Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1908-03-27
NJ N. N. BLAKEaLHn. sAcnssn.

There 10 demand for seed eern on
the cob this year that il has been al.
most impossible to supply. This is the
result of agitation FOR better seed ss-
lection and the desire on the part of
the planters TO increase the yield by
putting in fertile seed. In the past 1t
has been customary to plant any kind
of corn that happened to be on hand,
but customs are changing with the edu-
cational campaign along lines Of inn
proved methods that has been waged.
Where there is one bushel called for in
the ear for seed this year, 1t is safe to
assume that five will be demanded next
year. The people want corn that is
true to type and great many are be-
ginning to use the termination test,
which is impossible if the seed corn has
been shelled.
A suggestion is herby offered, that a
considerable quantity of corn be planted
this year for the purpose of selecting
for seed. Let it be of any well known
variety and be sure to have good seed.
In the fall first select with reference to
height from the ground and size of the
ear. Gather and keep separate from bal.
ance of crop. Later in the winter care
fully shuck and again select with refer.
ence to trueness of type and perfection
of ear and grain. There will be no trou-
bic in disposing of large quantities OF
seed corn next year if it is carefully Sc
lected and cared for. The writer will
agree to assist in disposing OF corn thus
handled in every way possible and would
be glad to hear from parties who will
take up the work and carry it along.
Let's quit sending so much money to
other states for seed when we can pro-
duce them right here at home.
Superintendent Early, of Yalobusha,
held a meeting of boys and patrons of
the public schools of his county at Water
Valley and organized the competitive
corn growing contest. Fully two hun.
bred boys were on hand and arranged
to participate in the work for this year.
Splendid work of preparation has been.
made and there can &c little doubt OF
the success of the movement Superin.
tendent Mabry of Newton has more than
one hundred boys enrolled; Superinten
dent Waldrup of Jones, Superintendent
10 Af srbo n
Webster, Superintendent Allen of Tate,
Superintendent Mcdowell of Pontotoc,
Superintendent Dew of Alfalfa, Superin
tendent Ellis of Lauderdale, Superinten
dent Watts of Marion, Superintendent
McAlpin of Copiah, Superintendent Par
ker of Clarke, Superintendent Bennett
of Lincoln and others, as well 40 the
several counties that began the work last
year, are making arrangements for in
Producing and charging upon this ex
cellent movement. Think of it; more
than one-third of the counties in Mis-.
sissippi takingMp this work and pushing
it along. The legislature has just
passed an act allowing the supervisors
to contribute a small sum each year
to encourage the movement and it is q
foregone conclusion that future bodies
will enlarge upon the work. 1t is one
of the greatest movements inaugurated
during recent years and is deserving of
the hearty support of every good citizen
of the state.
Pontotoc county is organizing q fair
for the development of the agricultural
and stock raising interests of that Sec
ton. Nothing could be made of more
material benefit than a fair and it is
to be hoped that the gentlemen in
charge will keep up the work until sue
cess crowns their efforts. The fair list
for Mississippi is growing with each
year.
A school of cotton grading has been
authorized at the A. and NJ. College
under the direction of man fully COM
petent to teach cotton grading and
sampling This is one of the most inn
portant acts of the legislative session
and should receive the commentator of
the agricultural people all over the state.
Not only will it furnish this information
and training to the boys who are in the
school, but short courses will be given
during the year when the old boys can
attend and learn how to grade their cot
ton. 1t is sad to contemplate that at
the present not one man in fifty who
raises cotton knows anything about grad
ing and classifying it. Think of it; the
people of Mississippi who raise a pro-
duct worth approximately $75,oOo,O 900
know practically nothing about what it
should grade. 1t is high time that we
were getting out of this rut and the
school authorized will be long step in
the right direction. While we may com.
plain that the legislature has passed but
little legislation looking directly to the
interests of the farmer, don't forget this
important item.
Seed selection is attracting more at
tention in Mississippi every year, and
the near future promises that large
part of the land planted to both corn
and cotton will be seeded with the very
best that can be had. Our people are
fast awakening to the realization of the
Importance of this subject, and the inter.
est being manifested speaks well for
the future. 1t il the result of eduea.
ton brought about by agitation. The
boys corn clubs will add interest a.
will the institute work that is beina
carried on.
The following editorial from reccns
issue Of the Herald at Water Valley,
brings TO the front the question that
has been discussed more or less during
the recent session Of the legislature:
"When it was thought that legisla-
tion injurious to the railroads would