The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-05-22
COTTON NO LONGER KING.
Industrial Evolution in the state of Mis-.
sissippi.

N'Nh' ''NN f''N' ~ i+'' iNE'''Iii VI
the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege of Mississippi, has been in the
city few days. Your spondent
knowing that Mississippi has
taken the lead among the South
ern States in an organized movement
Of redemption from the cotton spe-
cialty--the fetch Of the one-crop
idea-and that Gen. Lee, as the head
of the machinery Of that movement,
would be emnincntly qualified to
speak of its achievements and it.
prospects, called on him at the Ebbitt
House. General Lee was enthusias-
tic over the outlook for his adopted
State, and readily responded to all in
terrogatores. The following is Ii
verbatim report Of his remarks:
"a revolution il going on in Mis-
sissippi in diversifying her industries,
especially in the line of agriculture.
Heretofore, and even now, the farm
ing interests are mainly in the rails
ing of cotton and corn, which have
restricted her people to the incubus
of the one crop-leading to soil eX-
haustion and money receipts mainly
at one season of the year. Many in
telligent citizens, however, have Ions
since abandoned cotton, and it is now
known that Mississippi is soon de~
tined to be one of the leading State:
III stock and dairy farming. Tnes'
gentlemen have demonstrated thH
the native grasses, such as Bermnda
Japan clover, johnson grass, era
grass and other kinds, supplemented
With the varieties Of sOrghunl-0r, Il
inown in in its deterritOried shape
.hicken corn, afford as great varie-
IS of food for stock, and of a pernIa-
l"nt character as is given in an.
state. 1t is known, too, that rOttO.
seed is the most valuable food fu
.altle, and combined with the gras>r
ttiurd better and cheaper food tnt.
an he had anywhere else. 1t is
act that cattle in Mississippi hay
lut been led until oE late years. Tnt!
made their own living on the com
mons, sub>i-tIhg on such grass all
God It. the country afforded even j.
winter 1t is true they usually -
during the three months Of Dt
ember. January and February; hn
II the remaining nine months the.
lad amlle food II! .craZing, the grN,
flurding good grazing from aO"u
,larch 1T which time corn is PiIl.
ed to ID, cemher j.. In other Wurd-
took is handled readily Throughout
he year br feeding them only tW
nd a halt or three months, wit
which slight attention they ARE KEEP
II good fix. Is it strange, then, tina
,IissiSsippi is II stock State, when
he North feeding j. necessary tU
our or six months? Ensilege also
asily prepar, d aud successfully f.
o stock in Mississippi. Among IT.
Gentlemen whH have ted off in tn
important dCstry may be mention
ii Col. W. p. Iontgom"ry, Of STARK
lille, who has herd Of over POO re-
-tpred jersey COWS. In the sam
rction, or northeast portion of til
state, MAY be mentioned Col. II. !.
IuIdrow, Assistant Secretary Of tn
Interior, JOHN Alien, NJ. e., Win.t"
;arth, Mr.. Abbott, Judge Houston
Hat MahOrner and others. Colon"
White, Of Hernanlo, Col. Hemim
vay, Mr.. J. II. Odrneal, Iof jackson
md Col. StuGrt, on the Calf CoaS.
IN fact there is no portion Of tn.
State that IS not suitable Tor stock o
ONE kind.
Along the coast OF the South"rI
Ter of counties south Of Meridian an
he Ficlishnrr Railroad sheep ar
'aised with great ease, arid the re-
ent Mississippi exhibit gotten up l.
Mai. s. 4. Jonas Glntcrior depart
nent) demonstrated that Mi>sisSin
az. E,1o ,-,,l nt,,ll ho f,unf
n the United States. Mar kct gar
leuing is successfully catried or
throughout the State, and tie rail
oads are now furnishing refrigerator
ars for sending vegetables and fruit>
% st. Louis, Chicago and othei cities
around Madison Sta'i,n are many
hundreds of facrcs of >trawbrrrh hs and
Dr.. II. f. McCay, from his great &n"-
cess in handling and shipping this
fruit, ID known Hs the "Strawhcrry
King" South of Jackson and along
he Illinois Central Railroad, is n
great vegetable and fruit region.
Large shipments of peaches, tonN-
toes, cabbage, beans, etc, are made
every year.
The lumber business OF Mississippi
Is very great, The State as yet has
almost All inexhaustlhle supply Of a.
rood timber as is found in the world,
and these valuable forests are LOW
being bough- up by lumbefmen. The
extensive buildings for die Cotton
Centennial Exposition at Ne" Orleans
were made Of Mississippi pine. The
timber exhibit of The State at the
Exposition attracted great attention.
A great impetus has been given to
-. .r..t.,.. ,Id !, It,Ctripa ,f the