Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-19

The population of the United States
is now currently reported to be ap-
proxinately IO2. 100000 people. This
represents an increase OF about 10000
coo since 1910 when the last census
was taken. In 1900 our population
was about 100000. In view of the
rapid increase which has taken place
in the hast sixteen years il is not sur
prising that there should be complaint
relative to the high cost of living, for
during the period in question the de-
mand from abroad has greatly in
creased, and there has been decided
tendency for our people TO congregate
in towns and cities. thereby increasing
the number of urban workers and
minimizing the number of food pro-
ducers. In 1899 the percapita produc-
ton of meat. including beef, veal, NUT
ton and pork. was 24S.2 pounds; in
1915 IL had fallen 10 2ls.6- The per
capita production of milk in 1893 was
s5s pounds, and in 1915 75.5 pounds.
From 1909 TO 1915 there was slight
increase per capita in poultry and egg
production, and a slight decrease IN
fish production. In cereal production,
including corn, wheat and rice, there
was a falling off Of 81 bushels per
capita since 1899. The production OF
Irish potatoes show an increase ana
the same is true of citrus fruits Or
chard fruits also show an increase, but
there has been a falling off TO some ex-
tent in the case of small fruits. Sugar
~ home
production having trebled in the past
sixteen years.
II will be seen that in the matter of
staple food products there has been
tendency to fall behind, though this
has not been greatly marked as yet, but
IL behooves US 10 be up and doing II
we are TO avoid the calamity of being
under-supplied with many of those
things which we have always had in
superabundance in America up TO this
time, and have therefore probably used
them in a wasteful and unscientific
manner. 1t has been calculated that
meats and dairy products constitute
about 81 per cent OF the dietary Of the
average citizen: fish per cent; ce-
reals 81 per cent: sweet and Irish po-
tatoes Is per cent, and other vegeta-
bles per cent There is no reason
why ali these IOOuSLuIAS SnONAu AON DC
provided in the same proporionate
abundance which has characterized the
civilization Of the United States up to
the present time. But to do this con-
sideration and attention must be given
10 the various phases of our agricul-
ture which have not received the at
tention which their importance merits
I'm previous years There Is no rea-
son why we should not grow an ever
increasing supply of vegetables. There
are vast areas of land admirably
adapted for trucking which have hard
" been brought under the pillow. Lands
devoted TO these crops in many in
stances are not intensively fortified
and cultivated. and hence are not pro-
ducing anything like the crops OF
which they are capable. With the in
creased cost of meats, IL is natural
that more attention should be directed
towards the use of vegetables in the
dietary. SO It is quite likely that there
will be an ever-increasing demand for
crops OF this character. Gardening
should therefore be emphasized and
encouraged in every way. There are
thousands OF vacant lots in and about
towns and cities which could be han
died by boys and girls to great advan-