The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-24
Rambling Notes.
BRooKHAvEN, Miss, April, 1873.

The portion of Mississippi that borders on
the great railroad that extends from New
Orleans to Chicago is at present under
cloud, but occasionally we find an opening
in that cloud through which we can see its
silver lining and the clear blue sky beyond.
Mr. C.. Menelas, a Greek gentleman of
great enterprise, last fall bought the Whit
worth plantation, situated on the railroad
two miles from this place, and with his
brother and nephew commenced farming
here last January. The estate consists of
1900 acres of pine and bottom land, with
com Portable dwelling, a mill, cotton
gin, corn mill and liberal supply of barns,
sheds and Outhouses. The OuthOuses and
fences needed pretty extensive repairs, and
most of the old fields, like scores of thOus-
ands of other old fields in this State, were
much impoverished and greatly the worse
for wear.
The new proprietor, charmed with his
new home, has undertaken the regeneration
of this estate with resolution, energy and
intelligence. With his simplicity OF living
and strict frugality so much needed in this
country, can hardly fail of ultimate success.
He is merchant farmer, never having
followed farming before; and merchants
and doctors appear to make better farmers
than many who have had a lengthy expert
ence ia agricultural pursuits, but find it
hard to throw offGld prejudiceS and to adapt
themselves to the new order of things. Mr..
Menelas has the sagacity to hunt up the best
draw from them facts which he turns to
good account. He will this season plant
pretty bl DAD surface in corn and moderate
amount of Cotton.
This year will be a season of cautious, but
judicious, experiments, on his estate in re-
gard to some of his crops, to be pursued or
abandoned in coming years according to his
success or failure the present year. He has
planted about so acres of oats, ID of Irish
potatoes, of barley, of rye, of Alfalfa
each OF chufas and peanuts. of sweet
potatoes, 3 of red clover, 3 OF HaXseed, some
| iute, three quarters of an acre of buckwheat,
a few artichokes, some straw berries, sugar
cane, Is acres gooseneck sugar cane. rice,
German millet, etc. He has planted 300
cuttings of grape vines, - varieties, inclu-
ding the DevereauX, Louisiana, Herbemont
Cunningham, Hartford prolific, Ives seed
| ling, Clinton, Bland and Concord. He has
| planted 206 scuppernong vines, which, at the
| proper distance, forty five feet each way,
| would cover between four and five acres.
He has also 200 plum trees, and large
number of pear, apple, peach and fig trees.
| He has an orchard of bearing peach, apple
| and pear trees, and they promise fine yield
the present season. They comprise some of
| the best varieties of fruit in the South.
Mr. Menelas has three breeds of hogs, but
he will give special attention to the raising
of Berkshire hogs. He is confident that
every good farmer in this country may sup
| ply himself with plenty of home made
bacon IOr ais own use at sMalt COsS' AO
| intends to test the capacity of this soil for
| mixed farming. II the season proves favor
able, and the result of this ears labor are
satisfactory, he will do good work for this
railroad and this country, and the State.
/ The railroad and this country need emf
grants and enterprising men who prove the
real and innate value of this soil, attract
immigration and give an increased market
| value to the lands that now nave hardly any
| market value at all.
/ n Mo- alaS in the East ANdflS eight
years. and has lived and done business in
Europe and New York, has examined Cali
| fornia with much care with view to set
ting in that country. and like the British
drum, .has beat around the world to arrive
| at the conclusion that no part of the world
| suits his fancy and tastes so well as the
country bordering on the New Orleans, st,
Louis and Chicago Railroad, in Mississippi.
Col d bennett, Agricultural Editor Of ~
O. Picayune.