Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-24
wheat PrOduC+sOn and Patriotism

Wheat Production and Patriotism
Wheat constitutes the primary
hreadstuff of the world The abund:
snce in which we have been able TO
produce il in America has had much 10
io with the rapid rise and spread of
JUr civilization from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. The production of wheat
ou such a large scale resulted in our
nation being regarded as the best fed
and most progressive OF any in tbs
world. Canada, our noighbor lying ID
the north, with civilization as old As
ours, did not begin TO make a compar-
able growth until the great wheat fields
= the west were discovered and utl-
.zed.
In the war now in progress food has
3iready played a most important part
s:d is TO be the final determining fac
or as 10 which type Of civilization and
which form of idealism shall prevail
iu the world. Therefore, in the par
i-rce " the street il is literally up
% US 10 see that sufficient wheat is
reduced to meet the requirements Uf
p'lr own people and our fighting allies.
Wheat shipping tonnage is gaining on
the submarineA There is great shortage
ct hOwever. apd this condition is
r'Ome. There ars-no available ships to
? ing the wheat from India Australia.
Ir Argentine. The North American
ointment holds the key TO the whole
situation in the mater of an adequate
bread supply for he fightIns nations
sllied under the banner of democracy.
The question naSuI ally arises can We
aueet this duty aT,i Obligation The an
swer is very easily affirmati if we
we up to the full measure of the on
J,rtunity which a kindly providence
Jss placed at our disposal
The federal government, he food ad-
ninistration, and the department Of
agriculture have called on the farmers
Of the United States to plant $4,000. 600
acres Of wheat this fall We have not
grown wheat on an extensive scale IN
the south up TO the present time, large
ly because we were more interested in
other crops and POSSIBLY because they
would return us larger measure OF
profit Also. previous to the advent
OF the boil weevil we did not realize
the necessity of practicing an inten-
sive agriculture or diversified crop pro-
duction.. Now, however. the govern pent
calls to our attention the fact that we
can serve it in no more acceptable
manner than through the production of
wheat and other cereal foodstuffs need
I'd for the maintenance of the people
OF the south. That we can do this can
not be gainsayed, for last year Georgia
Llone increased her outturn of VIE
by two and a half million bushels over
the previous year and devoted 1S5, 900
additional acres to the cultivation of
this crop. II we will double our pro-
duction again and make a similar in
crease in acreage we will do Our full
-, -1nrr he
Of supplying the nation and our fight
ing forces with an abundance of the
starr of life. There is no reason why
every other southern state should not
readily emulate Georgia's example, and
with the urgency of the situation in
mind and the high patriotism which
has characterized the people of the
south there is every reason to believe
that they will meet the emergency by
which they are now confronted. These
are the reasons briefly stated. why
wheat should be planted on an enlarged
scale. There is no. good reason why
every farm, no matter hoy small. should
not devote at least one Acre to the cul-
tivation of wheat If the land is well
fortified and managed il should pro-
duce from 10 to II bushels. IT takes
about four and half bdshels of wheat
TO make a barrel OF flour, and barrel
of flour provides a superabundance of
bread for the average individual. Thus
only small acreage on every farm
would enable us to meet the require
ment of providing ourselves with flour
out OF our own wheat. 1t will cost but
little to plant anywhere from one to
five acres of land. in proportion to each
individual farm holding or tenant hold
ing and if We do this the problem is
solved. 4
There is plenty OF time to prepare the
land and plant the wheat between now
and winter. so every patriotic citizen
will make il a part of his duty and
obligation to his government TO produce
enough wheat for his own family, and,
whenever IL is practicable for one other
family so that those residing in towns
and cities may be fed from the super
abundance of wheat produced in the
country. In order to cultivate wheat sue
cessfuIly the land should now be Sc
lected II a piece is available which
has been devoted to cowpeas so much
the better. as this crop helps to smother
up weeds and puts the land in good
physical condition 10 meet the require
ments of wheat AS soon as the peavines
can be cut for hay ii is well TO turn
the land to a good depth. After the peas
have been cut for hay ii can be left
for thirty days OF more and very
good aftermath will develop thereon,
which can then be turned under. We
believe that most land intended for
wheat should be broken anywhere be-