The Tupelo journal., 1908-03-27
BY Il. e. BLAKEsLEE, JAcxsoa.

By h. e. BLAKEsLEE, JAcxsoa. ]
There is a demand for seed corn IN
the cob this year that it has been al
most impossible to supply. This is the
result of agitation for better seed Sc
lection and the desire on the part of
the planters to increase the yield by
putting in fertile seed. In the past it
has been customary to plant any kind
of corn that happened to be on hand,
but customs are changing with the edu-
c%ational campaign along lines of i'm
proved methods that has been waged.
Where there is one bushel called for in
the ear for seed this year, it is safe to
assume that five will be demanded next
year. The people want corn that is
true to type and a 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 we'll known
variety and be sure to nave 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-
BILE 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 hum
dred boys were on hand and arranged
to participate in the work for this year.
Splendid work of preparation has been
made and there can be 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
Clayton of Lee, Superintendent Shaw of
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 we'll as 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 taking up 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 a
foregone conclusion that future bodies
will enlarge upon the work. 1t is one
during recent years and is deserving of
the hearty support of every good citizen
of the state.
Pontotoc county is organizing a 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 M. College
under the direction of a man fully conf
petent to teach cotton grading and
sampling. This is one of the most i'm
p%ortant 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 $4,000, 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 a 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.
An exchange says: GA Toledo, Ohio,
man is exploiting the piney woods belt
for 1ightwood' stumps, which he proposes
to ship to that point for the sake of the
rosin and turpentine that can be ex-
tracted from them. The process of ex-
traction recently discovered leaves the
wood white and clean, instead of charred
and black from burning as by means yet
1narur ~ ~ xrhfob 10 %hon oonxyorto1