Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-25


Y AM tired of talking about
pistol "toters," bootleggers
n and petty thieves. They
seemingly have their place IN
the world and there -is appar-
entity a never failing source OF
supply. This jury knows the
dangerous character of such Of
lenses, and will diligently seek
and relentIessly present such
offenders. Therefore, without
excuse or apology, I am going TO
plunge headlong into the SUD
ject of agriculture"
I have recently made the state
ment in answer to the question:
What are the important things
of life?" that, in this particular
section. at least, they are: Ag-
riculture, Immortality and the
Flotation of ShortTime Small
Loans" Certain it is that farm
ing is our basic industry. BY
farming, include, of course, the
related Industries, live stock
raising. dairying, truck garden
ing and poultry raising.
California has her mines OF
gold and her ports opening to
the great sea; Pennsylvania has
her vast deposits of coal, and the
smoke of her furnaces darkens
the sky; New York has her
great financial institutions and
her seaport, through which
moves a great part of the COM
merce of the continent; Florida
has her phosphate rock, her
mullet fish and her tourists, but
with south Georgia it is farm or
famish.
If you are not concerned, and
deeply concerned in everything
which promotes, develops and
makes more prosperous agricuI-
ture, move. If you are not rail-
lying to the support of our ex-
pertinent stations, our agricul-
tural schools and colleges; our
farm demonstration and home
economies work, then you are
failing to perform your duty as
a citizen. Failing to take adj
vantage of the one great privi-
lege of a human life, the privi
lege of serving present times and
future generations.
We may or may not ultimately
build a great civilization in this
section; if so, its foundation will
be deeply laid in the success and
prosperity of agriculture and it's
allied industries-"a else is
sinking sand" so far as We are
concerned. I am, of course,
speaking primarily of material
Civilizat ton; of worldly things. 1t
is possible to accomplish much
in the things of the mind, heart
or soul without any great degree
of financial success; but it seems
to me that worldly prosperity
and financial achievement should
not hinder, but should promote
the march of mankind toward
the one great thing, the building
of human character; the uplift-
ing of the spiritual in human
kind.
Dirt Or DESK Farmer
I have great respect for the
ability that comes through prac-
teal experience; L favor the
dirt" rather than the desk"
farmer; but it is a mistake for
either to reach the conclusion
that the other cannot tell him
anything worth while. approve
the Dickens school master
plan;" he taught the pupil to
spell "horse' and then sent him
to water, feed and curry the
animal. There is no reason why
one should not be a whole lot
of "dirt" farmer and somewhat
of a desk farmer, too.
Don't get the idea y because
you read a few books on agri-
culture and an occasional copy
of the Country Gentleman, that
you are solely prepared to coun-
sci the farmer or take over the
farm. 1t is just as unWise to
form the opinion that you know
1t all because you were raised
between the corn rows or the
plOw handles. That will not
necessarily give you monopoly
on sound ideas in farming. [
will try to demonstrate later on
that steering mule is just
one of the many things a farm
er should know in order to
prosper. Formulate your own
final opinion, certainly, bat do
this after giving due considera-
ton to all the other fellow
knows or can think he knows.
Gold has been found in unexpect-
ed places. If only wise men
could invent or give sound ad-
vice the world would not have
reached it's present state of deA
velopmcnt.
Possibly you mentally chal-
lenge my right to discuss the
subject before us, and feel that
L speak as a scribe or pharisee,
and not as one in authority. [
have read much, thought a lit
tie, and worked quite bit. 1
bought land in the woods, clear
ed and stumped it. In an effort
to learn what it was really
worth to take out stumps. per-
sOnally welded an occasional
shovel, mattOck and ak. l reach
ed the conclusion that no land
owner can have land stumped
and prosper financially. that is
if he pays full value for serV-
ices rendered; the stumper will
soon get the farm. But serious
ly, the stumps should come out
as fast as possible, regardless
of cost; it's best. No man can
pillow in, around and over them
and prosper financially or make
any Roadway religioJsly.
We learned among other
things that there is no easy way
to get rid of stumps. We burned,
we dug and cut. we dynamited.
and we pulled and rising TO
Cynicism if not to the wisdom
of the wise man Of old, we said:
Vanity. vanity. all is vanity!
Getting rid of stumps is like
raising children. lifting mort.
cages. and shaving with a duh
razor. There amt no easy
way"
So oft repeated that it is bro.
midic, but nevertheless true, the
first rule of success is BUY
nothing that can be raised on
your farm" Raise it even
though it can be bought for a
W.