Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-04-29


nee had the following to say:
"Opinion respecting the agricultu-
raj outlook is more reassuring. Farm
ers are finding some cheer in the fact
that the Washington administration
is behind Il program for their relief.
They seem impressed with the pres-
dents sympathetic concern to get ag-
riculture out of the rut and its pres
ent dependency. April on the whole
was characterized by March weather
low temperatures, winds, clouds
and rains, which did not help the
crops as rule excepting in the
droughty sections. Nevertheless salts
faction is expressed in almost every
quarter with the progress made on
the farms Spring farm work began
early and in most sections was push
ed to completion under favorable
conditions in March. In a few local
tiles only were planting and growth
retarded by the cold anC dryness.
Unemployment in the rural dis
tricts is still very large, due to the
monetary pinch of the farmers.
Crcp Conditions.
"The average condition of impor-
tant crops, as of April Is, as reported
to this office by our farmer cores
pondents is as follows. 100 represent
ing a full or normal crop; Wheat, 85,
oats, 80; rye, 80; tobacco, 81; ap-
Piles, 70; peaches, So; pears, 70; pas
lures, 81.
Shocked and stunned by the evils
wrought by the one-crOp system, the
farmers of Georgia are diversifying
this year more than ever, Substan-
tial increases are reported in the
areas of food and feedstuffs. Unof-
ficially the increase in the area to be
planted to corn this year is placed at
23 percent over last year; ats ~;
sweet potatoes, q; Irish potatoes,
II; sugar cane, 10; Watermeions, z;
Cantaloupes, 4, and velvet beans 10
percent. Tobacco will in all likeli-
hood show the same or less acreage;
transplanting is still proceeding
slowly.
"Of paramount Importance is the
reported slash in the cotton acreage.
Farmers realized some time ago thai
they could not go it alone and obeyed
the law of the pack 1t looks now as
if they have succeeded in putting
over decrease of 33 per cent, which
would make the planted area in 1921
about 1881, ,240 acres, against A.
$4,000 acres in 1920.
Decrease 6S7, 900 Acres.
"For those who find statistics lnr-
pressive it may be said that the theo-
retical area to be planted to all
Georgia crops this year, based on
farmers return to us at this time, Is
11,751,400 acres, a decrease of 687-
600 acres (5.5 PERCENT, as compared
with the estimated theoretical area
last year of 12,439,000 acres. The
theoretical area of all Georgia crops
in the pre-war year, 1913, was TO-
955,OO0 acres, so the 1921 area
seems likely to be some 796,400 acres
(7.3 percent) more than the pre-war
acreage of all crops. These figures
while somewhat disquieting when
compared with 1920 show conclusive
ly nevertheless that Georgia's farm
ers arc functioning, their present
tragic condition Notwithstanding. 1t
is, of course, too early to say wheth-
er this program Of intended" plant
ings will be carried out. There is
ample time for variation.
"Tentative estimates tsubject to
revision later in the year when the
official pronouncement will be madei
of acreages of some important crops
for 1921 and the final estimates for
1920 are shown below;
Acreage by Crops.