Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-11-02

the time, could give his lecture on corn
in each of the n counties of Missis-
sippi and to 300 farmers at each place,
it would be worth a million dollars
to the state the first year. This is
broad assertion, it is true, but those
who heard this great expert will read
lily agree. His subject is not as
important one here as it will be later
ON, it is safe to assert that the maa
who will listen patiently to him for
the first five minutes, would cheer
fully remain for three hours longer.
He gave results from an examination
of thousands of fields of corn tina.
proved them to have from one-half to
three-fourths of perfect stand. They
were ordinary fields and appeared tt
be as good as the average. The farm
er was working from one-fourth tt
o1e-half his land with absolutely NO
result. He then told how they rem
edied this evil Iowa and other corn
states. After selecting carefully
enough of the best and most perfect
ears of corn for planting they were
laid in row and each numbered. Then
test box was constructed of about
two by four feet and three inches
deep. This box was packed half full
Of damp sawdust. A stout white cloth
Of equal size of the box was checked
into squares of about two inches and
numbered to correspond with the ears
OK corn. This cloth was spread over
the sawdust in the text box. Then
ear No. 1 was taken up and six grains
taken from different parts of it and
placed in square No. l on the cloth,
the next ear the same and so on
through the entire number. Then
second cloth was spread over the
grains, taking care not to disarrange,
them. Damp sawdust was packed on
this to I'LL the box. 1t was then placed
in warm room or green house and
in about seven or eight days opened.
The grains from good ears of corn
had thrown out healthy shoots and
were fit for seed. Some ears had oaly
started weak and poor shoots. This
ear was cast aside. Some ears start
ed possibly three shoots, while the
other three lay dormant. These were
east aside also. No ear was accepted
unless it showed perfect termination.
By this means of testing the produc-
ton of corn had almost been doubled
and the land was made to produce an
almost perfect crop. A very small
matter some one will say, but an i'm
portant item just the same. The aver
age for corn In Mississippi is less than
sixteen bushels to the acre. If this
could be even raised to twenty bush
els, would it not be worth a million
dollars to our state? Assuredly so,
and the idea is, "get your heads in
the game"
That the good people of Mississippi
are fast awakening to the fact that
fairs and competitive shows are great
educators and stimulators goes with
out saying. The earnivals, which are
nothing in the world but embryo
fairs, recently held at Brokhaven,
Hazlehnrst, Yazoo City, Mt. Olive and
other points mean something more
than the bringing of a crowd Of peo-
pie to town for Gay or so. Some of
these places have already begun to
make arrangements to effect perma-
nent county fair organization, stimu-
lated by the success already attained.
Nothing that would have a more bene-
fetal effect could be done. Then too,
there is another encouraging note to
be seen. Some weeks since colt show
was held at Liberty with good at
tendance and a creditable display of
stock. On September %, at Biggers
Store, in Alcorn county, colt show
which was we'll attended and e1thusi-
astically received, was held. On Oct.
18th like event was held at Gloster
with dozen nice colts from one sire
and a large number Of others were
exhibited and created healthy in
terest. Holmes county has already
had two such events this fall, and
others that cannot be recalled just
now. This is very gratifying indeed
and goes to show that our people are
not asleep to the benefits of raising
good stock, and there is nothing that
will stimulate this feeling more than
county fairs.
Our Mississippi farmers might dc
we'll to remember that not so. much
strength is required to do things, but
that a great deal is often necessary
to decide what is the best to do.
Brains are just as important in the
handling Of farm as ordinary mus
cular exeption.
The great need of better roads IN
the state will be seriously felt in the
near future when an investigation is
made regarding the great number of
free delivery routes established in the
state. 1t is rumored that some of
them will be necessarily abandoned
an account of bad roads as well as
insufficient business. We trust that
this will not be the case, but it is a
mater worthy Of attention at the
hands of our people 80
II There are some half dozen cloth
iue manufacturing plants in Missis-
SiDpi and all are doing nicely. Tie
plent at New Albany wound up its
second year of business last week
| and found that the profit was 1860