The Tupelo journal., 1907-04-05
BY II. E. BLAKEsLEE, JACKSON.

Mississippi is peculiarly adapted to
the raising OF hogs as has been SO often
repeated in these columns, but the ac-
cumulation of actual experience by
those who are giving it a trial, empha-
sizes the statement more and more.
There are men who insist that meat
can be produced here at a cost OF three
cents per pound net, and should their
theory fall short M cent when put to
the test and the cost be four cents, it is
one of the best paying adjuncts to any
farm or household. Mr.. John Gewin
of DeKalb, Kemper county, recently
killed a hog that weighed S25 pounds
net at % months old and two others
that weighed l, 231 pounds. While these
were rather old hogs and not the most
economically raised, they show what
can be done when size is a considera-
ton. In addition to these he killed
three shoats ten months oil that Melted
S25 pounds, and which were no doubt
the best hogs he killed when the COST
per pound is taken into consideration.
These hogs were given no especial at
tention and were raised under rather
unfavorable circumstances. Mr.. Gewin
is not a farmer, but has a small lot in
which he kept the animals. Had he
the plats of forage crops for grazing
and other necessaries he would no
doubt have made greater record, al
though what he has done is worthy OF
serious consideration. Weshould by all
means raise our meat at home and bid
adieu % the smokehouses that are at
present located in Kansas City and Chi
cago.
Some time since notice was made in
the public print that a merchant at
Ripley had shipped a car OF corn to
some point in the State further south,
the corn being bought from farmers of
Tippah county who had a surplus on
hand. This little notice of a few lines
spoke a volume for the good people of
Tippah county, who are not only rails
ing the corn necessary for consumption
at home, but have a surplus for their
less fortunate neighbors. 1t is safe to
assert that Tippah will buy but little
meat for this year, that more stock
will be raised than necessary to supply
the home demand and that the supply
merchant will do a moderate business
in the county. 1t might also be a safe
bet that the delinquent tax list in that
county makes a favorable showing
with the one from a county that buys
corn, and that the newspapers will get
slight picking from the publication of
mortgage sales. 1t is the Indication OF
q healthy condition and is to be desired
by every county in the State.
A corn and cotton club vas organized
in Pike county a few days since by
Superintendent Otkin of the public
schools. Organization was perfected
along lines similar to those of other
clubs formed in the State this year.
Superintendent Otkin embraces cotton
as we'll as corr in the crops to be raised,
and the plan is not a bad one by any
means. Cotton is our greatest crop at
present, and will remain so for many
years to come. Then it should be
given the place of prominence it de-
serves. The "show day" for displaying
the result and awarding of prizes will
be held at Magnolia in the fall. 1t is
expected that Pike will show up well
with the other counties of the State
that have undertaken this commenda-
BILE work, and the gentleman who is
responsible for the movement is deserv-
ing of much credit.
There should be a premium on good
roads cranks. Mississippi needs them
just a little of the worst. They should
be sent to the legislature and made
members of the board of supervisors.
If there is one subject more important
than any other, it is the lettering of
the condition of III public roads. 1t
would not be we'll for a county to spend
a large sum of money trying to make
all of the roads good at one time. We
do not know just what would be the
best method of road building, and the
plan that would prove a success in n
county might be a failure in another.
So it would undoubtedly be the best to
build a few miles of road this year, a
few next and so on until the whole
county was provided with passable
highways. By this means the expert
ence gained this year would be made
use of in building next year and SO on.
Interest in the subject is growing very
fast and it is safe to predict that the
next five years will see more roads
built than in the past twenty-five years.
The warehouse offers the most sensi-
BILE and economical solution of the
question of an intelligent handling of
our great cotton crop. Every county
should have one or more. Are you
helping to build them?