The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-11-28
~ H. BLAKEsLEE, Jackson, Miss.

The fourth annual State Fair has
clearly demonstrated that such an in
stitution will be accorded q hearty
endorsement by the people Of Mis-
sissippi, and that it will be worth
millions Of dollars in the course Of
few years. The problem now Is,
shall it be continued as stock COM
pany managed by individuals or made
a state institution in every sense OF
the word as are the fairs in great
number Of the Southern states. It
was not begun as concern to make
money for the stockholders, but ex-
perience has proven that in few more
years it will be a splendid dividend
paying concern. Then the suggestion
comes as to what is best for the fu-
ture. A fair should not be money
making institution, the benefits COM
ing the general good to state or com
munity. All profits arising should by
adj means be returned in the way of
premiums to exhibitors, the larger
the premiums offered, the more va
ried and better the exhibits. When it
is possible to offer $500 for the best
herd Of cattle or $3.50 for the best
mule colt, breeders will be encouraged
to get their stock in show shape and
attend the fair. When $500 can be
paid for the best one-farm exhibit or
county exhibit, the number of exhib-
its will he increased many times.
Then it is that the fair is a success,
demonstrating to our people, what
can be done and encouraging them 20
try to do likewise.
These are matters of sufficient i'm
portance to demand careful consider
alton at the hands of Mississippians.
The old state is waking up and taking
on improved methods in a hurry, our
people are doing better year by year
and the fairs are doing as much or
more to aid this movement than any
other one thing. Then be sure that
the fairs are properly conducted and
made productive of the greatest good.
AS an example Of what small far
mer can do in Mississippi, the Halle
hurst Courier notes that Silas James
living three miles from town made
this year with only two small boys for
help, nine bales of cotton averaging
$50 pounds to the bale which brought
him $548.555 and seed 500, totaling,
$613.55. Besides this amount Of cot
ton Mr. James raised enough corn to
do him, plenty Of potatoes, peanuts,
molasses, meat and lard. If there is
a state anywhere that can offer a
man more than this, where is it.? Why
go west looking for something better
when we have the best the sun shines
on right here at home? We need in
Mississippi an organization to keep
our young men here more than one to
bring them here from other less-fav-
ored states. The best in many Of the
newer states were recruited right
here, and that because effort was
made to exploit the advantages of
those states. Keep our people here
by proving to them that Mississippi
offers more than any other state UNI
der the sun and it can be done.
/ It is especially gratifying to re-
ceive letters from friends over the
state giving their experience in han
ding various farm products, and es-
pecially so when it is some produc.
that the Department Of Agriculture
and Commerce has been giving es-
pecial attention. A great deal has
been said of the effort to can syrup
made from sugar cane and the sue
cess that has attended the effort.
Last year some attention was paid
j the putting UP of sorghum and re
port in this work made through these
columns. A recent letter, extracts
from which follows, goes to show
what Mr.. w. Jenner Brown of Water
Valley has done and is encouraging in
deed.
"This year / have made and sold
two hundred gallons Of syrup at SO
cents per gallon. I could easily have
sold 500 gallons by the present date,
Nov. 18th, if I had had it. BY this
time last year I had sold all of my
syrup, four hundred gallons at 40
cents per gallon, and believe that
could easily have sold one thousand
gallons before the crop this year was
ready to make and am confident that
| if I had it, I could sell one thousand
gallons more before the next crop is
ready for use. I find a better sale
for sorghum syrup every year, though
as yet have only sold the syrup at
my home town, Coffeeville, and to the
people in the adjoining neighborhooi
found as ready sale this year for
syrup at fifty cents per gallon as
did two years ago at thirty cents and
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