The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-11-27

ers owning over so acres each, SIS
for 1910. The rate each year after
1910 for parties owning to 80
acres and all renters will be $40
per year: parties owning over so
acres and up to 320 acres win pay
$25 per year each: parties owning
over 800 acres will pay $50 per
year
The circular is very interesting
and very long. The main part Of
|it IS written BY Frank Putnam !,
and be quotes in it as an indorse-
ment Of the system &. A. Calvin.
A. 6. Cairns. 2. S. Tilson, H. Fl.
AttWater and Sheriff Al. r. Ander-
SON. all af Houston.
II answer to the letter from Mis-
sissippi, Prof. w. G. Welborn has.
written J. B. Allen and Others.
Port Gibson, Miss.
College Station, Texas, Nov. IL.
Dear Sirs: / regret that my alb
sence from home Oh farmers insti-
tute work has prevented an earlier
reply to yours of November s. adj
dressed to the president Of the
Agricultural and Mechanical col.
lege Will say in the first place
that know Mr.. PIitnam, the.
writer of the article about this
marvellous system Of growing cot
ton Mr. Putnam is purely a liter
ary man and easily capable Of being
deceived about cotton. He was
reared in Massachusetts and pro ba-
bly, never saw any cotton up to two
years ago. In an independent way
| have learned something of Mr..
Snodrgass' wonderful field of cot
ton A gentleman whom | regard
as reliable. told me that he made
a trip of over 100 miles to investi-
gate this field Of cotton. He told.
me there had not been a boil pick
ed. according to his observation.
He said to satisfy himself further he
went to negro and Mexican families
living near the place and verified
this observation. / should not like
to do anybody injustice, but it is
my opinion that this is one of the
usual crop. Generally these fakes
are based on WonderfuE seed that
will make four bales OF cotton to
the acre.
The matter of growing cotton in
checks has been tried. more or less,
Tor 100 years, / suppose. | tried
1t this year and made somewhat
less cotton than where we planted
by the ordinary drill method. a.
Brazos bottom planter at my sug-
gestion. planted some land in
checks ais d means Of working both
ways and killing johnson grass.
The cotton did we'll; he killed the
Johnson grass out pretty success
fully, but it was my opinion that.
on account of many missing hills
slle checks would not yield with his:
drilled cotton. This has been gem
erAlly the experience at all expert
rnent stations. and the fact that al
most all cotton farmers practice
the drill system is pretty good
proc that that method is generally
best, ! think. am quite willing
to be quoted on this subject, and
am very sure that the party who.
told me about visiting the place
will be, in case Of necessity. /
wish to commend the steps you
gentlemen have taken to protect
Mississippians against imposition.
Since writing the above have
decided the question is SO inpor-
tant that will go to Houston to
morrow to give investigation at
first hands and will write you Sat,
#urday.
w. G. Welborn,
Vice Director and Agriculturist.
Mr.. Welborn was formerly pro-
fessor of agriculture in the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical college of
Mississippi and for four years was
director Of agriculture for the
Philippine government.
r. T. Miner, President AgricuI-
tural and Mechanical College.
College Station, Texas, Nov. 20.
Dear SIR | have just returned
from inspecting the cotton field Of
G. M Snodgrass at Houston. Texas.
/ wish to confirm fully all wrote
the Mississippi planters who petit
toned you for ah investigation Of
the great claims of the Snodgrass
system of cotton growing. Instead
.df making four to SIX bales to the
acre. / do not believe the field will
make $50 pounds of seed cotton to
the acre. No picking has been
done. notwithstanding the adver-
tising circulars claim that over 300
pounds seed cotton per acre have
BEEN picked.
The cotton is growing IN punches
about seven feet BY seven and is
five Of six feet high. AS usual
with overgroWn cotton. the boll
weevils got virtually all the fruit.
/ am positive there is no merit
whatever i'll this so-caIled system.
w G. Welborn.