The Kemper herald., 1908-02-20

Georgia has noted the movement in
Mississippi to organize corn and crop
growing contests among the boys in
the public schools, and is desirous of
knowing more Of the success that has
attended the effdrt so far and the
prospect for the future. Hon. Dick
Cheatham, who is still Mississippian
although MANAGER of the Cotton Jour-
nal at Atlanta, Ga, was in Jackson a
few days since and asked the writer
for short article on the movement
and its advantages. TIL following was
submitted:
"The organization Of Boys corn
growing contests among the public
school pupils of Mississippi was first
suggested early last year by Supt. w.
II. Smith of. Holmes county. The
movement had been on foot for a
number of years in several of the
Northern states with the very best of
results. So soon as Supt. Smith made
the suggestion, the writer at once
saw in it the opportunity to do. a
great work in Mississippi, and imme-
diately took up the proposition with
the view Of extending it to other coun-
ties in the state. State Superinten-
dent Whitfield, the A. & NJ. College
officials and the representatives Of
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture stationed in Mississippi gave
hearty support to the project.
Although very date in making the
start last year, eight counties were
organized and the work fairly launch
ed. Of these eight counties, six came
through q successful termination.
Holmes being the first to organize and
better acquainted with the work, nat
urally made the greatest success. The
cut herewith give all 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 AT
the general round up with an exhibit
and this picture shows the 800 ears
of corn entered by the school, boys Of
Holmes county. The State Fair man.
agement offered handsome list Of
prizes to encourage the most popular
Of any in the Agricultural Building.
The people evidenced the deepest in
terest 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.
"The writer has calls already to
visit dozen counties that will make
the effort fhis year that were not in
the contest last year, and the prospect
at present is, that not less than %
of thee7S counties in Mississippi, pos
sibly 80, will inaugurate this splend-
id movement this spring. The Coun-
ty Superintendent of public instruc-
tion are wide awake. to the Importance
of the movement and the. excellent re-
suits that it offers and the public is
fast coming to a. realization of what
its general adoption would mean to
Mississippi during the next ten years.
The state superintendent, A. G. NJ.
College and u. S. workers are also
more active. than ever to push the
movement to every county in the
state. =.
'.The results shown by first eff
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 130 bush
els of corn to the acre was grown by
some of III boys last year. It is car
rying the development Of our agficul-
tural 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 and the
use of brains, thereby preventing them
from seeking homes in other states,
laying the foundation for a condition
that will prevail in the future when
the farmer will be as well educated
as the lawyer, the doctor, the preach
er or the member Of any profession.
"If by this system the average pro
duction 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 re-
suit III this way alone will be worth
striving for, to say nothing of the.
benefits that will be derived in many
other ways. 1t is undoubtedly one
of the greatest movements ever inau-
gurated in state that has always
been an agricultural one and always
will be. 1t is deserving of the liberal