Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
Basic Resources for Food.

While the problem Of the worlds food supply
is undeniably serious nothing is TO be gained by
exaggeration or alarm. Jeremiahs who declare
that the day is drawing near when the world will
be unable to feed itself suffering from indiges-
ton brought on doubt by overeating The fact
that the grain of all nations are now pre-
cariousIy low does signify that our barns will
be empty next autumn or that the sources OF pro-
duction are dwindling away. On the contrary, the
present dearth is of itself sharp incentive to ex
traordinary effort in food raising; and as for
basic resources anxiety concerning them is like the
fear that the Seven Seas may dry up.
From time out of mind il has been the sport of
the weeping philosophers to argue that the United
States along with the rest of Christendom has
reached or is swiftly approaching the limit of its
capacity for food production. As fact, we have
barely begun to develop that capacity If all the
tiIlabIe land in this country which is not under
cultivation were Jumped into single farm, it
would cover all the States of the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers. For every one hundred acres
COW under the pillow. approximately three hundred
and seventy-fve can be turned to agricultural
when the need arises
Food production. IL is true, has lacked much of
keeping pace with growth of population; and
TO that condition well to war, is due the
emergency which must grapple. But ii is
assuring to know that our natural resources for
meeting present and future needs are superabund-
ant. Georgia presents striking example of the
vast of latent but easily developed wealth
to which the nation can turn for sustenance. Only
about thirty per cent of GeOrgias area which is as
large as that of England and Wales together. is
under cultivation. The State Geological Survey
ponts out the impressive fact that there are
and a half million of Georgia lands needing
drainage and that these wonderfully fertile tracts
if reclaimed. would produce annually two hundred
and twenty-five million bushels of corn which, at
an estimate OF two dollars a bushel, would be
worth four hundred and fifty million dollars
about One-haIf the value OF last years crop
for the entire sixteen Southern States In the
South Atlantic and Gulf States alone there is land
enough TO produce ample food supplies fos many
times the whole country's present population
These resources to be sure, will contribute
nothing to the country's need until they devel-
Oped. We cannot eat mere acres. however fertile
and multitudiuOus they may be, The immediate
problem. and very urgent problem it is. concerns
the efficient use of land which. the part.
is already in the cultivated IL Americans
had only themselves TO feed. they could rest con-
tent with ordinary efforts. But they have millions
of other people to provide for. Our winning of the
war and safeguarding Of the vast interests and the
great principles stake depends largely the pro-
visioning of England and France. In meeting this
responsibilities We Will meet 1.-THE thing Of
first Importance is to make the best and biggest
crops possible on established farms. In addition,
however considerable quantity of foodstuffs par
ticuIarly vegetables. be raised in towns and
cities on vacant lots and in back yards II is worth
while moreover. to bear in mind that beyond our
present field OF exertiOn lie realms for future
exploitation. There is no danger of the worlds
food problem being permanently unsolved as long
as the earth holds such agricultural opportunities
as those of America