The Tupelo journal., 1909-07-16
Report Of Col. Taylor.


ton of the minor affairs of the
state farms, with which he shows
perfect familiarity. Conditions
are not so favorable as hereto
fore at this season Of the year,
but the outlook grows brighter
since the wet weather was fol
lowed by sunshine: Col. Taylor
says:
Honorable Board of Trustees of
Mississippi State Penitentiary.
Jackson, Miss:
Gentlemen: | beg the honor to
report that on June % | inspect
ed the Belmont farm and found
the conditions of crops much bet
ter than | expected before |
reached there. considering the
unprecedented and almost the in
cassant rain fall up to that time.
Both cotton and corn look heal
IL Y and vigorous, and while it
was impossible to kill the grass
Sergeant Walt was busy keeping
it cut down, which prevented
it's growth to much size. About
two hundred acres of the farm
were then inundated with water,
which acreage has since been
planted in corn and peas. | think
1t impossible under the clrcum-
stances to make a full crop on
this plantation, but cannot judge
at this time with any accuracy
the final outcome of crops, as
much depends on weather condi-
tons from now on, There is no
sickness amongst the convicts on
this farm and they are all ready
and willing to work peacefully
when dry enough to pillow and
hoe.
On the oath | reached the
states largest farm, Sunfiower
The crope on this farm were in
very much the same state OF pro-
gress as on the Belmont, except
very much more of them. | was
agreeably surprised to crops as
| found them. The corn crop,
with favorable weather from that
time on, was virtually made and
if the conditions hold good there
will be an abundance of it made;
but every variety Ct the crop at
that time was in a precarious
condition, henced fficult to proph-
esy the general result. However
now that the weather has been
propitious for several days we
feel encouraged to believe that a
very good crop will be harvested
by the state after all. The offic-
ials and employees have done
their duty and could not be just
ly blamed should the farms come
short Of a fairly good crop. The
convicts all look healthy and the
stock all looked we'll. Hogs were
al fat and bid fair to raise more
meat for the state than ever be-
fore.
On the 5th of July l visited
Rankin and Oakley farms. |
found that Rankin had about 275
acres Of young corn which was
very promising and had been
thoroughly worked, cleaned free
of filth and grass. The old crop
of corn, amounting to about 200
acres on the Rankin place was
not so good as the young crop
promises to be. However, con-
sidering the season, | consider it
a very good crop already made
of the old corn. W. have only
a small acreage, about As acres
of cotton, and not like other
crops of cotton / did not class it
a good one. Cotton is, small ev-
erywhere, but as the plant is a
very resourceful one, | cannot
now with any accuracy prophesy
the final outcome.
I found on the Oakler farm the
crops clean and well worked.
Until very recently on account
of SO much rain, the crop there
was very much retarded. not
alone from rain but had become
very grassy. The corn crop IS
very good about $50 acres OF
which is now assured and prom
ises a good average Yield. The
young crop Of corn, consisting OF
10 acres, looks fine and with
propitious seasons will make a
magnificent Yield Of corn. The
convicts generally at the differ
ent farm, of the state, are heal
thy and appear very cheerful.
No tronble that / could hear OF
evisted. The stock, mules and
horses, as well as cattle and hogs
seemed to be III a thriving and
good condition.
In conclusion would be UNDER
stood to say that at this particu.
lar time it is very difficult to es-
innate what the crop will make.
Very respectively,
LEROY Z. TAYLOR.