The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-03-29
THE DELTA EXPERIMENT
STATION UPHELD

inquiries not infreqtusntly heard.
made by'plantsrs Of Washington eoun-
ty whose money, $4,000 paid for the
original tract selected Goo acres al
Stonevilie on Deer Cresk)-
Tor three-quarters OF century It
has been CLAIMED Tor the delta coua-
try OF Mississippi that its soil and
climate possess more inherant
possibilities than any section of the
world from an agricultural view
point, This was demonstrated IN
der condition OF forced labor from
1928 to 1901, cotton, corn. hogs and
cattle beng the products OF the plan
tati0n. worked and cared for under
the old sine system Of labor and
plantation economies.
Under the new order q plantation
conduct with changed labor system,
direction and control, how slgnallE
has TINS GOD favored region taiFed
OF redee1ning the promise made OF 4
land flowing with Milk and Honey"
during me hfst hat OF the Nineteenth
century
y NOTWITHSTANDING tii's extensive m
crease IN physical development from
forest to cultivated helds, made dur
ing the last 10 years to date, we look
around TOR the net results to indivi-
dual planters or tillers OF the soil
III shape OF bank deposits or ready
cash and out Of debt. The soil and
climate are the same today as nifty
years ago. lhe old order OF men,
method and labor have passed away
/ he bale to the acre OF cotton has
! diminished to less than onc-halt per
! acre planted. The corn CRIB, filled
! each tall TO last till the next. now as
rule, scarcely MAINTAINS the stock
on the plantation TIL tine plowlng Tor
! the next crop begins.
The hog and cattle crop, then such
an important factor In plantation
economies, now IS too insignificant
to be computed or considered, i
measly starved COW and an old SOW
harnessed to trace chain and staked
at a negroes cabin are practically al
that Is in evidence.
Why Is this? We all ask and VIC
all answer, each man IN his own
way, all agreeing yet disagreeIng
The reasons for and the troubles III
| volved i'll this condition would III
a volume If enumerated.
To sum up the whole matter, i
can be ascribcd TO the want OF farm
or plantation method. Labor method
first and foremost: the preparation o
the ground for planting, and its ate
cultivation; method IN dlVerNhcatlol
of crops with regard to effect upof
the soil Tor crops the next year
method in saving what IS made witt
view to econOmlslng TABOR; methot
in taking care of live stock and farm
implements-eN cash article
bought to be worked and used as
for one year.
The innumcrable ills and failure
to make profit out of SO much tins
labor and expense that have 70
years beset the pathway OF the Del
I ia plantation owner have and ar
sorely perpleNing us.
In view Of and in keeping with tt,
prevailing sentiment and c'onvictio,
that there are many valuable point
involed III general agricultural eco
nomIcs and practice winch we fal
TO appreciate and do not practice
though a may realize them dimiy
the suggestion of an experiment sta
ton located in the Delta, under stat
control, was taken Advantage OF b.
our county people as a possible het
to certain imperative changes to pro
duce better results.
Theories and individual ideas w
\