Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-11
4 Fundamental Program for
Georgia PROSPERITY u. 1921


M porous or adverse for Georgia de-
ponds chiefly upon the good or i'll
fortune of her farmers. Their problems
touch vital cords in all economic interests,
and from their efforts flow the life-blood OF
industry and commerce. 1t is Of utmost i'm
portance, therefore, not only to the planters
themselves but to every business and every
household, that their plans for the seasons
ahead shall be well advised and that they
shall be given the thoughtful cooperation of
all with whom they have to deal, particular
" the supply merchants and bankers.
A notable contribution to this end now
comes from the State College Of Agriculture
at Athens, in the form of a comprehensive
and expertly prepared program showing just
what can be done, and must be done, 10
make the year a success FOR the farms and
thereby success for the Commonwealth.
This program, says President Soule In giving
it out is not the ideas of any one man out
"the combined product of careful thought Dy
specialists in every department" 1t IS a
working plan, designed by practical students
for practical needs, and, as its proponents
believe. affords the farmer and associated
interests 1.-The largest measure OF relief IN the
shortest possible time
These suggestions, which are published in
full elsewhere in today's Journal, merit
careful reading. Summarized, they call Tor
the allotment of only one-third of the
the production, on the remaining tWo-th1rds,
of all the food needful for the sustenance Oh
the States people and it's live stock; the es-
Enlistment of cooperative marketing faclll-
ties in every community, and careful prepara-
ton of food and feed crops for commercial
handling. These recommendations, con-
sistently carried out, will offset the re-
verses that followed the sharp decline IN
prices on farm products and will plant Geor-
gia farming upon a basis OF independence
and efficiency from which will spring pros
perity unequaled in the goodl1est times gone
by.
In the statement presented by the College
of Agriculture these outlines are filled IN
with a wealth of concrete counsel and IN
formation Figures, for instance, are given
to show that if Georgias population and i've
stock are to subsist on her own resources
this year, without large imports from otner
regions, her farmers must grow s1xty-nVe
million dollars worth of foodstuffs more
than they harvested in 1920. A formidable
task this appears when viewed in its general
aspects; but as analysed by the college
specialists, who go into practical detalls anu
throw the light of workmanly s. 'ence on the
sundry problems involved, 1t appears aiCo
gether feasible
Consider, then, what it would mean to TINS
Commonwealth to be se1f-sustaining in the
matter of foodstuffs, so that the net income
from cotton would be clear money, to pc put
into savings 'anks invested in farm I'M
movements or expansions, and used for the
enrichment of home life and for the educa-
ton of sons and daughters. Gould we not
thus build Georgia beside whom our state
of today, for all her progress and natural
wealth. would seem shrunken and poor?
Could we not thus wipe out the deficits which
last years deflations entailed, and come TO
the harvest tide contented and free?
These happy ends will not be attained II
cotton is planted beyond conservative acre
age, or if the raising of food crops and 1000
animals is neglected, or if the peculiarly I'M
portant need of market facilities is over
looked. But if the policy outlined by the
College of Agriculture is duly followed the
year 1921 should prove epoch-mark1ng not
only in Georgia's agriculture but IN every
nrovince of her material welfare. That the
rank and file of intelligent farmers will
avail themselves of the scientific counsel
which is theirs for the asking, is not to pc
doubted; nor will representative bankers ana
merchants fail Of hearty cooperation IN this
program for the common good.