The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-12-12
NORTHERN HANOl
[]IvERSIFIGATI0A
MR. G. A. BURKs OF DECATUR,
I'LL, INTERVIEWED.
DRiINACE SYSTEM ADVOCATED
Says Delta Land Is the Richest IN the
World, and With Much-Needed I'M
provements VIII Become One Of the
Wea1thiest as Well.

"Diversifed farming demands more
thorough attention than cotton grow
ing, and if the people of this section
of the country arc really in earnest
about the diversifcation of their crops
they must have proper drainage" said
G. A. Burks, prominent real estate
dealer of Decatur, H., yesterday.
'FThe future of the Delta depends
upon more complete diversifcation.
Not more than one-half of any planta-
ton should be planted in cotton, and
the greater the amount of diversified
ton the greater viii be the prosperity
OF this country. Diversified farming
requires less help and less expense in
the long run and will produce more
revenue than the present system OF
farming.
E'Lani is the basis of all wealth, but
in order TO produce wealth it must be
susceptible of cultivation. One of the
first and most important requisites is
that land SHALL be drained in order that
crops may be success fuily grown. The
character of the soil. OF course, has n
great deal to do with the amount of
crops produced The Delta is fortunate
ia thas there is no richer section to be
found anywhere in the United States.
Is is also fortunate in having nature
provide it with abundan1 outlets, whic'i
are necessary. beyond all things. in OF
der to have thorough drainage. These
natural outlets have unfortunately been
allowed TO Ill mp ana no attention has
ever been paid to them. Many Of ths
Delta outlets for drainagc-in fac
most of thom-are in serious need of n
thorough cleaning. When they arc
tloroughly cleaned nearly every acre
Of Delta land can be thoroughly
drained with a system of open bitches
and tile.
IF the Southern land owner wishes
the Northern investor to purchase thess
lands at outside values and prices, liz
should s4se that at the earliest possible
moment active operations are com
msnced in the opening of these outIetS
No land however rich, viii produce
what it should without sufficient drain
age The Northern investor readily ap
preeiates the character of the Delt;
soil. but he can t reconcile HIMSELF OF
,he point why the Southern property
owner is asleep, as it were, to the vaiTt
thorough system of drainage
Drainage must receive more attention
if the land owners want to realize i
the sale Of their lands what they ar
actually worth either in cultivation 0
for the revenue produced in The sal
of such lands. The sooner the Ian
owners realize this fact the better
viii be for the Delta
"The coming conference on th
drainage Of Black bayou is d great ste
in the right direction. The movemel
should receive the active and cathus
astie cooperation of every farmer an
land owner in Washington, Saarlse
aud lssaquena counties. Gov. Noel an
the legislature should De shown that th
peopla Of this section mean bushes
and realize The needs OF drainsge1
FAe following letter from NJ Bark
TO Ar " P. shelton comments on ia
need of a frst-clasa prospectus shown
tn be world the opportunities to b
had in Greenville and Washlngto
eoanty
ssMr W. P. shelton, Greenvlle, Miss
= Dear Sir-U nder separate cover W
sending you little pamphlet so
ten out concerning Madison count.
Mississippi.
1--WE hope that your business men
association viii get out something Il,
,nly concerning Greenville, but Was
ington county as well. We cann
speak at all complimentary of the r,
,over booklet from a topographic
standpoint, because the haif tones, Il
printing, the presswork, the trimmin
and, in fact, everything in connectit
With this pamphlet, is very shiftless.
1.-THE matter contained, however,
very good, and whoever compiled it b
some ideas of representing the countr
ssWc are also mailing you a boo
Let under separate cover, gotten up
the city of Decatur You will no
= that the character of the work is aw.
above that Of the red book and in kee
ine with the city which it represen
4 ail - feel that your business men
->e;stion win appreciate the fact ah