The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1905-1908, 1906-06-07
East Mississippi and West Alabama
Bureau
Bureau


The fine weather Of last week has
added to the already good prospect OF
the crops Of this section. Our tillers
of the soil are feeling iubilant A
shower Just now will develop the
spring oats, which will be a better
weld than was expected few weeks
ago. The fall oats are being harvest
ed AT this writing. and we are inform
ed that the crop is fairly good. Cot
ton and corn are looking unusually
we'll for this season OF the year, and
the gardens are furnishing the tables
with the most tempting dishes ever
eaten. We are unable to see how any
one can leave the farm and move to
town and there live from hand to
mouth: and, in many instances, the
mouth is not brought into requisition.
This reminds us of an anonymous let
ter we received a few days ago. II
was written on How to Keep Boys
on the Farm, but as it bore no sig
nature, we did not publish It as we
suppose the writer expected us to do.
We would be glad to get half-dozen
sJch letters every week If the writer's
would sign their names. OF course
their names do not necessarily have
to be published, but we want the
names that we may know their COM
munications are in good faith. We
may differ in opinion in regard to
the questions discussed, and If so, our
comments will not be intended to Of
fend. Just here we wish to thank
our friends and the friends Of The
Dispatch for the aid they are render
ing us in getting the news for this
Bureau. AS to keeping the boys on
the farm, we all have different views
as to how this may be done. We
have noticed from our childhood that
most farmers work their boys on the
farm until they are of age, and they
seldom have any spending money,
but few privileges, and very seldom
a holiday. All of which, we thought,
would have a tendency to disgust and
turn the boys against the farm. But
as a rule, the boys who are worked
the hardest and allowed the least
pleasures while under age are the
boys who usually stick to the farm.
Why is this? Well, it is easy enough
to assign more than one reason. In
the first PLACE, the boy is not allowed
to go to school enough to fit himself
for any other occupation He has
never hgd time to entertain a desire
or cultivate taste for anything high
thah q plow handle r. some in
stances boys have been given colt
or calf, but when the animal was
sold, the money found a lodging place
in dads pocket Others have been
allowed a cotton patch, but when the
cotton was sold, the money went into
dads pocket again. Bad treatment
Then again, we have seen men who
gave their boys every advantage that
country school could render; gave
them every dime they could earn on
the farm and by odd jobs, and these
boys, as soon as a good opportunity
offered itself, left the farm for the
railroad, factory, store or any other
job that was presented. This is al
right. The boys should be shown a
picture of life in the city, on the road
and in the factory-then let them
choose for themselves what occupa.
ton they will follow. e are highly
in favor of all the boys who can FIND
good employment off the farm to gel
OFF The more that leave the farm
makes a greater demand for farm
products, and makes farm labor
scarce, thereby enhancing the value
of everything the farmer has to sell
We have boys of our own, and we tel
them there is more real pleasure anC
less money on the farm than in an!
other avocation of life. We coulC
name a hundred boys who have LET
the farm and become great men il
the business world-bOys who haC
nothing to begin with but stronl
bodies, stout hearts and good char
acters. Yes, let the boys go if the!
wish, and give them all the eneour
agement YOU can to start with; anC
little cash would help out at first
We visited a farmer the other da!
who told us that the poultry on hi
farm were keeping fat on berries
A few years ago the place was settled
and instead of setting out oaks an,
elms for shade he planted a lot o
mulberries, and in a short time h
had both shade and fruit. A mulber
ry tree makes splendid shade, and i
will bear fruit in three or four years
and there is no better food for chick
ems. Children are also very fond o
them. A mulberry pie is At for
king. Set out some trees in you
yards, boys, and try them.
Mr.. E. E. Harris. one Of Wood