The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-03-31
CAPT.. MERRY INTER-
ESTEO IN OUR LANDS
Captain J. F. Merry Insists That
the Man With a Small Capital
Can Find No Better Place to In
vest in Land Than in Mississippi

Capt. j. +. Merry, general immi-
grafton agent OF the Illinois Central
railroad. shows how easily it is to
make money in Mississippi in the fol-
lowing:
The man with small capital.
knowledge of farming and a disposi-
tion to work will find no better field
for the investment of his money and
the use Of his muscle and experience
than in the purchase Of old planta-
tiOnS contiguous to the Illinois Cen
trail railroad in the states Of Missis-
sippi and Louisiana. MANY such
plantations were in cultivation fifty
or more years before the war. Their
owners were bankrupted by the four
years OF civil strife, and those who
lived to return were without money
and with no practical knowledge OF
farming. They did the best they
could under the circumstances
ed portion Of their farms to negroes.
In nearly every instance the farms
grew worse rather than bet
ter, and at this late date such places
from five to ten miles back from the
can be purchased at from
$40 to $40 per acre, plantations that
befUre the war were easily worth four
times this amount. The question
will be asked, How many years will it
take to reSuscitate these apparently
worn out farms? In the last number
Df the Southern Farm Gazette, pub
liShed at Starkville, Miss Mr. T. j.
Chamberlain, of Cannonsburg, Miss,
the following article on
Building up SOil:''
Il will give my experience in max
ng poor land produce one bale OF cot
ON and over per acre. 1t took me
our years to do it. | don't think
tnyOne can make poor land do this iG
me year.
First Year. 90 acres produced s
)aleS Of cotton, no fertilizer being
lSed. The land was worked by ne =
,rO on shares.
Second year. The same 90 acres
we're put in corn and peas by myself,
100 pounds of cotton seed meal being
lSed per acre. 20 bushels OF corn
we're produced per acre and 40 bush
is OF peas were gathered. The land
vas pastured two months. 1t WIS
lowed 10 inches deep with three
orSes by the use Of a Flying putcb-
1an riding sulky plow cutting is
ncheS and turning under all trash.
Third year. The 20 acres we're
lanted in cow peas, bushels OF
eed per acre. 200 pounds OF land
laSLer were Sprinkled on the vines
'hen they were eight inches high.
he yield was 40 tons. No peas.
Fourth year. This year the 20
creS were put in corn and peas. 1t
as very dry year. 500 pounds of
)ttOn seed meal and acid phosphate,
alf and half, were used per acre.
he yield was % bushels of corn per
ere, so bushels OF peas. The land
as pastured two months and plowed
) the second year.
Fifth year. Peterkfn cotton was
rOwn on the 20 acres this year. 500
)undS Of cotton seed meal and acid
half and half, were useH
sr acre. The yield was "a bales OF
10 pounds each, and % 2,O0e poundses
,tton Seed"
1t will be noted that Mr. Chamber
in produced but 8 bales of cotton oE
acres the first year Of the expert
ent, but by natural and proper
ethods he had 50 improved the soil,
iat the results frehR the same lanG
le fifth year were "a bales and q, zoe.
)unds of cotton seed. Another COZ
.SpOndent in the same issue of the.
outheTn Farm Gazette gives sugges--
onS as TO- how "a bale f cotton may
? grown TO the acre. He says:
The first thing would suggest
Ould be thorough breaking. The
Ow to use, or ttae one I would ase,
ould be the Ir0ntOn walking disc
Ow. My reason for this speciaa
AXE OF disc plow is that it comes
carer pulverizing the soil than riding