Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-12
The SOuth'S FOOa Situat n.

The South's capacity for producing food crops
is Interestingly evidenced by a recent market re-
port of the Department of Agriculture showing
that up to May % last there had been shipped
from this region some twenty-five Thousand car
loads of spring vegetables as compared with only
about two thousand cars shipped from all other
parts of the country Florida, of course led, with
nearly four thousand carloads of new potatoes,
upwards of thirty-fve hundred of tomatoes,
and two hundred and sixty-seven of cabbage Blu:
nearly all the Southern States made creditabe rec
ords for one crop or another. OF potatoes, for
instance, South Carolina shipped fourteen hundred
and thirty-fve cars, Alabama three hundred and
twenty cars, Louisiana three hundred and fifty
two, and Texas eight hundred and twenty-five.
Georgia is credited with the shipment Of ninety
of new potatoes mere mote COM
pared with what she can do, but rather encourag-
ing record compared with her past neglect Of such
opportunities. The South's growing-season begins
earlier and ends later than that of other sec
ton, and it's soil suited to the widest
variety Of crops. BY every natural circumstance,
it is Americas great center Of food production;
and there are happy omens of it's awakening to It's
wonderful opportunities.
But the South has vast deal to do before 1t
comes fully up, this respect to its needs and its
obligations. Twelve Southern States have been
spending in the aggregate upwards of one billion,
three hundred and eighty million dollars year for
staples such corn, oats, meat and for dairy and
poultry products. Georgia's bill for food imports
has mounted as high as hundred and seventy
millions year. That means, in ordinary times,
that we are unjust to ourselves but in the extraor
binary times now upon us, 1t will mean that we
are unjust both to ourselves and to the nation.
Every surplus bushel of grain and every surplus
pound of meat the West can produce this year.
and probably for several years to come, will be
needed for military uses and for expectation to
our allies. Prices will be high no matter how
bountifuI the harvests; but they will be pain
fully high despite all the Government can do, If
the South continues to take from other sections
more than one and quarter billion dollars worth
of foodstuffs which it ought to raise at home
Every Southern State is capable, far as natural
resources are concerned for subsisting almost en-
tirely upor it's own soil; and no Southern State
should pause short Of the utmost exert1on to De-
come self-maintaning, that the nation needs,
and needs critically all the food supplies 1t can
get.
Georgia has made good beginning In this
great work of prudence and patriotism. Her
farmers have planted what is probably the largest
food acreage the State has known, and her bust
ness men are perfecting plans for marketing the
food output as efficiently possible. The latter
ia hardly less important than the planting and cul-
tivation, for If we are to continue the food crop
increases after season we must see to 1t
that this years surplus is proftably disposed Of
That is the best way to assure a large food
acreage in 1918, when 1t will be needed as ur-
gently as now and it is the best way too, to
serve the common interests of producers and con-
sumers 1t is deeply gratifying to know that In
scores Of Georgia counties farmers and business
men are cooperating in we'll organized campaigns
to increase food supplies. They can render no
sounder service to the State the Nation.