Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-23
COTTON No LONGER KING.
EVOLUTION IN THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

from me NelD 2OGh NtuF.
WASHINGTON. April 17,-Gen. Stephen
n Lee, president Of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Mississippi,
has been in the city few days. Your
correspondent, knowing that Mississippi
has taken the lead among the Southern
States in an organized movement of re-
demption from the cotton epeciaity-the
fetch Of the one-crop idea-and that Gen.
Lee. as the head of the machinery of that
movement, would be eminently qualified
10 speak of it's achievements and its pros
poets. called on him at the Ebbitt House.
Gen. Lee was enthusiastic over the out
look for his adopted State, and readily
responded to all interrogatories. The
following is verbatim report OF his re-
marks:
"a revolution is going on in Mississippi
in diYersfying her industries, especlaIly
In the line Of agriculture Heretofore
and even now, the farming interests are
mainly in the raising of cotton and corn,
which have restricted ner people to The
incubus OF the one crop-leading to soil
exhaustion aud money receipts mainly at
one season OF the year. Many intelligent
citizens, however, have lons since aOaud-
oned cotton, and it IS now known that
kisslssippi is soon destined 10 be ore of
the leading States i'll stock and dairy
farming. These gentlemen have demon
strated that the native grasses such as
Bermuda, Japan clover, johnson grass,
crab grass and other kinds, supplement-
ed with the varieties OF sOrghum-Or, as
known in its deteriorated snape-chicken
corn, afford as great variety OF food for
stock, and of a permanent character, as
is given in any State. 1t Is known, too,
that cotton seed is the most valuable food
for cattle. and combined with the grasses
affords better and cheaper food than can
be had anywhere else. 1t is fact that
cattle in Mississippi have not been led
until OF late years. They made their own
living on the commons, subssting on
such grass and food as the country afford
ed, even in winter. 1t is true they usually
got poor during the three months OF Dec
ember, January and February; but IN the
remaining nine months they had ample
food in grazing, the grass afOrding good
grazing from about March 1 { at which
time corn is planted to Dec. To- In other
words, stock is handl rea lily through
out the year by feeding them only two and
a half or three months, with which, slight
attention they are kept in good fix. Is it
strange, then, that Mississippi is a stock
DboJN9 wien az lnO Wi VI ANIAiAA- - HCN-
essary iOr four or six mOnths2 Ensilage
also is easily prepared and successfully
fed TO stock in Mississippi Among the
gentlemen who have led off in this imp0r-
tant industry may be mentioned Col. w.
B. Montgomery of StarkVille who has a
herd of over 200 registered Jersey COWS.
In the same section, or northeast portion
Of the State, may be mentioned Col. IL.
Muldrow, Assistant Secretary OF the In
- IL. A - 4
Mr.. AObOtt, Judge Houston, Mat Mahor-
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
counties South OF Meridian and the Wick
sburg railroad sheep are raised with great
ease, and the recent Mississippi exhibit
gotten up by Major S. A. Jonas Interior
Department. demonstrated that Missis-
sippi had as fine wool as could he found
in the United States. Market gardening
IS successfully carried on throughout the
state, and the railroads are now furnish
ing refrigerator cars Tor sending Vegeta-
bles and fruits to ST. Louis, Chicago and
other cities. Around Madison station
are many hundreds of acres of strawber-
ries, and Mr.. II. r. Mckay, from his
great suece S in handling and shipping
his fruit, is known as the ''otrawDerry
King" South OF Jackson and along TIE
Illinois Central railroad is a great vege-
table and fruit region. Large shipments
OF peaches, tomatoes, cabbages, beans,
etc, are made every year. The lumber
business of Mississippi Is very great
The State as yet mas almost an mex
haustible supply of as good timber as is
found IN the world, and these voluable
.Orests are now being brought up by lum-
Der men. The extensive buildings for The
C)tton centennial exposition at New
Orleans were made OF Mssssissi pine.
The timber exhibit of the State at the cX-
position attracted great attention.
great impetus has been
given to diyersilyine the industries
ot the State by the establishment SIX
years ago of the Agricultural and Me
cnanical College of Mississippi at Stock
VILE. This institution is genuine
agricultural callege, and is conducted by
an able board OF trustees aud faculty
loyal to the agricultural interests OF the
state. IT has had an average annual at
tendance If 800 students. During the
Present session 4lj students have attend
Cd and over 800 were refused for lack OF
accommodations. The college WAS locat-
ed on farm Of /, 200 acres OF land, mucn
Of it made poor by continuous cultiya-
ton OF cotton and corn. In few years
the farm mas been brought up 10 high
state of cultivation, demonstrating hat
improved methods and a diversity of
crops are peculiarly adapted to the south.
by Introducing the stock feature the
poorest lands AFFORD ample and good graz
Ing for more than nine months in the
year, and the best lands are giving re-
munerative returns in the different crops
J aned. The college is building mp a
une-grade herd OF the different breeds;
has now lorty-fye head Of pure-bred cat
Vie, HOlstein, Devon. Galloway, HuciOrd,
Jersey, etc, 800 grades, 100 common cows
etc, over 800 head IN all. Last June
creamery and dairy was established.
worked entirely by students. DE
Leyal separator was pr0cuod. The eX-
pertinent sagreat success, and now, IN
less than year since its establishment
IN was the first, there are going up
twenty ereameres in different portions
9i the State-at Meridian, Aberdeen,
Macon, Edwards Depot aud other points.
" has been clearly demonstrated that the
uugbear of "climatlc conditions" does
not exist and that the dairy belt' has
disappeared; that a successful creamery
.an De run in Mississippl as well as M
iowa on Michigan or Illinois. Last July
s.nd August, Immediately alter stQrunH
!'' pounds OF butter were ehinped daily
70 New Orleans, Mobile, N!cksburg
memphis, etc, and the college has never
-non able TO supply one-btth Of the de-
WA d made an 10 for butter, By June the
lIla uf Dynr GgD po ga will bp handled az