The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-01-14
BY H. E. BLAKESLEE, Jackson.

0ifltOIy OIL iOnS1edI pune 10 the SOutH
of the Alabama and Vicksburg rail
road in Mississippi was considered of
little value except for the timber
standing upon its acres A change has
taken place, and today there is no
o valuable land in the State from
the truckers standpoint. The Gulf
and Ship Island railroad was the
pioneer in opening up this vast coun-
try and bringing to the attention of
farmers its possibilities. Lands are
being put in cultivation, orchards
planted, comfortable homes being
built, good stock raised and verify
the country is beginning to blossom
as the rose. It was a fitting tribute
indeed, that the Gulf and Ship Island
railway was awarded the grand prize
at the Corn and Cotton Carnival for
the most comprehensive exhibit of
Mississippi products. AS the greatest
promoter of this prosperity the road
richly deserved the recognition given.
The suite of rooms in the old capitol
formerly occupied by the governor
was allotted the road for a display of
products along its line, and every
AZ VI SPaSc was htICu WIFI
the bounteous haryests from the fer
tile section traversed. Under the
personal supervision of Industrial
Commissioner ]. H. Bouslog and his
estimable wife, together with valu.
able assistance from other interested
parties, the rooms were made espe.
cially attractive and instructive to the
sight-seer, and they were always
filled to their capacity with admirers
of the splendid display. Several
columns would be necessary to give a
comprehensive description of the hun.
dreds of products shown, but there
could be found the best Of all semi.
tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers,
etc. Sugar cane and syrup were
given particular attention, and it was
very timely from the fact that a great
deal is planted with the best of sue
cess. No finer syrup was ever shown
than that in this exhibit, made from
cane and in the old open-kettle style.
The cut-oyer pine lands yield pro-
fusely when planted in cane and sig
nal Importance is being given the in
dustry by the Gulf and Ship Island
railroad. Sweet potatoes were shown
that compared favorably with those
raised in any section Of the State.
They were extra large, smooth and
fine in texture, and pronounced by
those who tried them as being a de-
iiciOus table potato. Second crop
Irish potatoes were shown that were
excellent, and fresh string beans that
could not be beaten anywhere. In
the line of fruits the variety was ex-
ceptionally large, and the specimens
line in every respect. Pears, persim-
mons, grapes, oranges, grape fruit,
lemons, pecans, figs and other fruits
were shown in great profusion. The
only bananas We're in this exhibit and
ELECTED the admiration of all who saw
them. A banana bloom was quite a
curiosity to nine-tenths Of those who
attended the carnival. Field crops
were exhibited that established the
standing of the piney-woods country
as a desirable farming section. Spleen
did corn, with ears, were
all over the exhibit as decorations as
well as displays. Rice was shown
that had a superior nowhere, and
raised without irrigation. Cotton
grows well on a large portion of that
and is the staple crop in many
counties. Cassava, a new plant for
stockfood, very rich in starch, and
especially ~nutricious, was on display.
grows something like a sweet po-
tato and yields enormous amounts to
the acre. 1t is not gathered to any eX-
tent, being left in the ground to be
up by the hogs and eaten by
all farm animals. 1t promises to be.
come an important crop in South
Mississippi. The naval stores ex-
libit of the Gulf and Ship Island was
by far the best shown at the carnival.
rurpentine, resin, tar and other
products Of the pine were on display
n every conceivable shape. The i'm
D~ortance of this industry along the
}ulf and Ship Island warranted the
attention shown it. The display of
lative timbers was comprehensive ]
Ind the subject Of much praise. The
iulf and Ship Island did itself proud ]
Il the exhibit made, and the GROWING
eature was a crayon portrait of Capt. {
Iones, the man who put up the money &
md gives all his time and attention S
0 the development pictured at the t
arrival. The good work is only In {
is infancy. The next few years will t
how many times the accomplishment
# the past few. There is a great
lture in store for that section, and
he Gulf and Ship Island will prove a r
'otent factor in the development so 1
avorably begun. c
How much cotton would a cotton r
ECKER pick if a cotton picker would
lick cotton?"
Since the ending of the civil war n
nd the freeing of the negroes, the =
has been looking around for n
ONE means to gather the cotton crop =
fithout sending people down between =
ne rows with a long sack and gather. =
lg the bolls one by one. The de- =
land for a machine to pick the crop =
as been emphasized in later years :,
pom the opening of so much rich land =,
/ the delta and the bringing into !,
lltiyation vast areas of p~rairies in Il
exas. In both these sections much 7.
lore could be raised than gathered. -
numerous devices have been expert =
tented with, but to no avail. The a.
regularity of the growing crop u
semed to be a barrier to any me- !,
lanical device fcf gathering it. At u
st it looks very much like a machine y
as been invented that will do the u
orb. The Lowery picker has just q
gwen a trial at Shreveport, and L
ie result gave encouragement to the az
'o7aoters. 1t is said to be very sim 70
and not liable to get out Of fix. It
he machine Is mounted on wheels th
ID propelled by a gasoline engine. p
rms carrying a belt with teeth like Is
common wool card, are managed SO
I a boy, one in each hand. As the We