Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-23
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR. ANDREW M. SOULG

Georgia. Last year. even in view
of the tremendous slump in prices
which took place, they produced
wealth worth in round numbers
1928, 100000. We also possessed APP
proximately 100000 head of live
stock worth 40,500,000. This
means that on the average there were
sixteen head of live stock per farm.
worth about $454. Our farms were
still intact, and the records show
that there was probably as of jan
uary LIST enough money in the saw
lngs banks of Georgia to the credit
OF landowners to make an average
of $500 per farm. March 1 there was
3S,000,000 bushels of corn on our
farms, or 100000 bushels in excess
Of last year. Sixty per cent of the
| cotton was reported to be still in the
hands of our farmers. l am sure it
would not be over-stating the case
crop reserve and the livestock in
hand We have e.@tilable today assets
on the average Georgia farm approx
mating $1,000 in value, exclusive of
the land, implements and other
equipment. 1 realize that many
farmers are embarrassed financially,
but l think we must vIey TINS ques-
tiOn from the standpoint of the state
as whole, and surely there is much
therein to encourage US
In this respect I wish to call spe-
citfcally to your attention the fact
that the value of the cotton crop, in
Guiding the seed, only represents
about 35 per cent of the agricul-
tural wealth of Georgia. In other
words, we produced last year almost
81 worth of diversified products as
compared with 81 worth of cotton.
This is ratio we need to continue
and expand, for despite the facts
nrpSlnta6 9hOUn 6pUOtp nearly
half of our cultivated land in Geor-
gia to the growth of cotton. We will
get on safe basis in this respect
when we put one-third of the land
crops. Any other policy this year
will be fatal, in my judgment, to the
prosperity and success of the state.
Moreover, when we do this We will be
producing that $65,000.000 worth of
food crops that we imported into the
state last year. Even with the prices
which prevailed last fall it pinched
us to send this money away. We
will be unable to spare another $685.
100000 next fall. AS 1 view the stu
alton, we are compelled to raise all
our food supplies at home in 1921.
Unless we do this some of our people
at least will have to either go hun
CRY or short-rationed. There is no
reason or excuse for such a situa-
ton to arise.
If we go whole heartedly to work
and push forward a desirable pro-
gram of production we can accOmp-
lish the end indicated. Just as sure
~ as we do this, Georgia will enjoy
measure of success and prosperity
that will reflect itself throughout the
length and breadth of the state and
even upon our national interests as
well. The program [ have outlined
provides for the growth of q moder-
ate crop of cotton, the increase of our
holdings of livestock, the most eff
cient use of machinery and fertiliz-
ers we can make, and the establish
ment of a system of diversified pro-
duction such as has been outlined
by the Georgia State College of Agri-
culture. The bankers should lend
their aid and encouragement to this
movement by every agency at their
command. There are plenty of lines
of safe credit besides cotton and we
must discover, amplify and encourage
these. We should be as liberal with
our credits as the interests we repre-
sent and the public trust imposed
upon us will allow.
Permit me to express the follow
ing sentiments in conclusion. We are
fortunately situated in a hundred
different ways. Our people are well
clothed and dressed. We still have
plenty of money to spend for lux
urieS, though our enjOymentS may be
somewhat restricted as compared
with what they were a year ago. We
have 100000 automobiles in Georgia.
We have one of these machines for
every thirteen people in the United
States. They do not happen to have
as many machines in all England,
with a population of 45,000,000, as we
have in Georgia. We have 100000
automobile trucks in the United
States, while all Europe has prob
ably 100000. [ say we have en-
joyed a measure of luxury and pros
perity such as the world has never
known before. [ wonder if we APP
preciate it all and if we are as thank
full as we should be under the cir
cumstances. There are 50,000,000
starving people in Europe and Asia.
The nations of Europe are bankrupt.
Bolshevism, which means murder and
outrage, holds sway over a con-
siderable portion of the world. Pow
erty and oppression is the portion
of millions more. National bank
ruptcy stares many governments in
the face. From all of this and vastly
more the good God has delivered the
people of Georgia. Are we as thank
full, as appreciatiVe and consider
ate for these gifts as we should be?
Do we properly evaluate the bless
which are ours? If we do we will
full, extend a helping hand to all,
radiate cheerfulness, go to work, be-
come prosperous, and thank God for