Here©s Georgia! LIBRARIES - the Digital Library of Georgia

6o FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA
tenant farms. The average size of the Georgia farms had de
creased continuously from 440.9 acres in 1850 to 92.6 acres in
1910. Many of the old baronial plantations have been sub
divided and sold or rented hence the rapid reduction in the
average size of the "farms." There are still quite a few of the
big plantation units left; some operated by their owners, who,
by modern methods, by the use of power tractors, gang plows
and two-horse cultivators, and by rotation and diversification of
crops, are being richly rewarded for their labors. They are
proving beyond question, too, the splendid opportunities for
thrifty farmers in Georgia.
There died in this State in December, 1915, a man, who from
his lands had accumulated a fortune estimated at four million
dollars. He had started with only the proverbial shoe string. He
had had no grub stake no property inheritance. His was said
to be the largest cultivated farm in the State. A few years ago
his cotton crop, sold in one lot, brought him a check for $160,000.
He employed an army of negroes, ruled his domain like a feudal
king, raised cattle and hogs, fruits, hay and grain, and vegetables
by the train load, and used science and common sense to attain
the one desired end. As an example of what can be done with
Georgia soil his life©s work was truly worthy.
PEACHTREE HOAD (ASPHALT MACADAM) NEAR ATLANTA