Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-11-29

The fourth annual State Fair has
clearly demonstrated that such an in
stitGtion will be accorded a 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 a stock conf
pany managed by individuals or made
state institution In every sehse of
the word as are the fairs i'll a great
number of the Southern states. 1t
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 flu
ture. A fair should not be a money
making Institution, the benefits COM
ing the general good to state or com
munity. All profits arising should by
all means be returned in the way OF
premiums to exhibitors, the larger
the premiums offered, the more va
ried and better the exhibits. When 1t
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 be increased many times.
Then it is that the fair is a success,
demonstrating to our people what
can be done and encouraging them 70
try to do likewise.
These are matters of sufficient Inn
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 itP Why
go west looking for something better
when We have the best the sun shine;
on right here at homeg 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 3t
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.
1t 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 product
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
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 IL
deed.
"This year | have made and solo
two hundred gallons of syrup at 81
cents per gallon. I could easily have
sold 500 gallons by the present date
Nov. 18th, if I had had it. BY thi;
time last year | had sold all of my
syrup, four hundred gallons at AZ
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 thai
if I had it, l could sell one thousand
gallons more before the next crop j;
ready for use. | find a better SAX
for sorghum syrup every year, though
as yet I have only sold the syrup al
my home town, Coffeeville, and to the
people in the adjoining neighborhood
/ found as ready sale this year fol
syrup at fifty cents per gallon as
did two years ago at thirty cents and
last year at forty cents, these being
the prices l asked and obtained the
last three years respectively. There
seems to be an increasing demand fol
Centreville held a flower show or
Nov. 9TH that was said to be a splen-
did success. Crystal Springs, Halle
hurst and Durant may begin to look
to their laurels when this healthy CON
petitor enters the field for the good
people of Centerville do not do things
by halves. Mississippi is a great
flower state as has been proven by
the numerous flower shows held dur
ing the past few years and the dis
plays at the State Fair for several
seasons past.
The State meeting of the Farmers