The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-22
By F. H. JETER
BY F. II. JETER

BY F. H. JETER
In December, 1871, four years
ago, Homer G.. johnson of Gamer
on, Route l, Moore County, paid
out his last $500 to have man
move him to another farm. In the
four years that have elapsed since
that time, his net worth has in.
creased to $5,000.00 and he is get
ting along very nicely.
After eight years of tenant farm
ing the Johnson family always
found itself in about the same fl
nancial condition each year. AS in
dividuals, they were not getting
ahead. Although they were hard
working and ambitious and had liv-
ed on good farms, tenant farming
didn't seem to offer them the op-
portunity to accumulate anything.
So Mr.. Johnson applied to the
Farm Security Administration for
loan with which to buy farm
of his own. The application was ap-
proved by the county FSA commit
tee and the Johnsons were told to
locate a suitable place. After an
extensive search, and several dis
sppointmnts, they located 50-acre
farm. The farm was approved by
the committee, and the Johnsons
purchased it in December, 1941.
The family moved onto their farm
with one mule, a one-horse wagon,
and a milk COW. Their total net
worth at that time was $549 and
their diets amounted to $206.
Today, the Johnsons have a net
worth of S., 1892. They have no debts
other than the remainder due on
the loan.
The story of this family's sue
cess comes from E. H. Garrison,
MoorMoore County farm agent,
who has
visited many of the 81 farm owner
ship borrowers in that county. Mr..
Garrison has assisted the families
in various ways from time to time.
He says the Johnsons borrowed 81
$50 from the Farm Security Ad-
ministratio at per cent interest
on unpaid principal. The first year,
particularly, was hard going. They
missed electricity for lights, iron
ing and refrigeration. Water had to
be carried up hill about 700 yards.
They lived in an inconvenient old
dewlling while their new house was
being built. The land was rundown
and acre yields were low. The neg
lected soil was diseased with root
knot and neighbors assured Mr..
johnson that he wouldn't be able
to make enough to pay for his
fertilizer.
Now, after four years of rather
careful planning and hard work, to-
gether with cooperation from the
Extension Service, Soil Conserva-
ton Service, and the Farm Securi-
ty Administration, the, farm looks
like a different place.
The Johnsons live in a modern
5-room dwelling: They have barn,
poultry and brooder house, a smoke
house, and two tobacco barns. A
hydraulic ram has been installed
at the spring and the family en-
Joys running water for the home,
including shower bath. They also
have water for the poultry and the
livestock, and often furnish it to
neighbors for spraying crops. The
yard was handicapped by John Har'
ris. farmstead Identification specl
alist, and most Of the work is now
complete. Brick are on hand FOL
understanding the house. The faml
" enjoys a gasoline washing ma
chine, a kerosene refrigerator,
pressure Gamer, sewing machine
and a radio.
MORE
The Johnsons have improved
their rundown soil by terraclng
crop rotation, and the seeding O
winter and summer legumes unit
the farm now is completely self
supporting. Prof of this may b.
found in the annyal farm and hom'
record book which they keep. The!
grow adequate hay and grain to-
the livestock, with some surplus tt
sell. They have a year-round SUE
plu of beef, milk, butter ant
cheese, pork and lard, chicken
and eggs, fresh and canned ant
stored vegetables, fruits. and swee
and Irish potatoes. They sell sur
plus butter, eggs and sweet pota
toes.
Crop yields have increased, on
|per acre basis, as follows slnc'
|1941: tobacco from 700 to l,2V
pounds; corn from Is to So bushels
and wheat from IS to Is bushels.
The first two years, the iano