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PAGE SIX
Livestock Industry Is
Using Wrong Business
Methods Says Mohler
The livestock industry needs 1930 models
of livestock and 1930 methods of manage
ment. This was the theme of the address
on “Our Livestock Industry,” which Dr.
John R. Mohler delivered befive the Central
States Tuberculosis Conference at Cedar
Rapids, lowa.
“Some of our most prized possessions of
a few years ago have lagged behind present
day progress,” said Doctor Mohler, who is
Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
U. S. Department of Agriculture. “The
motor car with two-wheel brakes, the old
time phonograph and even the earlier radio
sets have, for the most part, passed out of
present usefulness. An industrial concern
which expects to prosper does not use ob
solete methods and equipment. Junking
old machinery and remodeling old factories
takes both courage and capital, but in the
end these are wise and economical proced
ures.”
Livestock Industry Is Same
Turning to the livestock industry as a
parallel he asked, “How is it meeting this
same situation? Is there readiness to ad
mit the obsolescence of types of livestock
that no longer meet production needs and
market requirements? Is the livestock in
dustry as progressive as it might be?”
As an illustration of mass production,
Doctor Mohler said, “You can attend an
automobile show and later purchase almost
any where an exact duplicate of the car
you want, and as many as you may need
—or can pay for. In the case of livestock
this is not true. Animals are not so nearly
alike, though specimens of uniformly high
quality can be produced, and are being
produced to a very creditable extent. The
average quality, however, is still far below
the ideal. From a study of available data
I consider that more than 50 per cent of our
domestic breeding stock is obsolete from
the standpoint of most efficient produc
tion. I am confident that the estimate is
conservative.”
Livestock growers who follow obsolete
methods include those who take slight in
terest in improving their stock and those
who are prevented by adverse circumstan
ces. The industry should try to interest
and aid both classes.
Exaihples
Doctor Mohler gave examples of obsolete
methods. Chutes and squeeze gates have
replaced the more picturesque ranch method
of roping and throwing range stock. “The
old time permanent hog lot has already
become obsolete in the light of improve
ments in hog sanitation.” The incubator
is largely displacing the sitting hen. “One
impressive measure of this trend,” said
Doctor Mohler, “is the steady stream of
new and revised publications that pass over
my desk. The recommendations of a few
years ago, even of last year, are constant
ly revised and brought up to date with new
er and better information.”
Turning to suggestions for improvement
the speaker said that the means to this
end are fairly apparent. “There is need,
first, of breeding types that are more close
ly in accord with market demands. Why
raise cattle,, for instance, to ages of 4,5,
or even 6 years, when the market demands
smaller carcasses that will yield the cuts
preferred by small families.
“There is need for closer relation between
our standards for breeding stock and the
utility value of the product. If, as now ap
pears, quality in meat is an inherited char
acter, we may wisely develop within the
breeds, strains of cattle, sheep, and swine,
that will produce meat of assured quality,
and cull the unfit types.”
Dairymen and poultry growers have led
the way in culling unprofitable producers
from herds and flocks, Doctor Mohler said.
“The proving of bulls and the culling of
boarder cows are gradually reducing obso
lescence in dairy stock. The poultry in
dustry has forged ahead in recent years,
largely by scrapping old methods and utiliz
ing modem production principles, namely,
improved breeding stock, culling, and dis
ease control. The growth of the hatchery
industry which involves economies incident
to large-scale production, is likewise in step
with the modern age.”
PEANUT GROWERS ARE
ORGANIZED AND VOTE
(Continued from Page 1.)
to salt and roast peanuts but the addition
of salt costing one cent per pound to pea
nuts costing 9 1-2 cents should not make
them worth 50 cents a pound.
It is possible to purchase many kinds of
nuts in New York at far less than peanuts.
Brazil nuts for example, are gathered in
the far interior in the wilds of the Ama
zon valley, transported to the river steam
ers, and by the river steamers to the mouth
of the Amazon, whence they are shipped to
New York. They require cleaning, sacking,
duty must be paid and all the other ex
pense incidental to preparation for market
must be met. Yet Brazil nuts of good
quality are retailed at 10 to 25c per pound.
Walnuts are only 30 and 35 cents per
pound, even for the individually branded
nuts.
Brazil nuts and walnuts cost consider
ably more than peanuts at wholesale. In-
GEORGIA FARMER & FRUIT GROWER SECTION
WHAT’S DOING
IN THE U. S. D. A.
By E. G. Moore
Written Specially for Georgia Farmer
and Fruit Grower.
A recent action of Congress authorized
the Department of Agriculture to establish
an experimental cotton ginning laboratory.
Under the terms of the bill the Secretary
of Agriculture is author
ized to investigate the
ginning of cotton, to es
tablish and maintain gin
ning plants and labora
tories and to make such
test, demonstrations and
experiments and such
technical and scientific
studies in relation to cot
ton ginning as he shall
deem necessary.
A survey conducted by
■ ■
E. G. Moore
the Bureau of Plant In
dustry of the Department last year showed
that only about 80,000 peach trees out of a
total of more than 9,000,000 in Georgia
were found to be infected with the phony
peach disease. More than a million trees
were inspected in Jones county and only
3000 were found infected with the disease.
In Houston county 82 orchards were visit
ed and more than 20,000 trees were found
to be infected. Eighty-two counties of
the state containing a total of 1574 orch
ards were visited by inspectors. W. F. Tur
ner of the United States Peach Disease
Laboratory at Fort Valley supervised the
work.
Peanut producers report an intention to
reduce their acreage this season about 5
per cent below that of 1929. The only im
portant State indicating increased acre
age is Texas, where farmers may plant 3
per cent more than last year. The general
decrease appears desirable in view of prices
and four years of expanding acreage.
Sweet potato growers appear to be plan
ning an acreage 8.2 cent larger than was
harvested last year, and only 5 per cent be
low the excessive acreage of 1927. In the
Southern States, where the bulk of the
crop is grown for local consumption, the
reports indicate an intention to increase
acreage about 10 per cent over the 1929
harvested acreage. This would make the
1930 acreage the largest s'ince 1927, and
yields in line with those of the past four
years would result in a production only 6
to 8 per cent below the record crop of
1927 when prices were at least 10 per cent
less than in 1929.
An intented increase in the acreage of
the flue-cured tobacco of about 2 per cent,
chiefly in’ southeastern North Carolina,
South ■’Karolina and Georgia, is reported by
farmers answering the annual questionaire
sent out by the Department. An average
yield no larger than that of 1929 on the
intended acreage wolud result in the pro
duction of 777 million pounds, while a yield,
equal to the 5-year average would make
795 million pounds. Stocks on July 1 last
were 590 million pounds. Next July they
are expected to be from 610 to 620 million
pounds, so that the combination of increas
ed production and larger stocks may mean
a total supply in excess of 1400 million
pounds compared with 1350 million pounds
last season. Unless the quality excels that
of the 1929 crop, the average price per
pound is likely to be lower than growers
received last year.
Experiments conducted at the Georgia
Experiment Station indicate commercial
possibilities in the freezing of such fruits
as peaches, pears, muscadine grapes, black
berries, raspberries and figs. These fruits
were kept in frozen storage at a tempera
ture of from five to 10 degrees F. for about
six months before they were examined. A
statement issued by the Station says that
the chemical and physical properties of
fruits preserved in this manner are prob
deed, the retail margin on walnuts is only
about 10 cents per pound, as they retail
at 30 to 35 cents and wholesale at 20 to
25 cents.
Obviously, there is something wrong with
the marketing of peanuts that are to go
to the retail trade. The Brazil nuts are
controlled by a few large well financed
importers and the walnuts are marketed
mainly by one strong efficiently managed
California cooperative. These organizations
are able to get good prices and push sales
vigorously to the trade. Chain stores have
been induced to feature Brazils and wal
nuts with good results. Apparently, there
are no strong hands in the peanut industry
or if they are they are giving relatively
little attention to the merchandising of
peanuts in their original form.
If the humble peanut were properly ad
vertised, sales pushed vigorously and retail
margins kept within reason it is a safe
guess that the consumption of peanuts
would, increase by leaps and bounds. At
the very least it should not be such a
difficult feat to increase per capita con
sumption one pound in the metropolitan
district—which means 10,000,000 pounds
more peaunts passing into consumption.
Advertising, Proper
Container Selection
Is Vegetable Need
By GUY A. CARDWELL
The matter of containers varies with the
type of product and with the market in
which the product is sold. A satisfactory
container is one which is readily accepted
in the market, displays the product to best
advantage and carries the product with
least damage.
Much money can be saved by growers
through cooperative buying of containers
in carload lots. Such a practice also encour
ages the use of the same style container in
a particular section where most of the
growers are selling on the same market.
The use of standard containers establish
es a uniform basis of trading, encourages
uniform grading, and discourages wide
price ranges.
Products efficiently produced, well grad
ed and attractively packed deserve repeat
orders. This is often discouraged through
lack of proper identification. Where pos
sible, such as in the case of vegetables and
fruits the name and address of the pro
ducer as well as the official grade of the
product should appear cAi the package for
the consumer’s convenience in reordering.
One of the greatest problems of the in
dividual producer is that of sufficient sup
ply to meet the continuous needs of his
market. This condition can be somewhat
improved by greater specialization in the
production of those products in which the
excels and has a distinct market advan
tage.
In practically every city there is at least
one reliable dealer who would be interested
in making a specialty of handling high
grade native products, providing he was
assured of a sufficient supply. Such an
individual or firm should be encouraged
through greater patronage.
Cooperative marketing associations ren
der one of their greatest services by as
sembling the products of various individ
uals and properly distributing these prod
ucts to suit the varying needs of the mar
ket.
Effective advertising is an art. Inef
fective advertising is all too common. Many
think that advertising; is a “cure-all” for
every ill. Probably nothing is further
from the truth.
Without good markets, efficient produc
tion, standard grades, standard containers,
proper identification and sufficient supply,
advertising can do little if any good. Given
these essentials of better marketing, ad
vertising is the next logical step toward in
creasing sales.
The type of advertising should fit the
type of product to be sold. Choice of words
is most important and by all means tell
the truth. Some people seek to win favor
for their product by running down their
competitor. This is poor psychology and
bad business.
Cooperative marketing because of its
larger volume of busines and greater re
sources makes effective advertising possi
ble.
It is expected that there will be a five
per cent decrease in cotton acreage this
year in response to the request for cur
tailment issued by the Farm Board. An
effort is being made to obtain an equal
increase in quality.
NEW WAYS OF doing: things, new convenienees
for the farmer, new recipes or kitchen helps for
the housewife—for all these read the “Things Worth
Knowing” column, or write our Georgia Farmer and
Fruit Grower Information Bureau, 511 Glenn Bldjf.,
Atlanta, Ga.
ably nearer like those of the original fruit
than by any other ever developed by hor
ticultural science. The color, flavor and
aroma are preserved as nearly perfect as
the means at hand can detect. The first unit
of a large plant for preserving peaches by
the frozen-pack method is now being bifilt
at Montezuma.
With the new methods in poultry produc
tion there is no reason why chick mortality
should not be kept below 10 per cent says
Dr. M. A. Jull, poultry specialist of the
United States Department of Agriculture.
In certain sections it has been common to
regard a 15 to 20 per cent chick mortality
as nothing unusual he says. Dr. Jull
bases his statements on results of experi
mental work conducted by the department
and on results of poultry growers in sev
eral States where definite campaigns for
reducing chick mortality have been con
ducted. For the past three years the mor
tality for chicks up to four weeks of age
at the department’s animal husbandry ex
periment farm at Beltsville, Md., has been
below 4 per cent.
It is about time to start whitewashing
and the Department of Agriculture has a
good formula for weather-proof whit swash
for use on the exterior of buildings, fences
and elsewhere. Here it is; “Slake 62 pounds
or one bushel of quick lime with 12 gallons
of hot water; dissolve 2 pounds common
table salt and 1 pound sulphate of zinc in
2 gallons of boiling water; pour the salt
mixture into the lime mixture and add 2
gallons of skimmed milk and mix thor
\ oughly.
PEACHES SHOULD BE
HEAVIER THIS YEAR
(Continued from Page 1.)
country’s peach shipments ’.ids season. The
rest of the country may fall below last
year. The most seriou- commercial reduc
tion will occur in Illinois where the crop is
reported to be a complete failure. Last
year Illinois shipped 4,600 cars and was
second in importance only to Georgia in
supplying freestone peaches to Eastern
markets. Missouri, a less important state,
is also reported as practically wiped out.
Considerable damage hm. been reported
from Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Michigan and severe damage
has occurred to the Utah and Idaho crops.
Western New York nad Colorado appar
ently have good prospects. But these states
are not a factor until the Georgia ship
ping season is over.
Cantaloupes are going to be a strong
competitor for peaches and cheap canta
loupes will be something for peach grow
ers to think about.
California plums and cherries are also
expetced to be a big crop this year, al
though the cherry crop has suffered some
damage recently. Apricots are a short crop
and the shipments to Eastern markets will
be smaller than last year. Grapes will
start early but are not an important com
petitor. On the other hand, there is likely
to be a shortage of citrus right through the
entire peach season so that the competitive
factors balance up to some extent.
The pineapple crop is heavy this year but
the season is early and they will be fairly
well out of the way before peaches move
in volume. Strawberries are a short crop
and are not going to interfere with peaches
to any extent.
BROWN ROT OF POTATOES
IS NATIVE TO THE SOUTH
Unlike many of the fungous diseases
that affect truck and field crops, potato
brown-rot, which is caused by the bacter
ium Bacillus solanacearum, does not become
more serious from year to year as successive
crops of potatoes are produced in the field.
On the contrary brown-rot infections are
commonly most severe when potatoes are
grown on virgin soil. <
The bacterium causing the disease is na
tive to much of the early-crop potato area
of the South, and attacks several other
plants. This fact probably explains the
presence of the brown-rot disease in fields
never previously planted to potatoes. The
Department of Agriculture investigators
find that the disease diminishes in frequ
ency and severity the longer soils are culti
vated and cropped. In recent years the
brown-rot has caused serious injury to to
matoes.
Experiment has demonstrated that some
varieties of insects may transmit brown-rot
from diseased to healthy plants. Consequ
ently, the control of insects by spraying
is one of the important aids in checking
the spread of brown-rot. Department Cir
cular 281-C, issued by the United States
Department of Agriculture, gives a brief
and simple summary of current informa
tion on brown-rot.
NEW ORGANIZATION FOR
THE CHICAGO COLISEUM
A new Chicago Coliseum organization
has been formed under the name of the
“Chicago Coliseum Poultry Exposition
Inc.,” by the following officers:
President—Clifford V. Gregory, editor
The Prairie Farmer and chairman of the
Agriculture Committee of the Chicago
Chamber of Commerce.
Vice president—John J. Ferguson, Swift
and company.
Secretary and general manager—Harvey
C. Wood, who also retains his Madison
Square Garden connection as a director and
vice president.
Treasurer—Donold B. Lourie, the Quaker
Oats company.
Directors, the officers and Harold Abbott
of Albert Dickinson and company; A. G.
Phillips of Allied Mills, Inc., and Dr. O. B.
Kent of the Quaker Oats company.
The executive committee in active con
trol of the organization in process of in
formation, as are the Show and Advisory
committee.
About fifteen national specialty clubs
have pledged their annual meets and a few
others are on the verge of doing so. The
complete list will be announced shortly.
Ten state agricultural colleges have
pledged their teams for the Mid-Western
Intercollegiate Judging Contest.
Progress is already under way for
An Egg Show.
A Baby Chick Show.
An R. O. P. Show.
A Hatchery Flock Show.
A Commercial Exhibit of Dressed Poul
try.
A Boys’ and Girl’s 4-H Club Judging
Contest and a Pullet, Cockerel and Egg
Show for the Boy and Girls. This depart
ment is being conducted in cooperation with
Executive Secretary Guy L. Noble of the
National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’
Club Work and means the active partici
pation of from 1,000 to 1,500 boys and
girls who will be in Chicago at that time
attending the International Live Stock Ex
position.