Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-27

would not aust more imam a lew
million acres out of the thirty
to thirty-five million acres we
annually plant to cotton in the
south.
Most of the cotton produced
even under boil weevil condi-
tions in the past has been ma
tured without the aid Of calcium
arsenate. We wish to direct our
farmers attention to this i'm
portant and fundamental fact,
and to say that the man who
uses every resource at his COM
mand in the fight against the
weeviIs can still hope to make a
fair to a very good crop of cot
ton without the aid of calcium
arsenate.
Calcium arsenate is like insur-
ance-a very desirable protec-
ton at all times. In many in
stances, it is a saving grace
but we can grow cotton without
it, and, undoubtedly, much of
that harvested this year will be
matured without It's aid. I am
quite sure this will continue to
be the case for many years to
come. l am taking the trouble
to point out these facts and to
emphasize this matter because
lot of our people have gotten
the wrong psychology about this
proposition. Many of those, for
instance, who cannot get cal:
cium arsenate think it not
worth while to undertake the
cultivation of cotton. 1t would
be deplorable If this conclusion
were reached by any very large
percentage of our farmers. I
do not wish to be misunder-
stood in this connection. We
must fight the Weevil with every
agency and all the power and
sagacity we possess, and the
man who does not use calcium
arsenate must make a special
effort in the direction indicated.
If we abandon the cultivation
of cotton save on those areas
for which we can secure a suf-
ficiert amount of calcium ARISEN
ate, our production of cotton in
Georgia would fall far below
the requirements of our own
mills, and a great financial dis
aster would overtake us locally
and the balance of the world be
denied an adequate supply of
cotton as well. .}'.
Reasonable Acreage
\ We are still of the opinion
that the acreage in cotton
should be limited to a reason
able degree. From six to ten
acres to the pillow is the right
amount, but there is no reason
why this much land should not
be cultivated in cotton on every
farm where a live and progress
sive policy has been inaugural
ed. In the absence of this,
failure is certain to be recorded.
The boil weevil has forced a
change in our farming plans.
I think the inefficient and in
competent farmer has been
wiped off the map just as eff
fectively as the cyclone clears
the landscape over which it
sweeps. If agriculture in Geor-
gia is ever to "come back" it
will be on an entirely new basis,
and through the institution and
pursuit of new methods of farm
practice.
"Old things have passed away,
and all things have become
new" This is the statement of
Holy Writ. 1t cannot be gain
said. 1t has stood the test of
all the ages. 1t applies with
peculiar aptitude to our agri-
cultural conditions here in Geor-
gia at the present time. The
boil weevil has taken up a per-
manent residence in our state.
We must either fight him, or
abandon our patrimony to his
domination. We can control
his activities and limit his de.
. structive influence to an aston
ishing degree by taking fore
thought. A united, systematic
effort on the part of every
farmer to that end is what is
needed to carry this program
into effect.
We possess the best natural
facilities in the world for the
production of cotton. 1t is 60
ing to tax our energies to the
utmost to supply that proper
ton of the fleecy staple which
the world may properly expect
us to provide for our own looms
and those of the other nations
which are engaged in the spin
ming of cotton. 1t must be our
policy from this day forward
to obtain higher yields per acre
and cultivate only those varie-
ties which will yield a desirable
staple. Let us concentrate our
efforts on the accomplishment
of these essential ends. If we
will take these suggestions to
heart and put them into prac-
tice, there is nothing to pre-
vent the great majority of our
4 farmers from gathering one
hundred and fifty pounds and
upward of lint cotton per acre
from the crop of 1928.
When the ginning record is
completed, there is no reason
why Georgia farmers should not
have at least 100000 bales of
cotton to offer the world.
Unless some cosmic revolu-'
ton, which is not in evidence at
this time, takes place, this fiber
should bring our farmers a good
price in view of the commend
able effort now being put forth
by the Georgia Cotton Growers
CO.OneratiYe association tn in