Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-22
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR. ANDREW M. SOULE

to this crop in 1920, with a yield
of 34.7 bushels per farm. We should
raise at least 554 bushels this year
if we are to meet the states re-
quirements, which can be conserva-
lively stated at 17,225,O00 bushels
OF hay we grew 1.S acres per farm
last year, with a yield of two tons
per acre. We really need to raise
at least three tons per farm. Nine
hundred thousand tons is the mini
mum amount of hay we can get along
with. 1t should be a simple matter
to increase the yield by approximate
ing 275,00 tons. For some reasons
or other we have never emphasized
hay production on basis common
surate with our needs. We spend a
good deal of money each year for
western hay. This certainly is a
mistake, in view Of the great variety
of hay crops which we can grow in
!. Georgia.
We are now growing less than one
acre of sweet potatoes per farm. The
average yield is about 442 bushels
per farm. We need to increase this
yield to at least 80.3 bushels per
farm, and even then we would be
producing only 18,750,0O0 bushels. AS
a matter of fact, there should be a
larger market in Georgia for sweet
potatoes than now exists. Our pop
ulation is not far from 100000 and
six bushels of potatoes per capita
would call for a production Of 49,
100000 bushels. There certainly
should be market in other sections
Of the country for the Georgia yam
to an extent Of 100000 bushels. If
the plans now inaugurated by the
farm bureau are carried into effect
and the virtues Of the potato are
properly placed before the discrimi-
mating householders Of the north and
west we can easily find market
for the 100000 bushels of pota-
fort which we should not fail to en-
phasize as it offers us a new avenue
of profitable production.
Last year we grew .65 acre of pea
nuts per farm. The average yield per
farm was 1862 bushels. The yield per
farm to meet the requirements Of
the state would have to be raised to
1872 bushels. This means to increase
the crop three times over that of
1920. Fifteen million bushels of pea
nuts could surely be disposed of
to ADVANTAGE when we consider that
they can be grazed down by hogs and
utilized in SO many forms as human
food. Undoubtedly If bushel or
two Of sailed peanuts were eaten by
each individual member Of the aver
age Georgia family the dietary
would be substantially improved
thereby. To provide this many pea
nuts would call for doubling the
present crop. 49,, ..
Or Irish potatoes, we raised So
bushels per farm in 1920. If we were
to raise the amount this year to 1913
bushels we would then be producing
only 100000 bushels. AS a matter
of fact. we raised 1,628,000 bushels in
1920. Unquestionably a large part
Of the potatoes used in this state are
ShinnQd in from other cnntinnC
could raise 100 bushels per acre in
Georgia with very little difficulty.
We could grow two crops a year.
We have a section in the northern
part of the state where the potato
does exceptionally we'll. Why not eX-
tend the acreage Of this important
and essential crop so that we may
potatoes We need this year. By do
ing so we would keep within the bor-
ders of the state several million dol
lars now sent to other sections where
this crop can not be grown more
profitably or successfully than in
Georgia.
The yield of eggs per farm in 1920
was 100 dozen. We should raise this
to 1913 dozen per farm in order to
meet the requirements of the state.
The state needs for local consumption
about 259,000.000 dozen eggs. Why
SHoulu we Neglect the poultry indus
try TO the extent indicated? At the
present time we appear to be pro-
duclrg only about one-tenth as many
dozen eggs as we need. I have fire.
Quently called attention to the fact
that our dietaries were overloaded
with meat. that they are deficient in
green-leaved vegetables and in the
products of the orchard and garden
generally. Anyone can start in the
poultry business on a small scale,
There Is no trouble about producing
foods needed for the DEVELOPMENT Of
mems and chickens successfully. We
nave an open and mild climate and
PROBABLY on that account we exnecr
the hens to rustic too much for them
selves. Let us correct this defect in
our preset system of production.
II we do the things Indicated above
we VIII then have added S65. 600, 000
10 the wealth of the state this vear
Or from another point of view we
VIII nave prevented the sending orr
OF Georgia an amount of money eonai
10 the sum indicated. BY foiloWinn
out the program which has hean nra'
sented we will insure the devotion of
a sufficient acreage to cotton ana W. W.
viii nave made the fleecy stanIe int
a surplus and a cash crop as we'll 'o
Stnrtfng A Farm r,a.. 60