The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-30
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI

L
chanical College of Mississippi. has been in the
city few days Your correspondent, know
ing that Mississippi has taken the lead among
the Southern States in an organized moveme ent
OF redemption from the cotton specialty-the
| fetch OF the one-crop idea-and that Gen.
Lee, as the heal Of the machinery of that
movement, would be eminently qualified to
speak Of its achievements and its prospects,
called on him at the Ebbitt House. Gen. Lee
was enthusiastic over tho outlook for his adop-
ted State, and readily responded to all inter-
rogatories. The following is q verbatim report
of his remarks
| "a revolution is going on in Mississippi in
diversifying her industries, especially in the
line Of agriculture. Heretofore, and even
| now, the farming interests are mainly in the
raising Of cotton and corn, which have restric-
ted her people to the incubus of the one crop
leading to soil exhaustion and money receipts
mainly at one season of the year. Many in
telligent citizens, however, have long since
| abandoned cotton, and it is now known that
Mississippi is soon destined to be one of the
leading States in stock and dairy farming
These gentlemen have demonstrated that the
| native grasses, such as Rcrmuda, Japan clover,
| Johnson grass, crab grass and other kinds,
| supplemented with the varieties of sorghum
or, as known in its deteriorated shape-chicken on
corn, afford as great variety of food for stock,
and of permanent character, as is given in
| any State. 1t is known, too, that cotton seed
| Is the most valuable food for cattle, and com
| bined with the grasses affords better and
cheaper food than can be had anywhere else.
| IL is fact that cattle in Mississippi have not
been fed until of late years. They made their
own living on tho commons, subsisting on such
grass and food rs the country afford ed, even in
winter. 1t is true they usually got poor durin g
the three months of December, January and
February but in the remaining nine months
they had ample food in grazing, the grass af-
fording good grazing from about March Cat
which time corn is planted to December -. In
other words, stock is handled readily through
out tho year by feeding them only two and a
half or three months, with which slight atten-
ton they arc kept in good fix. Is it strange
then, that Mississippi is stock State, when at
the North feediugis is necessary for four or six
months? Eusage also is easily prepared and
successfully fed to stock in Mississippi. Among
the gentlemen who have led off in this impor-
tant industry may be mentioned, COL w. B.
Montgomery, OF Starkville, who has hord OF
ovesswo lli-.lrei registered Jersey cows. In
the same section, or northeast portion Of the
State, may be mentioned Col. II. Muldrow. rs
sstant secretary of the interior, John Alien,
| NJ. o. Winston Garth, Mr.. Abbott, Judge
| Houston, Mat Mahorner and others. Col.
White; of fernando, Col. Hemingway, Mr.
| o. Deneal, of Jackson, and Col. Stuart on the
Gulf coast. In fact there is no portion of the
State that is not suitable for stock of some
kind.
| "Along the coast or southern tiers of ceun-
| ties south of Meridian and the Vicksburp
Railroad sheep are raisel with great ease and
the recent Mississippi exhibit gotten up by Maj.
S. A. Jones (iuterior departmcnt) demonstrated
that Mississippi had as fine wool rs could be
found in the United States Market gardening
is successfully carried on throughout the State
and the railroads are now furnishing efrigera-
tor cars for sending vegetables and fruits to St.
Louis, Chicago and other cities. Around
Madison Station are many hundreds Of acres
Of Strawberries, and DR.. III. E. Mckay, from
his great success in handling and shipping this
fruit, is known as the ''Strawberry King"
South of Jackson and along the Illinois Central
Railroad is great vegetable and fruit region
Large shipments Of peaches, tomatoes, cabbages,
beans, &C., are made every year The lumber
busines Of Mississippi is very great. The
State rs yet has almost an inexhaustible supply
of as good timber as is found in the world, and
these valuable forests arc NV being bought up
by lumber men. The extensive buildings for
the Cotton Centennial Exposition of New
Orleans were made Of Mississippi pine. The
timber exhibit of the StSe at the Exposition
attracted great attention. "a great impetus has
been given to diversifying the industries OF
the State by the establishment six years ago OF
the Agricultural and Mechanical College Of
Mississippi at Stockville. This nstitutian fyt
genuine agricultural colleges aud is conducted
by an able board Of trustees and faculty 10y al
to the agricultural interests Of the State. II
has had an average annual attendance of 300
students. During the present session 4 IL
students have attended and over 300 were re-
fused for lack of accom- modaiions. The college
was located on farm Of 100 acres of land
much Of it made poor by Continuous cultiva.
tion Of cotton and corn. In few years the
farm has been brought up 10 high state OF
cultivation, demonstrating that improved
methods and diversity of crops are peculiarly
adapted to the South by introducing the
stock feature the poorest lands afford ample
and good grazing for. more than nine months
in the year, and the best lands are giving re-
munerative returns In the different crops
planted. The college is building up a fine.
grade herd Of the different breeds; has now
forty-hve head of pure-bred cattle, Holstein
Devon, Galloway, Hutforj, Jersey, &C., 15C