Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-15

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW ri. SOULE

dropped to less than 100000 bales.
However, it is safe to predict that
when our farmers get accustomed
to growing cotton under boil weeVil
conditions, the state will again go
well above the million-bale mark in
cotton PRODUCTION. The most out
standing reforms needed in Georgia s
cotton production and marketing
program are as follows:
1. The production of superior va.
rieties.
2. The prevention OF country
damage.
8. Better system Of financing the
production and marketing of the
crop.
4. Selling in attractive quantities
eVen-running lots instead of small
mixed lots.
The first two of these REFORMS
can be made by the producers more
eIIlclently and economically than by
anyone else. In fact, the grower is
the only man who can improve and
standardlze varieties. In this work
he will necessarily need the advice
OF trained and experienced plat
breeders, such as are to be found in
the state colleges Of agriculture and
the United States department of
agriculture. The Georgia State Col
leges of Agriculture has DEVELOPED
and given College No. l cotton to
the people. of Georgia free of cost.
1t is an extra early variety of fine
quality and especially we'll adapted
for growth under boil weeviI con-
dluons on that account.
AS to improving methods Of ffnan,
cling and handling, this can best be
done by. cooperative associations.
These associations can, of course,
encourage their members in the mat
ters of variety standardization and
elimination of country damage. The
marketing organization should fol-
low the usual non-stock, non-prolt
plan. 1t is by no means essential
that a monopoly be formed. In fact.
II such thing were practicable
(Which fortunately is not the easel,
1t would be hurtful to the producers
as we'll as the public.
Inequalities in grading can be
greatly reduced by the employment
of licensed graders. It is the plan
OF the cooperative associations now
being formed to employ expert
graders. Much very beneficial work
IN grading has been done by the
United States bureau Of markets
cooperating with the state college
of agriculture and local associations
OF cotton graWerS. The Georgia
State College Of Agriculture was the
first institution in the world to
establish courses in cotton grading
and formulate a scoye card for cot,
tons
Live Stock. In point of value of
products marketed from Georgia
FARMS live stock and live stock prod
ucts stand next in Importance TO
cotton. The hog makes the largest
contributed to this total. There are
in the state nearly three million
hogs. Of course, some of these are
maintained as breeding stock. The
state is not yet self-sustaining from
the standpoint Of meat production.
Still thousands of carlots of hogs
are marketed IN this state each wear.
We have several idle packing plants
at this time. The cooperative live
stock sales, which have been in sue
cessful operation since 1916. seem to
get the shippers very nearly the
market value Of their hogs. Recent
developments seem to indicate that
the shipping associations will need
to use markets outside The state
more freely in order to get salts
factory prices.
Sweet Potatoes. One of the big
gest market problems in Georgia
arises as the sweet potato industry
develops. The state is producing
about fourteen million bushels a
year. Only 3 per cent of these are
marketed outside the state. We
have storage facilities for nearly
two million bushels. However. moth
ing like all Of this space will be
used. A good part of the crop is
lost from improper storage. Some
thing like IS per cent of the prod
uct is consumed within the state. 6
per cent is planted for seed, per
cent goes out of the state. a COM
paratively small amount is consum-
ed bv live stock and the remainder
decays. .-...l.-
STEPS are now being taken for the
formation Of local units of a CO.
operative marketing association to
handle the marketing of the sweet
potato crop. Much educational
work will have to be done on pro-
duction and handling, and tn en- the
product will have to be advertised
in the north.
Fruits ....-
Peaches and apples are the only
fruits produced in the state on a
commercial scale, that is in appre-
ciable quantities. The Georgia
Fruit Exchange has been handling
the peach crop for years. With
heavy paintings of peach trees. the
EXCHANGE will find more serious
problem in four or five years. So
it will probably be necessary for
the organization to take a more
positive stand with reference to
quality than it does at the present
time. The exchange exerts it's in
fluence for better quality. It should
have absolute control of the grade
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