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FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA 147
the heads being so thick you could not walk across the field with
out stepping on them; but consider from $200 to $400 an acre
net a fair average on fall cabbage, though once or twice I made
as much as $500 an acre.
"So far as the climate here is concerned I would not want
anything better. I do not believe there is anything that can beat
us in the United States for a healthy and favorable climate.
"While we have made a success with apples here, I believe
Northwest Georgia is better adapted to same and that within a
few years it will become one of the most famous apple growing
sections of the country, for they can grow the finest apples in
the world there without irrigation. I have been told by experts
that there is no other commercial apple orchard so far South
as ours."
Making Inches Count
Just three acres of Georgia soil, and no horse, is the domain
of James E. Thomson, of Griswoldville, Ga., who learned at his
former home in England how to make inches count in farming.
As an example of intensive industry his story is inspiring:
"I have three acres here," says Mr. Thomson, "of which about
one and a half is chicken and hog yard planted in Bermuda grass,
where it is not a pine grove, about one acre in flower garden,
vegetable garden and orchard, and about a half acre in house,
yard, outbuildings, etc. Thought perhaps it might interest some
of your readers to know what can be made on a small place. Six
years ago this place was nearly all a pine and briar thicket, and
the land was so poor that it would not even sprout peas, as the
saying goes. In a few years I hope to have it so rich that things
can be planted close like we did in England, instead of having
everything planted so far apart that they can hardly see each
other. Every inch I have is growing something, and I have been
told that there was not room for a fellow to turn around.
"In six months I have sold io8>^ dozen eggs, 37 chickens, 15
pigs from one sow, and incidentally two Collie pups. From
orchard and garden I have canned 163 cans, have 13 quarts of
fruit juices, sold 78 quarts of strawberries, and still have produce
from two peach, nectarine, three pear, two apple and one damson
plum trees. From garden only keep note of all seed bought,
when produce is sold to pay that, my wife gets the rest, except
the tomatoes and pimentos, which I will can. We nearly live out
of the garden, and have plenty of canned soups and vegetables
for winter use. Orchard is all sown in 'everbearing' cow peas.
"I have no horse, but just against my three acres is four acres
belonging to my wife. There is about two and a half of this in
There are many suc
cessful negro farmers
in Georgia and every
where they receive the
respect and confidence
due to industry and
ambition. Bankers as
sert that such negroes
are much more prompt
in meeting their ob
ligations than the av
erage white farmer.
The largest cultivated
farm in Baker county,
10,000 acres, is owned
and operated by a ne
gro, Bartow Powell, who
works 1%5 plows. He
started life as a freight
handler on the Flint
River, saved his money
and acquired lands. Ne
groes have equal oppor
tunities with whites in
Georgia for attaining
competency by diligent
labor. Black labor
here too is worthy of
its hire.