Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-02-09


along the Gulf and Ship Island road.
between Jackson and Culfport. II 10
cultivated for its starchy root. which
Is used extensively for food and for
stock feed. and for manufacture OF
starch II Is a native OF Brazil and Is
classified by the department Of agri-
culture as q member of the miikweed
family. However. in appearance. II
has no resemblance to the mflkweed.
but when growing might be taken for
q shrub variety of buckeye. IL grows
from twelve to fourteen feet high and
branches repeatedly. making a plant
OF rare beauty that is both ornamental
and useful Prof :. NJ. Tracy. special
agent Of the United States depart
ment Of agriculture. bureau Of plant
industry. who sent a number Of fine
specimens Of cassava to the carnival.
says:
During the last two years a great
amount OF work has been done in q
study OF cassava. especially in attempt
ing to fnd the most productive Va
rieties. and also to find varieties which
may extend the possible limit Of its
cultivation to localities further north
At the present its cultivation is limited
W A0tkGf tuu tue ltuUlNslLEFn Nrt1tT
coast. but it is more than possible that.
by selecting seed from the earliest
maturing sorts. and by continued crI-
tivation in cooler regions. its area for
profitable cultivation may be greatly
extended Up to about two years ago
only two varieties were known in the
United States. though fifty or more
varieties were cultivated in South
American States These varieties diff
fer greatly in the relative proportions
OF starch which they contain. some
having double the amount found In
others OF course the varieties having
the greatest percentage Of starch in
the roots Is the one which Is most
profitable for cultivation In the work
which we are doing We have secured
large number OF varieties from Porto
Rico. Jamaica and other tropical coun-
tries. and now have fo-ty-tvo distinct
varieties growing on my place in Bi-
loxi
The principal practical uses OF cas-
sava in this country are for the manu-
facture Of starch. and for feeding cat
tie and hogs In Florida there are
now three large factories for manu-
featuring starch. which IS used mostly
for sizing by the manufacturers Of
cotton goods Excepting In the i'm
mediate region Of starch factory. the
crop is grown for stock feed. and for
that purpose is growing very popular
In all the Gulf coast region As
feed il takes the place Of corn. and as
its yield is much greater. while expense
for cultivation is about the same. il Is
much more profitable.
This season I had forty-tvo va
rieties growing in Biloxi. and now
have chemist engaged in making
analyses TO determine the relative
value Of the different sorts. | have
already made arrangements for the i'm
portation Of a large number Of diff
ferent varieties from South Americs.
and propose to follow up the work in
every possible direction until We are
able TO demonstrate that the crop is
one that may be made profitable in
certain parts OF the country-or that
II is worthless We are making NO at
tempt to boom il. and We are endeav-
oring to state nothing but demon
strated facts What We are trying TO
do Is to learn the real truth regarding
its value From what We have already
learned We do not hesitate to recon-
mend the crop fer nearly all Of
Florida. and for many other localities
along the coast But We are not ready
to say how far north il may be grown.
OF what may be the best methods for
its treatment II is a problem upon
which we are working but one which
has not As ret been solved"
The Mississippi Worlds Fair Bureau
has wound up its business and gone
out Of existence Over $4,000 of the
$50 600 appropriated has been turned
back into the State treasury as a re-
suit Of good hnanciering on the part
Of the bureau The exhibit was a good
one and well worth the price II cost
the people OF the State
The good old county Of Wilkinson.
lying in the extreme southwestern cor
ner Of the State. was well represented
AZ the Corn and Cotton Carnival. and
its progressive citizenship manifested
their energy and enterprise in a man
ner highly creditabie- True. the ex-
hibit wzs not so large and comprehen-l
sive as some. still the quality Of prod
ucts shown were well up with any
thing from any section OF the State
Centreyille was the place from which
the greater part Of IL emanated. and
the room set apart for It's use was well |
displayed and made attractive in every
way. The most attractive feature of
this exhibit was the products Of the
Red Snapper Sauce Company. which IS
doniciled at Centreyille and is a red
hot proposition in more ways than one
Every conceivable kind Of relish. condf- |
ment. sauce. etc. was shown In the
greatest prufusi0n- The quality Of the
goods shown was pronounced equal to
anything on the market. and the grand
prize was awarded them II was a
credit. indeed. to the live gentlemen
Who constitute the company. and their
efforts will result in substantial benefit
to all concerned In the large list of
fresh vegetables shown. the new crop
Of Irish potatoes were the best At the
carnival. and the grand prize was
awarded this exhibit. also They we're
secondcrop. and as smooth and perfect /
as ever seen in the South Some ex-
ceptionzlly fine hay was in this room. |
and many were the complimentary ex-
pressions heard concerning it. IL was !
q revelation to many that such . /
quality could be produced in the State |
New beets OF large size and fine text l
ure were also shown. proving the !
claim that in that section 1t was pos
sibIe to have vegetables the whole year l
round Canned goods Of varied kinds /
were shown and were richly deserving 1
Of complimentary mention Wilkinson /
county Is well adapted to the raising /
Of fruits and vegetables. and the can
ming facfory Is q protection against 1
loss from any cause Sugar cane OF |
splendid proportion composed part OF
the exhibit. and also rice. oats and /
other farm produce 1t was q mag |
niflcent demonstration Of what can be /
accomplished in our favored land when 4
eA<s e9c<x Il made Pity It's that some 1
Of the teeming thousands OF people il /
the crowded East could not have seen |