Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-22
Cotton VIII Not Be Aban-
doned Entirely, but Plant
ers Will Grow Their Own
Foodstuff
BY RALPH SMITH

EN- ROUTE, Dec. 20.-The boil
weevil did not overlook Warren coun-
ty in his attack upon the fertile fields
in the sections between Macon and
Augusta, but it is gratifying to re-
mark that the infestation was not
as destructive to the cotton crop as
in Jones, Baldwin, Jasper and Put
nam counties.
The normal cotton yield in War
rem county approximates IA, 900 bales.
Last year they produced $4,000, and
this years crop will exceed 5000
bales. And there are many persons
in Warren county who believe the
weevil has done his worst. Next
year, they think they will make a
much larger crop. Certain it is, the
farmers of the county are going to
make a mighty effort.
But Warren county is not going
to pin everything to the sanguine be-
lief of her people that they can still
raise cotton. The farmers are 60
ing to increase their acreage in
grain, velvet beans, sweet potatoes,
cane, and they are going to engage
more extensively in the production
of meat, chiefly hogs.
1t is not the idea Of the people to
produce grain in commercial guam
titles for sale as such. 1t is their
idea to produce enough grain-wheat,
oats and corn-to feed themselves
and supply their stock and cattle.
Farmers Attitude
"It is more difficult than one
imagines to persuade the average
farmer to depart from the footsteps
Of 70 nd r6fq thnY ~ oh
served r. F. Fowler, cashier Of the
Citizens bank of Warrenton, COM
menting on the situation.
Warren county has always been
a cotton county, and our people are
not disposed to abandon it's produc-
ton. They appreciate the difficult
ties presented by weevil infestation,
but with favorable weather they be-
lieve cotton offers the best medium
for getting a profitable return for
their time and trouble.
I'm these circumstances, however,
it is encouraging to observe, as l
have observed, that our farmers are
going in more extensively for the
production at home of such sup
plies, as it has been necessary here
tofore for them to purchase. They
are sowing an abundance of grain,
lots of beans and peas, and they are
going to produce more than enough
pork to supply the county.
"In addition, there is another hope
full development, and that is the
dairying business. Already, we have
in the county five small diaries,
which are shipping, for the most
part, whole milk. The sour cream
feature of the dairying business has
| not been developed, but as the bust
ness grows I expect to see many
of our farmers engage in the ship
ment of either sweet or sour cream,
or both"
1t had been my hope to have a
talk with c.. r. Fitzpatrick, of the
Citizens bank, and one of the larg-
est cotton farmers in middle-eastern
Georgia, when in Warrenton, but he
was out of town. Mr.. Fitzpatrick
produced cotton this year, under
weevil conditions, with measure
of success. He made $50 bales as
against 1895 bales last year.
The Safe Program
''Mr. Fitzpatrick is going to plant
cotton next year." Cashier Fowler
said, "but, and this is important as
rejecting a general sentiment in
Warren county, he is going to sow
1000 acres IN grain. He is going
TO make his plantation self-sustain-
Ing and then he is going to make
cotton-that's the program in the
county,"
There is considerable interest in
the possibility of peanut production,
and, as in Baldwin, Jasper and Put
nam counties, it seems certain that
a quantities of peanuts will be pro-
duced in Warren next year.
The situation in Warren growing
out Of the short cotton crop has
been relieved no little by the opera
ton of several saw mills and plan
ing plants. There is a big supply
Of second-growth timber in the, coun-