Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-05
AGRICULTURAL
6EDUCATIoNl
E--~~~ SUCCESSOR FARMING
- j. ANDREW N. SovLt.

ern states, and the invasion of the boil
weevil which proved sufficiently destruc-
tive i'm many sections to necessitate
change i'm farm practice. 1t was natu-
raj that the farmer should turn to the
raising of hogs because this business
could be started with the least invest
ment of capital and with assurances
of the quickest returns. As soon as the
value of grazing crops became fully APP
preciated, il was seen that pork could
be made very cheaply because the hogs
would harvest the greater part % the
food needed to properly finish them for
slaughter
The progress made in pork production
i'm Georgia since 1913 has been little
short of phenomenal, and probably the
extent of our investment in this direc-
ton is not as generally recognized as it
should be. on January 1. 1913, Georgia
farmers owned 1,SSS.0O0 head of hogs.
on January l, 1918, they owned 2,757,SSS
head. This represents an increase in
five years of over 100000 head, or an
average of 10000 year. The goal set
for January l. 1919, is 100000 head,
and with the maintenance of good prices
the proper use of serum and the con-
tinuance of the interest now displayed
in hog raising. there is no reason why
this goal should not be attained.
These figures indicate how quickly a
fundamental live stock industry may be
built up and developed in any given
state where the conditions are favorable
to pork production, and il is needless
to point out that if those counties in
which weevil damage is greatest will
introduce and develop hog raising to
the extent which is both practicable and
profitable that they will not suffer any
loss by reason by the diminution of the
cotton crop. In this connection it is
proper to. state that southwest Georgia
is now probably the most prosperous
section of the state. In the counties
embraced in this territory the weevil
damage has been most severe up TO the
present time With the advent of this
pest, however. the farmers turned their
attention to the raising of hogs, to the
growing of peanuts. to increasing their
herds of cattle and diversifying their
farm practice, and as a result they have
found what the So-called theoretical
agriculturists told them for many years
that they could conduct their farming
operations successfully and with advan-
tage from monetary point of view,
even though they grew no cotton.
What Influences other than those
enumerated have been concerned in
bringing about the remarkable develop
Georgia? 1t is proper to state that the
most potent of these has been the edu-
cational movement led by the State Col
lege of Agriculture through it's extern
sion division. When this institution
was first established a number of young
men from southwest Georgia came to at
tend its courses. They were impressed
with the character of certain breeds of
hogs with which they first became ac-
chased and had a number of these sent
back to their homes. The adaptability
of these hogs as grazers was quickly
many farmers came to understand that
they could harvest their crops with the
aid of the porcine race and make as
much money as from cotton. The edu-
cational movement thus inaugurated
was fostered through the help of the
county agent in every legitimate way.
The subject of raising hogs on grazing
crops was exploited: bulletins setting
forth the merits of different breeds were
prepared and distributed; a plan for
raising hogs on grazing crops was work
ed out; while the aid of the press was
called in to inform the farmers just
what could be accomplished in the direc-
tion indicated
About this time the idea of organic
ing pig clubs took form and shape, The
first of these being launched in the early
part of 1919. Since that time the work
has been extended to ffty-one counties
The members Of the pig clubs raised
in 1917, s31.941.76 worth of hogs at an
average profit of $2O.49 per head. These
same boys exhibited 500 head of hogs at
the three principal fairs in the state.
and won prizes exceeding $4,000 in
value II is needless to point out that
the work of these boys has had most
wholesome effect wherever it has been
instituted. In many instances the
were the pioneers in introducing i'm
proved strains of hogs into the COM
munity The methods of feeding and
management they followed under the
guidance and direction of the State Col
lege of Agriculture convinced the farm
ers that better care and handling of
hogs was essential, and that when this
was provided that the earlier finishing
of the hogs and large profits would re-
suit. 1t is the intention and purpose to
extend the club work as rapidly as pos
sible in 1918. Every patriotic citizen
should lend his support to this work.
There is no reason why Georgia should
not have 10000 members of the hog
clubs in 1913, and every other state
should have a proportionately large en-
rollment
Theer. is no danger of OVERRIDING pork
production in Georgia for long time to
come, because the price OF hogs for the
time being has been stabilized by the
food administration, Chicago basis, at
$15.15 per hundredweight. In order
that farmers may know the opportuni-
ties which lie ahead in this industry, il
may be well TO cite few facts from the
records kept by the pig club boys n
1917. 1t appears that the average
weight of the hogs when the boys be-
gan feeding them was 26.1 pounds.
They were fed on an average of 131
days. and at the close of the season
they weighed on an average of 1874
pounds. This represented an average
daily gain of .9S of a pound. The aver
age cost per pound of gain was 3.42
cents and the average net profit per pig,
s2O.59. The initial value or cost was
1855 and the final value $685.. The
average gain in weight for the feeding
period was 12g pounds. These hogs
were developed and finished principally
on grazing crops. In some instances
some supplemental grain was fed, out
for the most part they gathered their
own feed without material expense 10
the owner save for the planting and
cultivating of the crop TO the point
where il could be grazed successfully
by hogs.