Oxford eagle., 1908-09-10

the weevil Knocked the bottom GU, n
everything few years ago. Although
times were hard for year or two,
when the people recovered and began
an inteiligest handling Of their farm,
they were today in better condition
than those who had never had the
the weevil to contend with,
Three meetings Of the greatest agri-
cultural importance have been held in
the state during the past month-meet-
iags that were well attended and char.
acterized by intense interest on the
the part OF those who came. The boil
weevil convention At Natchcz was the
largest attended, drawing people from
six counties In Mississippi and three or
four parishes in Louisiana. This meet
ing was promoted by the Natchez
Chamber of Commerce and was a .plen-
did success. II was made possible by
the fact that the boil weevil had ar.
rived in the territory adjacent To
Natchez and ths, some prompt action
was absolutely necessary to counterac,
Its damaging effect The large theater
building used for the meetings wa,
comfortably filed at all sessions except
the first, and at times standing room
was freely used. 1t denoted the fact
that the people in that section had be-
gun 10 realize the great damage TO be
done by the weevil and their interest in
remedial measures. While there were
number Of excellent speakers upon
various subjects, by far the most in
structive and interesting talker OF the
occasion was DR.. Evans, OF Shreveport.
La, who Is in charge of the govern
ment demonstrations with reference To
the weevil in Louisiana and Texas. He
was in position to give actual expert
ences with the weevil covering a period
OF live years spent in fighting the pest.
h's advice was particularly interesting
and instructive, and it would be worth
a great deal IL he could be secured to
make this address in large number OF
the Mississippi counties that are to be
infested with the weevil during the
next few years. Dr. Newell also deliv-
cred an illustrated lecture on the weevil
that carried with it valuable informa-
tion. Other speakers upon the main
subject, as well as others Of import.
ance, were given strict attention. The
meeting was a splendid success from
every standpoint, was made permanent
and date announced for another later
on. The people Of that section are
deeply interested in adopting approved
methods 10 combat the weevil, and will
no doubt work the matter out satisfac.
tOrily.
The Farmers Congress at Lexington
was another meeting of Importance and
splendid attendance. This meeting
was under the direct supervision Of DR.
;. \. Knapp. director Of the farmers
demonstration work with the United
States department of agriculture 1t
held for four days, and the interest
showed a healthy Increase throughout
the entire time. One OF the features of
this meeting was an excellent exhibit
made by the farmers in that county.
IL was selected from the demonstration
plats throughout the county and shown
as an example OF what could be accom-
plished oy cultural methods. Dr.
Knapp delighted the audience with two
splendid discourses on agriculture and
q number of short talks on specific
propositions during the meeting. He
was located for number OF years at
Lake Charles, La, and is thoroughly
acquainted with conditions in Missis-
sippi. a number OF gentlemen spoke
upon agricultural propositions, and sew
eral demonstrators gave their expert
ence, together with the success attained.
IL was a great meeting, and will be
productive of good throughout the sec
tion from which the attends ance came,
covering several counties in that part
Of Mississippi.
The roundup Of farmers institutes at
the A. and NJ college, under the direc-
tiou OF Prof. Z. r. Lloyd, was the most
recent event of this character to take
place. For number OF years this has
been the general meeting for those who
were enough interested in agricultural
development To make a trip to the col
lege. The attendance has only been
fair so far, but a special effort was
made to bring the number up To 800 for
the 1908 roundup. That it did not
reach the desired park this year was
no fault at all OF those behind the move
ment. Every effort was put forth TO
bring the people TO the meeting, and
while the attendance was gratifying ii
should have been better. Il is well
worth a trip, together with the small
expense incurred. and il is TO be hoped
that next year more than five hundred
of the best farmers in Mississippi will
be on hand.
These agricultural meetings are grow
ing in favor each year, which Is q
source Of pleasure TO those who have
Iabored for their success The insti-
tutes have shown a decided increase in
attendance and interest, and few coun-
ties indeed fail to call for them now.
This is a strong Indication of the fact
that Mississippi and Mississippians are
awakening to the fact that preparation
il necessary for intelligently handling
the problems that continually confront
the farmer.
A movement started in Vicksburg for
a sIO. 900 statue and monument to the
r,arnnru Of the late Gen. Stephen ID.