The Kemper herald., 1908-05-14
FOR
GREATER
MISSISSIPPI

line Work OIL cOTn UtNeloplhcHt, a.
most entirely new in the state of Mis-
sissippi, is bearing fruit. There IS
an abundance of reasons why we
should at least produce the corn we
consume, and the number who do this
and even better is increasing rea-
sonably fast. Last. year saw the first
competitive corn growing contest in
augurated among the boys of the
public schools, and this year more
than twenty counties have taken up
the work. IF those who contended
that the average yield in Mississippi
was approximately twelve bushels to
the acre a few years ago were cor
rect, the increase already shown is
satisfactory. Statistics gathered last
year by this department proved it to
be sixteen bushels then. Shall we al
low the good work to stop or shall it
be prosecuted with renewed vigor?
Although we have never been rec
ognized as a corn state, there are
those who are beginning to cast their
eyes in this direction, attracted by
the result of efforts to improve the
yield. Capt. J. F. Merry, who has long
been connected with the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad and is we'll known to
scores Of our people, writes the De-
partment of Agriculture and Com
merce asking that Mississippi, from
the abundance Of splendid corn that
will be shown by our school boys
this fall, select comprehensive ex-
hibit and place it on display at the
Omaha Corn Show to be held in
December. He has noted our ac-
complishment and feels sure that
Mississippi can show alongside the
baner corn states of the Union.
The suggestion is well worthy OF
careful consideration, and had your
Commissioner the funds for defraying
the expense of such an exhibit, it
would be made. There should. be no
fear that Mississippi might not show
we'll in comparison with Iowa, Kan
sas, Nebraska and Illinois. The corn
shown at the State Fair last fall,
judged by the Holden method or any
other was as good as could be pro-
duced anywhere in the world. There
is an ear in this Office now that will
judge fully "a per cent. according to
the Holden score card. We produce
multiplied thousands of such ears
every year, and the only thing nee
esasry is, to take care in the selec-
ton and select only the best. It is
likely that this proposition of Capt.
Merry will be acted upon, and that
when the gates Of this great show
with its $50,000.00 in prizes opens
this winter, Southern State will
be here to compete for the prizes
offered. If Mississippi could only win
honorable mention in contest
where the hardest competition in the
world is to be encountered there is
enough in that to compensate for
the time and light expense.
Corn is the crop Of second impor-
tance in Mississippi, and the leg
end of its creation points to this as
the location of its birth. 1t is said
that Mondamin, the friend of man
and sent by Gitchie Manitou the
Mighty, came down to earth one sun
ny and beautiful afternoon, shaking
his fair, yellow hair and gently rus
tling his willowy green garments.
Him, Hiawatha wrestled but did not
conquer.
For four days at twilight came
Mondaimn and defiantly challenged
Hiawatha. On the fourth day he wa,
thrown and conquered.
Hiawatha covered the body of his
vanquished foe with dirt and mold in
the fertile field alongside forest and
near to flowing stream. Then he
sat vigil over the grave, as Gitchie
Maniton had said
When the warm spring rains had
come and moistened the earth and the
suns rays had kissed the ground,
there peeped from the mold Of the
grave some bright green blades, as
Of grass. All summer long Hiawatha
watched beside them as they grew
and unfolded into the royal plant.
And when autumn breathed his
frosty breath upon the forest and
growing plants, there on the grave
of Mondamin stood golden corn.
It was the gift that Gitchie Man
itou, the Father of Life, had prom
ised Hiawatha's S people if he should
throw Mondamin.
This was countless hundreds of
moons ago. Each autumn since, the
Indians have wrestled with Monda-
min--stripped the corn of its husks
and silks and carried the golden grain
to their wigwams.
For three hundred years the white
men have wrestlei with Mondamin.