Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-09-11

OF 1863 480 acres under cultiva-
ton this year; with excellent
Yields recorded to the credit OF
practically every cultivated field
with almost every idle acre po-
tentially as productive as the
land in USE, and with land prices
Unfortunately low, considering
the demonstrated possibilities OF
the soil, Ben Hill presents in
duccments to the homeseeker
that are surpassed by no other
county in Georgia.
In point of area it is one of
the smallest counties OF Georgia
and in point of aggregate crop
production, il ranks correspond
ingfy, but in point of fertility OF
its soil and the per acre produc-
,ivity of its land under cultiva-
zion, taking the seasons as they
come, its record places Ben Hill
among the banner agricultural
counties of the state.
This year the land under cul-
tiyation in Ben Hill is only
about 1000 acres below the to-
tai area that ever was used for
growing crops, leaving approxi-
mately l04,840 acres OF land
within the borders of the county
that never has been disturbed by
the implements of agriculture:
For the most part, this unused
land is timbered with pine, oak
and other 6rest trees indigo
nous to the Coastal Plain region
i'm the heart of which Ben Hill
County lies-and, once cleared
and tiled, will be as responsive
TO good farming as is that which
has been converted into pros
porous, happy rural homesteads.
There was practically no IN
crease in cultivated area in the
county this year over that OF
1928. according to a careful sur
vey made by County Agent Z.
T. Owens, but as result OF the
encouraging results OF l9Z4
farming operations the probabii-
itv is that 1925 will bring ma
teriaI increase in this respect
over any former year.
Fine Citizens
Great as is the wealth III ma
tural physical resources, how
ever Ben Hill Countys MAJOR
asset consists not in that so
much as i'll the character OF its
citizenship-in the optimism, IN,
dustry anil progressive spirit OF
lis men anil women, urban and
rural-and its greatest need IS
more. thousands more, OF the
same type. They constitute .
community that does things
that looks to and has confidence
IN the future; that gives quarter
to no Encouragement,
Particularly does it need more
many more, industrious. progress
siye small farmers on its lant
now under cultivation as wei
as on that which is lying fallov
or in the virgin state. Like mos
South Georgia counties. Bel
Hills advancement is handicap
ped to a greater or lesser exten
by the tenant system; by alb
sentee ownership of vast acre
ages, by lapdlords--a system
that had its origin and develop
ment in the hey-day of the cot
ton growing industry. but tina
will not work" successfully I'm
der boil weevil conditions
which require personal attention
and intensive cultivation ant
care of small acreage, and, abov
all the growing of a diversity 0
crops. It is to be noted, how
ever. that in Ben Hill, to grea
err extent than in most OF it
sister counties of South Georgia
there is a marked and sympathe
tic tendency and disposition OF
the part of the extensive land
owners in this direction, and am
bona 6de prospective settle
seeking a foothold on Ben Hill
soil is in advance assured ever,
encouragement and assistance If
acquiring a rural home.
At one time essentially a cot
ton county. "Ben Hill wa
among the first counties of it
section to see the light upol
the approach of the boil weevi
and to put its house in order
for escaping ruin by that pest
thru Investigation, thereby get
ting away from dependence up
on the archaic one-crop system.
Some of the farmers, of course
slow to catch the vision. persist
cd too long in raising cotton
or trying to raise it--weevil OF
no weevil, went broke and qui
the land. But most Of then
stuck" took up farm dairying
as a side-line, devoted the bull
of their acreage to feed crops
for their cows, hogs and chick.
ems. and without an exception
SO local authorities say. every