Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-09-03

'uhuS available VIII permit. This j. a
matter ot the greatest Importance to the
people of Mississippi. and Is deserving
OF their hearty cooperation and sup
port.
Boys Competitive Corn Clubs.
The Department OF Agriculture AMI
Commerce has devoted much time and
attention to this work during the past
two year,. believing it to he one of the
greatest movements inaugurated since
the civil war for the benefit OF the
South. Last year five counties were OF.
ganized and the work fairly inaugurated.
This year twenty three counties have
ee-n organized. with over three thousand
boys engaged in the contest and approx
mately five hundred girls in the home
culture clubs. The work OF these school
children is first exhibited in the home
counties. then brought to the State Fair,
and this year will be carried to the Ma.
tional Corn Exposition at Omaha. When
It !, considered that three thousand bows
IN Mississippi are securing an agricul-
tural education along with their literary
work; that they are being intelligently
equipped for the battle OF life in y prn-
tcssion that will soon be- considered the
best in the land. there is found sufficient
To encourage renewed efforts for the
future
Agricultural High Schools
The last Legislature authorized each
county IN the State to build an agricul.
tural high school AMI pledged support
fund OF one thousand dollars per annum
when certain conditions had been met.
II i highly gratifying to note that if
teen counties have at this time located
their schools, and are arranging to com.
ply with the conditions Thirty coun.
ties are agitating the question. and some
OF them will no doubt be successful. IL
u believed that within the next five
years nearly every county in the State
will be IN possession of one OF these
schools. Again has the law making bod
'cs recognized the request of the agri-
cultural people for educational facilities.
No State in the South, and probably The
Union. will have such an array OF apri.
cultural schools as Mississippi. 1t means
that the farmer BOYS will bc lust a,
we'll educated as the lawyer. the doctor.
the preacher or those in any OF the pro-
tessIOns
Ns anu LAPNoAbiohSs
Nothing aids in the development of
agricultural, horticultural and live stock
resources more than the old-faShioned
county and State fairs. The Department
Of Agriculture and Commerce has en-
couraged these in every legitimate way
possible. More are being organized each
year. and great State fair has been
builded at Jackson. This work will he
prosecuted until the county in Missis-
sippi without a well-eonducted fair will
be an exception instead OF a rule. Fairs
not only encourage the proper develop
ment of agricultural possibilities. hut
tend to keep our people at home Mis-
sissippi has within the past twenty
years sent Texas alone one hundred thou
sand good people. This must be stopped.
and the fairs will do more than their
share along that line.
Encouraging Syrup Making.
In Jackson, as well as all other towns
in this section. it has been impossible
during the summer months to buy
pure, unprocessed syrup for table use
Glucose compounds Were the stock in
trade. South Mississippi produces lib
orally of the finest syrup under the sun
Why not put it up for the general mar
ketG This department investigated that
matter and found that it was being done
for local use, and encouraged canning for
shipment, believing that there were
enough people who appreciated good
and pure article, and would pay a rea-
sonable price for it, To buy all OF the
syrup that could be produced. The peo-
pie were encouraged To put up and aid
rendered in finding Il market In 1905
$4,000 gallons We're canned and handled
successfully: last year 100000 gallons,
and the prospect is for over 100000 gal
Ions this year. The land produces from
$50 to GOO gallons per acre. There is
every prospect that this will become one
of the most important branches OF az
riculture for Mississippi in the near fut-
ure.
Sweet Potatoes for Shipment.
No country under the sun produces
sweet potatoes the superior OF those
raised in Mississippi. and our lands yield
readily from $50 to 100 bushels per
acre. They are far superior to the Jer
sey potato. that is a staple through the
North and East. Then why not handle
them so that they could be shipped into
that territory during February, March
and April. An experiment was made
the past spring, with excellent results.
The people were delighted with the
vans sent, and expressed themselves as
anxious to get them. Shipment will be
tried again next spring, and it is be
lieved that within few years the Mis-
sissippi yam will be known on the
Northern market and command the high
est price from those who appreciate "A
good potato.
Public Road Improvement.
An essential to the proper develop
ment of our agricultural resources Is
improved roads at cost commensurate
with the ability of the people to pay.
The Department OF Agriculture has at
tempted to gather all information posi-
BILE and distribute to the people of the
State Three bulletins on the subject
have been issued and given wide circula-
ton. The number of counties now
working by contract or trying other
plans for road Improvement is fully 100
per cent. over that of four years ago.
The people evidence the greatest inter
est. and it is safe to predict that Mis-
sissippi will show greater Improvement
IN DuDlt Iodus hh' h'Ns nv tN"A'
than for the twenty years just past.
Agricultural Organizations.
The people of Mississippi are fast
coming to the realization of truth in
the assertion that in organization there
is strength. BY far the strongest aeri-
cultural society is the Farmers Union,
which numbers some 10000 OF the best
farmers as its members. 1t is strictly
educational and protective and is doing
a splendid work. The horticultural So
ciety has an extensive membership, but
is not so active as it should be. The
Live Stock Association is very strong
and active. Several cane growers clubs
and oat associations have been formed
The poultrymen, swine breeders and bee
keepers are to be organized this tan.
Each of these have opportunities OF
accomplishing great good for their mem
bers.
man should never be ashamed 10
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