Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19
SOME RESULTS FROM DEMON
STRATTON FARMTNG

the farmers living along the right
of way of this important system the
essential character of crop rotation
proper diversification and the use of
what we have been pleased to term
scientific methods of agriculture
This was a wise and wholly desirabl
undertaking.
The work was begun at time
when our farmers were not so well
versed in the relation of science to
agricultural production as they are
now. 1t was begun before the boil
weevil had changed our type of agri-
cultural practice. 1t was wholly a
benef1cent undertaking, therefore
and one calculated to confer great
benefit on the constituency it was
designated to serve. AS a matter of
fact, we now know and more general
ly realize than has ever been true
before that good farming and science
must go hand in hand. The best
practice on any farm, whether in
stituted by a farmer or teacher
will always be found to be scien-
officially correct. There is no bridge
or chasm, therefore, between good
practice and science. We should
therefore, dispose of this bugbear
that has kept the teacher and the
farmer unduly apart through a long
series of years.
That the demonstration farming in
question has materially aided in
breaking down some Of the misunder-
standing which has prevailed in the
past is certainly true. Undoubtedly
It has shown that rotation and diver
Sification are essential to a profit
able type of agricultural practice. 1t
is clear that our lands, when skill
fully handled, cultivated and fertiliz-
ed, can be made to produce surpr1s-
ingly large crops with high degree
of profit and satisfaction to the own
er. Just at this time it may be said
that our agriculture is on a boom
and that profits would naturally be
anticipated under existing circum-
stances. If conditions, on the other
hand, were reversed, the farmer
would not be making anything more
than a living from his land.
The demonstrations referred to,
covering a period of seven years,
show that good profit was made
during every one of the years
in question, even including the year
1914, when the lowest level in a de-
cade was reached. Of course, profits
We're larger in 1918, the last year
these farms were operated, than in
previous years. This, is natural be-
cause the operations were conducted
on a rising market. AS a matter of
fact, the rise in the value of the
crops produced on the land outran
during the growing season the in
itial cost Of labor and fertilizer very
materially. So that even with high
market prices for farm crops in 1919,
1t is doubtful, owing to the enhance
ment in the value of labor fertiliz-
ers, and implements which has taken
place, If the percentage of profit of
this years operations is greater than
that of last year.
Operating Costs
1t appears that the seventeen farms
operated in, 1918 contained 531 "a
acres The value Of the crop produc-
ed was $40,647.04, The. costsa max
ing this crop, was as follows: Man
labor, $2,846.48; horse Or mule labor,
$2,111.01; fertilizer, $2,475.51; har-
vesting, $2,75s.3f; seed, $S43.50; mar
keting, $611.08. The gross expendi-
ture, therefore, totalled $11,639.89
The item Of rent brought, in $2,623.7 70
The net profit was $26.383.40, making
the gross amount creditable to the
seventeen farms $29.007.15. An av.
erage of S4,51 was allowed per acre
for rent. Man labor was charged at
the rate of fifteen cents and horse
labor at the rate of twelve and one
half cents per hour. These costs are
of course, much higher at the pres
ent time, but it is also important tc
remember that there has been a rel
ative increase in the sale value OF
the crops.
1t appears from these results thai
the average net profit per acre or
these seventeen test farms was
$45.35. The average value Of the LAND
is stated to be $48,67 so that the re.
turns obtained represented SO pei
cent of the value of the land pei
acre. Of course, the profits on indi-
vidual farms varied. Seasonal con.
ditions may have entered into some
extent. Soil conditions would also
be a factor. But the human element
involved in it's cultivation cannot be
overlooked. One farmer, for in.
stance, who handled seventy acres
of land near Bishop, Ga, made $4,-
565.13 net profit. This represents a
net return of $65.25 per acre. A
farm of forty acres, on the other
hand, operated at Cold Water Ala
made S49S.67 net profit, or an aver
age of $12.34 per acre. These are ex-
tremes and show how large a proper
ton of the results obtained from
farming depend on conditions over
which the human agency employee
exerts a primary influence and con-
troll.
Results on Test Farms
Considering now the results for
the seven-year period, let us see what
has happened. In that time test
farms at fifty-four different points
along the right of way of the Central
OF Georgia railroad in this state and
in Alabama were established. If we
aggregate the work on the basis of
single years operations, we would
find that the farms contained 5,410
acres. The total value Of the crops
grown on these lands amounted to
$236,0SS.S2. The cost of fertilizers,
seed, marketing and ginning was
$34,710.52. The expenditure for la
Dor, preparation, cultivation and har-
vesting of the crop represented an
outlay of $55,515.S8. Allowing $3.64
per acre for rent, it appears that the
net profit on the handling of these
farms during the seven-year period
amounted to $126, 1856, This was
an average net profit of $3.50 per
acre, or 60 per cent of the acreage
value of the land operated. In this
connection, it is important to re-
member that the seven-year period
included good crop years, poor crop
years and normal crop years. Dur
ing the time under discussion there
was period of high prices and one
of low prices.
These farms were operated not
only in the coastal plains section, but
10 i