Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-05
The Crisis IN the. Home Field.

There is a Crisis on the nOlne lIOhI-lh inc
fields of Georgia. Within the next thirty days
the wheat and oat crop of the state must be plant
ed for the year 1919 Since the beginning of the
European war in 1914, food has become scarcer
and scarcer and higher and higher. With our
entry into the war in 1917 the food problem took
on additional seriousness which has increased
month by month since then as our soldiers IN
France have grown in number and the needs OF
our allies both for their civilians and soldiers have
become more urgent. All of this is but an indlca-
ton of the fact that next year will see the great
est demand and perhaps the greatest scarcity OF
food that the world has ever known. Whether the
war continues whether peace comes VIII make
no difference in the food situation for next year
More wheat must, therefore, be planted IN Geor-
gia this year than before. The crisis men
toned is due to the fact that not enough acreage
for this important food crop is at present indicated
for next season. In view of this fact the State
Council of National Defense has issued clarion
call to the farmers of Georgia to put in largely
increased acreage in wheat and oats Immediately
and has likewise called to the people OF the cltes
towns and villages to cooperate with the farmers
bv helping them do the work necessary for TINS
planting What must be done must be done quick
w. The effect, the desired end, monumental
task must be achieved. First of all, the farmers
must bestir themselves, but they cannot bring to-
every citizen The situation in its critical aspects
is outlined in recent bulletin issued by the State
Council of Defense as follows:
saThe State Council of Defense is in receipt
of rather dsqueting information as to the
acreage which is going to be planted in wheat
in this state this fall. Never has the need for
increased wheat production been more acute
e demand -or food will be heavier than ever
in 1919 Military conditions will not alter
this fact at all
Following this statement the Council of De-
Tense declares that the corn and cotton yet I'M
harvested must be cleared from the fields, and
these fields ploughed and narrowed at once for
the reception of the grain. All of this work must
be done in the short space of few weeks. Realz-
ing that the task is large and the time short, the
Council of Defense stresses two factors that can
be and should be brought to the aid of the farmer
The first of these is that, because of the scarcity
of labor, the farmers unaided will be unequal to
the task and, therefore, they must have the active
assistance of the people who live in the cities,
towns and villages. If necessary, the defense bull
letin states, organizations for farm work should
be formed in the towns and in this way bring to
the fields labor that it would be impossible other
wise to obtain. The second thing stressed by the
council is the of tractors. "The number of
tractors says the defense bulletin Tin each county
should be ascerained by the local city council of
defense and should be put to work as far as pos
sibIe Private owners of tractors if requested, we
feel sure will help in every possible manner so as
to substitute this abor-saving machinery for farm
helm Farmers in every community should
deavor to get together and far as possible help
each other, and to all the available tractors in
the state both in pIoughing and in narrowing"
Georgia so far has done a wonderful work in
ifs share of the production of food a means of
winning the war. Substantial increases have been
noted in the yields of all kinds of grains and vege-
tables and meat animals but the food work of the
war is by no means ended. In fact it must be car
ried on in greater measure than ever before. More
heroic endeavors in this respect now demanded
and it is not likely that the people of this common
wealth will fail heed the call so timely and so
forcibly presented by the Council of Defense
1t may be said that the old order of farming
has passed away never to return. This is quite
clearly shown in the appeal of the Council of De-
tense when it points to the scarcity of labor and
the prospect of relieving it by the of tractors
This means that in the future the old style, SLOW
emily labor on the farm, leisurely in method and
waseful in operation, must be superseded by labor
of greater efficiency which will be adjusted to a
more general use of improved farm machinery
Never again, too will the South rely upon the
one-crop system, based upon cotton. War condi-
tions have forced the Southern farmer to diversity
his crops and war demands have shown him the
profit of home-raised grain and hay and meat The
new order thus is clearly revealed and nothing can
help to advance the order more effectively than
a triumphant compliance with the appeal of the
Council of Defense 20 plant at once largely in
creased acreages in wheat and oats.
We believe that the Georgia farmers are fully
alive to the necessit.- of this immediate planting
and we would urge upon all other peoples in the
towns and villages to lend active personal aid in
helping the farmer put this great task which
is so essential to the welfare of the state and the