The new South-news., 1908-02-22

attended the effor, 40 far and the
prospect for the future. Hon. Dick
Chestham, VINO is still a MissiSslppiAn
although manager Of the Cotton jour
nal at Atlanta, Ga, was IN Jackson a
few days since and asked tho writer
for a short article on the movement
and its advantages. Tn following was
submitted:
1.-THE organization OF Boys corn
I growing contests among the public
school pupils Of Mississippi was first
suggested early last year by Supi. w.
H. Smith Of Holmes county. The
movement had been on foot for n
number Of years in several Of the
Northern states with the very best Of
results. SO soon a. Supt. Smith made
the suggestion, the writer AZ once
saw IN IL the opportunity TO do a
great work in Mississippi, and imme-
diaiely took mp the proposition with
the view Of extending IL to other coun-
ties in the state. State Supcrintcn-
dent Whitfield, the A. q VI. College
officials aud the representatives Of
the United States Department Of Ag-
riculturc stationed in Mississippi gave
a hearty support 10 the project.
Although very iatc ia making the
start last year, eight counties we're
organized and the work fairly launch
ed. OF these eight counties, six came
through a successful termination.
HOLMES being the first to organize and
better acquainted with the work, nat
urally made the greatest success. The
cut herewith give an idea Of the
Holmes county exhibit at the State
Fair held at Jackson. Out of 100
boys starting IN the contest at the be-
ginning Of the year. 81 came up as
the general round np with an exhibit
and this picture shows the $50 ears
Of corn entered By the school boys of
Holmes county. The State Fair man
agcment offered a handsome list of
prizes 10 encourage the most popular
of any in the Agricultural Building.
The people evidenced the deepest in
icrest in what had been accomplish
ed by the school boys of the state,
and TO this feature can be largely at
tributed the increased interest shown
for the present year
"Thc writer has calls already to
visit dozen counties that will make
the effort this year that were not in
the contest last year, and the prospect
at present is, TINT not less than %
of the 7S counties in Mississippi, pos
sibly 30, will inAuguraio thu splend-
ID movement this spring. The Coun-
~ Superintendcnts of public instruc-
tion are wide awake to the importance
OF the movement aud the excellent re-
suits that it offers and the public is
fast coming TO a realization of what
IFS general adoption would mean to
Mississippi during the next ten years.
The state superintendent, A. & NJ.
College aud L. S. workers are also
more active than ever to push the
movement to every county in the
state.
"The results shown by first cf-
fort have been highly satisfactory.
Where Supt. Smith had 120 boys to
make the start last year he has 600
TO do so this year and other counties
in proportion. As high as l30 bush
els of corn to the acre was grown by
somc of tn boys las, year. 1t is car
rying the development of our agricul-
tursl resources right into the public
schools of the State, training boys and
young men to become good farmers,
instilling into them a love for the
farm that can be done in almost no
other way. teaching them that there
is something better for the boy who
studies his profession and strives to
excel, satisfying them with Missis-
sippi and what the state offers for
the expenditure of energy aud the
use of brains, thereby preventing them
from seeking homes in other states,
laying the foundation for a condition
that viii prevail in the future when
the farmer viii be as we'll educated
as the lawyer, the doctor, the preach
er or the member Of any profession.
"lf by this system the average pro
duc,ion of corn in Mississippi can be
increased only one third of bushel
per acre per year, the increase will be
worth more than one million dollars
TO the state per annum, then the w.
sui, in this way alone will be worth
striving for, to say nothing Of the
benefits that will b. derived in many
other ways. II is undoubtedly one
of thc greatest movements ever inau-
gurated in state that has always
been an agricultural one aud always
will be II is deserving of the liberal
Did you have especial success in