civilization.
People living in the rural districts
must have good roads in order that
their homes may be accessible to towns
and cities by auto transfer. Good roads
will also tend to bring the town and
city closer together, extending the ben
efits of the one to the other in a mu-
tuaTly helpful degree. There must be
in the country a system of consolidated
schools. When this is done vocational
raining as it pertains to agriculture
md home industries can be placed on a
basis worthy of the two essential causes
represented. Training can be given In
such schools which will make the home
maker and the land owner more pro-
ficient in their calling. This will ma
'eriaIly lessen the present marked ten
dency to move away from the country
| o escape the so-called isolation, ennui
and lack Of opportunity.
Preparing to Fight the weevil In 1918
| W. +. NJ. Buchanan. Ca, writes: The
| boil weevil nit some Of my cotton the last
| Of August. and I want 20 know how TO
| begin to fight him next year. have the
| College No. l. Unnamaser and Cleveland
Big Boil. ] want to use the best variety.
, WouIi appreciate your advice in this mat
| tor.
In lighting the boil weevil one of the
hes. methods of practice for you 20 fol-
low is the turning under OF the stalks
carly in the season. IL is best TO d.
this II possible before frosts occur and
! when the weevils are still busily feed
\ ing on the plants. After frosts occur
\ they are likely 10 go into winter quar-
\ tiers and the chances are they will find
4 shelter in large numbers in old build
II ings. fence rows and woodlands. They
will take sufficient means to effectively
II protect themselves from even the freezes
II / of the severest winters and hence this
Il adult weevils are on hand and ready
20 attack your cotton the next spring as