Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-03-20
n'ORE PEANUTS
SHOULD BE GROWN
in THE COUNTY
J. K. Simmons Urges More Interest
In Growing of Peanuts in Ben Hill

Somehow there is not much interest
IN peanuts in this county as there are
IN other counties adjacent to Ben Hill
his is not altogether the fault OF
the farmers themselves, though they
are responsible in a way.
J. X. Simmons, organizer for the
Peanut Growers Association spent a
few days in the county last week and
made a survey of the situation. In
speaking of the local conditions he
said:
The Chamber of Commerce has
been active in working out a safe pro-
gram of diversification and DR.. C. T.
Owens, County Agent, has been very
active in putting this program before
the farmers. While | represent the
peanut growers association, we are
not by any means stressing the grow
ing OF peanuts. We only advocate grow
ing peanuts to the extent that a safe
and sane diversified program calls for.
AS an association of farmers of Geor-
gia, our organization breaches diversi-
fication.
| think it is indeed time for diver
sification. Our farmers should try va
rlous and sundry crops, with a special
view looking towards full larder for
the farm home, then any surplus crops
will supply the needed cash. A diversi-
fled program will also mean if there
happens to be a loss on one crop the
others will likely produce we'll and
therefore offer a cash income, thus
insnring the farmer against a total loss
as in the case of the al-cotton farmers
the past season.
l have found a good many farmers
in this county who say they would
like to plant peanuts but are unable
to buy seed. Of course, I am not in
position to say whether these people
can offer suitable collateral or not, but
if they can, they should be assisted
Our association is now forming a
financial corporation to be known as
the Georgia Agricultural Credit Cor
poration. We propose to sell 100000
worth of stock in this corporation, ask
ing the local banks of the state to
subscribe this sum- To each bank that
subscribes stock, they will be permit
ed to secure loans for their farmer
customers to an amount equal to ten
times the amount of the stock they
subscribe. These loans will be made at
i Per cent interest, payable in six to
pine months, and any landlord, who is
ROT otherwise involved, can secure this
money on crop mortgage, or other Sc
curity usually accepted by the local
bank.
In case of tenants, it will be neces-
sary that landlords endorse for them
These are times that call for closest
cooperation between farmer and bus
mess man. One is dependent on the
other. If we are to have a prosperous
community, we must help the farmer
to be prosperous. Farming is not a
one-man proposition. The farmer is
the producer, and it is up to the bust
ness man and banker to help him or
ganize for a systematic, scientific mar
keting of his product That is the only
way we can help him to overcome the
Ubiquitous evil of dumping commo,
dities on glutted markets, which Of
course, means the lowest price possible
and which also means that farm pro-
ducts so sold, are sold at price be-
low cost of production.
Until the farmer gets his business
so organized that he can get a fail
profit on his products, just that long
will he live on heavily mortgageo
farms and remain in a debt ridder
state. And just that long will prosper
ity be returning to- this great country
we are living in.