The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-07-25
FARM BUSINESS IN
SUMTER ANALYZED
u. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRI-
CULTURE CONDUCTS INVES-
CATIONS; GIVE RESULTS.

To determine the significant factors
that make for success or failure in the
management Of representative farms
in southern Georgia, the United States
department of agriculture in co-opera-
ton with the Georgia Agricultural
college conducted Investigations in
1918 and 1918 in Sumter county COW
ering more than 500 farms at each pc
Rod, the results of which have just
been published in department bulletin
No. 1884 Farm Management and
Farm Organization in Sumter County,
Georgia. The studies show the changes
that occurred in farming in this cot
ton country between 1918, typical
pre-war year, and 1918. -.
White owners operated about hall
of the '534 farms studied i'll 1918 and
$50 studied in 1918 These farms rep
resent more than two-thirds Of the
total crop acreage reported, and pro-
duce almost three fourth OF the cotton.
In 1918 one-third Of all the farms
were operated by negro tenants, who
handled one-sixth of the crop acreage
and produced almost one-siXth OF the
cotton. Farms ranged in size from less
than so acres to more than 1000, and
the yields OF lint cotton from less than
100 pounds to more than 500 per acre.
Notable Changes.
During the years from 1918 and
1918, farm practices changed notice
ably. The cotton acreage decreased
one-third, from 81 per cent OF the to-
tai crops to 81 cent. The corn acreage
increased until it almost equaled cot
ton. The growing of wheat and pea
nuts increased. Almost no wheat was
grown there in 1918, but in 1913 near
" two-thirds OF the farms grew some.
The application OF fertilizer decreased
81 per cent The velvet bean was in
troduced, principally as an interplant-
ed crop with corn. The production of
live stock increased particular atten-
zion being given to hogs. The decrease
in the use OF commercial fertilizer was
made up, at least in part, by an in
crease in such legumes as velvet beans,
COW peas and peanuts. More land is
now utilized for second and inter
planted crops. There was a tendency
for share-cropper labor to supplant
wage labor
These changes indicating improve
ment in farming were more noticeable
on farms operateds by white owners.
Colored operators tend to stick more
closely to cotton production.
There was much higher farm in
come at the end of the five-year pc
Rod than at the beginning, but prac-
tically all the increase. was the result
of higher prices rather than OF increas-
ed production Also, the estimated
value of real estate increased greatly.
On farms of about the same size and
yield of cotton per acre, earnings were
highest where the proportion of crop
land in cotton was greatest.
Farmers who used the most man
labor and the most mule labor per
acre, and who used the most fertilizer
as a rule get the best yields and the
largest net earnings For farms in the
same class the cost of producing a
pound OF lint cotton, decreased with
the increase in the Size aof farm and
the yield per acre. On farms with high
yields, the cost of growing cotton per
pound was generally lower than on
farms with low yields, though the
cost per acre was higher.
The bulletin, which is professional
paper, treats the agricultural problems
of Sumter county in great detail. Per-
sons in parts of the south where con-
ditions are similar, if they care for
more information, may get the bulle-
tin from, the department at Washing
ton, d. C