Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-03

thousand animals from disease and eX-
posture in the state of Georgia based on
/ a ten-year average by the bureau of
crop estimates are as follows: Horses,
I from disease, %; cattle, from disease,
25 cattle, from exposure, %; sheep,
from disease, 81; sheep, from exposure,
! 81; swine, from disease, II. In the
north Atlantic states, where the winters
are most rigorous and 1t is necessary
to feed live stock for several months Of
the year and provide most expensive
barns and stables for housing them. the
losses for a similar period, according TO
the same source of information, are as
follows: Horses, from disease, 1914; cat
tie, from disease, 1919; cattle, from ex-
posture, 3.6; sheep. from disease, 25.2;
sheep from exposure, 90; swine, from
disease, 275. The figures applying to
the north Atlantic states were selected
advisedly because they represent one of
, the most unfriendly and difficult eli
mates in which to handle live stock
found in the whole United States, and
under the adverse conditions there, If
they have been able to so materially
reduce the losses from disease and ex-
posture, we should be able to largely
eliminate the losses from exposure in
Georgia, and greatly reduce those Incl
dent to disease.
4 In this connection 1t will be inter-
esting to discover where Georgia stands
regarding the average value of the an
| imals maintained on her farms as COM
pared with the state in which the same
class of animals reaches the highest
approximate value, and with the United
States as a whole. The average value
of a horse in Georgia is 1927; in Maine
1852, and In the United States $102.94.
A mule In Georgia is worth 1853; in
i e1GQ and in TTOitad
States $11S.32. A dairy COW in Georgia
is worth $37; in Rhode Island SIT, and
| in the United states 1886. The aver
age beef animal in Georgia is worth
1920; in Montana $3.50, and in the
United States s33.SS. The average
value of a sheep in Georgia is $3.50; in
| Iowa $3.50, and in the United States
! STA. The average value OF swine in
Georgia is So in Connecticut $3.50, and
in the United States $11.73.
These figures show that the average
value of horses and mules in Georgia is
above that for the United States. and
that our mules are nearly as valuable
as those in any state, though there is a
considerable difference in the average
value of horses in favor of those kept,
! for exemple, in the state of Maine. In
the average value of dairy cows, beef
cattle, sheep and swine, however, we
Idll muCn Denlnu the dNcTdBe lOI the
United States, and greatly behind the
average value OF the animals kept in
the states in which their respective
class shows the highest average value.
In other words, If we can improve the
quality Of dairy cows to approximate
that for the United States or Rhode
Island, the value of this class of live
stock on our farms would be almost
doubled. The same holds true Of beef
cattle. In the case Of sheep the aver
age value of those in Iowa IS more. than
three times as MUCH as those owned in
Georgia In the ease of swine those
owned in Connecticut are almost twice
as valuable as those owned in Georgia.
This difference is almost wholly due to
quality and to the better feeding and
lcare accorded the animals in the United
States as a whole or in the particular
states mentioned. In other words, if
we would get rid of the scrub animal.
use pure-bred sires and dams. select
breed of stock with reasonable degree
of skill and care. and feed and handle
them in accordance with the natural
advantages we possess, It would . be
a comparatively simple matter in the
course of a few years to greatly en-
nance the average value of Our dairy
cows, beef cattle, sheep and swine.
This is the greatest problem which
Georgia farmers have to solve at the
present time.
OF course, 1t is evident that progress
is being made in the right direction, as
shown by the large number Of pure
breds which are being brought in, but
only a beginning has been made as yet.
and our standards Of appreciation of
what constitutes a good type of animal
nuts be materially raised if we are to
achieve the desired end in a reasonable
length of time. 1t has been demon
strated, for instance, by crossing pure
bred sires on native COWS that the whole
character Of the progeny can be changed
in the course of two or three genera
tions. Let us center, therefore, on the
improvement of our farm animals until
they will approximate in value that &C
corded those in the state in which they
now enjoy the highest average value.
Dairy cows in Nebraska and Wisconsin
are said to be worth an average Of S6S
and S65, respectively; beef cattle in
Illinois, $43.30, and in Nebraska, $44.3O;
sheep in Nevada and Idaho, $3.50; swine
in New Jersey, SIT; in Maine, $16; in
Iowa, $3.50, and in Nebraska, $14. An
examination of the crop statistics of
these several states will show that
many of them do not produce anything
like the quantity Of food for the main
tenance of live stock that is raised in
Georgia, nor do they possess any cli-
matte or soil advantage which does not
pertain here We have intensified cot
ton production to the intimidation of
our animal industries. This is a fatal
policy. We must regenerate our farm
practice along lines which will make
animal industries the dominating factor
in our economic situation. When this is
done. and we utilize our resources and
capital for the education Of our boys as
expert animal husbandmen and. for the
importation and dissemination of pure
bred animals of high quality, and grow
the varied forms of grass, roughage and
concentrates essential to the cheap and
satisfactory maintenance of live stock,
We will have brought about an agricul-
tural millennium in Georgia.
STARTING GRASS ON A HILLSIDE.
v. C. S., Admission, Ala. writes: have
hillside Of about five that / wish
to make into a pasture for my cows. /
have not had any experience with Bermuda
grass, and would like you TO advise me how
to get a start of IT. Would you advise
using the seed or the sets7
One desiring to establish a Bermuda
pasture may do so by planting sets or
sowing seed. We would prefer to use