Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-27
BOYS PRODUCING DIG
CROP IN HIGH SCHOOL
VOCATIONAL COURSE

Farm prMucts to the value of
$13O.322.1S We're produced last year
by Georgia high school boys study
ing vocational agriculture under the
provisions of the Smith-Hughes act,
according to the annual report OF
f. E. Land, state director of voca-
tional education, which was given
out for publication Saturday.
His report shows that the 1922 to-
tai of farm products produced by the
high school boys was Sal, 914.T more
than the 1921 total and almost $780,
600 more than the returns two years
ago. On the basis Of money eXpend-
ed in the classes, his report shows
a return of $1.57 for every dollar eG-
pended.
Two schools returned more than
SIS for each dollar invested, he stat
ed, and only. eight schools in Geor
gia failed to produce 81 worth of
farm products for each 81 invested
under the Smith-Hughes act.
The report shows that the most
profitable farm crop produced by the
boys was sweet potatoes, on which
they made d profit of $43 per acre;
cotton melted u return of $37.S8, fol-
lowed by peanuts at $3.50, and then
corn, on which they cleared SIT an
acre. The high return for sweet po-
70 Ia fa of
that the total production was small,
and that the bulk of their crop was
sold on the early market, it was
stated.
In Excess of Average
"In every case, the vocational boys
produced yields considerably in eX-
cess of the state average for the
principal crops" he stated in the re-
port. Their records show that the
average production of cotton made
in home projects was 593 pounds per
acre, as compared with the state av-
erage of 300 pounds; 29.5 bushels of
peanuts, as contrasted with state
average of 20 bushels; and in the
case of corn the state average of
II bushels was more than doubled
by the 25-bushel average made by
the boys. These yields, according
to the report, were not produced in
small patches or with excessive use
of fertilizer, but principally through
the use of pure seed and better cul-
turaI practices, resulting from their
class instruction.
1t is an interesting fact to note
that the 1920 census shows that
there is only one state in the
United States-TeXas-that has a
larger farm population than Geor-
gia.
Since this state has a larger city
development than Georgia, it would
seem that the prosperity of our
agriculture is more essential to our
progress than for any state i'll the
country.
Crop Doubled
Had the average farmer in
Georgia made as much corn per
acre as the average agricultural
student, the corn crop of Georgia
would have been worth $90,506,000
instead of $45,253, 900. Had the
average farmer in Georgia made as
much cotton per ACRE as the aver
age vocational agricultural student,
the cotton crop for Georgia would
have been worth more than $780,
SlO.UUU 1nSIedu OIL 9lU1,1Oc,UOO- Lie
additional money from these two
crops alone would have made
Georgia one Of the most prosperous
states in the south.
Vocational agriculture for every
boy in Georgia that wants this type
of education will make for a rich
and prosperous state"
The Georgia state board for voca-
tional education, in addition to as
sisting the twelve District A. &. M.
schools in their agricultural work,
is, according to Director +. E. Land,
cooperating with thirty-fve high
schools and eighteen negro schools,
in maintaining a department of voca-
tional agriculture. In these schools
more than 1000 farm boys are
studying agriculture. AS required
part of the work each boy is ex-
pected to carry on some farming
for himself, in which he puts into
operation the principles taught in
11o cCrOO11