Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-02


Sheep 10000 100000
Swine .. E. =. ..2,5S5,OOO 23.265. 900
Total .. =. ..4.290,OOO s119, 900
The increase in numbers for the period
mentioned amounts to S22.941 and the
increase in value to s41,492,364. Part
OF this increase in value is attributable
to the better grade of live stock and
the higher market values pertaining. but
a very considerable amount of 1T IS
due to the greater number of animals
now owned For instances, horses and
mules show an increase, beef and dairy
cattle a slight increase, sheep a falling
off, but swine an increase of SO1,316, or
well on towards the million mark. This
is very notable increase to have oc-
CURED in a period of six years More
over, where these animals had an aver
age value Of $500 in 1910. they now
have an average value of $500, showing
that the quality has been greatly ad-
vanced. In other words, the increase
in value of swine in Georgia in six years
amounts in round numbers to about
$4,000, 900.
This gives some idea OF the forceful-
ness of an educational campaign organ
lied and conducted along certain lines.
While all of the increase is not attrib-
utable to any one agency, the boys live
stock clubs have eXerted a marvellous in
fiuence by creating a renewed interest
in swine husbandry in inducing the
fathers to purchase pure-bred animals
for them, and thereby raising the quail
fly Of the stock kept on many farms.
Naturally. the various organizations
concerned have endeavored i'm every wa Y
TO encourage the use of preventive serum
with the result that large numbers of
outbreaks of this disease have been
checked at the start, and hundreds of
farmers taught how to use the serum
properly. The county agents are I'M
doubtedly to be credited with having &C
complished a work along this line worth
millions of dollars to the swine owners
of the state. They were the men on
the ground when the outbreaks occurred
and their prompt action and public serv-
ice work in this direction can not he
too highly commended. have no doubt
but that they have done an equally i'm
portant work in every other southern
state.
among the things which must be
done is TO teach the southern farmer to
quit fighting grass. Grass should be
his most valuable friend and most high
y priced asset. The cotton farmer
has been taught to fight grass from in
fancy; therefore, ii seems that he is I'M
willing to have any of ii on any part
of his land whether he devotes it to
cotton or not. One cannot grow and
maintain live stock successfully with
out grass. 1t is needless to enter into
detail as to the great variety of grasses
and clovers which may be provided for
summer and winter grazing and which
would shortly clothe our hills and pre-
vent their erosion if given opportunity
to do so. They would also add materially
10 the carrying capacity of the land,
shorten the length of time we would
have to stall feed our animals, enable
us to improve the quality of our live
stock. and give us the necessary sue
culent food for the cheap maintenance
of live stock in the summer which
silage affords in the winter.
Speaking OF the educational campaign
il is proper to state that hundreds of
s!los have been built in Georgia in the
last few years as a result Of the work
Gune by the animal husbandry divi-
sion and the extension force of the State
college of Agriculture. Plans have been
furnished 20 thousands of farmers and
hey have been aided in erecting the
necessary structure. They have also
been advised as 10 the crops to STOW
,E.G a. 20 the methods Of feeding to
follow with tire result that the silo is
now regarded by many as an indispen-
slbie factor in tbs maintenance Of beef
and dairy cattle On q necoTcrniCai and
practical basis. Only > beginning has
been made n this direction, however. for
the tine must shortly come when there
VIII be thousands of silcs in every
southern state II We are 20 develop
our live stock bUsine@s to The degree
which Is necessary and eSseGtiai.
Only a word can be said IN this con-
nection relative TO the feeding of live
stock, but il is along this line that more
failures are recorded than N any other
direction. Self criticism * not pleas
Jut, but If We realize that for the most
part we are babes in the woods" when
Il comes 70 the question of feeding. We
will make progress all the more rapid
y. The problem OF animal nutrition is
a complicated one from every point of
view. One must understand the compo-
-itiOn Of fOOdstuffs. and the anatomy
physiology and requirements of the ami
NAL body for maintenance. for growth
and Cor work. One must understand
how % combine foods in order 40 pro-
mote digestion and circulation; in 9TH
or words. how to Iubricate the machine
most cheaply and successfully. The
animal in the stall corresponds to the
knitting machine in the mill. II may or
may not do effective work. II all depends
on the manner in which II is set up and
manipulated. It must be adjusted and
oiled and fabricated. The animal must
be fed and watered and cared for prop
erly IL expected to produce a profitable
return As TO the amount of fooostuffs
available, our supply may be limited
IN some respects. but we can produce
silage ad libitum. and this can be fed
with success for six months Of the year.
summer pastures can be provided by
the farmer who has the ambition 10 do
so. Grain crops OF a great variety may
Ne had to use as concentrates. We can
increase our yields OF corn. oats. pea
auts. soy beans. velvet beans and cotton
seed meal. No section of the country
may be better supplied with the varie-
ty of foodstuffs essential 10 the proper
nourishment Of all classes of live stock
than the south. 1t is question of
IL i