Oxford eagle., 1903-12-17
OXFORD, MISS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER Il, 1908
AS VIEWED BY A RoUTsIDER.
Mississippi's Adaptabllity to the Diver
sifScation of Crops, and the
Great Lack of Same.

dAd l1CI1ldAito1 ScAASSS nus iSSHSN
their sixteenth annual report, con-
tanning bulletins as follows: ''The
Chicken Mite;;" "Results of the
Work at the Mcneil Branch Ex-
pertinent Station, 1902" Farmers
Institute Bulletin, 1902" and the
Colorado Potato Beetle"
The Farmers Institute Bulletin
of 1902 contains addresses delivered
at the Roundup Farmers Institute,
held at the college on August q,
2s and 30, 1902, from which the
following is taken:
s.Dr. H. E. Stockbridge, agricul-
turist, of the Florida experiment
station, who, for several weeks, had
been engaged in institute work in
Mississippi, said that he really OBJ
jected to being considered an outsid-
er; that having seen SO much of the
State, and having been SO kindly
received by the people he had come
to feel at home to such an extent
as to be disposed to criticise Missis-
sippi agriculture as member of
the family, rather than as a mere
cursory observer. Having been as
signed to a subject not of his choos-
ing, the speaker said that he would
endeavor to comply with require
ments.
''The speaker said that Mississip-
pi agriculture may be anything be-
tween the extremes Of apple growing
in the Blue Ridge and rice making
on the inundated lands of the coast.
The variety of soils and plants are
almost as great as that of geograph-
ical location; yet with an extremely
varied crop adaptation one is sur
prised to find that the agriculture of
the State from north to south, east
10 west, from the sandy pine lands
10 the rock hillsides, from the delta
to the corn and cotton fields of East
Mississippi, is typical of but COM
paratively few crops. The natural
inference is that agriculture in the
State might be far more varied in
character, and that the farmers
throughout the State have to great
degree failed to take advantage OF
natural conditions. 1t is a surpris-
ing fact that the farmers are inter-
ested in but one great staple crop, to
which their time and fortunes are
almost wholly devoted. This con-
dition demonstrates the necessity
for a change in the general charac-
ter of Mississippi agriculture.
.9The speaker made the statement
that if diversifcation of industries
was essential to national prosperity,
diversifcation of crops must be
equally indispensable to the contin-
ued highest success in agriculture.
1t is true that social, labor and trans
portation conditions render depend
ence upon cotton as the chief money
crop unavoidable. There are, how
ever, certain sections of the State
much better adapted to this crop
than are others. Reason dictates
that in sections possessing special
advantages for cotton culture this
crop should predominant. But
where cotton is produced under COM
parative disadvantages some other
crop or crops should take its place.
'TThe speaker made the assertion
that Mississippi farmers are not
growing cotton from choice, nor be-
cause of some irresistible attractions
in the business, nor yet because they
believe that their lands are better
adapted to cotton than to other
crops. No matter how adverse the
conditions, there is always con-
slant demand and a ready cash sale
for cotton. Mississippi cotton farm
ers are cotton growers mainly be-
cause to them no other crop has
heretofore presented itself which,
year after year, could compete with
it as a ready cash crop. Could they
be convinced that other crops are
better adapted than cotton to their
soil and other conditions-that they
offer with reasonable certainty mod
crate returns for their investment
they would turn with thankfulness
to this hope in new agriculture.
Every farmer in Mississippi knows
that sugar cane is perfectly adapted
TO the soil and climate of consid-
cradle portion of the State. The
speaker said that he had found here
and there a patch for home consump-
ton, but had failed to find cane
crop grown as a commercial under
taking. The reason of this is found,
possibly. in the belief among farm
ers that its production involves too
many conditions, to many uncertain
ueS. or TOO many nnanclal Outlays
to render the results satisfactory" !"
ITO be continued.
Wants Name and Terminus Changed.
The Pearl and Leaf Rivers Rail
road Company has applied to the
railroad commission for privilege of
changing its southern terminal from
Hattiesburg to Scranton and chang
ing its name to Mississippi Central
Railroad Company" This road now
runs from Hattiesburg in Perry
county, to Prentisss, in Lawrence
county. Being originally sawmill
line or logging road, it has suddenly
developed into regular railroad,
and has taken on new lease of life.
VIII Soon Be Governor.
A little over month and the
State of Mississippi will have a ne2
governor. On the 10Th of January