The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-27
WORK
 IN GROWING CANE
MiSSiSSippian Makes Fine
 Syrup for the Market
MUCH BETTER THANCOTTON
DiVersification Idea Is We'll Demon strated In Production of Molasses and Ginseng, Which Affords
 Lesson for Farmers.

Jackson, Miss, July 6.-(Special. .)-W. B. Mercier of Centreville. Wilkinson coun- ty spent the day in Jackson conferring with Commissioner of Agriculture Blakes- lee. MT. Mercier is one of the pioneers in the manufacture of molasses for mar ket in this state, and has found it a very profitable crop, as have several of his neighbors. He states that last year his individual crop was five acres of Louisiana cane. from which he made and has sold 1900 gallons of fine syrup-the pure juice of the cane boiled down to the proper consistency. This syrup was sealed in tin cans holding one quart. half gallon and one gallon. the latter size being found to be the best seller.
 Other parties about Centreville have en- gagged in the manufacture of molasses. so that more than 10000 gallons was manu- factured there last season. It found ready sale at 50 to 60 cents per gallon, which means at least $50 per acre, and in some instances as much as $200 per acre.
 There Is not an acre of cotton in the state that makes such a return to the farmer and yet the great majority of them continue to plant and to market the great staple instead of diversifying so as to have some of everything to sell.
 MT. Mercier states that his prospect this year is for still better yield than last, his stand being decidedly better. and more fertilizer used. He would seem good for 400 gallons per acre, or $2OO
 A few weeks since mention was made of the great success that has attended the efforts of Mir A c. Golf of Youngstown, Warren county, to raise ginseng for the market, and how on a quarter of an acre of land he had already made little fortune from the sale of seed and roots, and had as much more on the same piece of land
 MT. Golf spent today in Jackson. and was seen by the reporter at the office of Commissioner of Agriculture Blakeslee. He talked freely of his business. told of how he had started to fooling with gin- seng six or eight years ago. when he planted 500 plants, or roots, all he could afford at that time. and which he has cared for and nursed till he now has his little garden full and and artificially shaded, while he has started new beds in the woods adjoining his house. where he will not have to shade the plants be- cause of the trees.
 Being asked if it was true that he had sold $l557 worth of plants and s90o worth of seed and $500 worth of the cured roots this year. MT. Golf declared 1t was, most of it being for fall delivery, and produced the contracts as signed by the purchasers to prove his assertion to such as may be from Missouri
 In addition to the sales already made from his small piece of ground. about 2ox 50 feet Mir. Golf states that he has hun dreds of thousands of seed and young plants left on hand, and for which he finds an unprecedented demand
 President Hardy of the A. and M col lege is spending a day or two in the city. He has just emerged from one of the liveliest fights Of his life, during which he was subjected to firing from every direction. The attacking party was not near so strong as it imagined, and was repulsed on every charge. The pres ident of the A. and M. knew the enemy was preparing for an attack and threw up strong breastworks, built forts, laid mines, blockaded all ports, and, backed by the state, repulsed the enemy at every point.
 President Hardy was asked if he thought this Central American kind of a revolution would injure the college and reduce the attendance to any alarming extent, and he stated that it did not seem so-the applications for admissions to date this year being double what they were at this date last summer
 This is cheering and comforting in view of the predictions of dire disaster and the ruination of the A. and M. college, and it is to be hoped that the promise of a larger attendance than ever will be f,,1f