Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-08
GREENE COUNTY GOING
TO RESUME DALRYzNG
Forty-Cent Cotton Blamed
for Present Unsatisfactory
Conditions Throughout the
State of Georgia
BY RALPH SMITH


production and thus contributed
to the present unsatisfactory con-
ditions that prevail throughout the
state is the belief entertained by
many studious and thoughtful per-
sons who have surveyed the Situa-
ton. It is unquestionably true that
hundreds of farmers all over Geor-
gia who had entered upon a program
Of diversified production were per-
suaded by the record price of cotton
to abandon their original purpose
and engage more extensively than
ever before in the production of the
fleecy staple. In many instances, as
heretofore remarked, farmers invest
ed their cotton earnings in addition
al farm lands at fancy prices, and
the obligations thus incurred today
contribute to impede the restoration
of normal conditions.
Greene county serves we'll to con-
firm the contention that Accent cot
ton, instead of a blessing to the
people of Georgia, was, in fact, fruit
full of an injury that cannot be
overcome or undone in few years.
In the year 1919, the farmers or
Greene county produced 81, 900 bales.
This was a normal yield.
In the year 1920, the boil weevil
began to assert himself in the cot
ton fields, and the production fell
away to 14,500.
But the farmers had an abiding
faith either in their ability to check
the weeVil invasion or belief that
their lands were immune against
further attack.
Thus. in the year 1921, the county
4
The figures are almost staggering.
Think of a county wherein the nor
NAL yield Of cotton is 81 900 getting
scant 1,500-a reduction Of SO per
cent!
Dairymen Turn to Cotton
Eyes, sir" observed Editor James
G.. Williams, of the Greensboro Her.
ald'J ournal last week, elf it were not
for two or three manufacturing en-
terprises in the county, which are
putting some money in circulation,
the stores of Greensboro might as
we'll be closed. Our cotton crop was
a total loss and no insurance and cot
ton was practically the sole agricul-
tural crop Of the county"
In my travels around the state I
had heard repeatedly of the dairying
activities IN Greene county. Indeed,
for many years I had heard of
GREENE county always in the connec.
ton with dairy products and blooded
cattle. So I asked my friend VIII
liams:
"What about the cattle of the
county and the dairy products?"
1--WE had EN-" he answered. eve
had lots of 'em until a few years
ago when most of our dairymen turn
ed to cotton. The price was very at
tractive and more remunerative at
the time than dairy products. Many
of them sold their CATTLE"
The truth is that until compare
lively a few years ago, Greene coun-
ty was in class by herself among
the counties of Georgia in the matter
of fine cattle and dairy products. The
industry gained foot-hold twenty
years ago, or more, and within ten
years the county was exporting an
nually upwards of 100000 in dairy
products, chiefly to Atlanta and Au-
gusta. |
'The business was fairly profit
able" said Mr.. Williams, land it was
growing We had more fine herds
of Jerseys in Greene than in any
county in the state. But even then
our farmers didn't produce all of the |
feed their cattle required, and the
necessity of buying in the open mar
ket quantity Of cattle feed, that |
could and should have been home
grown, operated to hold the profits |
to a minimum"
Greene county lends itself admir-
ably to the dairying business. Ac-
cording to Editor Williams, it is the
Georgia home of Bermuda grass.
The first ever planted in the state |
was set out right in the city of
Greensboro, he said.
Back to Dairying
But Bermuda is only one of the !
many grasses that grow luxuriantly !
in our county," said Mr.. Williams. ;,
1--WE have all sorts of splendid vol. |
unteer grasses that afford the most |
wonderful pasturage for cattle. We
have leSpedeZa, carpet and Dallas
grass in profusion throughout the
county, and we have some of the fin
est, if not the finest grazing lands
in Georgia. There is abundant run
ming water all over Greene--tiny
brooks, creeks and rivers. Our eli
mate is just suited to cattle graz
ing, and it is unnecessary to con-
fine our cattle over three months
in the year"
AS Mr.. Williams remarked, the
people of Greene county-especially
the farmers who are familiar with
the dairying business-realiZe that
there is a steady and usually
satisfactory market for dairy prod
ucts.
1--WE are not bothered here by in
adequate market facilities" he said,
because we understand that our
most profitable crop, other than cot
ton, can be marketed with little or
no difficulty. And our farmers ap-
preciate the value and Importance
of raising feed-stuff for their cat
represent real farm diversification."
Although, as stated, the dairy
business has slumped in Greene
county, there still are a few farm
ers engaged in milking COWS and ;
shipping their product to Atlanta.
In fact, the money being received
from these shipments is one of the
things that is helping the county in
the present crisis, according to Mr..
Williams.
care we going back in the dairy
business?" repeated the editor. "Yes,
our farmers are going back just as
fast as they can, in my judgment
l know of several who would buy f.:
fifty registered Jersey cows today !
il they had the money, or could get
the money"
Mr.. Williams declared that the
banks of Greensboro and elsewhere
in the county are favorably dis
posed toward the revival Of the dairy
business, but just now they are not
SO situated as to be able to afford
the necessary aid.
Cattle Business
"Our bankers are disposed to help
In the circumstances, but their sur