Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-28

I figures to the state as a whole, 1t
appears that $500 negroes have
gone north and 1920 white people
have left the farms since January
| /, 1928, from the sixty counties re-
porting was 4,410. The estimated
number for the whole state would,
! therefore, be II $40.
In addition to the above, it is evil
dent that more than 1900 negroes
have moved from the rural sections
to urban communities in Georgia.
The reasons given for leaving are
high wages, failure Of the crop
| under boil weevil conditions and cur
tailment of credit. No doubt there
are other reasons as well, but these
are sufficient to show that the
movement of labor away from Geor-
gia is a menace to the future pros.
| perity of her agriculture, and that
the abandonment of farms has
reached an alarming proportion.
Evidently, the movement of both
white and colored people from ru-
raj sections to urban centers goes
on aDace.
The facts presented should give us
cause for serious thought and for
taking immediate action which will
help restore the proper equilibrium
between the labor supply of our ag-
riculture and industries. Otherwise,
there will be an over-congestion of
our towns and cities, intimidation
in the production of raw materials, a
depopulation of many rural districts
and the return of our agricultural
lands to waste and decay.
! Our people are being offered al
sorts of advice as to the best means
of overcoming boil weevil depreda.
tons. There are certain fundamental
principles which must never be lost
sight of i'm connection with this mat
ter. The presence of this insect nat
urally decreases cotton production
| We, first of all, must establish live.
athome program. 1t is mistake to
depend on poison altogether. There
is not enough calcium arsenate avail
able to dust 10 per cent of the cot
ton acreag gre of the south.
Even though poisons were availa
BILE in unlimited supply, it is still OF
more Importance than ever to use
only well-drained, fertile land. Plant
only. standard, arly-maturing varie
ties and use plenty of seed. Space
the cotton rather closely, cultivate
extensively, fertilize very literally
using high grade formulas and car
riers of nitrogen for side applica.
tions, destroy all cotton stalks as
soon as the crop has been picked out
in the fall and fight the weevil from
it's first appearance in the spring
until the crop is made. Let us adopt
the simple but effective measure OF
ckina up and destroying squares
on the small farm, if it is not found
feasible to secure and use calcium
arsenate for this purpose at a rea
sonable cost.
Experts are still of the \opinion
that the busting plan is the best
practice to follow. There is a di
versity of opinion as to the effect
iveness of the control which can be
accomplished through the use OF
syrup mixtures. Much interest has
been evidenced in the Florida plan
How it will work on a large sca'f
in that state or in Georgia is Still
| problematical. The investigation
! which will be made this year viii
| probably reveal the value Of this
pan anu eidDIS HlOIb uCIIiIitC ctlSs
| gestions to be offered relative there
to another year.
Rational leadership at this tim;
is one of or most crying needs
| We have thousands of so-callei
| leaders whose chief claim to recog
| milton centers in the fact that they
are chronic kickers and expert
! noise makers. Their love for the PEG
! &c nhenc-inT ~
| can work themselves up into Z
| fever of discomfort over the grieV
ances of our farmers. They love Il
play upon their sympathies an
imagination. They are either igno
rant of fundamental economic law.
or principles or willfully ignore til.
same. For the most part, their ad
vice is misleading and calculate.
to create suspicion and multipl,
misrep presentation without offerir;
any solution of the problem unde
discussion.
This the farmer is buffeted abou
until he has reached the conclusion
that there is no longer Dependable
source from which he can obtail
the information and guidance h
so sorely needs. What is to be don
i
to train ten thousand Georgia boy
and girls in the fundamenta
sciences so they can go out and pre-
vide our farmers with the correc
type of leadership. Agriculture
the oldest of the arts and the mos
complex of the sciences. The tim
when We can depend upon qIack
who will twist and misinterpra
any statement if they think # WI
gain them some advantage ha
passed.
If the farmers of our countr
wish to SECURE independence and
fair deal, they can only accom-
plish it through the development
Of high-class leaders of their ow
who have come up from the soil an
| who understand and appreciate tn
needs of the open country. Me
who are so pure in heart and S
noble in purpose that they will no
betray so great a trust should or
portunity afford. Men who have tn
courage to look for the truth. t
put a correct Interpretation upon
when they see it and to advise thel
followers how to meet and solve i
a just and fair way the most pei
picking and difficult problems.
If We can develop and secuy
this sort of support for the caus
of agriculture, the most of the ev
by which it is beset at this tin.
can be cured and our primary indu:
try placed upon a safe and san
basis. Demagogy in agriculture
leadership should be buried so deer
ly from this date forward that
can never be successfully resurrect
ed.