Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-19
OUR CROP GOAL FOR 1915

The planting season is upon us with
the Injunction that we must produce
larger food crops than ever before in
our history. This is due to the fact
that the worlds pantry is bare of sur-'
plus supplies. and that the question OF
plenty or famine for millions of peo-
pie is to be determined by what the
United States is able TO do in the way
Of food production in the crucial year
L9IS. Last year our farmers were ask
d to increase their yield and they re-
sponded in a notable manner. Corn went
ul 20. 100000 bushels: Irish potatoes,
so. OO0. 900 bushels; sweet potatoes over
,OOO, 900 bushels: peanuts by over $780,
900. 900 bushels. The fruit yield was
also exceptionally good Hay went up
100000 tons, and we made a normal
crop OF cotton besides. This year we
are expected to do better than in 1917,
and there are urgent reasons why we
should. First Of all, our wheat and oat
crops have been seriously injured by
the winter freezes. In fact, much of
the acreage was killed out entirely, and
the chances are that we will make
relatively small crops of these two i'm
portant cereals; the one available for
bread production. and the other for both
human and animal food. In order to
meet our requirements in these two
crops we should have increased the
yield of wheat by about S.500,OO0 bush
els. and of oats by about 100000
bushels over the 1917 figures. AS we
cannot hope to accomplish these re-
suits. we must depend on some other
crop TO provide bread and animal food,
and there is only one which we can
plant capable of doing this. Reference.
OF course, is made to the corn crop, and
in order 20 meet our requirements in
this direction. il will be necessary for
US TO produce at least 100, 0OO, 900 bush
els in 1918. If the acreage. which was
lost to wheat and oats. is devoted to
corn and the same area planted as was
grown in 1917, there is no reason why
We should not be able with reasonably
favorable season TO produce loo. 100000
bushels Of corn in Georgia. IL is only
few years ago since our yield was
about 100000 bushels. In fact. it
has been increased in recent years by
about S0.0O0.000 bushels. Last year we
went up 100000 bushels. This shows,
therefore, that if We have the desire
TO grow corn in the degree which is
necessary to feed ourselves and our live
stock and keep our state thoroughly
prosperous, we can do so.
In the matter of Irish and sweet po-
tatoes We should also have greatly in
creased yields. Now is the time to
plant Irish potatoes. The records show
that We can greatly increase this crop.
and il We can not find a foreign mar
ket for il, we can consume them at
home to advantage, for the Irish potato
Is one OF the best substitutes for wheat
or corn. IL supplies the necessary car
Dohydrates I'm the ration very cheaply
and is a vegetable which can be pre-
pared In many accepta BILE forms. The
more Irish potatoes we grow and uti-
lize the more corn we can save for use
as -four substitute during the fall
and winter. There is an impression
that Irish potatoes can not be kept
through the summer but my personal
experience leads me to believe that this
idea is not well founded. If they are
harvested when ripe and put in a cool
place and spread out in rather thin
layers. they can be kept all summer.
certainly with ease until the sweet po-
tato crop becomes available to take
their place. After all, there is a con-
siderable demand for Irish potatoes in
our home markets, and in view of the
relative scarcity of flour, and the diff
Guilty OF obtaining flour substitutes, this
demand is likely to be greatly increas-
ed. We have been assured that as
many cars will be available for trans
portation of potatoes to eastern mar
kets as we're available in 1917, and our
climatic situation is such that we
should be able to produce a good crop
of Irish potatoes and ship them to
northern markets with profit. The
northern part of Georgia, that is, the
high table land and mountain section,
IS fully capable if producing all the
Irish potatoes needed for use in this
state during the fall and winter. This
IS an industry which has not been de-
yeloped to the extent the conditions in
this section OF the state warrant. and
It is to be hoped that the people Of
north Georgia will take full advantage
% the opportunity they enjoy for pro-
iucing all the Irish potatoes needed
In this state.
OF course, we should greatly increase
the yield OF sweet potatoes. This is
essentially every mans crop 1t can
be grown with less difficulty and on q
greater variety Of soils than almost
any other food crop we have. They
are an admirable -four substitute. and
can be prepared and served in a great
-ariety Of ways which makes them par.
ticularly valuable to the housewife.
With the increased construction Of
storage houses throughout the state
here is 20 reason why we should not
nc able 70 store enough potatoes to
provide Us with an abundant supply
from one planting season to another.
This is an industry which can be ex-
banded AZ = reasonably small cost
Great efforts are being made to find an
ever widening market for the sweet
potato IN other sections OF the country
where up 70 now It's use as food has
TO- been appreciated as g should be.
We naturailv should increase the
reduction ~ peanuts because q Ton Of
peanuts yields about seventy TO eighty
-allcns Of OIL equal % olive oil FOR
food purposes. We can also obtain
J from II the largest amount OF meal Of
the moot acceptable character to feed
% live stock In fact. II has a wider
Use for this purpose with less limita-
ions as - possible injurious effects
than almost any other class Of animal
sOod We can produce. Just as soon rs
mills are erected IN this state which
VIII provide for che removal of the hull
from the nut, the crushed nuts will
become valuable as a source OF food
in the form OF peanut butter and flour.
Peanuts can be used in the proportion
Of one pound TO three pounds of wheat
flour in the making Of bread When
this is done the nutritive value and
palatability OF the bread are i'm
proved. We could provide ourselves
with part of the protein needed IN
this respect and so save materially on
the use OF red meats. thereby adding
to the supply Of meat for export and
improving the healthfulness OF the ra-